[WoW] 5 Magi versus Dungeons - Progression from 50-85 [Archive]

dancook

11-02-2011, 08:35 AM

Quested 7 levels last now, which puts my mages @47.

I've cleared some trash and a few bosses in a couple of instances, really expecting to get to level 50 with mirror images and walk all over everything.

Are my expectation realistic in the slightest? :) how were dungeons for other 5 x mage groups @ 50+ ?

For the fun of it - I put my character profiles here

http://www.danielcook.com/

jstanthr

11-02-2011, 10:54 AM

i boosted my team, but what little pvp i done along the way was pointless as my guys really didn't have any gear to speak of.

Littleburst

11-02-2011, 12:34 PM

You'll blow up stuff before it hits you.

dancook

11-02-2011, 12:36 PM

You'll blow up stuff before it hits you.

So that's bosses then right? :) woo

Littleburst

11-02-2011, 12:41 PM

So that's bosses then right? :) woo

I never did a full mage team, but there are few things I know:

1. Bosses are nothing compared to what they were in Vanilla. Little HP and for most of the instances you do while leveling you don't even need a proper tank. I cleared good parts of instances with just my hunter, a mage and a healer.
2. Arcane mages do insane damage with CD's up. With just my one mage stuff died quite quick. If I imagine 5 of that...
3. Polymorph x 5 = win. If you can't polymorph there's the frost tree that gives you plenty of CC.
4. Did I mention Arcane mages do insane damage?

Sidenote is obviously that there are situations in encounters that might screw you up. Like a dragonbreath on you + your mirrors.

dancook

11-02-2011, 03:05 PM

looking super cute @48

dancook

11-02-2011, 05:55 PM

Got my heirloom head piece now, and cleared ZF no problem!

Doing BRD took down General Angerforge (54) @ level 51. Very close though.. lot of spells misses due to level, and then i had to aoe all the adds at the end of the fight.

dancook

11-02-2011, 09:07 PM

a few snaps of my ickle army:)

MiRai

11-02-2011, 10:28 PM

Gnomes are so icky.

Littleburst

11-03-2011, 02:18 PM

What an empty AH?!

Looks fun :)

dancook

11-03-2011, 04:09 PM

What an empty AH?!

Looks fun :)

It was gone 1am:)

I flew through strat early even though I can't use cc on undead. I realised I shouldn't use arcane missiles and it was a blast :) cleared last boss

dancook

11-03-2011, 09:03 PM

level 52 and both parts of Stratholme done - just downed Rivendare.

dancook

11-05-2011, 07:21 AM

BRD Cleared, can't remember level <=55 I Think

@59 I cleared Hellfire Ramparts except for the drake! It came down breathed AOE fire and wiped me out.. I didn't bother trying again :) - I did kill the last boss however, it's all a little easy!

- sorry if it's boring :) but I'd have been interested to know what content I could have managed with 5 mages. heh

dancook

11-07-2011, 05:29 AM

They are level 68 now, managed to burn through outlands over the weekend!

I did kill the drake in ramparts, I remember some advice about killing it before it lands then kill the rider.
The last boss on ramparts @ lvl60 took '6 seconds' - many bosses take 6 seconds :) it's quite fun!

I cleared mana-tombs, auchenai crypts and sethekk halls - @ lvl 66 I attempted Shadow Labrynth - everything was orange. I got feared and wiped in the room of the first boss and decided I couldn't be bothered trying - and I don't plan to go back now I'm doing northend @68.

Wxarch Maladaar, the end boss of auchenai crypts was particularly dissapointed, no fight whatsoever! But the boss Shirrak the Dead Watcher applies a stacking debuff of 100% reduce cast time (100 each stack). I killed it with Arcane explosion and arcane barrage.

@67.5 I decided to give AV a whirl, what a blast! :) 5 x Arcane barrage instant kill on many players. If I stand in a tower and they peak their head in - DEAD.

Since it's been previously advised to get PVP gear for arcane mages even for PVE - i think I might do this at lvl 85.. I look forward to it :)

Zub

11-07-2011, 07:40 AM

Good going !
Keep the updates coming, i play wow indirectly through you ;-)

dancook

11-07-2011, 08:07 AM

Good going !
Keep the updates coming, i play wow indirectly through you ;-)

Well lucky you, big timer saver :) I started levelling tailoring on all five mages - I started buying silk (the guide says 760 silk cloth x 5!!) on the AH and as new stock came in it was double the price! ... sod that :)

I created 100's of green items between them, which i mail to my main mage/enchanter and spent 30 minutes DE'ing each one.. sigh.. at least I can level enchanting cheaply this way.

Just need more cloth!

dancook

11-07-2011, 08:47 AM

A little light reading and an overview of the weekend :) all five mages ran together for all.

http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/character/magtheridon/Mudgem/feed

dancook

11-07-2011, 04:28 PM

since i'm going to do some PVP i upgraded my arcane barrage macro

/castsequence reset=1 Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Fire Blast, Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Ice Lance, Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Ice Lance

I should be able to spam it pretty much...

dancook

11-07-2011, 07:54 PM

So tonight, I've been defending balinda when I can get into AV - the horde poke their hand right the corner..then run back- too late. Instant fires, and death.... no hiding.

I also bought out all the silk cloth in Azeroth and still I need more - so I'm going to grind some SM whilst queuing for AV.. I'm actually in no rush to get to lvl 70 whilst i'm having so much fun in AV. coming top!

valkry

11-08-2011, 07:37 AM

dancook

11-08-2011, 11:16 AM

:) I found with online AH I can buy really cheap cloth during the day at work.. woo

Oh I set up a blog too, nothing special - i'm no writer, but thought it might be nice to make a record of my endeavours. It's not specifically aimed at boxers.

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/

dancook

11-08-2011, 09:35 PM

Utgarde Keep cleared @70, screen shots here
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/

:)

dancook

11-09-2011, 06:00 AM

I did Utgarde last night, blog entry here.

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/utgarde-keep/

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_110911_012708.jpg

Mercurio

11-09-2011, 10:02 AM

Congrats! But how did you get a raid group inside the instance? ;)

With that crew we should see many more victories to come; dungeon bosses will be dropping like flies.

dancook

11-09-2011, 03:35 PM

Congrats! But how did you get a raid group inside the instance? ;)

With that crew we should see many more victories to come; dungeon bosses will be dropping like flies.

Gnome's have their sneaky ways...

The Nexus is complete
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/the-nexus/ (screenshots)

The last boss was a bit tricky, but once I figured out what best to do she went down.

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_110911_191726.jpg

dancook

11-12-2011, 04:22 PM

Azjol-Nerub at level 71, I basically had to suicide burn down the first boss.. then on the corpse run the rest of the mobs were clear.

Spider boss easy.

Last boss wasn't too difficult.. just had to make sure I wasn't careless!

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111211_181117.jpg

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111211_182037.jpg
http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111211_184122.jpg

dancook

11-12-2011, 08:35 PM

@ level 72 I cleared Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/ahnkahet-the-old-kingdom/

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111311_002450.jpg

MiRai

11-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Good stuff.

You may want to edit the title of your thread because you're no longer living life at level 50. ;)

dancook

11-13-2011, 05:45 AM

Good stuff.

You may want to edit the title of your thread because you're no longer living life at level 50. ;)

Cheers:) i've changed it to something more suitable.

dancook

11-13-2011, 07:05 AM

still only level 72 and Drak’Tharon Keep cleared:)

bosses are 76:)

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/draktharon-keep/ (more screenies)

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111311_1004152.jpg
http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111311_1013412.jpg
http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111311_1024022.jpg
http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111311_1044581.jpg

dancook

11-13-2011, 09:04 PM

Gundrak @ 74 - under par with lots of orange mobs..

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/wowscrnshot_111411_004808.jpg

more screens here..
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/gundrak

Go go mages

Mamut

11-14-2011, 02:33 AM

dancook

11-14-2011, 05:16 AM

Very cool to see you clearing instances that are above your level. I just started some mages and cant wait to get mirrors to start doing instances. Reminds me of doing my first 5 man with shamans and earth elementals.

It's the unpredictable sheeps that can make it tough.. you can sheep a set of trash, start firing at one and have two others pop straight out.

I pop mirrors manually :) never know when you might actually need it.

Zub

11-14-2011, 06:09 AM

maybe you can recast sheep part of their rotation ;)

dancook

11-14-2011, 06:18 AM

maybe you can recast sheep part of their rotation ;)

"Quick kill it, before a stupid mage sheeps it again.."

My sheep is right next to my Arcane Barrage instant casts key.. so it's kind of pot luck what might actually happen:)

Zub

11-14-2011, 07:26 AM

if you're fighting casters, a sheep (even broken after a split second) will still interrupt their casting.
So on some packs it might be worth sheepnig just for the sake of it

dancook

11-14-2011, 07:36 AM

if you're fighting casters, a sheep (even broken after a split second) will still interrupt their casting.
So on some packs it might be worth sheepnig just for the sake of it

I'll bear it in mind if it comes to it :) alternatively I could just attempt dungeons my level.

Every time I level up I check the dungeon finder to see what's there.. just a shame I can't port.

Andreauk

11-14-2011, 12:05 PM

If all of them are in boa gear then surely it would be faceroll? I mean I'm a little impressed but would be a lot more if they were in normal gear.

dancook

11-14-2011, 12:18 PM

If all of them are in boa gear then surely it would be faceroll? I mean I'm a little impressed but would be a lot more if they were in normal gear.

I wouldn't say heirlooms are OP at this level - take this for example:

Dignified Headmaster's Charge
Binds to Battle.net account
Two-Hand Staff
320 - 480 Damage Speed 2.90
(138.0 damage per second)
+77 Stamina
+63 Intellect
Requires level 1 to 80 (75)
Item Level 1
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 51 (1.6% @ L75).
Equip: Increases spell power by 325.

(min level 75 Q reward)
Chilly Slobberknocker
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
138 - 208 Damage Speed 3.10
(55.9 damage per second)
+119 Stamina
Durability 100 / 100
Item Level 175
Equip: Increases your hit rating by 50 (2.75% @ L75).
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 47 (2.07% @ L75).
Equip: Increases spell power by 352.

Zub

11-14-2011, 08:35 PM

I wouldn't say heirlooms are OP at this level - take this for example:

Dignified Headmaster's Charge
Binds to Battle.net account
Two-Hand Staff
320 - 480 Damage Speed 2.90
(138.0 damage per second)
+77 Stamina
+63 Intellect
Requires level 1 to 80 (75)
Item Level 1
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 51 (1.6% @ L75).
Equip: Increases spell power by 325.

(min level 75 Q reward)
Chilly Slobberknocker
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
138 - 208 Damage Speed 3.10
(55.9 damage per second)
+119 Stamina
Durability 100 / 100
Item Level 175
Equip: Increases your hit rating by 50 (2.75% @ L75).
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 47 (2.07% @ L75).
Equip: Increases spell power by 352.

Cmon! the boa is more than TWICE the DPS (if you're autoattacking :-)

nevertheless, clearing dungeons at or before level *without a tank or healer* is quite impressive.
how many corpse runs you average per run?

Andreauk

11-15-2011, 03:17 AM

I rolled 4 new accounts, my other half tanks and I'm healing and dpsing.. we only have the boa cloak and we can clear instance bosses 4 levels above us.. now with full boa gear it would be insane.

dancook

11-15-2011, 05:46 AM

Cmon! the boa is more than TWICE the DPS (if you're autoattacking :-)

nevertheless, clearing dungeons at or before level *without a tank or healer* is quite impressive.
how many corpse runs you average per run?

I did notice that :) maybe I should put that in my rotation! /attack !!!

I'd say 'average' 3-4 corpse runs, gundrak trash, rhino's and elemental boss would have brought up that average - trash due to short sheeps, the elemental boss was much easier when I ran away between phases - and those rhino's... well I wouldn't mind popping mirrors for each one and waiting 3 minutes :)

Nexus - died 3-4 times on the last boss, but not before. Ok once I worked out my tactic.

Utgarde Keep - twice, once on second boss and once on last boss.

Azol-Nerub - purposely commit suicide on first boss, as killing the packs before the boss was too overwhelming with no CC and being chain pulled. The last boss I wiped 2-3 times.

Drak'Tharon Keep - I think I only died once and that was on the mixed trash before the last boss, undead versus humanoids with a patrol - just being careless.

dancook

11-15-2011, 05:57 AM

I rolled 4 new accounts, my other half tanks and I'm healing and dpsing.. we only have the boa cloak and we can clear instance bosses 4 levels above us.. now with full boa gear it would be insane.

For sure it would be a easier, but 4 levels above is your limit really before the enemy become 'red' and very hard to hit.

I suppose the trouble with getting the best gear for your level - is that you will often gain experience in doing so and grow out of them faster. With heirlooms, you get the equivalent best gear for your level every time you level up. It's a nice luxury:)

dancook

11-15-2011, 06:13 AM

Another thing, I should have gotten the lvl 70 epic pvp gear much sooner.

It was a boost to the greens I'd been collecting for 4 levels from quests...

http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/character/magtheridon/Mudgem/advanced

http://mudgem.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/mudgem.jpg

dancook

11-15-2011, 08:53 PM

For the record, I went back to Gun'Drak @ level 75 without a single wipe. It was now much easier when my spells don't miss so much, and I knew what to expect from the bosses

also found you could sheep rhino riders..

last boss was 13 seconds instead of 22 seconds @ levle 74

dancook

11-16-2011, 05:24 PM

The CSS/HTML broke on my last theme somehow, so I just switched to another.. :)

The 1080p has the audio swap already.
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/gundrak-video/

t663_T3V3Ls

Liquidity

11-16-2011, 07:57 PM

The CSS/HTML broke on my last theme somehow, so I just switched to another.. :)

The 1080p has the audio swap already.
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/gundrak-video/

t663_T3V3Ls

Do you have a link with all your add-ons? And a link to your macros and set up. I have a 5 mage team as well, I would like to add to my set up with what you are doing.

Multibocks

11-16-2011, 08:04 PM

What are you using grid for specifically?

dancook

11-16-2011, 08:11 PM

Do you have a link with all your add-ons? And a link to your macros and set up. I have a 5 mage team as well, I would like to add to my set up with what you are doing.

Taken from curse client:)

Atlast loot enhanced
auctioneer
clique
dbm spell timers
deadly boss mods + old instances
grid
grid custom layouts
jamba
pitbull unit frames
recount
smartbuff.

Macros are pretty simple I have a round robin on T that runs

/focus
/script SetRaidTarget("target", 1)

/focus
/script SetRaidTarget("target", 2)

3..4..5. etc

Then R sent to all to cast.

/cast [@focus] polymorph

My instant Arcane Barrage key

/castsequence reset=1 Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Fire Blast, Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Ice Lance, Arcane Barrage, Ice Lance, Ice Lance
/use Mana Gem
/use 13
/use 14
/cast Arcane Power

Mana efficient dps
/stopmacro [channeling]
/castsequence reset=6 Arcane Blast,Arcane Blast,Arcane Missiles
/use Mana Gem
/use 13
/use 14

Nuke
/stopmacro [channeling]
/castsequence reset=6 Arcane Blast,Arcane Blast
/use Mana Gem
/use 13
/use 14

This is my second macro fired for both on DPS
/stopmacro [channeling]
/castsequence Arcane Blast
/cast Arcane Power
/cast Presence of Mind

Focus magic is cast when I hit my smartbuff click button (via macro)

!if (character is "slot 1") /castsequence [@{SLOT2}] reset=60 Focus Magic, null
!if (character is "slot 2") /castsequence [@{SLOT3}] reset=60 Focus Magic, null
!if (character is "slot 3") /castsequence [@{SLOT4}] reset=60 Focus Magic, null
!if (character is "slot 4") /castsequence [@{SLOT5}] reset=60 Focus Magic, null
!if (character is "slot 5") /castsequence [@{SLOT1}] reset=60 Focus Magic, null

What are you using grid for specifically?

I originally used it for my DKs+Pala with clique healing - I just kind of like it as a big notification of party health. I was thinking that if I evolved use of it I would be able to click the mage for ice block to prevent death whilst the others continued to dps.

Multibocks

11-17-2011, 12:18 AM

Yeah I was going to do the same, but I stopped playing my mages. Well until the new raid instance comes out that hopefully has trash we can farm :)

dancook

11-17-2011, 04:06 PM

Halls of stone - new video!

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/halls-of-stone-video/

dancook

11-24-2011, 03:10 PM

Got a new video - battlegrounds!

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/alterac-valley-video/

dancook

11-26-2011, 07:16 PM

black rock caverns
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/blackrock-caverns-video/

utgarde pinnacle
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/utgarde-pinnacle-video/

halls of lightning
http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/halls-of-lightning-video/

I think i've hit a stumbling block in cata, in the stonecore I can take down the worm @ about 1.3 mil health - but the drake @ 2.6mil seems a bit too high - got to 1mil before I wiped.

The videos I've seen online of mages beating cata bosses were level 85 I believe - therein lies the secret? :)

Zub

11-26-2011, 08:04 PM

I think i've hit a stumbling block in cata, in the stonecore I can take down the worm @ about 1.3 mil health - but the drake @ 2.6mil seems a bit too high - got to 1mil before I wiped.

The videos I've seen online of mages beating cata bosses were level 85 I believe - therein lies the secret? :)
You're still 82 if i'm not mistaken, by the time you're 85 your dmg output will have tripled.

dancook

11-26-2011, 08:05 PM

I know but it seems cheap to do the stonecore @ 85:)

Zub

11-26-2011, 08:24 PM

Was looking at your toons and noticed this:
http://tonicturtle.free.fr/wow/mudgem.png
must have had a hard time buying those BOAs :-)

dancook

11-26-2011, 08:30 PM

The gold wasn't so much the problem - it was collecting all them justice points!! for the rest.

Zub

11-26-2011, 08:34 PM

The gold wasn't so much the problem - it was collecting all them justice points!! for the rest.
I meant sending your gnome to Orgrimmar :-)

dancook

11-26-2011, 08:42 PM

I meant sending your gnome to Orgrimmar :-)

ahaha :) yes.. good spot..silly blizz

remanz

11-28-2011, 06:02 PM

All arcanes ?

how about all frost mages. or mixing them up.

wouldn't that extra pet after the aggro dump be better ? (more time to dps since the pet takes damage + 3 images).

I am only level 62 x 5. but having funs except the corpse run occasionally.

Multibocks

11-28-2011, 07:22 PM

No, frost doesn't have near the dps that arcane has. At 85 you will see some ridiculous numbers because the fight is so short.

remanz

11-28-2011, 09:04 PM

i see.

arcane x 5 then. Other than fireland mobs, anything else to do with the team ?

dancook

11-29-2011, 06:27 AM

i see.

arcane x 5 then. Other than fireland mobs, anything else to do with the team ?

I actually hadn't considered Firelands trash.

AV has been great fun, just got exalted and I 4000 HP waiting to spend. (currently 84 1/2)

I actually played through all the quests in Hyjal and Deepholm - it didn't seem like as much of a chore with the mage team.

I will be trying out all the cataclysm heroics @ 85 :) when i get a bit of gear.

Multibocks

11-29-2011, 08:47 AM

Made almost 1mill on firelands trash. Then gave it all away lol.

dancook

11-29-2011, 08:58 AM

What were you running? have you got a link/armory?

Multibocks

11-29-2011, 11:02 AM

Just arcane mages. Farmed the trash for the first few days of the fire lands patch. People were paying 60 k a drop and they were dropping like candy. Easy money.

remanz

11-29-2011, 03:33 PM

fire mages got a pretty big buff for 4.3. So I might be trying that out.

BGs, I don't know. have to see. 85 pvp is pretty brutal. Have to practice on what to do when you get swarmed by melees. Can't be constantly losing slaves in a fight. Once split, the grouping up is pretty frustrating. If things get worse, I might swap a mage with a priest. Old school priest + 4 mages.

as for heroics , I am sure mages can do some.

valle2000

12-02-2011, 03:39 PM

Have Blizz changed how Mirror images works? Tried Utgardt keep today and had more troubles than usual killing the Prince. Seemed like he ignored my mirrors and kept attacking my real characters instead. (Or was it simply bad luck this time).

Another question. Can I kill Ingvar somehow with a 5x mage team? Those 30 sec with images isn't enough since he fights in two phases. I keep wiping every time at Ingvar.

dancook

12-02-2011, 04:24 PM

http://mudgem.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/utgarde-keep/

On Ingvar burn him down in phase one, get behind pillar then pop mirrors for second phase:)

dancook

12-02-2011, 05:40 PM

Running 3 mages in normal dungeons with random tank/healer - easy JP since you get the bonus 7 times a week, fast runs.

Multibocks

12-03-2011, 03:57 PM