Moonkin 3.3.3 changes so far 2 comments

Druids got a few mentions in the patch notes yesterday as I am sure you'll be aware if you keep an eye on any of the other blogs or MMO Champion. Realistically I can't see the Typhoon or Nature's Grasp changes doing anything for Moonkin in PvE however there was 1 buff that made me die a little inside at first glance. It's started to grow on me a bit now.

Starfall buff

Starfall damage has been increased. Now causes 563 to 653 Arcane damage (Up from 433 to 503) and 101 Arcane damage (Up from 78) to all other enemies within 5 yards.

Couple this with this nice little bit from Ghostcrawler for the theorycrafters out there (source)

Hey Hamlet, sorry for any confusion. We probably should have just waited until you guys could test it on the PTR.

I think I figured out how you all are calculating the coefficient, so maybe this will make more sense. Again, I'm not 100% sure we're speaking the same language here. If I have time, maybe I will just log in with a moonkin and compare the before and after and post numbers.

Main star
Old coefficient: 4.8%
New coefficient: 37%

Splash damage
Old coefficient: 1.2%
New coefficient: 13%

As I said, these numbers are very generous. If Balance druids melt the world we may have to back off of them.

My initial thoughs were that this will do next to nothing, but then I spotted Gray Matter: :Starfall Buffed.

Graylos numbers indicate that the buff alone is about about a 4-5% boost to damage over the course of a single-target boss, which for a 1-point (albeit 51-pointer) talent isn't bad alone, ignoring the existing damage.

The secondary point which is more worth focusing on is that it means that the DPS increase from [Glyph of Starfall] and [Glyph of Insect Swarm] is now reversed to the tune of about 50 dps (according to Graylos theorycrafting).

This in turn means we can remove the [Glyph of Insect Swarm] in favour of [Glyph of Starfall], which in turn means that this buff is not only a 4-5% buff to damage, but also a 3% hit debuff added to the raid. This of course assumes all Moonkin currently go for the most beneficial DPS glyphs.

At the end of the day

Firstly, the patch notes are not final. Things may yet change more. Even if they go live today as-is I don't think that it's a bad buff. It won't alter the course of history, but really we didn't need anything that drastic.

Secondly, this shouldn't be viewed as simply a DPS buff, rather a DPS buff combined with a buff to avoidance through the 3% hit debuff applied by an unglyphed Insect Swarm.

Finally, where do I get my feathers on that lovely looking rocket!!!!

Comments

Threa 7:13AM on the 5th of Mar 2010

I'm glad we're getting another buff, I really had my doubts that they would make another change to Starfall but I was incorrect.

I've actually begun testing out encounters in ICC to better time my Starfall casts. One in particular that I'm trying to get the timing and hang of is LK, so as to prevent aggroing adds as they spawn before our tank can pick them up.

Here's to hoping the 4-5% increase in damage will get us up higher in the damage charts. :)

Aeiedil 9:14AM on the 5th of Mar 2010

To be honest I've not had much of an issue with over-aggro so far, however with the buffed Starfall this may have to change a bit.