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.

[Bashum]

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

[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

[AlexiIvaniskavich]

Would the slow build be better for 8 man content? That double Crit, triple fell cleave might rip hate early in a fight. [but it looks so pretty]

****edit*****
did i just say slow the deeps?? omg

******

I am curious to know how much difference the two rotations are at. As I lost the /random role with my best friend, I am a little out of practice due to maining DRK/PLD for raid

[whiskeybravo]

Would the slow build be better for 8 man content? That double Crit, triple fell cleave might rip hate early in a fight. [but it looks so pretty]

I've had back to back crits for like 7500-7700ish and not had any probs but usually I have a solid tank partner, in random DF 8-mans I usually end up main tanking anyways.

[AlexiIvaniskavich]

I've had back to back crits for like 7500-7700ish and not had any probs but usually I have a solid tank partner, in random DF 8-mans I usually end up main tanking anyways.

I think my issues has been that I need to rework my pattern. My co-tank has double critted and pulled off me exactly 3 times since Alex released (twice when i was PLD). First time I just wasn't ready for that pure fury. Second time, I had skipped my hate combo several times in favor of the Goring>RA>RA. I just thought I had enough hate before it happened. Third time I was a DRK, had gained the initial hate, figured I was well in the clear, dropped grit and went with a straight set of soul eater/delrium combos. It only took a slight tweak to fix that though.

My initial DRK rotation doesn't typically have a ton of hate combo spamming, which is why i was curious about the effects of an early triple fell cleave.