EoTE or AS - That is The Question!

Last night's discussion w/ a buddy really brought up some really great points in regards to Patch 6.1's EoTS (Echo of the Elements) changes and AS (Anscestral Swiftness).

With EoTS, I tried it for a while after Patch 6.1 went live, but when it comes down to it,  I am experiencing that it is better having AS - that 5% haste and the ability to use every 1.5 min definitely has been/was way more efficient. Because, in reality, it is a great point brought up to me...and one that rings true - How many times does one really use SLT in a fight? Whereas AS can be used so much more and coupled with Ascendance. Definitely worth it. Something to really consider.

For a while I held to EoTE because of that comfort zone to having the 2 charges of SLT available in case of emergencies. But I was missing out on healing opportunities and therefore, lacking efficiency.

Also with the 4 set bonus, having glyph of riptide is way better. this means free riptides will allow procs of the 4 set bonus via tidal waves, so the 2 stacks of rip tides are not as efficient with EoTE and also unleash life no longer buffs HR (/cries), so its pretty much useless...I mean, yes, its great that it buffs your heal...but in reality, how does that really work out? If you need to heal a tank super fast you're just going to cast healing surge. you're not going to cast Unleash Life, and THEN healing surge - he may be dead by the time you finish casting - its a split second difference that can determine survival or a wipe. In theory it works. In a practical emergency situation, unless you're so amazing at keeping that stuff up like a robot and stuff it doesn't most of the time.

In the end, I suppose it comes down to "play styles" as well as "preference" or an encounter where SLT may be needed a lot like , lets say - Gruul's  inferno slices, or Oregorger's  retched blackrock, or Blast Furnace Blasts, or Flame Bender's Firestorms....etc...However, as a raid group there are other healers whose CDs may be more efficient than SLT's 10% dmg reduction. So when using this, keep in mind its just 10% dmg reduction vs. lets say...Revival, or Tranq, or Barrier, or Dev. Aura. Its a big difference.

Hmmm....Food for thought.

/gg