---
title: 'Xaryu Was Right About Mage'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=hWd87Dgbc0c'
video_id: 'hWd87Dgbc0c'
date: 2026-10-01
duration_sec: 94
channel: 'Xaryu'
---

# Xaryu Was Right About Mage

> Source: [Xaryu Was Right About Mage](https://youtube.com/watch?v=hWd87Dgbc0c)

## Summary

The video addresses a common question in classic MMO gameplay: how many buttons should a player's core rotation have? The creator explains that the ideal is three to four buttons, and that the developers are working to ensure all classes meet this standard.

### Key Points

- **The Rotation Question** [00:00] — The creator notes that every class is asking about the number of buttons to press per minute, indicating a widespread concern.
- **The Problem with One-Spell Rotations** [00:12] — The creator criticizes one-button rotations, using the example of a mage spamming frostbolt, and emphasizes the need for more than one spell.
- **The Ideal: Three to Four Buttons** [00:37] — The ideal core rotation should have three or four buttons, as a general rule of thumb, to keep gameplay engaging without being overwhelming.
- **The Commitment to Change** [00:51] — The creator confirms that there is no more guessing; the developers are committed to bringing classes up to the three to four button standard.

### Conclusion

The video clarifies that the ideal core rotation in classic MMOs is three to four buttons, and the developers are committed to ensuring all classes meet this standard.

## Transcript

The rotations or, you know, APM has come up non-stop in regards to... Great question. Every class is going, you know, how many buttons are we supposed to be pressing per minute? Is this a... Great question!
Really active rotation. What am I doing with my class? We don't want to have the, hey, we're mages fighting Lucifer on its frostbolt. Frostbolt, frostbolt. I'm supposed to dispel, I'm not going to... Nothing else. Frostbolt, frostbolt. Never mind those dispels. Frostbolt, right?
It's, you want to have more than just one spell to cast, right? So we're making sure that there is more to it than that. I think that's deserved. And I think a general rule of thumb in your core rotation, what I call your moment to moment rotation,
the things that are under 10 seconds, you want to have three or four buttons, ideally. And more than that gets to be more things to keep track of than we want in the classic game. Chris Zerhut himself, three to four buttons, ideally.
Of course, this is just a general rule of thumb, but now there's no more guessing. There's no more speculation. There's no more one button is fine, stop crying. it's maybe you stop crying and we bring up the classes to where they're supposed to be.
Yes, we want three or four buttons, obviously, guys. Come on. Mage, right? Come up a little short right now. So we're constantly working on. Oh, I'm replaying that. Oh, my gosh. I'm replaying that. Oh, my gosh. Oh, I'm not crazy.
I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. Everyone's been making me feel like I'm crazy. Like I'm the guy that's wrong. Like I'm the guy that can't count to two.