> Arcane spell penetration

[Nhim]

The penetration of choice seems to be ~130 for most casters.

However; is really be true to arcane mages?
Im refering to arcane mages who spec 57/3/11 and therefore does not rely on Pyroblast for the big hits but instead arcane-blast-setups.

The only frost/fire spell left would then be: Fireblast (and to a lesser extent CoC/Icelance/Frostnova)

With no "Arcane aura" to similar to Fire/Frost-aura and no "Arcane Totem" from shamans, the only thing left is MotW with 75 resistance.
(The exception from this rule would be a mage with arcane sheilding)
Is the reduced fireblast-dmg, worth another ~50 penetration?

I figure it isn't worth it; and this leaves me to belive that 75 penetration would be the penetration of choice for Arcane mages.

Correct/wrong? Any input appreciated!

(Quick edit: Has prob. been asked before, but I did NOT find an answer anywhere in the interweb or on these forums)

[Holyfierss]

get 2 offhands (or wands), one haste and one spell pen.

[Nhim]

Originally Posted by Fierss

get 2 offhands (or wands), one haste and one spell pen.

Yes, good point that if your opponent was a mage you could switch weapons.

However; the question remains whether or not its worth it vs non-mage (and therefore MAX 75 arcane resist) -targets ONLY for fireblast.
Seems very unnecessary!

I might have missed some source of arcane resistance OR use for penetration; and therefore I ask here.

Does a arcane mage need more than 75 penetration vs non-mage-targets?

[Nhim]

I do a shamefull bump on this post.
Any input from arcane mages or mages in general?

[Thufirlol]

Originally Posted by Nhim

The penetration of choice seems to be ~130 for most casters.

However; is really be true to arcane mages?
Im refering to arcane mages who spec 57/3/11 and therefore does not rely on Pyroblast for the big hits but instead arcane-blast-setups.

The only frost/fire spell left would then be: Fireblast (and to a lesser extent CoC/Icelance/Frostnova)

With no "Arcane aura" to similar to Fire/Frost-aura and no "Arcane Totem" from shamans, the only thing left is MotW with 75 resistance.
(The exception from this rule would be a mage with arcane sheilding)
Is the reduced fireblast-dmg, worth another ~50 penetration?

I figure it isn't worth it; and this leaves me to belive that 75 penetration would be the penetration of choice for Arcane mages.

Correct/wrong? Any input appreciated!

(Quick edit: Has prob. been asked before, but I did NOT find an answer anywhere in the interweb or on these forums)

Other mages will still have much more than 75 arcane resist due to the Magic Absorption talent. Frost mages have 120 and arcane mages have 140.

As arcane I still wear 120ish pen. If counterspell gets resisted on another mage that's game right there.

[Nhim]

Originally Posted by Cheweypeete

Other mages will still have much more than 75 arcane resist due to the Magic Absorption talent. Frost mages have 120 and arcane mages have 140.

As arcane I still wear 120ish pen. If counterspell gets resisted on another mage that's game right there.

Thank you for the input, and that is very true!
I guess I'll gem penetration until I get the offhand/wand at 1800 rating.

I conclude that for arcane mages:
1. There is no* reason to have more than 75 penetration vs other targets than .
* = Other than fireblast-dmg or if you are specced for Pyroblast.

2. Weaponswitch:
Without penetration- offhand/wand:
~120 penetration on gear

With penetration- offhand/wand:
75 penetration on gear
...and switch from haste-weapons to penetration-weapons when you face .

Cheers!

[Thufirlol]

After having tried many gear setups on chardev, I decided to use the haste offhand + wand and socket spell pen. Most of the mage pvp BLUE sockets give spell power in the socket bonus. I found it more stat efficient overall to use the blue sockets for spell pen and use the haste offhand + wand. Here's a link to my 4 piece setup.

http://chardev.org/?profile=307885

Keep in mind 4 piece is getting uber buffed!

[Thufirlol]

Again though I can't stress how important it is for counterspell to hit. If it gets resisted against another mage it can mean game over in many situations. Personally I'd never wear under 120 regardless of what spec I am.

[Nhim]

Originally Posted by Cheweypeete

After having tried many gear setups on chardev, I decided to use the haste offhand + wand and socket spell pen. Most of the mage pvp BLUE sockets give spell power in the socket bonus. I found it more stat efficient overall to use the blue sockets for spell pen and use the haste offhand + wand. Here's a link to my 4 piece setup.

http://chardev.org/?profile=307885

Im not soo sure about this; but you are welcome to enlighten me!
This is the profile above with only SP, SP+Pen or Pen-gems:
FULL GEM SETUP:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315041 (136 Penetration)
I used only SP/Pen-gems for simplicity, but the following result is applicable for any gem-setup.

Im going to use this as a comparison:
OFFHAND* SETUP:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315037 (141 Penetration)

* They have roughly the same penetration.
* The one with the offhand will have 48 spelldamage more.
* The one that only uses gems will have 53 haste more.

One could argue what is better, but I'll say they are about the same (the offhand-build also have 5 more penetration)

However! You only use the offhand when faceing mages, since they are the only ones with more than 75 arcane resistance (see posts above).

For non-mage opponents you will use a haste-offhand and have:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315030 (74 Penetration)

* This setup will have all penetration needed vs non-mage targets.
* It will have also have 48 spelldamage more.
* It will NOT lose any haste

All in all you gain around 50sp vs non-mage targets, and by switching to a penetration-offhand you will have full penetration vs Mages.

* = If one consider 141 penetration to be too much (only useable if the mage has arcane sheilding, one could instead use the wand as a switcher for 120 penetration and use a "base" 85 penetration. The gain is equivalent)

Note: This more relevant for arcane mages than other casters, since we only need to think about 75+ arcane resistance vs other mages and other mages alone.

[Nhim]

For clairity I also add a 120-penetration comparison:

124 Pen from only gems:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315073

122 Pen from wand:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315071

87 base-penetration:
http://chardev.org/?profile=315069

* With only gems you get 30 more haste than wand
* With wand you get 30 more spellpower than gems

* With the base-penetration you have have 30 more spellpower without loosing haste.