War DPS rotation question

[Bashum]

Hi folks, I searched for this specific question, but only found general info on openers. I think my opener is relatively solid, this is specifically for fights like Thordan EX, where you do not need to mitigate anything actively for some time, so the use of vengeance or RI is fine.

my starting opener is :

HS->BS->maim->eye->HS->SS->BB->potion->HS->IR+zerk->cleave->infuriate->cleave->RI->maim->eye->HS->SS->BB->fracture->cleave->pacified (second brutal swing in there whenever it's up, forget exactly where)

So question 1 is: can anything in there be improved? and the big question number 2 is:

After pacification comes off, obviously infuriate, berserk, and inner release are now all on different cooldown timers. Is it more optimal to save zerk/IR for when infuriate is back off cooldown? or should IR be used the instant it comes back up again?

Again, this is assuming fights where I am offtanking and maximizing dps only. Obviously with incoming tank busters it will be different.

Thanks in advance!

[whiskeybravo]

Better Wars can answer more specifically, but I assume you mean eye instead of path? You want the slashing debuff

I think it's slightly better to open with 2x eye combos before zerking the triple cleave, this makes sure the debuff stays up long enough

Personally I pop IR whenever it's off cd after the opener, it has a relative short cd time so I don't see any particular reason to delay it unless berserk is about to come back up (this happens around the 3rd berserk, iirc)

[Twilite]

I don't believe path is used in any opener/rotation. I haven't used it for a long time. Just use Storm's Eye.

[Bashum]

Sorry, yes eye is what i meant. I'll edit the original post.

[SpookyGhost]

1: Yes. Pooling Berserk in your opener is a DPS loss, even if it gets you the 3x FC. You're better off with something like:

Vengeance + RI -> HS -> BS -> Maim -> IR + Berserk -> SE -> Pot -> Fracture -> HS -> FC -> Infuriate -> FC -> Maim -> SE -> BS -> HS -> Maim/SS (SS if you've got Minuet, Maim if you don't)

There's also the 3x FC opener that only pools berserk for 4 GCDs:

Infuriate -> Vengeance @ 1s -> pull >11s -> HS -> Maim -> BS -> SE -> Pot -> HS -> IR + Berserk -> FC -> Infuriate -> FC -> RI -> SS -> BB -> HS -> Maim -> BS -> SE -> Fracture -> FC

And other variations. But you definitely want to put up Eye instead of Path first, unless you just misremembered in which case... carry on. ( ' - ' )b

2: If you can get 3+ Berserks off it's better to use IR on CD, if you can only get 2 then you want to combine it with Berserk. I think Infuriate is best used for 3x FC, though I'm not 100% positive on that, just what I use it for.

[whiskeybravo]

1: Yes. Pooling Berserk in your opener is a DPS loss, even if it gets you the 3x FC. You're better off with something like:

Vengeance + RI -> HS -> BS -> Maim -> IR + Berserk -> SE -> Pot -> Fracture -> HS -> FC -> Infuriate -> FC -> Maim -> SE -> BS -> HS -> Maim/SS (SS if you've got Minuet, Maim if you don't)

A 2x FC opener better than a 3x opener even if berserk is delayed? (you don't have to math it out, I trust your opinion/experience lol)

The rotation I use is more like the OP, I get my 3x cleave off but build the first 4 stacks the slow way before popping everything

[SpookyGhost]

A 2x FC opener better than a 3x opener even if berserk is delayed? (you don't have to math it out, I trust your opinion/experience lol)

It's mainly to line up better with TA/Battle Litany, the sooner you get your offensive buffs going the better.

Also yeah, you shouldn't pull using 2x FC early but the MT has to know how to do a proper opener as well for whatever tank they're playing. Always try to adjust to the situation that allows for highest group DPS, whatever that might be.

[Bashum]

It's mainly to line up better with TA/Battle Litany, the sooner you get your offensive buffs going the better.

Also yeah, you shouldn't pull using 2x FC early but the MT has to know how to do a proper opener as well for whatever tank they're playing. Always try to adjust to the situation that allows for highest group DPS, whatever that might be.

So does this mean that with my rotation, the double fell cleaves may be after Trick attack and battle litany have already fallen off? (I know nothing of how Ninja/DRG rotation goes).

[Bashum]

A 2x FC opener better than a 3x opener even if berserk is delayed? (you don't have to math it out, I trust your opinion/experience lol)

The rotation I use is more like the OP, I get my 3x cleave off but build the first 4 stacks the slow way before popping everything

Ok, so this is just anecdotal so far, I need to test this a lot more, but so far Spooky's suggestion is paying off. I'm bursting anywhere from 1400-1800 on the dummy up until pacification kicks in, whereas before it was more like a burst of 1250-1500ish. At least that's what some parse using stranger who happened to run by said I was hitting.

[Bashum]

whoa, that's drastically different. Will have to try it out on the dummy a few times.