Sword Spec: Flurry Vs. Tactical Mastery

[Burden]

So I am getting the S3 sword day 1 because, frankly, I'm sick of Mace spec and using DT. I just need a change I suppose. However, I'm choosing sword because:

a) Burst potential
b) It's going to fit better into our 5v5 lineup.

Now I mainly just mess around with 2v2 and 3v3, helping people or whatever, but 5v5 is my real serious team.

That being said, I know tactical mastery offers more flexibility in situations like when you're being FFd or CCd, but in 5s, you already have a shitload of rage just from 3-4 people wailing on you. So, do you guys believe that Flurry would be the better choice than Tactical mastery in this situation?

Same concept would apply for Axes too I suppose.

[nubbey]

i personally think tm is a waste of points for 5v5 for the reasons you specified. however, do you really think that mace spec is inferior to swords for your 5v5? it seems like a drain team, leveraging on the high mana regen of shaman + paladin combined with warlock drains and mage cc. in a drain team, you can never have too much cc, and mace gives exactly that.

[Burden]

Well we aren't exactly a drain team, if we were we would be running a priest and/or a hunter. But, one thing I forgot to mention was that our shaman plans to go elemental next season, so we will be running 4 dps + paladin.

[Warguyver]

Personally, I haven't found much of a use for TM in 5v5's for your listed reasons and it's only situationally useful in 2v2's/3v3's.

Btw, his 5v5 does have high burst potential with bloodlust + shatter combo + shadow bolt/burn while capable of simultaneously shutting down 3 healers.

[nubbey]

i still think maces are the way to go, nerf or not; adding control to a class with none is obviously desirable. but that's derailing the thread somewhat, so i'll shut up.

basically you'll probably want flurry to crank out as much damage as possible, but i'm really thinking 45/5/11 will be the way to spec for 5s.

if i can give you any strategy with your four dps next season, it would be to leverage your cc. warlock+mage is a good deal of control, and when combined with an earth shock and a hammer of justice, you can basically have the other team entirely locked down for a good period of time. Play offensive, but don't shoot your wad too early...spend some time ccing people and spamming purge. Let them blow their trinket on a fear or a sheep... then, 15 seconds later, you hit them again with a full duration sheep, full duration fear, hammer of justice somebody, earthshock somebody, and everyone trinkets/bloodlust/cooldown right into the target, and if he doesnt die, they'll be under so much pressure that they won't be doing much of anything in return.

[Kazimir]

Basically just re-itterating nubbey. Dont bust all your CD's in the first 10 seconds. Make them trinket / bubble / cos / whatever they do. Prolly 1-2 minutes into the fight they have burned their methods to escape cc, then get some controlled cc / spell locks and bust your load on one guy. Just make them get into a situation where they have to use that bubble or trinket, otherwise it could turn into a drain war. Drain wars in 5v5 suck... so long.

[nubbey]

Just make them get into a situation where they have to use that bubble or trinket, otherwise it could turn into a drain war. Drain wars in 5v5 suck... so long.

You're telling me; i'm on a drain team! Longest games ever, lol.

[Burden]

I think what I'm going to do is test out 45/5/11 tuesday. Probably go ahead and get the bonegrinder since it will be a month ish before our shaman gets all his elemental gear, and I'll buy the sword later in the season and try that out. Thus far, maces have not failed me.