The seventh way is to make a habit of your rotation. You could be specced properly, gemmed and enchanted properly, and have all the gear you need and still discover that your DPS is lower than someone else using the exact same items. Rotation is the key here. Your rotation is simply the pattern of abilities you use and in what order. You want to ensure that your best abilities are used every time their cooldown is up. Your rotation is going to be very different for each spec, so you better visit your class' forums and read up on rotations. Practice your rotations at a target dummy. You'll be surprised how fast you can get at something once you become accustomed to doing it often. Plus, you'll be pleased at what a large effect this has on your overall DPS.
The eighth way is not to overlook the small stuff. If you have 2k sp and a hit rating of 50, your DPS is probably going to be lower than someone with 1.5sp and a capped hit rating. What about haste, Critical strike rating? Secondary stats can and do affect your DPS greatly, so be sure to learn all you can about how to balance your primary and secondary statistics. Also, you don't overlook things like buying an extra socket for your belt. The little things can add up to equal more DPS and greater success in an instance or raid.
The ninth way is to keep up with changes. This is because classes never remain the same. Note that with every patch you keep up to date with the changes that have been made to your class so that you can always stay at the top of your game.
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