Is Fandral's Flamescythe really worth it?

Ok, so we have all probably seen someone with Fandral's Flamescythe by now. A flaming cat hanging out in Stormwind or Orgrimmar, showing off their new look.  But is it really worth it? Is this weapon more then just a gimmicky weapon put in by Blizzard?  Lets examine the facts shall we...

Here is Fandral's Flamescythe:


Fandral's Flamescythe
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
1428 - 2143 Damage Speed 2.40
(744.1 damage per second)
+408 Agility
+611 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 276 (1.54% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 265 (1.48 @ L85).

We also know that the unlisted trick to this weapon is that druids using it get a new fiery cat form.  Now, the stats are nice, very high and in the right spots.  The mastery on it is nice and the critical strike always helps.  But is this really worth going crazy to go after?

Well, if you like your fair share of PvP, another weapon in your grasp can be:


Ruthless Gladiator's Staff
Season 10
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
1190 - 1786 Damage Speed 2.00
(744.1 damage per second)
+408 Agility
+611 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Classes: Druid
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 272 (1.52% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your resilience rating by 272 (3.44% @ L85).

or


Ruthless Gladiator's Pike
Season 10
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Polearm
2142 - 3215 Damage Speed 3.60
(744.1 damage per second)
+408 Agility
+611 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 272 (1.52% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your resilience rating by 272 (3.44% @ L85).


Now, you do lose out on the mastery on these 2 choices, but although mastery is a nice stat to have, it's not the top stat in most builds at the moment. You can always reforge to get some mastery back, but ultimately, the 265 mastery that the Fandral's Flamescythe gives you does not actually translate in to that much of an improvement.  You have to remember that 265 does not translate in to actually 265 more mastery.  It gets tossed in to the conversion tables like all other stats and then the correct amount is added to your stats.

Now, if you do not have access to or do not like to PvP, there is always "


Witch-Hunter's Harvester
Binds when equipped
Two-Hand Polearm
1614 - 3000 Damage Speed 3.50
(659.2 damage per second)
+361 Agility
+541 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 365
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 241 (1.34% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 241 (1.34 @ L85).

Ok, I know what you are going to say.  And yes, the ilvl and stats are lower.  But look at the big picture here and not the numbers on the polearm.  You are only losing out on 47 agility, 70 stamina, 35 critical strike and 24 mastery.  If you were to add these missing amounts to your stats you would see almost no change in your over all stats. For example, 70 stamina is only going to give you about 700 more health over all. In today's WoW, 700 health doesn't make a  ton of difference, or really any at all.

If you sit back and do that over all math and run that numbers in your stats, you can see that, unless the staff drops while you are in there anyways, it does not seem that Fandral's Flamescythe is the end all/be all of weapons in the game for druids at this point.  Sure the higher stats and ilvl numbers all make it the "best" weapon in game for druids.  But if you stand back and look at it for what it really is, the shine on it seems to die down and it's not really that awesome of a weapon.  Now if you want a weapon that will change you form, then this is simple the best for you.  I feel that this just isn't worth farming for.

If you have any questions or comments you'd like to make on this topic, please feel free to comment.  I will respond to any and all questions posted here.  If you like this or any of my other topics, please follow me. You can also find me on twitter @neosroar.

Firelands and you. New Shinies things for feral tanks.

With the release of The Firelands raid in 4.2, please are all climbing over each other to get in there and see what they can get off each boss.  Now sure, the new dungeon journal gives you a full loot table off each boss, but I've taken some time and made up what I call my "Firelands Shopping List" full of new shinies that would make any feral tank smile.  Here are the drops that bears would love to make use of in order of what boss they drop from...



drops off Beth'tilac <The Red Widow>

Cinderweb Leggings
Binds when picked up
Legs Leather
1592 Armor
+368 Agility
+611 Stamina
Red Socket
Yellow Socket
Socket Bonus: +20 Agility
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 212 (1.66% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 284 (1.58 @ L85).


Spidersilk Spindle
Binds when picked up
Unique-Equipped: Spidersilk Spindle (1)
Trinket
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 383 (2.14 @ L85).
Equip: Melee attacks which reduce you below 35% health cause you to gain a protective shield which absorbs 17095 damage for 30 sec.  Cannot occur more than once every 1 min.




Drops off Lord Rhyolith

Dreadfire Drape
Binds when picked up
Back
695 Armor
+212 Agility
+341 Stamina
Red Socket
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +20 Agility
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your hit rating by 138 (1.15% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 95 (0.53 @ L85).


Hood of Rampant Disdain
Binds when picked up
Head Leather
1478 Armor
+348 Agility
+611 Stamina
Meta Socket
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +30 Agility
Durability 100 / 100
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 295 (2.30% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 172 (5.73 @ L85).




There are no drops off Alysrazor




Drops off Shannox

Gloves of Dissolving Smoke
Binds when picked up
Hands Leather
1137 Armor
+282 Agility
+454 Stamina
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +10 Agility
Durability 55 / 55
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 172 (0.96% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 208 (1.16 @ L85).




Drops off Baleroc

Breastplate of the Incendiary Soul
Binds when picked up
Chest Leather
1820 Armor
+368 Agility
+611 Stamina
Red Socket
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +20 Agility
Durability 165 / 165
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 231 (1.80% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 267 (1.49 @ L85).


Shoulderpads of the Forgotten Gate
Binds when picked up
Shoulder Leather
1365 Armor
+282 Agility
+454 Stamina
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +10 Agility
Durability 100 / 100
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your hit rating by 210 (1.75% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 153 (0.85% @ L85).





Drops off Majordomo Staghelm <Archdruid of the Flame>

Mantle of the Fiery Vanquisher
Binds when picked up
Classes: Rogue, Death Knight, Mage, Druid
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378

The above tier item will get you:
Obsidian Arborweave Spaulders

Binds when picked up
Shoulder Leather
1365 Armor
+282 Agility
+454 Stamina
Blue Socket
Socket Bonus: +10 Agility
Durability 100 / 100
Classes: Druid
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 157 (0.88% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 216 (1.20 @ L85).
(2) Set: Your attacks with Mangle, Maul, and Shred deal 10% additional damage as Fire damage over 4 sec.
(4) Set: Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to extend the duration of Berserk by 2 + (20 * ComboPoints) sec and when your Barkskin ability expires you gain an additional 10% chance to dodge for 12 sec.



The Hungerer
Binds when picked up
Unique-Equipped: The Hungerer (1)
Trinket
+383 Agility
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Your melee and ranged attacks have a chance to grant you 1532 haste rating for 15 sec.


Fandral's Flamescythe
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
1428 - 2143 Damage Speed 2.40
(744.1 damage per second)
+408 Agility
+611 Stamina
Durability 120 / 120
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 276 (1.54% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 265 (1.48 @ L85).


Sandals of Leaping Coals
Binds when picked up
Feet Leather
1251 Armor
+282 Agility
+454 Stamina
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +10 Agility
Durability 75 / 75
Requires Level 85
Item Level 378
Equip: Increases your critical strike rating by 133 (0.74% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 230 (1.28 @ L85).





Drops off Ragnaros

Choker of the Vanquished Lord
Binds when picked up
Neck
+240 Agility
+360 Stamina
Requires Level 85
Item Level 384
Equip: Increases your haste rating by 162 (1.27% @ L85).
Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 156 (0.87 @ L85).


Matrix Restabilizer
Binds when picked up
Unique-Equipped: Matrix Restabilizer (1)
Trinket
+406 Agility
Requires Level 85
Item Level 384
Equip: Your melee and ranged attacks have a chance to grant 1532 critical strike rating, haste rating, or mastery rating, whichever is currently highest.




As you can see, there is some really nice gear to be had in The Firelands.  My only real recommendation would be to make sure that you are well geared for this raid before you step foot in there to kill bosses.  These bosses are considerably harder then previous raid bosses (beyond the obvious reason that it's the next raid tier, they are really stepping up the game in this one).  Don't rush in and end up being more of a problem then a help.  This raid is not going anywhere anytime soon. You will find that your raiding experience in there will be far better if you are truly prepared. (flashes on Illidan: "You are Not prepared!" lol)

Keep up the good work and lets show those other tank classes how tanking is really done!