I love this column but I have to simply disagree. In the hands of a skilled fire mage and a skilled arcane mage there is a substantially large gap in dps output. Unfortunately, fire's strengths (aoe/mobility) aren't tremendously used within FL. Within the second week of 4.2 my guild cleared Firelands and with the exception of Beth, there were no fights that required heavy aoe (as far as normal mode is concerned, but I have yet to attempt all the bosses in heroic mode--my assumption is the large majority of players will only be attempting normal modes). Moreover most fights in FL normal mode don't require heavy movement, with Ragnaros as the only exception (compared to BoT/BwD/Tot4w). Even then, most mages are quite capable of using their *blink* or strafing a few meters to commence button-mashing.

Yes, fire mages shine on Alysrazor... if they reforged similar to arcane mages. Mastery (fire's worst stat) is the spec to forge into when in flight. So when my guild must down heroic Alys we must halt the raid for me to reforge and get summoned back because the arcane mage in my guild, whose gear was forged to mastery and had a fire offspec could not effectively fly through the rings of fire and dps at the same time.

The state of the fire mage is somewhat of a disappointment. I used to pull top numbers in my guild, and I am proud to say that after heeding the advice of Mr. Belt I was indeed granted the legendary staff. Now I simply hover near the middle or bottom of the charts as the same previously mentioned arcane mage tops the charts upon effectively spamming arcane blast, and looks on me with scorn... *sigh*

Fire needs a buff. And by buff I mean don't nerf arcane to make us "competitive."

http://www.simulationcraft.org/420/Raid_T12H.html

Arcane eclipses all dps classes by far. Fire amongst casters is the lowest... unless you count the smiting disc priest.

I like pie. I will eat it.

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