Living Bomb



Living Bomb is a mage spell that debuffs the target with a DoT, dealing 1444 damage over 12 seconds (at level 80). After the debuff expires, or when it is dispelled, the target explodes, dealing 361 damage to up to 3 enemies within 10 yards (at level 80). These damage numbers are affected by Spell Power and other enhancements, resulting in a spell that is much more powerful. A level 80 mage with decent gear can have Living Bombs that deal over 7700 damage over time, and explode for over 1600.

Living Bomb can only be applied to 3 targets. Applying living bomb to a fourth target will cause the first Living Bomb to disapate, doing no additional damage over time and removing the explosion effect from that target. If applied to a target already affected by Living Bomb, the debuff timer is reset to 12 seconds, delaying the detonation of the bomb effect. To prevent clipping, Mages should be careful to apply this to only three targets, and verify their targets are not already affected by Living Bomb.

As Living Bomb is a Damage over Time effect, it can be spread and multiplied by Impact. If spread in this way, the timers are not reset, possibly resulting in multiple targets being affected by Living Bomb with the same countdown. This can create a huge burst of damage when all of the targets explode at the same time. Impact can have a multiplying effect, however Living Bomb is still limited to three targets. Living Bomb deals fire damage, and thus gains the benefit of the talents Ignite, Master of Elements, Critical Mass, Fire Power, and Pyromaniac. Prior to 4.0.1, additional talents applied to these effects, but Patch 4.0.1 removed some of these talents from the game, and modified the effects of others.

Living Bomb is obtained by spending a minimum of 31 points in the Mage Fire Talent tree. As such, the earliest a mage can acquire this spell is level 70.

Uses
It's instant casting, damage on the move and delayed boom effects are considerably useful effects that make the Fire Mage vastly more mobile and versatile. Its AoE benefits on raid trash clearance are considerable if it detonates; Living Bomb's final explosion is NOT subject to AoE damage caps, and can inflict horrendous damage on large groups of packed mobs (examples being phase 2 Onyxian whelps or the Frostwyrm hatchlings directly before Sindragosa in Icecrown Citadel). Even with the new target limit of 3, this spell continues to be a very useful addition to the Fire Mage's kit.
 * In raid situations, Living Bomb is a considerable DPS increase, and keeping it up constantly can theoretically boost DPS by up to 10%.


 * With the addition of, the damage of Living Bomb effects is increased by 3%. Prior to patch 4.0.1, this glyph used to make the Living Bomb periodic damage capable of being critical strikes. As of patch 3.2, critical strikes from the periodic damage can now also trigger Ignite. Hot Streak procing on periodic Living Bomb damage was live with 3.2, but quickly hotfixed.


 * In PvP, Living Bomb adds to the Fire Mage's mobile DPS a lot and prevents dispels on enemy targets in fear of the AoE damage trigger.

Patch changes

 * Since Hot Streak was changed, can no longer trigger a Hot Streak with its explosion.
 * Since Hot Streak was changed, can no longer trigger a Hot Streak with its explosion.
 * Since Hot Streak was changed, can no longer trigger a Hot Streak with its explosion.
 * Since Hot Streak was changed, can no longer trigger a Hot Streak with its explosion.