Casting speed

Casting speed is the time it takes for a spell to take effect. Some spells are "instant" and take effect immediately. Some spells are "channeled" and have their effects occur over the duration of the cast. Others take effects after a specific "cast time" with typically more powerful spells having longer cast times.

Your casting speed affects the cast time of your spells. It is determined by several factors. The base "cast time" is specified in the spell. Most classes have talents which can reduce the cast time of a spell (eg. [Light's Grace] and its effect on [Holy Light]), a class of spell (eg. [Divine Fury]), a school of spell (eg. all holy spells), or all spells in general (eg. [Martyrdom] and the [Focused Casting] effect). Additionally some classes have spells which temporarily reduce the cast time of subsequent spells (eg. [Nature's Swiftness]).

Finally, certain items provide a "spell haste" bonus or a "spell haste rating" bonus. Spell haste rating is used to determine the characters spell haste bonus. At level 70, 21 points of spell haste rating grants 1% spell haste bonus.

Certain debuffs (eg. [Curse of Tongues]) can decrease your casting speed. Taking damage while casting may increase your cast time and there by decrease your cast speed.

Casting speed calculation

Note: Blizzard rounds to 4 significant digits.

Improving casting speed

Various sources that improve casting speed are listed on the Casting Speed improving items page.

 

See also: Haste