Lightning strike vs Spamable Force Lightning

I run a lightning/madness hybrid spec with a crit and surge focused setup. I spam force lightning while running crushing darkness and affliction. It's not uncommon for me to thow in lightning strike when I can use the perk to instantly cast it instead of having to wait for it to charge and then cast.

On raid it's normal for me to tick over 1k per force lightning due to having an almost 50% chance of critting. On the last dread guard on TFB running moxparser I recorded 392 crits on force lightning alone and that was just on the last guy mind you this didn't take into account the other 2.

Lightning strike straight out sucks, pure and simple.

The only reason to ever use LS is- if you don't have spammable FL.

Which means 1- for some reason you've gone full lightning (I dunno, maybe that's good for pve- I don't do operations so I dunno... full lightning however is absolutely terrible for pvp though so never go it). or 2- you're a corruption/lightning hybrid.

I am the latter- no spammable FL, and LS gives me CL procs as well as my force regen- it's also my only spammable dps ability.

Let's say though I was a spec that had wrath and CL procs (lightning/madness hybrid, presumably for the root KB and stun bubble)- in such a case, I would indeed spam FL over LS, not even a question- wrath procs, force regen, snare, far better damage, only reason I'd use LS was for a wrath proc where CD was on cooldown... that said, I dunno if I'd go such a hybrid- yes, it has some better control, but to be perfectly honest lightning doesn't add much damage at low levels... LS is terrible no matter what, CL is shoddy damage even when instant proc- and it's never worth the 3 second cast.

Best thing low other than the CC in lightning is lightning barrage procs for quick FL.... so it'd come down to that and the CC vs creeping terror's root and the extra dot damage high in madness.



TLR- there is never, ever, ever a time where I would spam LS if I had the spammable FL talent (along with wrath procs and the force regen from it).

the reason to use lightning strike is the lightning tree...
with smart use of it you can get free chain lightning, free power use, force regeneration, bonus damage etc...

so... if you pve lightning is pretty good tree for sorc dps as you both ranged and virtually got unlimited force power.

What about PvP?
Thanks

I think I might have a similar spec to you.. so let me chime in. I currently spec 0/23/18 which allows me to obtain "Wrath" in the Madness tree and "Forked Lightning" in the Lightning tree.

Generally how I work it is, I spam Force Lightning, because it does more base damage than Lightning strike and also allows for the proc, which makes my Lightning Strike instant AND have +20% damage. Once I get that proc THEN I use the instant "buffed" Lightning Strike. This allows me to stay very mobile in pvp.

Additionally I NEVER hard cast Chain Lightning. The same rule applies. I only use Chain Lightning once I get the instant proc. Lastly, I use Lightning Barrage which allows my affliction dots to trigger doubling the speed of Force Lightning.

If you play a Lightning/Madness Hybrid the trick is to use your procs and synergy with your skills to rotate what you are using. Additionally it's the only spec that has access to instant Whirlwind, snare on knockback AND stun bubble.

P.S.

Final note, I think this is by FAR the best 1v1 Sorc spec and great for pugging. I think in any rated combat the healing hybrid comes out on top though.

Would you post the 0/23/18 please because I'm still deciding on AC?
Thanks

lightning is better my opinion. If u have the ability to instant cast use it on crushing darkness because its internal damage not energy

Here's what I run.

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#20...dRrhZcMcRsMz.2