Vontre's DPS Spreadsheet is a powerful tool for any mage interested in DPS.

I frequently hear the question: "How much +crit% = 1 dmg?"...or some variation. Mages want to know what is going to impact their DPS (damage per second) the greatest amount. What seems like a simple question is extremely complicated. Your spec, stats, and gear change the impact of crit, hit, dmg, etc. on each other.

This spreadsheet is by far the most significant body of work done to calculate the impact of gear, buffs, etc., on a Mage's DPS. Somebody with an inclination toward Math and a lot of time on their hands came up with a spreadsheet that allows you to put in different specs to see, based on your current stats (hit, crit, int, dmg, etc.), what your DPS (damage per second) can be. The super-cool thing about this tool is that unlike anything I've found, it lets you compare specs AND gear! You go to World of Warcraft talent calculator and put in a spec you want to try. Then you copy the URL at the bottom (the one with all the numbers on it that people use to link what spec they have), and paste it into the spreadsheet. Then it knows what talents you have invested where, and knowing which kind of bonuses you get, will even tell you what kind of spell sequence you should use for the best damage in a given situation. You also input your character numbers like Int, DMG (by tree if you have certain gear that only benefits one), crit rating, hit rating, etc. Then it lets you compare two gear pieces to determine which one would be better DPS! Because the benefits of gear change SO MUCH with your personal numbers, it's really hard to tell whether an item would be an upgrade, sidegrade or downgrade for you. What would be a really nice upgrade for some, might not benefit you as much. The spreadsheet can be found in the 'Gear' section of Archmagus, at http://mage.best-free-information.com.

I kid you not, this spreadsheet has almost become mandatory in my guild (PVE Raiding guild) to help tweak specs, and to help with calculating gear choices and determining who would best benefit from what loot.

About the Author

George is an Avid WoW player. He spends a great deal of time theorycrafting and researching ways to maximize his Mage's effectiveness in game.