WoW ForeverMechanics

Downranking in WoW Forever

Downranking math for the WoW Forever caster classes: Rank 1 against the top rank, per mana and per second. These numbers are not yet tested in play.

Downranking, in short

The short answer · at level 60
Downranking means casting a lower rank of a spell to save mana. Which rank matters depends on whether your mana or the fight runs out first.
If the fight ends firstTop rankMost damage or healing per second on all 50 spells, at every spell power.
If mana runs out firstRank 1Most per mana on 47 of 50 spells at 500 SP.
What Rank 1 gives up0.21× to 0.95×of the top rank per second, at 500 SP.

Some figures carry a tag: Measured in playOriginal game rule

Words on this page

Per second
Damage or healing for each second a cast takes. Instant spells count as 1.5 seconds.
Per mana
Damage or healing for each point of mana a cast costs.
SP
Spell power: bonus healing and damage from your gear.
Top rank
The strongest rank, and the costliest.
Rank
One spell, several strengths. Higher ranks cost more mana.
Takes over
The SP where Rank 1 starts to lead per mana.
Classic Era
Classic Era is the live Classic server ruleset. WoW Forever is the new client.
Classic Era rule
In Classic Era, ranks learned below level 20 lose part of their share. Forever has not confirmed this.
Tick
One pulse of a spell that hits or heals over time.

Spell ranks by caster class

All caster spellsOne dot per spell, placed where Rank 1 takes over per mana.
Druid8 spells (4 healing, 4 damage)
Rank 1 leads per mana at every spell power on Wrath, and past 689 SP on Hurricane, spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.22× to 0.80× of the top rank at 500 SPMage11 damage spells
Rank 1 wins per mana past a spell power between 59 SP (Fire Blast) and 359 SP (Cone of Cold), spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.27× to 0.72× of the top rank at 500 SPPaladin5 spells (2 healing, 3 damage)
Rank 1 wins per mana past a spell power between 56 SP (Holy Light) and 680 SP (Holy Wrath), spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.21× to 0.79× of the top rank at 500 SPPriest12 spells (6 healing, 6 damage)
Rank 1 wins per mana past a spell power between 17 SP (Renew) and 390 SP (Greater Heal), spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.29× to 0.84× of the top rank at 500 SPShaman8 spells (3 healing, 5 damage)
Rank 1 wins per mana past a spell power between 21 SP (Lightning Bolt) and 241 SP (Chain Heal), spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.25× to 0.72× of the top rank at 500 SPWarlock6 damage spells
Rank 1 wins per mana past a spell power between 7 SP (Immolate) and 218 SP (Rain of Fire), spell by spellPer second, Rank 1 does 0.32× to 0.95× of the top rank at 500 SP

Half of the 50 spells switch to Rank 1 by 109 SP. The top rank still does the most per second on all 50.

How to read a spell bar

Healing Touch

Druid, 11 ranks, learned from level 1 to 60

  1. Each rank costs more mana and heals more.

  2. Each color is the rank with the most healing per point of mana at that spell power.

    Original game ruleIf low ranks lose part of their share

  3. The chips show what Rank 1 gains per mana and gives up per second.

    At 500 SP: Rank 1Rank 1 vs Rank 11, at 500 SP3.10× per mana0.22× per second

Most low ranks skip the Classic Era cut

Share of spell power one cast adds
Fireball Rank 1learned at level 1
Original game: 0.123
WoW Forever: 0.429
up +0.306
Corruption Rank 1per tick, learned at level 4
Original game: 0.080
WoW Forever: 0.200
up +0.120
Original gameOriginal game ruleWoW Forever
87low-rank effects at full share

A share is how much of your spell power one cast or one tick adds. In WoW Forever, most low ranks skip the Classic Era cut, so Rank 1 can lead per mana, not per second.

What these numbers assume

Show the assumptions

Counted

  • One cast on one target at level 60, with no talents.
  • Each rank's base value, level growth and spell power share.
  • The mana cost of each rank at level 60.

Not counted

  • Talents, crits, misses and resists.
  • Overhealing: every point of healing counts as landing.
  • Cooldowns, procs and extra targets.

Original game ruleIn Classic Era, casts sit at least 1.5 seconds apart. Forever has not confirmed this, so shorter casts count as 1.5 seconds.

Original game ruleIn Classic Era, ranks learned below level 20 lose part of their share. Forever has not confirmed this. The muted bar shows that case.

Measured in playPlayers found that low ranks stay castable from the spellbook.

Measured in playPlayers measured direct heals inside dungeon groups landing lower, set by the target level. These numbers leave that rule out.

Per cast
base value + share × spell power
Per mana
per cast ÷ mana cost
Per second
per cast ÷ cast time, at least 1.5 s
Takeover
the spell power where two per mana lines cross
Classic Era rule
share × (1 − (20 − learn level) × 0.0375), below level 20 only
  1. Each damage or healing roll counts at its average.
  2. On the listed numbers, no rank takes the lead past the end of the bar.
  3. A talent that cuts a flat amount of mana can move where Rank 1 takes over. So can a proc that makes the next cast free. Percentage talents cannot.
  4. Spell power marks are points on a scale, not gear levels.
  5. A rank that leads for less than two points of spell power folds into the next one.
  6. Spells with incomplete rank data are left out.
  7. Warriors, rogues and hunters have no charted spells, so they get no page here.
  8. A target dummy test would settle it: two ranks of one spell, cast at a known spell power, outside any group.

Spell families not charted, 299 in all

142 of them are mana spells a Druid, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Shaman or Warlock casts. Each class page lists its own, grouped by reason.

No spell power share listed
253
Learn level not known
12
Ranks not numbered
8
Rank growth cap not known
6
No mana cost listed
6
A shield or a drain, not plain damage or healing
5
Fewer than two ranks
5
Mixes damage and healing
3
Its damage hits the caster too
1

Sources: the WoW Forever beta, build 1.60.1, and the original game, build 1.15.9.

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