Rend VS Heroic Strike while leveling

[gotmilk0112 10]

I've always seen people using Rend while leveling, but I've just always been turned off by the pathetically low amount of damage it does. It does less than a single 2h weapon swing's damage, over 15 seconds.

 

I did a bit of napkin math though, and while Rend seems to be much better damage per rage than Heroic Strike, I'm not sure if it's better DPS when questing.

 

Heroic Strike (Rank 3) gives 32 extra damage, and costs 15 rage, plus another 5-6 rage that you're not getting from autoattack, so 20-21 rage total for 32 extra damage = ~1.56 damage per rage

 

Rend (Rank 3) deals 45 damage, and costs 10 rage, so 4.5 damage per rage. Also is an instant ability.

 

With 3/3 Imp. Rend, it'll deal 60 damage, making it 6 damage per rage. Even if you factor in 3/3 Imp Heroic Strike reducing its rage cost to 12, Heroic Strike's damage per rage is still much lower.

 

Is it worth it to use Rend while leveling?

Edited December 21, 2016 by gotmilk0112

[Swineflu 18]

Atleast early on (sub lvl 30) I find it useful to use rend as I charge in, I rarely refresh it after it expires unless I know it will last it's full duration.

 

Once you get Mortal strike, sweeping strikes & WW etc, I find that I rarely have the rage for rend.

Edited December 22, 2016 by Swineflu

[gotmilk0112 10]

Mmhm, I'm specced Arms atm (because I'm going to be tanking a lot and Tactical Mastery is a ваууing godsend for tanking) and with 3/3 Imp Rend, Rend does about ~80% of a weapon swing's damage over its duration, and with 1/2 Imp Charge, I can charge in and instantly Rend. But yeah, I don't really rend more than once on a single mob unless I get horrible RNG with miss/parry and the mob is still above 50% health.

[Nocturn 4]

You got it, rend is quite a useless skill. Use it after that initial charge but don't re apply it. Or just save rage for HS. I would take those points out of imp rend and get 2/2 imp charge and more points in TM and of course 5/5 deflection. Impale spec is a very gear and play style dependent spec for the MT of a raid.The damage that deep wounds ticks for is nothing.

[gotmilk0112 10]

You got it, rend is quite a useless skill. Use it after that initial charge but don't re apply it. Or just save rage for HS. I would take those points out of imp rend and get 2/2 imp charge and more points in TM and of course 5/5 deflection. Impale spec is a very gear and play style dependent spec for the MT of a raid.The damage that deep wounds ticks for is nothing.

I only got Imp Rend for Deep Wounds and Impale. Works really nicely together with Imp Overpower.

 

But really, I went arms so that I could tank easier, being able to use Charge and then switch to Defensive Stance; I didn't go Arms just for Imp Rend.

 

But once I hit level 29 I'm going to respec back to Fury for 5/5 Enrage.

Edited December 23, 2016 by gotmilk0112

[Storfan 24]

Opening with charge when tanking can often be more trouble than it's worth. Getting extra packs etc. Tanking as fury is simply better than tanking as arms.

[Roflcakes 7]

Opening with charge when tanking can often be more trouble than it's worth. Getting extra packs etc. Tanking as fury is simply better than tanking as arms.

 

Also fury has good early rage boosting talents such as cruelty, etc. It really helps in the rage staved world we will be living in while leveling.

[Jeetee 2]

Rend is decent until about level 30. One application. It's obviously better as arms.

[gotmilk0112 10]

Mmyeah, went back to Fury and Rend is kinda crap now, especially considering that Enrage does not affect its damage.

 

Ah well, guess my experience with it answers my question. Really only good if you're Arms, and even then, only pre-level 30 when you don't have better abilities like Slam and Whirlwind.

[Zawa 1]

Opening with charge when tanking can often be more trouble than it's worth. Getting extra packs etc. Tanking as fury is simply better than tanking as arms.

bit off topic but ive always preferred tanking as arms as oppose to fury. Sweeping strikes whirlwind always served me well in instances. Fury really doesnt have anything that can compete with that.

[Zarant 2]

Piercing howl is the best talent for tanking 5 man dungeons.

[Undertanker 88]

Recap, rend is good until you get MS/BT.    Never reapply if mob is less than 50% hp.  Very good when fighting two mobs to put it on both, reapply to second mob after killing first.

 

You are not factoring in the damage gained for allowing more possible overpower up-time due to rend being an additional swing.

 

Also rend doesn't factor in armor from your enemy.