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DPS Damage Must Land on the Window

Situation

A clump appears or a tank locks enemies, and the caller counts down.

The important moment is not when the DPS player starts casting. The important moment is when damage lands.

Correct response

DPS should already be positioned and ready before the final call.

Clean timing usually looks like:

  1. clump or lock begins
  2. support utility lands before or with damage
  3. damage lands during the control window
  4. players pressure or spread after value

Common failure

DPS starts casting at zero. By the time damage lands, enemies have moved, cleansed, healed, or used defensive layers.

What good DPS watches

  • where enemies will be when damage lands
  • whether support utility is early enough
  • whether the clump is real
  • whether enemies are leaving defensive zones
  • whether a smaller real clump is better than waiting for a perfect one

Review questions

  1. When did the clump become visible?
  2. When did support utility land?
  3. When did damage land?
  4. Did enemy defensives respond before the damage?
  5. Was the DPS in range before the window?

Drill

Mark four timestamps on VOD:

  • clump appears
  • support utility lands
  • damage lands
  • enemy recovery starts

If damage lands after recovery, the DPS timing is late.