With the release of Patch 2.4, the way that Spirit-based mana regeneration is calculated will be changing so that Intellect is also a factor. On the up side, it’s a marked improvement for Spirit-based spellcasters, and the improvement actually scales exponentially with gear. Notably, all mana users will now use the same base formula for their mana regeneration with no more delineations by class. Classes like the Druid and Priest will still derive additional benefit when talenting Intensity and Meditation, however, and the Druid spell Innervate means that we get an even larger benefit than most. Notably, this also means that a Druid who shifts into Bear Form or Cat Form will continue to regenerate her mana just as before rather than at the decreased rate prior to Patch 2.4.

On the down side, it obsoletes many of the previously written articles here at Resto4Life that deal specifically with the issue of mana regeneration. Slowly, I’ll be replacing those out of date articles with new ones to help you continue to make the best decisions with regard to your gear and playstyle. This article will be focused on helping you determine the optimal ratio between Intellect and Spirit. Because of the complicated interaction between the two, this is no longer a set number and changes based on how much Intellect/Spirit you have, the length of the fight, the use of Innervate, the presence of Intensity, and the use of the Bangle of Endless Blessings. For those that don’t want to get into the gritty details presented below, a good rule of thumb for boss fights will be to aim for 40% more Spirit than Intellect.

Continue reading ’2.4 Mana Regen: The Basics’…

Related Posts

• 2.4 Mana Regen: The Mana Regen Calculator
• Revaluing Spirit
• 2.4 Mana Regen: Getting the Most out of Innervate

I have revised my original opinion on this topic. You can find the updated analysis here: Idol Chatter.

Leighbra of Sentinels (US) writes in with this question:

At the moment, I have 494 Spirit unbuffed. I’m at about 675 fully raid buffed. I don’t have any idea how I ended up with so much Spirit and have been looking at what I can do with my enchants to play with that number, but I’m cheap and don’t like to re-enchant things… I have the [Idol of the Emerald Queen] equipped, and of course Lifebloom is my most commonly cast spell. So, from my Tree of Life aura, in raids, that means about 135ish additional +Healing for the people in my group.

I’m trying to figure out if it would be more beneficial to the guild/raid (not just my healing numbers) for me to be in a group with our tanks and to equip that often discarded [Idol of the Raven Goddess], especially after it gets buffed, than me having the [Idol of the Emerald Queen] equipped. Especially on Gruul, when after 8 growths we tell our DPS to heal themselves, and have all 8/9 healers focus on our two tanks.

First of all, great question, especially in light of the upcoming update to our idols. Previously, the [Idol of the Emerald Queen] was indisputably the best one available to us. This is kind of sad considering it’s a blue item from a non-Heroic dungeon (Shadow Labyrinth). It really speaks to the — likely unanticipated — power of Lifebloom. With Patch 2.4, however, the bonus to your Tree of Life aura from the [Idol of the Raven Goddess] will jump from 20 to 44, certainly a marked improvement. And while I hesitate to tell you definitively which Idol will be better for you and your raid, I can help give you a list of considerations to help you decide!

Continue reading ‘Mailbag: Idol of the Raven Goddess’…

Related Posts

• Idol Chatter
• ToL Aura Change Buffs Some Spells, Nerfs Others
• Mailbag: A Deforested Restoration Build?

I hate them. Which is why I haven’t written about them before now. Maybe it’s their non-traditional effects or the fact that many of them are triggered (which means you have to remember to trigger them). Either way, there’s never been a clear best-of-breed pair of trinkets to me. So I collect them and then I put them in the bank, waiting for the day that another Druid blogger will write this article so I can gleefully dust off the pair she’s enthusiastically endorsed. Right now I’d like to take the opportunity to say that the rest of you Restos are slackers for making me do this. I hate trinkets!

The trinkets I’m going to be looking at are the Eye of Gruul, Fel Reaver’s Piston, the Lower City Prayerbook, Essence of the Martyr, Living Root of the Wildheart, the Ribbon of Sacrifice, Bangle of Endless Blessings, Scarab of the Infinite Cycle, the Alchemist’s Stone, the Pendant of the Violet Eye, and the Darkmoon Card: Blue Dragon.

Prioritizing

From these summarized values and excluding those trinkets irrelevant to the Druid HoT-based style of healing, I would personally prioritize these trinkets in the following way:

* The differences between these are marginal and largely dependent upon external factors such as cast speed. Use your best judgment.

Without a doubt, the Bangle comes out on top. It simply blows all the others away. I was shocked to discover this, especially considering that it’s a blue item from a non-Heroic instance. A significant portion of its value comes from its use in conjunction with Innervate, so if you aren’t already doing this … well, I can’t believe you’re reading Resto4Life and not already doing this! I’m strongly considering a follow-up piece to this one that looks at the Bangle in more depth .. and I suspect I may not have a choice in the matter once the incredulous comments start.

Math

Because not everyone likes math, I’ve separated it out from the comparison portion. Here are some of the fundamentals used to determine the values of these trinkets:

Proc to Restore Mana

The formula to determine the MP5 value of an item that procs a mana restore a certain % of the time is as follows:

MP5 = 5 * (mana restored / (cast frequency/proc rate))

This formula can be applied to the [Eye of Gruul] and applied toward the 415 mana cost of a Rejuvenation when in caster form:

MP5 = 5 * (415 / (2/0.02)) = 20.75

Proc Duration for Items without an Internal Cooldown

The formula to determine the proc duration (in %time) for an item without an internal cooldown is as follows:

t% = 1 – (1 – proc rate)^(duration of buff/casting frequency)

We can apply this formula to the [Living Root of the Wild Heart] (3% proc rate with a proc duration of 15 seconds). This works out to (1 – (1 – 0.03)^(15/2) or 20% of the time, assuming a cast rate of 2.0 seconds. At a cast rate of 3.0 seconds, it drops to 14.1% of the time.

Applying this formula to the [Darkmoon Card: Blue Dragon] (2% chance with a proc duration of 15 seconds), we find that the buff should be active (1 – (1 – 0.02)^15/2) or 14% of the time at a cast rate of 2.0 seconds. At a cast rate of 3.0 seconds, this buff should be active 9.6% of the time. I found the additional 70% mana regeneration provided by the Dragon card when the proc was up (100% – 30% from Intensity) and discarded the at least 5.56% of the time you’d be likely to be under the effects of an Innervate. I then graphed the contribution of the Dragon Card to your mana regeneration at values of Spirit ranging from 300-700:

Proc Frequency for Items with an Internal Cooldown

The formula to determine the proc rate (measured in PPM) for an item with an internal cooldown is as follows:

PPM = 60 / ((casting frequency/proc rate) + internal cooldown)

We can apply this formula to the [Bangle of Endless Blessings]. With a 10% proc rate and 45 second internal cooldown, the Bangle would have an average PPM of 60 / ((2/0.1) + 45) or 0.92 PPM, assuming a cast rate of 2.0 seconds. At a cast rate of 3.0 seconds, the PPM would drop to 0.8 PPM. So that we can reuse the method used to determine the MP5 value at varying levels of Spirit for the Blue Dragon, we need to convert PPM into the percent of time that the buff will be active. This formula is simply:

%t = (duration * PPM) / 60

With a 15 second duration and cast frequency of 2.0 seconds, the percent time this buff will be active is 23%. With a casting time of 3.0 seconds, 20%. As with the Blue Dragon, the proc is worthless to us while under the effects of Innervate, so we have to exclude its benefits by multiplying what it gives by (1 – 20/360) or 94%. Graphed against values of Spirit ranging from 300-700:

Of course, the world would be too simple a place if this were the only component involved in determining the value of the Bangle. We also have to take into consideration its on use effect, twice without Innervate and once with Innervate. Luckily, this calculation isn’t too heinous since it’s a flat Spirit bonus of 130 for 15 seconds (149.5 if you have Living Spirit). We can determine the value of a tick of Spirit-based mana regeneration with the following formula:

MP5_Spirit = SPI/4.5 * 5/2

We then multiply this value by 4 since there are 4 ticks in 20 seconds:

Mana Return = MP5_Spirit * 4

And then multiply it again by 0.3 due to Intensity and given the nature of Lifebloom:

Mana Return_{in combat} = Mana Return * 0.3

So if we plug in 130 for the value of Spirit, we get 86.7 total mana back when used. With Living Spirit, we’d get 99.7 mana back each use. In a six minute period, we’ll include two of those uses and then a third use in conjunction with Innervate:

Mana Return_Innervate = SPI/4.5 * 5/2 * 4 * 500%

Without Living Spirit this comes out to an additional 1444.4 mana. With Living Spirit, it’s worth 1661.1. To determine the MP5 afforded by this trinket’s on use effect we consider 2 instances of it without Innervate plus one instance of it with then divide the total additional mana return by the number of ticks in 6 minutes:

MP5_{w/o Living Spirit} = (86.7 + 86.7 + 1444.4) / (6*60/5) = 22.5 MP5

MP5_{w/ Living Spirit} = (99.7 + 99.7 + 1661.1) / (6*60/5) = 25.8 MP5

Since the two components rely upon cast frequency, your Spirit total, and Living Spirit, we end up with a range of possible values.

Valuing the [Alchemist's Stone]

Using the analysis from MP5 vs. Intellect and assuming a fight length of 8 minutes and the 10% bonus from Blessing of Kings, 15 Intellect converts to 2.58 MP5. Applying the analysis from MP5 vs. Spirit and assuming Blessing of Kings, Living Spirit, Innervate, and 80% of the time in FSR, the 15 Spirit converts approximately to 6.67 MP5. The MP5 value from stats alone is therefore 6.67 + 2.58 or 9.25 MP5. The MP5 value of its potion augmenting effect will depend upon the type of potion used but can be determined as:

MP5_{Potion Increase} = Avg. Additional Mana Returned/Ticks in 2 Min

Therefore, the additional MP5 contribution for various mana potions will be:

• [Major Dreamless Sleep Potion]: 1440/24 = 60 MP5
• [Fel Mana Potion]: 1280/24 = 53.3 MP5
• [Super Mana Potion]: 960/24 = 40 MP5
• [Mad Alchemist Potion]: 880/24 = 33.3 MP5

By summing the MP5 value of its stats and the MP5 increase for various potions, we arrive at the following values:

• [Major Dreamless Sleep Potion]: 9.25 + 60 = 69.25
• [Fel Mana Potion]: 9.25 + 53.3 = 62.55
• [Super Mana Potion]: 9.25 + 40 = 49.25 MP5
• [Mad Alchemist Potion]: 9.25 + 33.3 = 42.6 MP5

Valuing the [Pendant of the Violet Eye]

As with the Alchemist’s Stone, we can convert the 40 Intellect on this item into MP5. Assuming a fight length of 8 minutes and the 10% bonus from Blessing of Kings, 40 Intellect converts to 6.88 MP5. Since the mana regeneration afforded by each application of the buff within 20 seconds increases in a linear fashion, we can determine the likely number of applications (based on cast frequency) and use the average mana regeneration between the first and last applications:

Avg. MP5 = ((duration/cast frequency) * 21 MP5) / 2

At a cast frequency of once every 2 seconds, the average MP5 value of this trinket while the buff is active would be 105 MP5. At a cast frequency of once every 3 seconds, this value is 70 MP5. If used every cooldown, it is active for 20 seconds out of every 2 minutes or 16.7% of the time. Multiplying this percentage by the MP5 values gives an MP5 of 17.5 with a cast frequency of 2.0 and 11.7 with a cast frequency of 3.0. Adding the MP5 equivalent of its passive +40 Intellect, we arrive at a final value of 24.38 at 2.0 and 18.58 at 3.0.

Related Posts

• Getting More out of Innervate
• Omen of Clarity
• Revaluing Spirit

Visitors frequently ask for recommendations or critiques on prospective talent builds. These builds range from builds for leveling to just starting out in Karazhan, to specs that allow for a mix of farming (hello, Epic Flight Form) and instance/raid healing. This is the first in a series of posts designed to address these types of questions, giving me something to which I can refer readers who write in.

While it’s possible to level purely Restoration, I don’t recommend it unless you have a constant companion for the duration of your leveling experience. Instead, I encourage players who want to level up while learning to heal to consider a talent spec that mixes Balance and Restoration. Because although many Druids opt to level with a Feral spec, if your passion is for Healing, you’re more likely to gravitate toward and derive more enjoyment from damage dealing via spells than claws. I also think that the synergy between Balance and Restoration is stronger than that between Feral and Restoration. Here is a guide of recommended talent selection from levels 10-70 with an emphasis upon Healing talents alongside a smattering of Balance talents to provide you with the firepower to get to the Outlands (where, as we all know, the real fun begins).

Assuming you chose a fifth point of Subtlety at level 70, this build looks like this. This build emphasizes the use of Healing Touch over HoTs which generally fare better at higher levels of gear than you will have first starting out. It’s more or less a variation on the popular Dreamstate build which dips deeper into the Balance tree at the expense of Swiftmend. I’ve gone back to this build several times, and it remains one of my favorites, being especially useful in Heroic instances since you will rely heavily upon the high HPS of your Healing Touch — at least at first — whether specced for Tree of Life or not.

There are, of course, several other possible viable talent builds at level 70, but I’ll save those for a later time.

If you are looking for a build that more heavily emphasizes the firepower of the Balance tree and are comfortable with learning the in’s and out’s of Druid healing later, check out the great guide Beneficial Balance Builds from Nasirah’s “A Tale of Two Druids”! And for Big Bear Butt’s perspective on a Feral leveling build, check out his recent article over on WoWInsider.com! Note that you are only permitted to use one of these two specs if you promise to spec back to healing once you hit 70. /shakes finger

Related Posts

• Balance Tree … Uprooted and Transplanted
• Build 8885 and 8905 Changes
• Talent Updates from Alpha

This article became obsolete as of Patch 2.4. For Intellect and MP5 comparisons relevant as of 2.4, please see 2.4 Mana Regen – Part 1: The Basics and 2.4 Mana Regen – Part 2: The Mana Regen Calculator.

Intellect and Mana per Five share an interesting relationship. While every point of Intellect gives you mana up front, the MP5 statistic returns mana over time, assuming you aren’t already at your maximum. As you might have intuited, determining their relative values involves a consideration of time. Luckily, the formula that determines their relationship is one of the simplest.

For every point of Intellect, a caster adds 15 more mana to her base mana pool. And every point of MP5 returns 1 Mana every 5 seconds. Therefore, at 1 minute and 15 seconds, a single point of MP5 is worth a point of Intellect. This sliding scale can be expressed by the following formula:

(Fight Length in Seconds/5)/15 = Intellect required to Equal 1 MP5

If we consider the value of Blessing of Kings, a buff grantiing 10% to all stats that is available in most 25-man raids, it increases the value of Intellect by 10%, changing our formula to the following:

(Fight Length in Seconds/5)/(15*1.1) = Intellect required to Equal 1 MP5

Applying these two formulas to fights varying from 0 to 10 minutes, we can derive the following graph:

Therefore, to know how much you value Intellect, you will want to consider the average length of those boss fights which which your guild is currently struggling (i.e., disregard encounters you have on farm; they are less likely to require optimization).

Related Posts

• 2.4 Mana Regen: Paladin Blessings
• Blessing of Kings vs. Blessing of Wisdom
• MP5 vs. Spirit