TMaG wrote:
At later levels the benefit of having these abilities is minimal at best. With Mining capped I'm given an additional 500 HP. If you're a level 80 character in plate that has upwards of 20k HP, an additional 500 is an afterthought. Same goes for the healing buff which gives back a maximum of 2000HP. Which can be useful say if you're in a mid fight and about to die, but popping a pot which gives you the health back instantly would prove the better choice as opposed to Lifeblood which gives it back over time.
See, I used to think this way as well. However, Lifeblood has a few advantages to it.
1. It is off the GCD. You can use it while using other abilities.
2. It does not share cooldowns with trinkets or potions.
3. In long fights you can use it multiple times.
4. You don't need to stop and use it like a bandage.
5. As a bear tank I can use it without shifting out.
That said, it has obvious limitations:
1. 2000 hp over 5 sec is not great when you have over 30k hp like me :-P
2. I would much rather have 50sta, since that gets multiplied by my bear bonus (I think it's stamina, not pure hp, right?)
3. The three minute cooldown is pretty long.
Where this ability has really shone for me is when my healer is a little slow to get me some lovin'. I pop Lifeblood, a potion, and my Wrathgate trinket. That gives me an extra 7000 or so health, which lasts me just long enough to survive most times.