RDM First Impressions (and perhaps advice) Thread

[Pyitoechito]

3) Using Impact if it's about to expire, even if you have Verfastspells ready. If it falls off and you get no procs from Verfastspell-Verslowspell, you're left with Jolt. If you use Impact, you have a chance to get another proc or refresh an existing proc -- in either case, you'll do more damage than with Jolt.

I never considered this. I assume you obviously wouldn't want to do this if you have both procs, or your one proc would expire first (or before you could use it). Would this take priority over Swiftcast if it's available (since the Swiftcast is another proc chance)? e.g., Impact > Slowcast > Proc > Slowcast vs Proc > Slowcast (no proc) > Swiftcast > Slowcast.

[Rongway]

3) Using Impact if it's about to expire, even if you have Verfastspells ready.

I never considered this. I assume you obviously wouldn't want to do this if you have both procs.

Your instinct is understandable, and yet the optimal choice is actually to use Impact anyway.

Say you have 10s left on Impact, and you have both Verfastspells Ready.
You use Verstone-Veraero (570) and do not get a proc.
Then you use Verfire-Verthunder (570) and do not get a proc.
There's now <1s left on Impact, so you can't cast it. You're left with JoltII-Verslowspell (540).

Total potency 1,680, and the last spell had a 50% chance to proc.

Back to the beginning.
You use Impact-Verslowspell (570) instead. No proc, but it doesn't matter.
Verstone-Veraro (570), no proc.
Verfire-Verthunder (570).

Total potency 1,710, and the last spell had a 50% chance to proc.

This is just the (no,no) proc outcome of course. All outcome combinations:

Starting state:
Verstone Ready, Verfire Ready [VSR/VFR]



(no, no)
==========
Verstone-Veraero: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [---/VFR]
Verfire-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [---/---]
JoltII-Verslowspell: 540 potency, 17 mana, 50% [VXR/---] 50% [---/---]
Total: 1,680 potency, 57 mana, 50% chance for 1 proc

Impact-Veraero: 570 potency, 19 mana, dud [VSR/VFR]
Verstone-Veraero: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [---/VFR]
Verfire-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VXR/---] 50% [---/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 59 mana, 50% chance for 1 proc

Impact better by 30 potency, 2 mana



(no, yes)
==========
Verstone-Veraero: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [---/VFR]
Verfire-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VXR/---]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VXR/---] 50% [---/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 60 mana, 50% chance for 1 proc

Impact-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 19 mana, dud [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VSR/VFR] 50% [VXR/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 59 mana, guaranteed 1 proc, 50% chance for 2 procs

Impact generates 1 less mana, but guarantees an extra proc



(yes, no)
==========
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [VXR/---]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VXR/---] 50% [---/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 60 mana, 50% chance for 1 proc

Impact-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 19 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, dud [VXR/---]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VXR/---] 50% [---/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 59 mana, 50% chance for 1 proc

Impact generates 1 less mana



(yes, yes)
==========
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VSR/VFR] 50% [VXR/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 60 mana, guaranteed 1 proc, 50% chance for 2 procs

Impact-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 19 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, proc [VSR/VFR]
Verfastspell-Verslowspell: 570 potency, 20 mana, 50% [VSR/VFR] 50% [VXR/---]
Total: 1,710 potency, 59 mana, guaranteed 1 proc, 50% chance for 2 procs

Impact generates 1 less mana

Summary:
The Impact scenario will deal the same potency 75% of the time, and will be more potent 25% of the time.
The Impact scenario will end with the same procs 75% of the time, and will generate one extra proc 25% of the time.
These two 25% events are mutually exclusive. There's a 50% chance Impact will result in the same potency and procs, a 25% chance Impact will deal 30 more potency, and 25% chance Impact will generate an extra proc.

So if Impactful is at <8s remaining, it's best to use it. If you use it, the worst that will happen is you'll generate 1 less Mana. But you have a 50% chance to do more damage or gain an extra proc.

Would this take priority over Swiftcast if it's available (since the Swiftcast is another proc chance)? e.g., Impact > Slowcast > Proc > Slowcast vs Proc > Slowcast (no proc) > Swiftcast > Slowcast.

Yes, Swiftcast is for avoiding having to use Jolt, or for fitting in one last spell before the boss jumps. Avoid using it when you have a 270 option available.