Lightspeed sucks

[sharazisspecial]

Amazing in PvP
Amazing for FATEs
Gives you very good kiting potential for its duration.

But when it comes to "Real" content its lackluster compared to the other Healer's cooldowns. After the very useful first instant heal, its just a -25% potency for 15 seconds.

Old WHMs are very used to "Move Casting". In most situations, 1 instant Heal is enough. I would of preferred a second swift-cast on a shorter cool-down over lightspeed.

Maybe this ability is just designed for Easy FATE/PVP?. Its kind of like the Surecast of AST (actually its not that bad) useful in very situational times, good for the first instant cast.
But its not very good every single time like PoM,DS, Illumination are.

AST is already more mobile then WHM with Aspect benefic and Dignity.

Don't understand the need to attach -25% potency to this ability, it already has 150 sec cooldown.
I would like if they added 50% Reduced mana cost for its duration.

p.s was there really a need for the enhanced disable trait? why isn't disable just 10% to begin with ffs. No need to waste a trait. Could of been enhanced light-speed: give an additional effect to light-speed or removed the healing penalty.

[Nyalia]

Haha, title: "Lightspeed sucks" text: "Actually, it's not that bad." Make up your mind :P

It's a buff, so you can cancel it anytime you want to. you hit it oGCD, hit a heal to instantcast it, then cancel before you cast the next one. It's like the scathe of healing.

EDIT: And if you think it's bad, compare it to Presence of Mind... It's about the same, no?

[sharazisspecial]

Well basically Lightspeed is crap version of swiftcast for most endgame situations. There may be that occasional situation where you need to heal on the move for more than 1 cast.

Presence of mind increases your HPS and DPS output every time you use it. (even letting you cure spam instead of cure 2 to save mana)

[Mimilu]

EDIT: And if you think it's bad, compare it to Presence of Mind... It's about the same, no?

Presence of Mind and Lightspeed have 2 main differences:
1) Presence of Mind doesn't lower Potency.
2) Presence of Mind Increases Spell Speed by 20%, while Lighspeed decreases the cast time by 2.5 seconds.

Lightspeed is "better" for normal spells that have 2 second cast times, while Presence of Mind is better for spells with longer cast times.
I do agree with sharazisspecial that SE should have added a reduction in MP cost on Lightspeed though.

I only ever use Lightspeed when I'm DPSing and have Ewer at the time. >3>

*EDIT*
Something else, I forgot to mention about Presence of Mind is that because it boosts Spell Speed, it will increase the speed of your ticks on your DoT and HoTs.

[GideonHighmourn]

*EDIT*
Something else, I forgot to mention about Presence of Mind is that because it boosts Spell Speed, it will increase the speed of your ticks on your DoT and HoTs.

That's incorrect. The skill only effects Cast Times, lowering them by 20%. It doesn't increase the "Spell Speed" stat on the attributes window anymore. Similar to the new Selene buff, it acts as a "haste" effect, but doesn't effect the actual spell speed stat.

Also, Light Speed is great for a spell like Stoneskin or Ascend, however, using it on heals is fighting an uphill battle. While it lowers the cast time, it doesn't effect the GCD (AFAIK), coupled with the -25% potency decrease, you're fighting an uphill battle trying to keep up with damage. It allows more front-loaded healing, but overall, it's a lower amount. You're better off using Benefic II or Helios without Lightspeed if the damage incoming is that high. The only time I'd say it's useful with heals, is if you've somehow allowed the tank to drop below a manageable HP level; however, Swiftcast+Benefic II or Essential Dignity would be a better option in this case, or Aspected Benefic (since it's an instant cast).

[Mimilu]

That's incorrect. The skill only effects Cast Times, lowering them by 20%. It doesn't increase the "Spell Speed" stat on the attributes window anymore. Similar to the new Selene buff, it acts as a "haste" effect, but doesn't effect the actual spell speed stat.

Also, Light Speed is great for a spell like Stoneskin or Ascend, however, using it on heals is fighting an uphill battle. While it lowers the cast time, it doesn't effect the GCD (AFAIK), coupled with the -25% potency decrease, you're fighting an uphill battle trying to keep up with damage.

Really? I could have sworn Presence did Spell Speed. Maybe they changed it during the patch?

Also, because you'll be spamming spells after using Lightspeed, you'll burn through more MP. Having said that, Luminiferous Aether does have an advantage over Shroud of Saints, only having a 120 CD versus Saint's 180 CD.

[sharazisspecial]

Ive been adamant about not buffing AST healing output.

But im not against QoL changes. Giving Light speed 50% mana cost reduction. Just to make it less situational and less "use it for one cast then right click it off" lol.

[GideonHighmourn]

Really? I could have sworn Presence did Spell Speed. Maybe they changed it during the patch?

Also, because you'll be spamming spells after using Lightspeed, you'll burn through more MP. Having said that, Luminiferous Aether does have an advantage over Shroud of Saints, only having a 120 CD versus Saint's 180 CD.

Fairly certain. I tested it after the patch, and it decreased CDs by 20% but the Spell Speed stat in the attributes page stayed static.

[Yumi_umi]

Have u even considered its use in mass dungeon pulls.
Lightspeed + gravity with CS=
King of aoe damage.
If they didnt nerf caster aoes then lightspeed would do so much dmg in tht 1 action.
Use ewer / enhanced to lighten the mp spam.
Ppl just straight out assume its ONLY for healing purposes cuz they like o all our dmg is dots lol

God like for stoneskinning party in fights

Stoneskin 2 < lightspeed + stoneskin.
Saving it for just heal spam is bad lol ( -25% ) kinda tells u "hey, u shouldn't be spamming tht with helios etc or else the heals will be pitiful lol "

[GideonHighmourn]

Have u even considered its use in mass dungeon pulls.
Lightspeed + gravity with CS=
King of aoe damage.
If they didnt nerf caster aoes then lightspeed would do so much dmg in tht 1 action.
Use ewer / enhanced to lighten the mp spam.
Ppl just straight out assume its ONLY for healing purposes cuz they like o all our dmg is dots lol

God like for stoneskinning party in fights

Stoneskin 2 < lightspeed + stoneskin.
Saving it for just heal spam is bad lol ( -25% ) kinda tells u "hey, u shouldn't be spamming tht with helios etc or else the heals will be pitiful lol "

The -25% applies to Gravity, as well. Fairly certain that's a waste of MP. It'd be like casting it without Cleric Stance (almost).

While SS+Lightspeed seems useful, it's awful for MP/HP efficiency. Especially on low-HP targets like DPS.

The uses for Lightspeed seem very very situational and limited in capacity. Everyone I know playing AST has avoided using it, myself included.