The Raiding Warlock

[Elno]

Hello fellow Warlocks,

 

This question is directed to level 49/50 warlocks who do quite a bit of raiding.  I have read the FAQ and have asked a few warlocks on my server this questions....What order should you upgrade your spells to Adept 3?  At 45 I already have Nil Distortion adept 3 and have almost 3pp to spend on rares to get adept 3's.  Please provide a list of the spells you use in raids and rate thme in order of their importance (1=first, 2=second,...., 8=th).  Thanks in advance.

 

EL

[Splatterpunk28]

Devastation -- dps

Nil Distortion -- dps

Noxious Bolt (if you didn't take HVB at 40) -- dps

Dark Distortion (if you didn't take BSS at 30) -- dps

Ice Flame -- dps -- if a mob is highly poison resistant, this will land.  I can't even think of a time it hasn't ever landed on epic mobs.  If mobs are basically immune to poison/disease, this combined with Freezing Whorl and spamming Ice Spike will actually not be that bad of dps.

Nil Absolution -- dps

Grisly Contract -- Health to Power conversion, I never have problems on raids, but maybe I will someday.

Nul Absolution -- dps

Biggest thing to remember is if it's a potential AE encounter, start with your lower dmg AE spells (nul/nil absolution) and work up to see how aggro is holding before you devastate them.  If tank isn't doing so well just use your regular single nuke line.  If you are having consistent MT's you'll generally know how far you can push it without having to experiment on each raid.

Another thing that I haven't seen folks really mention is that at level 30 we get an AE Stifle/Nuke that will effect epic mobs.  This combined with Dark Nebula is pretty priceless.  If you can get your hands on a Dark Distortion Master I...or even Adept3, it might be worth it.

Message Edited by Splatterpunk28 on 07-24-2005 08:10 AM

[Fepp]

oppps...

Message Edited by Fepple on 07-22-2005 09:15 AM

[Tanatus]

First and foremost you need upgrade

1. Grisly contract - no mana = no DPS - this spell is you major sourse of power during combat with Adept 3 you dont even need enchanter to sustein DPS. At Adept 3 it use ~500 life to produce ~400 power at master lvl it convert 525 into 655 power

Next is DPS spells you the killer after all

Devastation (2), Nil Absolution (3) and stop here...

From tier 4 you might want to get Adept 3 also for next spells in addition to ND...

Noxious Bolt (4), IceFlame (5), Null Absolution (6)

[CrimsonAveng]

1. Devestation

2. Nil Distortion

3. Didnt do any. waiting for Combat rebalance. I'd hate to waste a Ruby on Grisly Contract or something if Soul Flay actually was fixed after CR.

Only spells I ever really use in a raid are ND, Dev, Dark Nebula, and BSS, and a few DOTS and Debuffs

If I did get another it would be Ice Flame...but again I'd hate to waste a ruby ...at this time

 

Message Edited by CrimsonAvenger on 07-22-2005 09:13 PM

[Elno]

Thank you all for your replies...

I upgraded ice flame and noxious bolt for now.  And will be saving up for the tier 5 spells devastation, grisly contact and nil absolution

EL

[TheBladesCaress]

Devastation - I have a Master I now, but I had Adept 3 before it. Grisly Contract T5 - When things get hairy, the healers get fed and not me, Adept 3 of this gives a large upgrade. Ice Flame T4 - Great Upgrade Nil Distortion T4 - Must have. Next in line Nil Absolution Chaotic Maelstrom Null Absolution Endow Energy   Not going to bother with Dark Nebula - Stun is good, dmg is useless Soul Flay - utterly broken.

[Soronil]

 

 

yes you should upgrade all of your damage spells... but two very important upgrades that i do not see here:

 

 

Dark Nebula (adept iii or better)

 

   Many people do not realize that damage is not the only upside of upgrading a spell.  Upgrading a spell decreases the

chance of resistance as well as giving a better chance for the spell to last the full duration.   On level 58 epic x 4 mobs... having an app 4 stun isn't going to cut it.. upgrade dark nebula asap.

 

 

Vulian Interferance (adept iii or better)

 

  I know alot of warlocks don't use it.. but it's a very useful spell on certain mobs.   This spell lowers the effective casting level of the mob by one level.  For instance, cast this on a level 50 warlock mob, It no long can cast devastation... That can make or break the fight.   Many epic encounters have special abilities, I'm not totally sure which ones vulian interferance will affect and which ones it wont.. but in any situation this spell is worth upgrading, for less chance of resistance and better duration.

 

 

Wicked Gift, Aspect of Darkness, Seal of Dark Rumination (adept iii or better)

 

I can add around 600 power to everyone in my group with my buffs, and significant poison / disease mitigation.  The upgrades were worth it.

 

Chaotic Maelstorm, Curse of Nil, Curse of Emptiness, Dark Pillaging (adept ii or better)

 

I notice alot of warlocks dont debuff... I do significantly more damage when I have chaotic maelstorm and curse of emptiness on to lower the poison mitigation... chaotic maelstorm is also a decent dot for also lowing resistance.  upgrade increases the amount debuffed. Dark Pillaging is a power drain, gives your party power over time.. worth it.

 

 

Most warlocks feel that their place on a raid is dps... I'd like to think that with 24 people on a raid, If i can knock off a chunk of its power pool by getting Curse of Nil off early (by lowering its int / str i'm lowing its max power pool, if its full power when i cast it, its full power bar is now lower),  draining its power with Dark Pillaging, stun the mob for 4.5 seconds every 12 seconds with Dark Nebula that I'm helping the raid alot more than just doing a few extra dps.   I still beat the wizards on the dps parse=P

[Melkor]

I would get Grisly Contract now the rest i wouldn't worry about till you start raiding. At this point in the game if you join and established raiding guild or a starter up even you get alot of  rubies on raids. rubies go for 1.5 - 2pp on my server so i would just get off raids but if your server is cheap i guess you can buy.

[Elno]

I agree with you Soronil, however when funds are low it is difficult to upgrade almost ALL of your tier 4 and 5 spells.  I wish I could upgrade all of the spells that you listed, I would, but until that time I will go one spell at a time (as that is what i can afford).  But i certainly agree with you.

EL

[Tanatus]

Anyway start with Grisly Contract - this best investment in low 40s that you could do... You nearly double efficiency of spell by going from Adept 1 to Adept 3.

Devastion Adept 3 and Nil Abs Adept 3 or better of course a must for any self respecting warlock but bear in mind Devastation is lvl 50 spell and Nil Abs is lvl 49.6 spell hence even if you get your adept 3 right now you wont use am for while ... Grisly contract on oppsite will boost your killing abilities a lot

[Crono1321]

Grisly Contract adept3 - 402power!!!  This is a life saver in raids, instantly canni about 15% back every 30 seconds!!! 

[Tanatus]

its 20s not 30

[Crono1321]

Even better then!!!!  But yes at adept3 you can't beat this spell (master1 I know har har har) I don't know how many times I can say it before someone will believe me and pay the 1.2pp or whatever to have it.  Grisly Contract Nil Absolution Devastation-------have this at all costs by 50.

[Tanatus]

... [Removed for Content] ....

[Splatterpunk28]

I agree Grisly contract is worth upgrading, but to put it first in line boggles me.  What are you guys raiding that you use this on so often?  Other than tradeskilling, I think I've used it maybe once or twice on raids...and I raid nearly every other day...just don't run out of power.

 

You guys don't have chanters or just have low dps on raids?  Or is it such high-end content I haven't gotten to those raids yet?

 

 

[Fepp]

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Splatterpunk28 wrote:

I agree Grisly contract is worth upgrading, but to put it first in line boggles me.  What are you guys raiding that you use this on so often?  Other than tradeskilling, I think I've used it maybe once or twice on raids...and I raid nearly every other day...just don't run out of power.

 

You guys don't have chanters or just have low dps on raids?  Or is it such high-end content I haven't gotten to those raids yet?

 

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Usally the chanter isnt in my group... because we have this spell a spot in their group could go to someone that actually needs power regen (like the healers) we can sustain ourself happily.

Message Edited by Fepple on 07-28-2005 10:09 AM

[Splatterpunk28]

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Fepple wrote:

Usally the chanters arent in my group... because we have this spell a spot in their group could go to someone that actually needs power regen (like the healers) we can sustain ourself happily.  I cant see how you can be maximising your DPS and not have mana issues.

Message Edited by Fepple on 07-28-200510:03 AM

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First off, thanks for the 1star (I liked your initial response you almost instantly changed too -- very mature.)  I asked a sincere question -- it was not "a troll post."  My guild's been farming mostly the same raid mobs, so I am unaware of many encounters that the above folks may be referring to. 

Secondly, chanters do not need to be in the same group for power regen buff so I have no idea what you're talking about.

And lastly, warlocks are more than just dps on raids.  We debuff, stun, stifle and do damage primarily.  My dps has hit over 900 several instances, but generally averages at about 400 on raids.  Your assumptions are insulting and misplaced. 

Anyway, not interested in a flame war, so I'll just leave the question out there as it was originially asked.

[Fepp]

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Splatterpunk28 wrote:

First off, thanks for the 1star (I liked your initial response you almost instantly changed too -- very mature.)  I asked a sincere question -- it was not "a troll post."  My guild's been farming mostly the same raid mobs, so I am unaware of many encounters that the above folks may be referring to. 

Secondly, chanters do not need to be in the same group for power regen buff so I have no idea what you're talking about.

And lastly, warlocks are more than just dps on raids.  We debuff, stun, stifle and do damage primarily.  My dps has hit over 900 several instances, but generally averages at about 400 on raids.  Your assumptions are insulting and misplaced. 

Anyway, not interested in a flame war, so I'll just leave the question out there as it was originially asked.

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Yeah I must have changed my wording while you were replying.  I didnt like the tone of my intial post either.  I also removed the DPS comment before your post because i wasnt happy with that. I didnt know chanters could buff out of group... my bad. Edit: Jeez, how did i not notice my chanter buffs... last night was [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot] obvious

Message Edited by Fepple on 07-29-2005 10:49 AM

[Tanatus]

*sign* every tried chain stun mob with DN? no? try it and see your power consumption...

every tried to do Tremblar Begemoth or/and Meeting of Mind? - no? - try it and see you power consumption

Bear in mind I am talking from point of view warlock who have on him Inight Master 1 from illsusionist + prismatic + GEBs

There is absolutely no way in hell I can sustein resonably high DPS (400+ is reasonable) w/o fast canibalization

Lastly as warlocks we dont stifle targets sorry dude that's done by guardians and monks

[Splatterpunk28]

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Tanatus wrote:

*sign* every tried chain stun mob with DN? no? try it and see your power consumption...

every tried to do Tremblar Begemoth or/and Meeting of Mind? - no? - try it and see you power consumption

Bear in mind I am talking from point of view warlock who have on him Inight Master 1 from illsusionist + prismatic + GEBs

There is absolutely no way in hell I can sustein resonably high DPS (400+ is reasonable) w/o fast canibalization

Lastly as warlocks we dont stifle targets sorry dude that's done by guardians and monks

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I cycle Dark Nebula in on epic mobs until they are fully debuffed or if something out of the ordinary is going on.

And yeah, we can stifle epic mobs too; not sure if you don't know that or just aren't required/asked to do it, but I can and do cycle that in as well if it looks like it will help.  Nexvok's Surging Toxin, level 30training -- if you didn't take it -- and you're raiding most of the time, you might want to /respec.   

I think the reason why I don't run out of power is because most of raids we're doing, the main guy doesn't live long enough.  I could be doing more dps, I'm sure, but I'm also sure I'd draw aggro and potentially screw the entire raid up in the process of just adding an extra 50dps.  After raiding with the same two MTs for a while, I know my boundaries and, trust me, I can't push it anymore at this time.

I'm looking forward to hitting Tremblar Begemoth and Meeting of Mind and other raids too where the encounter lasts longer.  I have Grisly Contract Adept 3, was merely pointing out if you are not raiding with a post prizmatic raidforce, it probably should not be at the top of your list.

But, opinions are opinions. 

[Elno]

Hello,

This is the order that I've upgraded to Adept 3 so far at level 46.7;

1. Nil Distortion (obviously)

2. Ice Flame

3. Noxious Bolt (depending on if Soul Flay gets fixed, this may not be necessary)

4.  Grisly Contract (at least you save some cash by not having to by drinks all the time)

Next up for me will be the following;

5.  Nil Absolution

6. Devastation

7. Chaotic Maelstrom (if i get the tier 5 rare sooner than level 48 swap 6 and 7)

8.  Curse of Emptiness (this and Chaotic Maelstrom make a huge difference in you DPS)

From here I'm not sure what i'd do, perhaps go adept 3 with buffs and other DOTS.  I would have to check and see if upgrading would make a difference with those spells.

EL