Tech and Talk > Gaming > World of Warcraft > [Classes] Warlocks for dummies

[Classes] Warlocks for dummies

Thank you for asking this. I too have a warlock. His first spec is Demon. Because I solo, and was told a while back that demon is best for solo.

I recall my early attempt in on of the battle grounds, My 'lock kept taking a dirt nap. As the spells I used took a long time to cast and kept getting interrupted.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

reply to Rhenai
Don't know if this will help, but here goes...

My main is an 85 afflock. Was Affliction from 1-70, Demonology from 70 to 80, and Affliction again 80-85.

I had no problem soloing as Affliction or Demonology in PvE. Send in pet, do damage, rinse and repeat. If you are a fan of kiting, or AoE packs, both work. You will die sometimes, but it's part of learning your capabilities, and you ARE soulstoned, are you not?

In PvP you will see locks of all specs working it - and you have to expect dirt naps, especially in early attempts: resilience plays a HUGE role is survival, and you will not have enough to be of significant help when you start.

As you mentioned, Demo and Destro have long cast times in PvP - Afflock shines when dealing damage in choke points: hang back a bit, wait for the inevitable cluster where tanks and melee dps of all sides fight it out, and DoT to your heart's content. Soulswap and Seed of Corruption are your friends - Rain of Fire makes it too obvious that a lock is loose, the others are...potentially disguised...in the fracas

By the same token, using Drain Life or Drain Soul will inevitably creat a line pointing straight back at you. Avoid if possible, Haunt and Life Tap will help keep you up.

And get the Healers Must Die addon, and make sure that they are properly taken care of!

reply to Rhenai
The reason there are so many different opinions is because its all based on what you are trying to do with your lock. If you are mainly PVE (Raiding, Heroics) then all 3 specs have there up/down sides. Demo (AOE), Destro(Burst), Aff (DOTS longer fights). I would say pick the two you are most comfortable with. My lock is currently Destro/Demo. If you are mainly PVP it depends if your doing BG's or Arenas. In BG's all specs can be used effectively, just depends on the BG your doing. In Arenas aff is the best because of survivability and being able to spread damage out to multiple targets while moving. But some would argue that demo or destro are just as good in arenas. Hope this helps.
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Character:Dalic Server:Forstwolf Faction: Horde

reply to Rhenai
Currently all 3 specs do reasonably the same amount of dps with the difference only being 1-3k. We are currently lucky to have the option to play the spec we prefer. Keep in mind some specs might be better for a specific fight. I roll affliction, to me its the epitome of being an evil class I do derive pleasure from watching health tick away. Anyway if you would like to play aff I can steer you in the right direction on rotation/spec

opening rotation:
SB>>Haunt>>BoD(long ifght) or BoA(Trash)>>Corruption>>UA

If fight has no cleave or you have to be away for specific reasonings you should be in meleeburning shadowflame on cd
Fel Flame is used while moving ONLY
You should never have free time you should be on gcd 100% of the time, as a lock there is ALWAYS something you could be casting
Refresh BoD @ 2 sec or less (it will still tick)
If nightfall procs and you can refresh haunt or ua do it b4 sb
Macro Demon Soul into all your dot spells its not on the gcd and macro'in it in will burn it on cd which as aff is what you need to do

Haste is your friend but int is king ignore a socket bonus unless its a +20 or higher bonus to int or haste. you want as close to 1742 hit as poss if your over it you're wrong!! Being under hit is fine but be as close to cap as you can. Mastery is our worst stat period.

Just some things off the top of my head :P

R3d
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Why can't I decide why my feelings I hide? Always screwing with my mind, a thorn in my spine. Oh sure, it feels fine, wasting all our time. In the back of my mind, a thorn in my spine.

We are the Children Of the KoRn.

reply to Rhenai
I should have been clearer - I'm not into PVP, looking for casual/randoms to gear up, to MAYBE hopefully be in a position for raiding. One baby step at a time, first is to be able to perform well in the LFG randoms, then LFR, then.. well you know.
This is good, gives me some direction.
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“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you"

Demon spec seems to be the go getter in Dungeons. I say this as a warlock who has tried all 3.

This is the way I would run it.
Demolition/Afflic for Questing.
Demon maybe Afflic* for Dungeons. *Depends on your Int and haste.
Afflic for Raids.

The reason I say the above is due to the following.
Burst damage in Demolition is outstanding in extremely short fights, More suited towards Questing. Afflic is also good at questing, and unlike demo you can get groups and spam as much ans you need with FH out.

Dungeons will depend on the group you have. A group in all Valor point gear, you will want to go deamon due to the amount of DPS the rest are putting out. Your Afflic will not even stand a chance. But if the group is mainly JP or lower gear, go Afflic. the boss fights will go quicker that way.

Raids. Afflic all the way. The fights are usually longer. This gives Afflic the time it needs to root you as solid DPS. You could go Demon But I really did not like it in the raid. Also Afflic allows you to Run around more in those situation, and just watch your DPS go up and not down.

Just my Opinion though.

reply to Rhenai
DEMO

Demon Soul -- if using Felguard
Immolate -- keep up
Hand of Gul'dan -- everytime it's up
Demon Soul -- if using Felhunter
Bane of Doom -- keep up
Immolation Aura -- everytime it's up
Corruption -- keep up
Shadowflame -- if adds in front of you
Shadow Bolt -- when Shadow Trance is active
Incinerate -- when Molten Core is active
Soul Fire -- when Decimation is active
Shadow Bolt -- when nothing elso to do

DESTRO

Improved Soul Fire -- keep up
Immolate -- keep up
Conflagrate -- everytime it's up
Bane of Doom -- keep up
Corruption -- keep up
Soul Fire -- when Empowered Imp is active
Shadowflame -- if adds in front of you
Demon Soul -- everytime it's up
Chaos Bolt -- everytime it's up
Shadowburn
Incinerate

AFFLICTION

Curse of the Elements -- keep active
Haunt -- everytime it's up
Bane of Doom -- keep up
Corruption -- keep up
Unstable Affliction -- keep up
Demon Soul -- everytime it's up
Drain Soul -- when target is below 25% health
Shadow Bolt

This is from noxxic.com. I havent played my lock in a while but these rotations and priorities look about right to me.