Comments on: AP Frost vs Deep Frost

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:02:56 +0000

I realize this is a bit late in the life of this post, but thanks for doing this. I recently switched from deep frost to AP/frost and then back again. I was noting that I was actually doing less damage than with AP than with Deep frost which surprised me, but which makes sense after reading your post.

For those interested I was at 932 bonus damage and 20% crit unbuffed. It does seem that as the bonus damage gets higher deep frost outpaces AP.

By: Tuna

Tuna — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:55:15 +0000

@LM

I think this would be a good time for you to switch over to Deep Frost. You won’t see an increase in spell damage on your character screen, but you’ll notice your Frostbolts hitting higher. You might not get high crit damage like you’re used to, but you will crit a lot more often with Winter’s Chill.

The only problem is getting used to using the Water Elemental which will account for ~10% or more of your damage. Once you adapt to this fairly different playstyle, you will notice an increase in your damage output.

Have fun with it, and let us know how it goes

By: LM

LM — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:38:39 +0000

Awesome guide between the difference of the two, ive been raiding with AP Frost for quite abit now.

I just wondered at what sort of mark of spd / crit would you recommend look at changing into deep frost, ive been looking to do it for quite some time now but wasnt sure what sorta borderline would be more beneficial to switch into deep frost.

Atm im currently raiding with 1140 (unbuffed) spell damage.. so that would be 999 spd without mind mastery if my math is correct.

Just wondered what your thoughts are..

Btw, cheers for this blog, there are some interesting articles which I have read on here.. and your WWS stats are very impressive.

By: Tuna

Tuna — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:19:14 +0000

Also, if you running with another Deep Frost Mage on a regular basis, since you are both stacking Winter’s Chill, you may talk to them and change your specs slightly to add a bit more to the raid.

For example, if both of you change to 3/5 Winter’s Chill, 5 stacks of Winter’s Chill will be applied normally during the raid, but it will also free up 2 talent points for both of you to be put into say, 2/3 Frostbite, or even Permafrost or Improve Blizzard.

Or if he wants to stay 5/5 Winter’s Chill, you can still switch to 3/5 Winter’s Chill for extra talents.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:30:48 +0000

Yeah I ran with another Deep Frost today, and I was hitting over 1k DPS on boss fights with Icy Veins, Shatar Hit trinket clicked, and crit proc trinket, Water Elemental, Cold Snap start again.

By: Tuna

Tuna — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:11:58 +0000

IMO you should stick with Deep Frost spec at this point. The bonus damage and crit you get from Empowered Frostbolt and the other frost talents will out-weight the damage bonus you will get from Mind Mastery. Also switching to AP Frost, you won’t see that high %58-ish crit that much. <3 Winter’s Chill.

If you have the gold to spare to mess around, give it a try. It is fun to change your spec around once in awhile. You’ll see really high crits too! Also, if you are running with another Mage that happens to be Deep Frost, AP Frost will perform even better.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:32:11 +0000

I just got my Sword from gruils with soul frost and personal buffs IE pots/oil I am sitting at 970 bonus damage 25% crit. I am deep frost speced, only 55 Spell hit(working on it) What spec do you think would be best for me. I am Deep do you think AP would up my DPS or should I stick with Deep.

in an hour long instance (H Bot) I was reading with Damage meters at 550 dps(instance wide 2 deaths) and 58% crit criting FB at around 3400, Lance 2200. Please let me know if I would see an increase.

By: Tuna

Tuna — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:47:53 +0000

Yep! “Also keep in mind that a Deep Frost mage will share their Winter’s Chill with the entire raid, so an AP Frost mage can benefit from the +10% crit rating to frost spells.”

You get high crit damage AND frequent crits! Yummy!

By: Olympia

Olympia — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:01:33 +0000

Well, very nice, but if you going with an 25 raid to like SSC, then u will have at least 2-3 mage more, and if any of em are deep frost and u are AP you will still beinfit of the 10% frost bolt, and will own dps.

else

By: Tuna

Tuna — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:59:25 +0000

@Arpigee

A “building a frostmage” piece is a great idea. I will be working on this in the near future.

In my opinion, when leveling and going deep frost, you just throw all your points into frost. You won’t need the points into Arcane until you are around 60.