This isn’t really a topic on the current state of Frost Mage, but more a commentary on a trend I have noticed over the past year.
In 10.1, Frost Mages received the following tier set bonus.
Set Bonus: Flurry and Frostbolt damage increased by 20%. Flurry causes an explosion on impact, dealing 50% of its damage to nearby enemies, damage reduced beyond 5 targets.
In 10.2, Frost Mages received the following tier set bonus
Set Bonus: Glacial Spike damage increased by 10% and it explodes when it Shatters a frozen target, dealing 20% of its damage dealt to nearby enemies. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.
In 11.0, Frost Mages received the following tier set bonus
Set Bonus: Damage dealt by Fingers of Frost enhanced Ice Lances invoke a Frigid Pulse, dealing (30% of Spell power) Frost damage to nearby targets. Damage reduced beyond 8 targets.
Spotting the pattern yet? Each tier we get a set bonus that causes one of our rotational spells to ‘explode’ and deal AOE damage. Flurry in Aberrus, Glacial Spike in Amirdrassil and Ice Lance in the War Within.
And it’s not just tier sets. The Glacial Fragments legendary from Shadowlands was pretty much the same thing.
Glacial Fragments: Ice Lance has a 20% chance to explode when it hits a target, dealing Frost damage to up to 5 enemies nearby the target hit. The chance for this to trigger is increased to 100% if your target is currently standing in your Blizzard effect
The same idea. A core rotational spell that explodes and deals AOE damage. It keeps returning in one form or another.
Perhaps this design space should be moved from the tier set and into the talent tree at some point? It would free up design space on our tier sets for new and interesting approaches for a bonus, and it would allow us to have a stable option for it.