What is Carve and Spit for?

[Giantbane]

1. Assuming 3+ targets, yes. This is a valid use for CAS if Dark Passenger is up. It doesn't actually refund enough MP to even give you an additional Abyssal Drain, but if you're low enough that you can't get a DA and it would give you enough MP for a Drain this is an OK use (Though not a large gain given the opportunity cost).

Doesn't matter what it restores. Getting the full damage requires a DA, and not using the DA on carve is going to give you another drain or unleash or 2. Since we're talking about a mana limited situation after blood price has expired, you'll get more damage off of extra drains/unleashes.

3. It's still almost certainly a net loss to use Carve and spit for MP in that situation. You should be calling for goad / TP song well before that point.

I don't know exact #s but unmend is like 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of DA? For carve you're spending 1.5 DA casts worth of mana for 350 potency. For that amount of mana, you could instead be doing something like 4-6? unmend casts at 120 potency. That's worth maybe 3 dark passengers? So if for some reason you're out of TP and don't have access to Goad or TP song (pug?) then this should be your best option.

The concept of the ability is fine, and it has the potential to be a useful part of the Dark Knight kit. I like it too. But let's not delude ourselves - it needs to restore more MP than it does currently to fulfil that role.

I mean, I wouldn't say no to more MP. I'm just saying it does have some uses, even in its current form.