Dot Uptime versus Solace and Insanity

[Tihsho]

I am trying to improve my dps in our ToT raids. I have noticed that a huge issue I am having is DOT uptimes on the fights.

world of log link: http://www.worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-l ... etails/10/
Armory Link: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/a ... sho/simple

As you can tell, my gear is not lacking and should be pulling remarkable dps. What I am worried about is my performance consistency and how the DOT uptimes are affecting this. I can do great on some but I suck horribly on others.

On most boss attempts, my VT and SW:D are sitting in the low 70's percentile. Most of my downtime on dots is happening with the MFI channeling from what I have seen. With the priorities, it's refresh the dot or keep channeling.

Does anyone else have this problem? If you do, or did, what was your solution? The only solution I can come up with, is that if I am around 10 seconds left on either DOT, that I should refresh them prior to popping DP and MF.

Any advice or a point in the right direction would be awesome as one of my guild officers likes to belittle me any chance he gets because he's getting mad that I have tier and he doesn't. I would rather take his ammunition away.

[Rude]

I was having the same issue with insanity for a bit. Although out of all the things I have tested priority wise the best result has been refreshing dots under 10 seconds before casting my MB/DP and starting insanity. This is discussed in the Shadow Priest guide a bit.

[Tihsho]

Ahh, ok.

I must have missed that in the guide. Sorry for cluttering up the theorycrafting forum with my post.

I'll check on that and go from there.

[Hexn]

Got some time, so ill answer.

What you need to do (when not using DI), is utilize the 8 second window between getting your third orb and casting DP.

I know it feels right and intuitive to just cast DP as soon as you get 3 orbs, but in reality this isn't really a good idea especially not when using Insanity.

When you have 3 orbs you check and see if your dots will need refreshing within the next 7 seconds.

If yes, hold off on the DP, refresh dots as usual when they are gonna expire, and THEN cast DP. Mindblast will then come off cooldown soon thereafter for your first orb. (and cast it even while channeling insanity, as long as you can get another insanity cast afterwards before DP falls off the target).

If no, cast DP right away, channel your insanity and refresh dots when done.

Using this strategy you should increase your dot uptime (and your damage) significantly.

An exception to this is when using DI. Because you risk losing out on a proc by delaying DP, you should always cast it pretty much as soon as you get your third orb.

[Tihsho]

That was another thing that I was wondering about. I do have DI proc a lot when I am doing MFI and I was wondering which one would take priority. I tend to get about three channels in, 2 and a half mostly though. What I do is I channel MFI and sometimes about 3/4's of the way through the second one, I clip it to channel again so I can get a full channel back in before DP drops.

Thanks for the input. It is much appreciated.

[Shardstorm]

Shadow Orb generators always take top priority, more orbs is more DP is more insanity. As said above, read this top to bottom, it covers a lot of peoples experiences with what feels right and works with SW:I. The big part is as Hexn said, to delay the DP such that you can start your final channel right before DP drops off, rather than having to chop it for a MB or SW:D. Also that single SW:D casts during the Insanity channel result in higher DPS.

[lyser]

I just have a quick question in regards to Insanity. Let's say DP has .5 seconds left on it's duration, and I cast another Mind Flay (Insanity) right before that expires. On the cast bar, it still says Mind Flay (Insanity), but I'm not sure if the Mind Flay stops to benefit from Insanity RIGHT as DP ends, or if it continues to benefit from Insanity if I continue to channel Mind Flay for a few seconds AFTER DP has ended.

I'm guessing it's the first one I mentioned, but I just wanted to ask and make sure.

[Twintop]

I just have a quick question in regards to Insanity. Let's say DP has .5 seconds left on it's duration, and I cast another Mind Flay (Insanity) right before that expires. On the cast bar, it still says Mind Flay (Insanity), but I'm not sure if the Mind Flay stops to benefit from Insanity RIGHT as DP ends, or if it continues to benefit from Insanity if I continue to channel Mind Flay for a few seconds AFTER DP has ended.

I'm guessing it's the first one I mentioned, but I just wanted to ask and make sure.

If you start channeling Mind Flay when DP is on the target, it will become (and be) Mind Flay (Insanity) for the duration. HOWEVER, any Mastery procs that occur check to see if DP is active on the target. If DP is not on the target when the Mastery proc occurs it will be a normal MF rather than a MFI.

[lyser]

I just have a quick question in regards to Insanity. Let's say DP has .5 seconds left on it's duration, and I cast another Mind Flay (Insanity) right before that expires. On the cast bar, it still says Mind Flay (Insanity), but I'm not sure if the Mind Flay stops to benefit from Insanity RIGHT as DP ends, or if it continues to benefit from Insanity if I continue to channel Mind Flay for a few seconds AFTER DP has ended.

I'm guessing it's the first one I mentioned, but I just wanted to ask and make sure.

If you start channeling Mind Flay when DP is on the target, it will become (and be) Mind Flay (Insanity) for the duration. HOWEVER, any Mastery procs that occur check to see if DP is active on the target. If DP is not on the target when the Mastery proc occurs it will be a normal MF rather than a MFI.

Interesting, thanks for the info :)