Caster DPS: Spell Hit is a combat attribute that increases a caster’s chance to hit with spells. Spell hit is primarily obtained from talents or gear that has spell hit rating. The more spell hit gear a caster has the lower the chance the casters spells will miss (i.e. an enemy resist the spells). This chance to hit is capped at 99%, therefore there is always at least a 1% chance to miss with spells (i.e. a 1% chance the enemy will resist spells). Base chance to hit is based only on level difference between the caster and the target.

Calculation Table
Level Difference_______________% to Hit
        – 3 …………………………………………… 99%
        – 2 …………………………………………… 98%
        – 1 …………………………………………… 97%
          0 …………………………………………… 96%
       + 1 …………………………………………… 95%
       + 2 …………………………………………… 94%
       + 3 …………………………………………… 83%

For PvE raiding, bosses are considered to be 3 levels higher than the caster, meaning +16% is the most that will be effective.

Increasing Spell Hit: Chance to hit can be increased by talents or gear with spell hit rating up to a cap of 99%. Spell hit rating is a stat found on gear that increases spell hit chance by a certain percent per point, based on level.

At level 70, 12.6 spell hit rating is equivalent to 1% spell hit.

Druids:
- Balance of Power: +2% per point / +4% Max (All Spells)

Mages:
- Elemental Precision: +1% per point / +3% Max (Frost and Fire Spells)
- Arcane Focus: +2% per point / +10% Max (Arcane Spells)

Paladins:
- Precision: +1% per point / +3% Max (Melee and Spells)

Priests:
- Shadow Focus: +2% per point / +10% Max (Shadow Spells)
- Focused Power: +2% per point / +4% Max (Smite, Mind Blast, Mass Dispell)

Shamans:
- Elemental Precision: +2% per point / +6% Max (All Spells)
- Nature’s Guidance: +1% per point / +3% Max (All Spells)
- Totem of Wrath: +3% (All Spells – Affects all group members)

Warlocks:
- Suppression: +2% per point / +10% Max (Affliction Spells)

Draeneis:
- Inspiring Presence: +1 (All Spells – Affects all group members)

Magic Spell Hit Rating: Assuming you’re in Gruul’s Lair and up: Mobs and bosses will require 16% hit rating to reach 99% spell hit.

Current Hit % ___________ Hit Rating Needed
00% ………………………………………. 202
01% ………………………………………. 189
02% ………………………………………. 177
03% ………………………………………. 164
04% ………………………………………. 152
05% ………………………………………. 139
06% ………………………………………. 126
07% ………………………………………. 114
08% ………………………………………. 101
09% ………………………………………. 089
10% ………………………………………. 076
11% ………………………………………. 064
12% ………………………………………. 051
13%……………………………………….. 038

Where do you fall on this list?

(01%) – Draenei’s Inspiring Presence
(03%) – Frost and Fire Mages w/ Elemental Precision, Paladins w/ Precision, Shamans w/ Nature’s Guidance
(04%) – Priests w/ Focus Power, Druids w/ Balance of Power
(06%) – Shamans w/ Elemental Precision
(09%) – Shamans w/ Elemental Precision and Nature’s Guidance
(10%) – Arcane Mages w/ Arcane Focus, S.Priests w/ Shadow Focus, Affliction Warlocks w/ Suppression
(12%) – Shamans w/ Elemental Precision, Nature’s Guidance, and Totem of Wrath
(13%) – Shamans w/ Elemental Precision, Nature’s Guidance, Totem of Wrath, and Inspiring Presence

Final Thoughts

• Aim for the spell hit rating using only your own talents. Don’t rely on having a Draenei or Shaman with Totem of Wrath in your group to make up for your lack of hit rating.
• Spell Hit > Spell Dmg > Spell Crit
• Your 1k spell dmg and 40% crit won’t matter if it is resisted
• Use WWS to help raise your DPS. If you are low and the DPS charts, and your resist rate is at 28%, you now know what you can do to make it better.

Related Posts:

• Spell Hit for Raiding Mages
• Ghost Hit Gone for Wrath