Spell haste rating revealed
by Mike Schramm 
Feb 6th 2007 at 2:01PM
This came up when we reported on the new "rating" system a long time ago (implemented so that Blizzard could better scale gear on the way up), but like Cyberdemon of Frostwolf-A, I missed it. Alongside the self-explanatory stuff like critical strike rating, and the new resilience rating, there's a new rating called "Spell Haste." Cyberdemon wondered what it was, and Tseric confirms that a higher spell haste rating speeds up the cast times of all your spells. Pretty cool.The reason we likely haven't seen it much yet is because so far, spell haste stuff only drops at the highest levels, and, from what I can see, in the form of temporary buffs that allow you to get a few casts off quickly. An equipped high spell haste rating would fundamentally change the way the game was played in many situations-- if mages could kick out a quicker pyroblast whenever they wanted, that would have a big effect in a lot of PvP situations.
Tseric also clarifies that this only affects cast time, not DoT tick time, or duration of spells. And while the two trinkets linked above are the only places I could find it in the game so far, I wouldn't be surprised if this rating found its way into certain instance specific buffs, either for us (players could get a DoT put on them that would kill them in 30 seconds, but let them cast all their spells almost instantly within that time) or against us (mind-controlled players get their spells hasted for a short period against the raid). Either way, as more and more players move into the endgame, spell haste will be something to look out for.
Update: Commenters have found a few other spell haste items, including this 60 trinket, and an awesome BoE caster sword.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Instances, Raiding
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zuuler Feb 6th 2007 2:13PM
I think there were jewels you could socket that had a spell haste rating.
Jay Converse Feb 6th 2007 9:18PM
As if HoT spells didn't have enough drawbacks, now it'll make even more sense to do flash heal spells.
I'd love to see a spell that would increase the frequency of ticks on a HoT spell.
Dahlaine Feb 6th 2007 2:34PM
There's actually a BoE epic sword with spell haste on there. So this is likely one of the most accesable current items to test out spell haste.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=31336
Blade of Wizardry:
31-117 Damage Speed1.80
(41.4 dps)
Requires Level 70
Equip: +150 spell dmg and healing
Equip: Harmful spells have a chance to increase spell haste rating by 280 for 6 seconds.
As similar spell equip effects(such as the 4 piece Mana-etched bonus) to this have a 2% chance to proc the effect, it is likely that this is also at that rate. But that is unconfirmed.
Bryant Feb 6th 2007 3:26PM
The Mind Quickening Gem from BWL has this property.
chaz Feb 6th 2007 3:25PM
The blue post mentions at level 70 you have to increase your rating by 15.8 to get a 1% increase in cast time.
So, that blade of wizardy (when it procs) will increase cast time by 17.7% at level 70. Somebody check my math.
Zodak Feb 6th 2007 4:13PM
there are drums as well
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29717
schnippopotamus Feb 6th 2007 7:37PM
Hahaha, instant spells get this from the spell time reduction gear:
Xspell now has a negative cast time, the spell casts for you 1.5 seconds before you even hit the button. Yes, we are that good.
Audiosmith Feb 6th 2007 7:51PM
"players could get a DoT put on them that would kill them in 30 seconds, but let them cast all their spells almost instantly within that time"
The Vaelastrasz fight in BWL has been doing that since day one.
Track Feb 7th 2007 5:20AM
Here's another BWL trinket (paladin exclusive) that has a spell haste effect.
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=40816
Scrolls of Blinding Light
Binds when picked up
Unique
Trinket
Classes: Paladin
Requires Level 60
Use: Energizes a Paladin with light, increasing haste rating by 250 and spell haste rating by 330 for 20 sec.
Cooldown: 5 min
Junzim Feb 10th 2007 8:59PM
I picked up a trinket, Scarab of the Infinite Cycle from the Black morass,
+70 Heal
Chance to proc on any healing spell you cast to grant you +350 Spell Haste rating.
We worked this out to be 20% (.5 seconds off a 2.5 second Gheal).
At first I was a little skeptical, then we attempted and cleared Underbog/Slave Pens on Heroic and it is utterly fanastic. Heroic mobs just do insane DPS so you need to crank out insane HPS. Don't get me started on Bog Lords, this little trinket is a life saver.