Is this normal?

[sanad]

<p>I've read some threads about this but most of them are from 2004 and 2005, so I'm hoping to get some more current information.</p><p>I'm a warlock who's been duoing with my wizard friend all game, we're both in our mid 40's now. Since our early 20's I've been stomping him in terms of damage output and soloability. His M2 choices seem sound (like me he chose what would provide the most direct damage), and we both went for the sorcerer Battlemage AA line.</p><p>We have almost identical gear and stats, but he just cannot keep up in the damage- and if it's a tough solo fight for <em>me</em>, than he's guaranteed to be unable to do it. I've seen his damage output and it's obvious why I can take things he cannot.</p><p>I must repeat that I don't think the Warlock is overpowered, my limits are <em>very</em> clear and I'm constantly reaffirming them by trying to solo encounters and heroics.</p><p>Taking for granted that he knows how to play the class, is there anything he should be doing in terms of AA points or M2 choices that might not be obvious to help him catch up to me in damage and solo-ability? Or are Warlocks and Wizards just less equal than I guessed until late levels (or ever)?</p>

[dirtymeat80]

<p>it might be a different order of casting maybe?  Keeping spells upgraded, and not getting resists?</p><p>Wizzy can pump out the damage, I did a ton of solo'ing, especially at the mid-range levels.  Something has got to be up, or maybe you're just zapping things a bit quicker.</p>

[iceriven2]

<p>I have a lvl 80 wizard and worlock wih 140 AA's, .  its been over 3 years since i have seen those lvls but i will try to help.</p><p>Basics.... try for adept 3's when u can...if not least adept 1's...</p><p>your AA choices simular? meaning u all go down kos tree or u guys split it between kos and eof?  that can be a difference, especially if u have one of the end abilities and he doesnt. Different AA can be a big difference.</p><p>What i do remember of those lvls minus AA's cuase why back when we didnt have those... Wizards had decent dps just not that great.  Once i hit 50 and got ice comet, my dps and solo ability went up a lot.  onlygets better... aoe snare... not very useful but has its moments, tempet dot(knock back is what u will like). later forAA's iceshape, why? gift line proc has a snare to it..good kiting... also your lvl 35 ice/fire spell has a snare. so that will help with soloability.</p><p>and considering u two duo, do u both cast dots? with 4 roots i can see trying it, but if lets say u cast them and he doesnt that can be a big enough difference and u casting your aoes as a warlock? warlocks get bigger single target aoes while wizards get mostly dot aoes around those lvls, one extra bigfrom u canalso do it... hope it helps</p>

[thajo]

<p>I'm going to go ahead and say thats not normal.  Even warlocks themselves that I know admit a wizard has an easier time solo'ing.  Less DoT's to break roots, more stuns/kb's, snare on root termination opposed to a fear on root termination, a temp proc that snares the target, a scribed spell that gives an unbreakable snare for 36 seconds.  I mean in almost every aspect wizard should have the upper-hand for soloing, and that was always my experience.  I even know someone who wanted to make a lock but started as a wiz just to make the lvl'ing up process smoother, then betray to a lock well down the road.</p>

[Fendaria]

<p>I've duo'd the Wizard and Warlock and this does seem to be the case for pre 50 levels.</p><p>The best reason I could come up with is Wizard primarily just has the Ball of Fire spell line while the Warlock gets the Dark Distortion and Negative Absolution spell lines.  For mainly solo targets or small groups the Wizard just can't overcome the DPS from those two spells.  As well with a pure duo of the two, the Warlock also gets the Aura of Darkness line while the Wizard's comparable spell, Coldshield, basically does nothing without a tank to cast it on.</p><p>( Pretty much everything else seems to be equal between the two classes up to that point ).</p><p>Once the Wizard gets Ice Comet at 50 and then later Fusion at 65 things will change.  Tell your wizard friend to stick it out, it definately is worthwhile.</p><p>Fendaria</p>

[sanad]

<p>Thank you so much everyone. Fendaria, what you said is pretty much what he and I came up with last night when we examined our spell lists. The Dark Distortion and Negative Absolution lines, as you said, are hard to compete with until level 50 it seems.</p><p>In answer to the question about AA's, we have exactly the same ones. We both have only just completed the Battlemage line.</p>

[thajo]

<p>If either of you spec out of the battlemage line, that will be the one who does the supreme dps <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[simpwrx02]

<p>Well if you are specced battle mage I woudlnt even bother rooting the mob most fo the time tbh.  not rootign will allow you to use more dots and elemental debuff, as the warlock debuff has no damage compenent to it so that may also be another reason why he was doing more damage, aka he was debuffing and you were not.</p>