By now, you’ve almost certainly heard about the change to itemization whereby the +Healing and +Spell Damage stats are being retired for the less specialized Spell Power stat. What, exactly does this mean, though, and what can you expect at the release of Patch 3.0?
As frightening as it may seem, I work for a school. I’m even getting ready to start an MAED. Currently, I hold a BSIT and do computer support for said school. It pays all right and I get to be a part of making things better for people. Oh sure, I have to put up with individuals proud of their utter tech-incompetence and hearing business-speak applied to education is disheartening to say the least, but when I really consider it I love that I do my part to make the world smarter. Heaven knows we need it.
I’m glad to see that our readers are still as intelligent as ever. Warscreamer of Moonglade (EU) sent in this damning examination of Ferocious Bite and I have to say… WTF, over? Tell us this isn’t right, that we missed something. Warscreamer would be thrilled to be wrong. He’s given us permission to disclose the contents of the message he sent us. Check it out and be sure to leave a comment.
Do you remember when I was soooooooo happy that Ferocious Bite would be scaling with current AP? Okay, so check this out:
Ferocious Bite Rank 8
35 Energy 5 yd range Instant
Requires Cat Form
Finishing move that causes damage per combo point and converts each extra point of energy into [9.4 + AP / 630] additional damage. Damage is increased by your attack power.
1 point: 410-550 damage
2 points: 700-840 damage
3 points: 990-1130 damage
4 points: 1280-1420 damage
5 points: 1570-1710 damageNow do the math. Currently, I have more than 4000 AP. I can’t check it from work, but let’s assume that it’s 4000.
9.4 + 4000/630 = 9.4 + 6.3 = 15.7 AP per energy
In the BEST scenario, when you use Ferocious Bite at full energy (LOL), you will receive:
(100 – 35) * 15.7 = 1020 AP
Let’s compare this change to what’s live right now. Assuming you are level 70 and using Ferocious Bite (Rank 6), let’s say that you use it after one tick of energy (so you have something like 50 energy).
Current tooltip, Rank 6: Finishing move that causes damage per combo point and converts each extra point of energy into 4.1 additional damage. Damage is increased by your attack power.
While this tooltip doesn’t describe how the damage is affected by Attack Power, readers at Druid Wikispaces have determined the formula to be:
Total Damage = (AP * 0.15) + (Energy Spent * 4.1) + CP Bonus Damage
At a maximum of 5 combo points, the average bonus damage will be 951.5. If we assume that 15 energy is left after the 35 energy cost is expended and use the average bonus damage from a 5-point FB, our formula will look like this:
(0.15 * 4000) + (15 * 4.1) + 951.5 = 1613 damage
Now let’s look at Rank 6 of the WotLK version of Ferocious Bite:
WotLK tooltip, Rank 6: Finishing move that causes damage per combo point and converts each extra point of energy into [3.4 + AP / 630] additional damage.
Note that this tooltip explicitly states how AP is factored into the total damage output; it appears that Ferocious Bite is being changed so that AP modifies the rate at which energy converts to damage rather than the base damage. If we assume that the formula is straightforward as it sounds, it looks like this:
Total Damage = (AP/630 + 3.4) * Energy Spent + CP Bonus Damage
Applying this revised formula with the same assumptions as above, we get:
(4000/630 + 3.4) * 15 + 951.5 = 1098 damage
Even if we assume Ferocious Bite is activated at 100 Energy (65 Energy consumed), the total damage drops from 1819 to 1586.
Please… correct my math. Because now I’m crying.
While I don’t have any experience with the Alpha-version of the ability myself, if we were to assume that the previous factor of AP * 0.15 is still factored into the total damage, this would actually be a buff since it would cause the ability to scale with AP in two ways. The formula would then look like this:
Total Damage = (AP * 0.15) + (AP/630 + 3.4) * Energy Spent + CP Bonus Damage
The total damage for the revised version of Ferocious Bite (Rank 6) would then be 1698 which is not only slightly higher than what we see now but also means the ability will scale better than it once did.
Ferocious Bite is getting a nice boost to crit (talented and only against a bleeder), and coupled with what could be much higher AP totals at 80 we may be an increase in the use of this ability. Is this right? Let us know, and I’ll be back soonish with another installment of "Why does it smell like wet bear over here?" Okay, I actually intend to take a gander at Dire Cat Form, but with my usual level of superb insight and amazing deductive skill… or something. Oh hell, I think we all know that if it doesn’t look like a ball of string or a river full of salmon, I’m lost.
See you then!
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I’d agree with you on this. If the current formula is:
Total Damage = (AP * 0.15) + (Energy Spent * 4.1) + CP Bonus Damage
then I’d expect the new formula to be
Total Damage = (AP * 0.15) + (Energy Spent * AP/630 + 3.4) + CP Bonus Damage
Which means that the break even point for old vs new is 441 AP. Anything higher than 441 and you’re gaining extra damage from the new version.
441AP = (4.1-3.4) * 630
One thing I’d like to point out is that this new change is relatively moot.
The DPE of the extra Energy Spent portion is horrible inefficient. With Level 63 Ferocious Bite @ 5 CP, you’ll be doing an average of 935 damage from the combo point portion. The 4k AP contributes 600 more damage. 1535 damage / 35 energy = ~44 damage per energy.
Compare this with the damage per energy of the Energy Spent: 4.1 damage per extra energy spent. Or the new version with 4k: ~10 damage per extra energy spent. Given that this damage is likely to be also be affected by armor, you’re looking at ~7 damage per energy. If you waited until you had 100 Energy, you also have to consider what you would have done in the 4-6 extra seconds it would take to regain 40-60 energy.
If you chose to use Ferocious Bite, use it when you have barely enough energy to use it and no more. Sure that little extra of energy is getting a buff from this, but just like a Rogue’s Eviscerate, you’re not going to want use Ferocious Bite over something that has a better return of damage per energy like Mangle.
Korrynas last blog post..Mailbag: Fallacious Bite
Hello Kitty!
First, thank you for reply!
My main concern comes from the idea that there will be only one scalable factor, used only once in formula.
Perhaps I’m just too addicted to optimization, to realise that you can have one factor used twice.
I was sure that by adding ‘scaling’ they just move AP bonus into main formula.
If in fact, they will keep formula mentioned in article, perhaps FB will be quite useful not only for PvP.
Why?
Connect FB with Omen of Clarity, new Tigers Fury and Primal Agression talent.
suddenly we are not talking about
(4000/630 + 3.4) * 15 + 951.5 = 1098 damage.
but:
(4000/630 + 3.4) * 75 + 951.5 = 1682 damage.
so 600 pure damage more. (in one second)
now:
Primal Agression Rank 5 – increases the critical strike chance of your Ferocious Bite ability on bleeding targets by 50%.
Predatory Instincts Rank 5 – your damage from melee critical strikes by 10% and your chance to avoid area effect attacks by 15%.
damn.. now even The Winner Of Most Useless Feral DPS Talent Award (3 years in a row) Feral Aggression – Rank 5 (Increases the attack power reduction of your Demoralizing Roar by 40% and the damage caused by your Ferocious Bite by 15%.) looks useful.
why?
We are trying to kill Kael…
NOW new FB looks perfect for his bubble.
“9.4 + 4000/630 = 9.4 + 6.3 = 15.7 AP per energy
In the BEST scenario, when you use Ferocious Bite at full energy (LOL), you will receive:(100 – 35) * 15.7 = 1020 AP”
The tooltip at the top says it’s an extra 9.4+(AP/630)damage but everyone in the post is stating it’s 3.4+AP/630 so assuming on the tooltip as posted.
If it was converted to AP it would be quite a nerf in my view, however being bonus damage, your getting 15.7 damage per energy so from full energy you would get 15.7×65=1020.5 Bonus Damage.
So assuming 5 combo points and full energy when used and an average damage from the skill Ferocious Bite/5Combo Points(1570-1710/2=1640 Average)
So 1640+1020.5(@4000AP)=2660.5 Dmg at full strength.
I may be wrong but I hope I’m not lol.
:Cyrin we took 3.4 because this is value for skill from level 63.
we can’t compare level 70++ skills from tBC and WotLK.
If you want use skill from level 78 you should take into consideration hidden AP bonus.
so:
(AP * 0.15) + (AP/630 + 9.4) * Energy Spent + CP Bonus Damage
(4000 * 0.15) + (4000/630 + 9.4) * 65 + 1640
(600) + (1020) + 1640 = 3260.
…before crit and DPS booster from talents.
Completely off the dominant ferocious bite topic, but teachers <3 our IT gods and goddesses. Our savior is exceedingly patient with the technophobes, but never condescending to the technophiles. He even spends his weekends traveling to a Air Force base 3 hours away to get their decommissioned computers (we’re one of the few schools getting newer computers during Florida’s massive education funding crisis).