This just in!
8:11 AM
Posted by Reygahnci on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Okay, technically it came in after I left work yesterday, but still... it seems important.
Predatory Strikes now gives your finishing moves a 7/13/20% chance per combo point to make your next Nature spell with a cast time of less than 10 seconds (can't use Revive) instant cast. Yes, this means Cyclone. Yes, this means Entangling Roots. Yes, this means Healing Touch... yes this means a little more PvP love.
Since the patch notes don't explicitly state it, I figured I would put some information here:
1) The proc gives you a buff called Predatory Strikes
2) The proc LOOKS like the icon for PS
3) The proc is a physical buff (can't be purged/dispelled)
4) The proc doesn't appear to have an internal cooldown
5) The proc lasts 15 seconds
... wait, it lasts 15 seconds and doesn't have a cooldown? Doesn't that mean that I can get the proc, wait until I have 3-4 combo points on my train, insta-cyclone his healer, and by the time I use FB on him at 5cps, the healer's Cyclone will be just about done and I can then throw one on the train?
Yes, it is definitely looking that way. This is a HUGE step forward for Ferals. Season 7 Feral control class... fantastic!
Also, I'm going to be talk a bit about Armor Penetration later today if I can find the time.
August 26, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Awesome, but I can't imagine that feral insta-Cyclone won't get nerfed.
August 26, 2009 at 8:44 AM
I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it goes for a while... instant-cast Cyclones aren't as bad as Blind when you get down to it.
The opportunity-costs of using Cyclone are MUCH steeper than that of using Blind (3 GCDs for an instant-cast Cyclone, plus it will cost ~800 mana versus 1 GCD while not having to leave a dps stance). I'm thinking that the devs are finally starting to understand what is plaguing Ferals and how best to fix them... is this the magic bullet? Likely not, but it could be a very close resolution for season seven.