Potion tips for the uninitiated
by Mike Schramm 
May 6th 2009 at 5:00PM
Tanking Tips has a good (you guessed it) tip for potting up before a raid. They say that you can't use two potions in combat -- or can you? Any potion that relies on a proc to get used up (like an Indestructible Potion) can be downed early, then let the two minute cooldown on potions pass, and then you can drink another potion during the fight. Good deal.You could say that only the highest level raiders are going to be that worried about making sure that they have every single buff they can have, but even as a casual raider, I've found a lot of use in buffing as many ways as possible. Unlike the really epic guys (who use food, potions, and elixirs to beef up their already awesome gear), I tend to use potions and food to cover my weaknesses. For instance, I don't have as much +hit on my gear as I should have, so I specifically carry around hit food at all times, and I can see the results in my DPS. Even if you don't have the best gear, using the right potions and food buffs at the right times can help you drop bosses and win fights you normally wouldn't.
Of course, that seems obvious to min-maxers, but many raiders with less experience don't realize how much of a difference the right pots and food can make on the raiding game. Lots of these buffs are cheap to buy (and even cheaper to farm if you've got the professions), so if you're raiding with regularity, definitely take a look at your stats and see if you can't throw a few temp buffs in the mix.
Filed under: Alchemy, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Odds and ends, Raiding
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
flawless May 6th 2009 5:15PM
It's always good to make friends with an alchemist, since they often have a bit more experience (at least, I do) with what they can make, and can offer suggestions.
Though, you should always do your own research into what stats you are lacking.
Candina@WH May 6th 2009 5:15PM
/sigh
Buff food should come in both Fish and Non-fish varieties
Malkeior May 6th 2009 5:17PM
Then what's the benefit of fishing?
flawless May 6th 2009 5:20PM
Actually hadn't noticed this until I read your post, but a large amount (Including, obviously, the Fish Feast) of the buff food is fish...
Good thing I like fish, I guess.
Wonder if Blizzard will ever implement the vegetarian option - perhaps made with Herbalism mats...
Watercress Soup?
Candina@WH May 6th 2009 5:21PM
re: Benefits of fishing:
It sure as hell isn't done for the enjoyment factor.
I have zero toons on zero servers with fishing > 150. and so, I will live with the meat only buffs and never make it to 450 Cooking.
Zuckerdachs May 12th 2009 7:45AM
It does.
piqueddaithe May 6th 2009 5:21PM
Two Words: Bobby Kotick
Candina@WH May 6th 2009 5:25PM
OK, I'll bite. What does the CEO/Prez of ActiBlizz have to do with this article...
Rob May 6th 2009 5:37PM
He likes fishing?
Kakistocracy May 6th 2009 7:13PM
Could be my eyesight, but that looks like four words with a colon.
VSUReaper May 6th 2009 5:21PM
I like to pop indestructible potion (listed above) or use a rage pot before the pull.
Its so nice having rage after tossing up a commanding shout, seeing as many healers request warriors dont charge in on the bosses (since we have a tendency to charge out of range.) many warriors start the first 5-10 seconds of a pull very rage starved with low TPS.
Kards May 6th 2009 7:45PM
As I healer who previously played a tank, tell your Healers to suck it up and follow you into a pull. If they're hot on your heels when you charge, there's no way they won't be able to reach the 40 yards to heal you. (So long as they stay behind you a yard or two so that if anyone face pulls, it's you.)
Stephen May 12th 2009 2:24PM
@Kards The tanks who tell healers to "suck it up" get to pay more in repair bills than those who don't act like dipsh!ts around their healers. If you're tanking out of range of your healer, then you are also tanking out of range of the DPS. That's usually a bad pull. It means your charge is more important than the positioning for the rest of your group or raid. I'm so glad there's a tank surplus.
piqueddaithe May 6th 2009 5:49PM
/facepalm @ self
I meant this for the article about Blizzard legal going after free iphone wow apps
Feel free to flame
Abedabun May 7th 2009 4:44AM
Mmm, toasty :)
Jessamine May 6th 2009 5:50PM
Potion Cooldown is 1 minute. Has been since they introduced pot sickness on the live realms (e.g. Live WotLK, not Beta)
Mordii May 6th 2009 6:19PM
My Mage/Alchemist carries the following:
Spellpower Elixirs: +58 sp *
Flasks of the Frost Wyrm: +125 sp*
Crazy Alchemist Potions: +3100-3500 health and 4200-4400 mana, sometimes an additional potion effect*
Runic Mana Potions: +4200-4400 mana
Runic Healing Potions: +2700-4500 health
Poweful Rejuvenation Potions: +2475-4125 mana and health
Potion of Wild Magic: +200 crit and spellpower for 15 seconds*
Potion of Speed: +500 haste (+15.2%) for 15 seconds*
Firecracker Salmon: +46 sp and +40 stamina*
Tender ShovelTusk Steak: +46 sp and +40 stamina*
Bandages: Heavy Frostweave Bandages: +5800 health over 8 seconds*
*what I usually carry
Sleutel May 6th 2009 6:37PM
"Any potion that relies on a proc to get used up (like an Indestructible Potion) can be downed early, then let the two minute cooldown on potions pass, and then you can drink another potion during the fight."
I was very confused by this, until I realized that I was confused because it was nonsensical and not at all what the article was saying.
There is no proc involved. Instead, the idea is that BEFORE ENTERING COMBAT, you drink a potion that BUFFS YOU FOR A DURATION (e.g., the referenced Indestructible Potion, which gives you a two-minute armor bonus). Only then do you enter combat, and your "one potion per combat" will become available after the standard two-minute potion CD.
Eudeyrn May 7th 2009 12:06AM
Except, as was mentioned above, the potion cooldown hasn't been two minutes for quite some time. The potion cooldown was changed to 1 minute, which can be seen on the tooltip of any potion, including the one linked in the article.
Sleutel May 7th 2009 12:21AM
Correct, it's now one minute--my mistake. That doesn't change the fact that this has nothing to do with procs of any kind. The only difference the CD makes is that you can drink another potion one minute into the fight instead of two.