Clarifying the 1:1 Macro and 3:2 Macro
There is a lot of misunderstandings I see floating around in regards to these 2 different macros.
NOTE: This is for only the BM spec and it’s rotations. MM and Surv rotations and how the 3:2 works for them will not be discussed.
Let’s take a good look at these two macros, how they function, and how they effect your DPS.
The 1:1 Macro:
#showtooltip Steady Shot
/castsequence reset=2 Steady Shot, !Auto Shot
/cast [target=pettarget] Kill Comand
/cast [target=pettarget] Lightning Breath
/script UIErrorFrame: Clear ()
This macro works by first casting Steady Shot, and once a Steady Shot has gone off, it will wait until it can cast an Auto Shot before returning to the beginning. (Note: The reset actually doesn’t matter. The reset timer resets with each button press. So it only resets it to the beginning if you go for 2 seconds without pressing the macro.)
We’re going to ignore the pet abilities in this macro for the purposes of this discussion. They do not effect your DPS in regards to the macro itself and your rotation.
This maintains a perfect 1:1 rotation no matter what. It CANNOT adjust for any kind of haste effects, or lack thereof because it will not progress in the sequence until the prior step is completed.
The 3:2 Macro:
#showtooltip Steady Shot
/cast !Auto Shot
/cast [target=pettarget] Kill Command
/cast [target=pettarget] Lightning Breath
/cast Steady Shot
/script UIErrorFrame: Clear ()
This macro works on a completely different premise.
Like binding trinkets and Rapid Fire to Bestial Wrath, it attempts to cast everything at once. Failing to cast an Auto Shot (due to it being on “cooldown”), it will cast a Steady Shot. When you press it again while Steady Shot is casting, because you can’t shoot an Auto while casting Steady, your Steady won’t be interrupted.
Again, we’re ignoring the pet abilites since they don’t effect the rotation.
FAQ #1: Auto Shot is first in my macro, so why do I cast a Steady Shot first?
Try this: Right click a mob to initiate attack, but don’t push your macro. You’ll see your character lift up the bow, pull back the string, and then fire the Auto. This takes as long as your bow speed. Auto Shot essentially BEGINS on “cooldown”.
So when you first press your macro, it reads Auto Shot as being on cooldown, and it will be allowed to then cast Steady Shot instead.
FAQ #2: Does my weapon speed effect which rotation I should use?
No. Because of how the 3:2 is designed, it will attempt to cast Auto Shot, then it will try for a Steady Shot. If you have a slower speed (anything above approx 1.7), then when it attempts to cast Auto Shot, it will be on “cooldown” and it will cast a second Steady Shot. If you have a faster speed, after it casts the first Steady Shot, Auto shot will be off “cooldown” and available for use, reducing it from a 3:2 to closer to a 1:1.
This is also the mechanic that allows it to self-adjust for haste procs such as IAotH, Rapid Fire, Heroism, etc.
FAQ #3: Won’t this rotation clip my Auto Shots at certain speeds?
Yes. You will see some clipping from time to time. But it will still improve your DPS over a non-clipping 1:1 rotation.
The reason is that with the 1:1, if you aren’t at the speed where your Auto goes off IMMEDIATELY after your Steady Shot, then you will have time between shots where your character is essentially twiddling his or her thumbs. The 3:2 will keep you in almost constant action. By utilizing this extra time, you will see a DPS increase even with your Autos getting clipped.
While the GCD is an issue casting Steady Shot, thus still causing a bit of downtime, it is far less than waiting for the Auto Shot to become available. When you have the haste that widens the gap where your Steady Shot is removed enough from the GCD that casting it twice causes more downtime than waiting for the Auto Shot, the Auto Shot time is reduced enough to balance the time utilized.
FAQ #4: Why do I see greater DPS with the 1:1 macro rather than the 3:2?
This question tends to be posed by hunters that are up to about mid-T5 content. Hunters at and below this level typically have less Mana. Or the hunter is specced into Imp Hunter’s Mark instead of Effciency.
The 3:2 macro is much harder on Mana consumption for the same reason it does more DPS: There is almost no downtime between shots.
To look at it quickly through mathematics:
Assuming: 5 min (300 second) fight; 2.00 Weapon Speed; Perfect 3:2 and 1:1 rotations. (Please note that this is for modeling purposes to show the difference in mana consumption only. It does not take into effect haste changes or the GCD, or other variables.)
Steady Shot consumes 110 Mana (before Efficiency).
3:2:
300 second fight = 150 Auto Shots (300 / 2.00)
3 Steady Shots for every 2 Auto Shots = 225 Steady Shots (150 / 2 = 75; 75 * 3 = 225)
225 Steady Shots * 110 Mana = 24,750 Mana
1:1
300 second fight = 150 Auto Shots
1 Steady Shot for every Auto Shot = 150 Steady Shots
150 * 110 Mana = 16,500 Mana
That’s a huge difference in Mana consumption just from the shots. Once you include Kill Commands (more shots from the 3:2 = More Crits = More Kill Commands = More Mana consumed).
More Mana consumed means, even with popping pots at the right time, you’re going to hit OOM faster. If you’re OOM, or have to switch to AotV for a short time, then your DPS is severely gimped.
This will answer why most of hunters that see better DPS with the 1:1 have that conclusion. There may be some other variables involved with the specific fights, or the hunter, as well.
If you have a certain amount of haste gear or consistent procs(I haven’t worked out exactly how much, but it will be around the 1.51 - 1.56 area), then you will reach a point where you are starting your second Steady Shot just a few hundredths of a second before your Auto would be available. This will clip your Auto badly, and if you are sitting this speed
FAQ #5 People say that 3:2 adjusts with haste, but my 1:1 seems to adjust as well. Why is this?
With the 1:1, as shown above, you’re held to a rigid rotation, with no room to adapt. The reason why you still see improved DPS when you have haste procs is because it reduces your Auto Shot “cooldown” and thus the time between shots where your character is doing nothing.
A 3:2, because of the “fall-through” mechanic, can adapt to ANY speed, slow or fast. This is why it is said to adjust better with haste.
Hopefully this will help clear up any misunderstandings about these macros, how they differ from each other, and why one or the other is giving you better DPS.
