Gnopaine

From the recent discussions, I think it's time that I move a few talent points around to make my spec a little more helpful for 25-man raiding. I've been using a spec that has a few talents more useful in PvP and heroic instances. I have a spec change in mind, but would appreciate feedback from the platoon on any potential improvements. I'm not looking for a massive spec change, just a tweak to my basic Unstable Affliction/Destructive Reach build.

This is my current spec, and this is my target spec.

Gains:

• 5th point in Devastation: +1% crit rate for Shadowbolt and DD Immolate component
• 5/5 points in Shadow Embrace: Reduce target's physical damage out by 5%

Losses:

• 0/2 Improved Curse of Weakness: Demo Shout will be used; I will be putting up CoE or CoS based on raid makeup.
• 1/2 Soul Siphon: Slight impact to farming efficiency; not a raid talent.
• 0/1 Curse of Exhaustion: Useful in PvP, heroics, and occasionally on Kara trash. Not a raid talent.
• 0/2 Improved Howl of Terror: Same as CoEx; not a raid talent.

Please comment on this as a pure raid spec. My goal is to maximize my effectiveness in the platoon. Thanks!

__________________

Gnopaine - Level 70 Warlock (Affliction)
Scarpia (aka Edbane) - Level 70 Paladin (Holy)
Ripoffron - Level 1 Auction House Hustler

Aeryck

As a noob alt warlock, I'm not sure I have much to add, but from what I've read the imp CoA is pretty weak for 2 talent points. If you are going to be usually casting CoS or CoE, would those 2 points be better spent in malediction?

Gnopaine

Yeah, as a pure raiding spec, probably 2 points in Malediction would be better. Imp CoA makes a decent difference in my 10-man DPS, so I tend to have blinders on about getting rid of it. But that might be the right call.

In fact, it would probably be better to go 3/3 Malediction and give up that point I moved into Devastation.

Thanks for the feedback! Exactly what I'm looking for.

With 3/3 Malediction, the spec looks like this.

__________________

Gnopaine - Level 70 Warlock (Affliction)
Scarpia (aka Edbane) - Level 70 Paladin (Holy)
Ripoffron - Level 1 Auction House Hustler

Tarenth

"What do you attempt to accomplish with your spec?" is probably the most important question.

If you are going to be raiding/instancing as support/DPS then I suggest taking Malediction for the extra CoE/CoS damage.

CoA talents are somewhat iffy to me because as it stands now we don't have enough Warlocks to fully debuff something to waste a curse on CoA. As such you probably won't get much use out of Amplify Curse which only affects CoA, CoD, and CoW (which you won't have) or ICoA.

I'd look at this depending on what you want to do with your spec. I switched out the CoA talents and changed Dark Pact to finish off Soul Siphon. With life tap you can get your mana back easy and Drain life will be hitting for about 1000-1200 damage over 5 seconds with all the talents you put into increasing it and your shadow damage.

__________________
My sanity is not in question...
It was a confirmed casualty some time ago.

Gnopaine

Getting rid of Dark Pact is not something I will do. It makes a huge difference in my load on the healers. With Dark Pact and careful timing, I rarely have to Life Tap in most fights, and only a few times on long boss fights. Becoming less of a burden to the healers is one of the reasons I left 0/21/40 and went to an Affliction spec.

If we had more locks running, Soul Siphon/Drain Life could be a more efficient way to go. However, it is yet one more debuff slot when it's up, and channeled spells are poor in fights like Gruul. For raid dps, it is better to be throwing up Shadow Bolts and hoping for the Improved SB crits. If you look at the EJ list, Drain Life is listed as one of the no-nos. (Of course, they also don't like Shadow Embrace, but with the stated goal of using fewer healers on Gruul, I will have to disagree with them on that at our level of raiding.)

Yeah, Amplify Curse could go away as well. This is another talent that provides a nice boost in 10-man, but is of no use in 25-man. I could potentially put that point back over in Devastate. Must ponder...

__________________

Gnopaine - Level 70 Warlock (Affliction)
Scarpia (aka Edbane) - Level 70 Paladin (Holy)
Ripoffron - Level 1 Auction House Hustler