Pre-Cata Patch Warlockery
Scaron — Mon, 09/20/2010 - 12:31
Ok, let me preface this by saying that some of these numbers HAVE to get fixed. As much as I'd love for destro warlocks to be as overpowered as they currently are on the PTR, I can't imagine that this will stand.
With that said, here's my prediction:
Destro is back. Big time. With the changes to Demonic Pact I think we're likely to see a lot of the Demo craze that's been fun in ICC to die back a bit. However, one has to be a bit tenuous, because these PTR numbers that I've been noticing for destro are just so friggin' ridiculous.
1. Burning Embers. Every time your Imp hits a target a dot is applied to that target, so while your initial imp hits are still relatively wimpy, the dot is not. On the PTR I can confirm that I was seeing 3.6k dps (for the dot alone) on the LOW end, your Imp is turning in another about 1.4ish k via direct firebolt damage...translation: My imp was doing 5k dps with only the benefit of my own personal debuffs on the boss.
2. Bane of Havoc. I had thought that this was initially designed to be applied to a secondary target while you worked away at primary targets and makes that secondary target take 15% of the damage you do to your primary. On the PTR this was working so that you could just apply your Bane of Havoc to your primary target and do a simple straight up 15% damage increase to that target. That buff outdamages either of your other dps banes (doom or agony) and makes it a clear choice in either a single or multitarget fight...we'll see if this sticks around.
3. Instant soulfire proccs. I gotta say, the new UI mechanism for this (they've implemented what looks like a PowerAura feature) on the soulfire proc is pretty nice. And, it adds some "molten core like" gameplay to destro that makes it feel a little more like demo of 3.3.0 - 3.3.5
4. Mana usage almost surely is broken for warlocks. Let me put it to you this way: I casted for 18 minutes straight and never dropped below 85% mana.
FWIW, this was my spec: http://cata.wowhead.com/talent#IZcbZIrbfMfc0do
Mages Scorching again in 4.0.1
Scaron — Sun, 10/03/2010 - 12:07Ok, mages. I know you loved that us locks handled the 5% crit debuff, but given the latest PTR patch, I think those days are over. Here's why:
1. Mages have been given a number of buffs to scorch: 1. 100% mana reduction if talented via imp scorch. 2. Casting of scorch while casting is now also possible.
2. Warlocks get seriously whacked for using Shadow Bolts at level 80. They take (even at my current haste levels) 2.1 seconds to cast. and they're not as much dps as drain life.
3. That's right, the new affliction warlock filler spell is Drain Life. And holy shit, does it ever feel like playing a shadow priest more than ever now in 4.0.1. ..except a lock ends up with an extra dot to keep up in the air.
4. Relying on Demo for all those tasty raid buffs: Honestly, demo is being balanced around lvl 85...and is, in my opinion, simply not viable at level 80 (so for the rest of Wrath). Demo, in my tests, has been balanced around the same dps as a level 80 fury warrior...so...5.5kdps, while an affliction lock hovers around 2x that much.
Can an afflock keep up the 5% crit debuff, yes. But the dps loss is substantial. We'd be sacrificing 60K Drain soul crits (yes 60K, self buffed but without the ICC buff) for a chance at a (slower) 6k shadow bolt hit.
On the plus side, our version of Curse of the Elements now applies to any thing within 20 yards of the target....so ebon plauge isn't absolutely necessary.
Edit: One last note: the OP here talks about the wonders of Destro. Destro has gotten the uber-nerf stick on the PTR. They deserved it and are really now just another viable dps spec for a warlock. Not as good as affliction, but close (and way ahead of demo).
Also, re: Demo SP buff...b/c ele shaman bring the same buff as a demo lock, there's no reason to bring a demo lock who'll do substantially less damage, imo.
We still won't be casting
Alprazalam — Mon, 10/04/2010 - 07:30We still won't be casting scorch except for MAYBE the first cast on a boss. They are finally changing it to where Pyroblast gives the extra 5% crit debuff.
Very glad to hear this. I'd
Scaron — Mon, 10/04/2010 - 10:06Very glad to hear this. I'd say it's official then, Affliction locks won't be casting shadow bolt anymore.
Few notes: 1. Burning embers
Scaron — Fri, 09/24/2010 - 12:27Few notes:
1. Burning embers was fixed. Now does about 500-700 dps instead of 3.5-5k dps. It was going to happen.
2. Reforging...wewt...so much trouble to get into.
3. ATM doing about 11k dps pulling out all my tricks on a target dummy. Down from yesterday, but not bad. W/ and ICC zone buff this should go up dramatically.
Of course... I just swapped
Enixa — Mon, 09/20/2010 - 15:16Of course... I just swapped to Demon DS Afflict from Destro. of course they'd buff it....