User:Raine Valen/Srs PvE/Resources/General/The Prot Cycle

Step 1: Understand that damage is going to happen.
This should happen before said damage starts happening. If an Aatxe is running up to someone, you know before the first swing that that person is in for a hurting. Accordingly, they should be protted before that hurting begins.

Step 2: Identify the source and target of the damage.
Determine who is or will be taking damage, what kind of damage they are or will be taking, and where they are or will be taking damage from. How you go about this is a matter of personal preference. However, the most effective way to do this is by first identifying the damage source (e.g. there is an aatxe running around), then determining their damage type (aatxes deal big packets of physical damage), and finally determining their target (the aatxe is running toward your heal monk). Though this method is the best, strictly speaking, it becomes very difficult when there is more than one (or two or three) noteworthy source(s) of damage. In those cases, the second best (and easiest) method is to determine who is taking damage, then the type of damage, and then the source.


 * You can practice following multiple damage sources by playing prot without having the party window visible.

Step 3: Determine which prot to apply.

 * 1) Spirit Bond:
 * 2) * Is the damage in large packets? If the damage is in small packets (like traps), Spirit Bond won't do anything.
 * 3) * Are the packets coming in faster than they can be healed for less energy? If the damage is coming in slow enough to be healed without the healer pouring energy into the target (casting more than one 5-energy spell every two or three seconds), it doesn't need to be Spirit Bonded; a small prot will serve well enough, and for less energy.
 * 4) Protective Spirit:
 * 5) * Will this person be taking damage for more than a few seconds? Protective Spirit's strength is in its duration.  If that's going to go to waste, another prot might be better.
 * 6) * Is the damage in large packets? Like SB, Protective Spirit does nothing against small damage packets.
 * 7) * Is the damage too fast to keep up with without Protective Spirit? If the damage isn't coming in too fast to deal with without Protective Spirit (i.e. from multiple damage sources), don't apply it.  If it won't save you more energy than it costs, it's a waste.
 * 8) Shield of Absorption:
 * 9) * Are the damage packets coming in quickly? Shield of Absorption is the hands-down best prot against rapidly-incoming damage packets, especially from multiple targets.  Against slower damage sources, like single casters, other prots are better.
 * 10) * Are the packets relatively small? This prot isn't amazing against large damage packets.  In fact, it's pretty terrible against them.  However, if large damage packets are reduced (by something like Protective Spirit) to lower levels, SoA can become a more appealing option.
 * 11) Guardian:
 * 12) * Is the damage physical? If it's not, don't Guardian.  Period.  Ever.
 * 13) * Will Guardian slow down the damage more than Protective Spirit? Against Graspings, Guardian is hands-down better than Protective Spirit.  Against Aatxes (Bladed or Vengeful), Protective Spirit might be a better option.
 * 14) * Do they have SoA on them? Guardian and SoA have anti-synergy: guardian slows down the rate of incoming packets on the target, effectively wasting SoA.
 * 15) Aegis:
 * 16) * Will I need to cast more than one Guardian every five seconds? If so, use Aegis.  Otherwise, don't.
 * 17) Life Sheath:
 * 18) * Are they going to take a small number of large packets of damage? If so, go ahead and LS; don't burn SB for one or two procs.
 * 19) * Do they have conditions that need to be removed? LS also removes conditions.  If your wars are blind or something, please do remove it.
 * 20) Holy Veil:
 * 21) * Is this person going to get hexed? If there aren't hexes present, Veil is an unnecessary energy drain.
 * 22) * Will the hex matter? If you're fighting mindblades and a melee gets Migraine on them, it doesn't matter.  If the hex isn't going to matter, don't bother Veiling for it.