This fight is incredibly unforgiving. I’m willing to wager that even in encounters where I didn’t die first or ’cause’ a wipe, I assisted in causing it because I was trying to save my own skin(or bones as the case may be). Basically, it seems like I can focus on myself and getting out of stuff – and let’s face it there is a LOT OF STUFF TO STAND IN – or I can try to heal the tanks and other dps. Everyone is going to take damage occasionally on the seeds phase, and if they don’t get any heals, they’ll die, and we’ll wipe. But if I pay attention to them, *I* die and we wipe. And if I somehow manage to cast dispel instead of levitate, or penance instead of smiting rag (yeah, betacha didn’t know I did that!), and make it to the meteors, then I am rewarded with not one, but TWO new ways to wipe.

If I get blazing heat, someone will probably die. If I have to handle a meteor while running out of world in flames, someone will probably die. If I have to try and rescue someone from lava, including myself, someone will probably die. If I take a lavabolt thingy from rag after a trap detonation, someone will probably die. If someone takes an extra seed explosion because we mistime our run, someone will probably die.

This is what heroic rag feels like to Emori: I sit, in complete silence, face as close to the screen as is comfortable. I don’t even blink during most encounters. Because, as I’ve established, if I blink, someone will probably die. My hands are shaking the entire time, I’m worried in the back of my mind that my mouse is going to short out because it’s drenched in sweat (gross! my wife says), and my mind is racing figuring out what spell I have that I haven’t used yet because *maybe* it’s the key to saving my sanity, and someone’s life, on the encounter. (spoiler: pain suppression is the only healing spell I haven’t cast during a heroic rag encounter)

Seeds time! Why is my health going so low? WTF where is Arkham. ARKHAM. I am dying.ARKHAM! OMG please get over here. Binding heal Binding heal Binding heal Binding heal. WTF. Oh right YOU CAN’T CAST BH on yourself n00b. Shield! ARKHAM. Oh thank GOD. ‘Watch the hammer!’ Noooooo! He’s smashing his happer down on top of me right as I cast Penance! WTF one tick 8s CD. WTF. PoM. Shield! RUUUUUNNNNNN. OMG SO MUCH DMG. PoH PoH PoH. Barrier! WTF why didn’t it cast? Guild achievement toast blocking my mouse pointer WHY DO I CARE ABOUT HEROIC GUN’DRAK I AM DYING.

Then somebody yells, ‘I need heals!’ and I start swearing a blue streak under my breath. ‘That’s right you need heals you bastard but I am casting binding heal as fast as I can (1.35s cast time with my haste), penance is on CD because Brastine and or Xefie took an unexpected hit, and you have weakened soul motherfucker. Here, take a renew. FEEL BETTER NOW? Crap I just died again.’

God help the dog if he bothers me during an encounter.

Then I get brezzed. Awesome, right back into it. No mana, but hey, that’s ok, I can Hymn of Hope and Shadowfiend. Cast HoH – BAM – flames, wave, meteor, lava bolt, SOMETHING interrupts me. Great, cast Shadowfiend. OMG SO MUCH DMG PoH PoH PoH. ‘Not enough mana.’ WTF? Shield, pray for rapture. Rapture! Penance, PoM, PoH. ‘Not enough mana.’ Shield! ‘Not enough mana.’ Shield! ‘Not enough mana.’ Mana pot! ‘What is a mana pot?’ Lave wave hits cecily. Dispel! Lifegrip! No, LEVITATE! YES THAT’S WHAT I MEANT. FLOAT TO YOUR DEATH MY WARLOCK FRIEND! Uh oh here comes a meteor better get in position. Don’t screw this up like you did last time. Remember what Arkham said. Towards the back, away from everybody. OK, in position, SW:D. WTF it’s still moving this way. WTF WTF WTF WTF OMG SO MUCH DMG PoM and pray it bounces around. Shield! Rapture! Happy days, mana again! WTF this meteor is still coming. SW:D. ‘I can’t cast that yet.’ WTFyes! something landed it’ll all be OK. OMG SO MUCH DMG. PoH PoH PoH PoM Shield! WTF IS WITH THIS METEOR OMG.

-Emori

This evenings raid set us up for Heroic Ragnaros. We cleared all Heroic Fireland bosses in less than 2 wipes and in 2 hours 30 minutes!

Stay tuned for the Alysrazor Video tomorrow.

Only one boss left between ourselves and Ragnaros. 5/7 and still number 1 on Nordrassil!