example42
New Member
I had a request to post my build. So here it is. Deedlyt's Build.
I was SM/Ruin previously. This is sort of a hybrid build. My primary purpose was to test the effectiveness of Shadow and Flame. Had I stayed SM/Ruin, this would have been my build.
So, what did I gain and lose with my new build. Well, in the destruction tree I picked up...
So, what have a given up? Harder hitting DoTs, better Drain Life, Nightfall, Siphon Life, and Shadow Mastery. Is it worth it? Probably not as a person who does primarily 40-man content. I think I would be able to squeeze more DPS out of SM/Ruin than the hybrid build. Is the DPS close? Yes, I think so. I was the top warlock in the BWL run I did. (Others were SM/Ruin or 41 Affliction with similar gear). I was second in damage overall. If I do decide to stick with this sort of build, I will probably end up taking points out of soul leech and moving them into Suppression and Improved drain life.
Anyway, this too-long post should get the ball rolling. Anyone else want to chime in? (Sorry for the the typos and grammar errors. It's 3am and I should really be asleep.)
I was SM/Ruin previously. This is sort of a hybrid build. My primary purpose was to test the effectiveness of Shadow and Flame. Had I stayed SM/Ruin, this would have been my build.
So, what did I gain and lose with my new build. Well, in the destruction tree I picked up...
- Emberstorm - It's ok, but right now it only effects Immolate and Conflag. (I rarely use Searing Pain due to agro concerns and Incinerate is not yet trainable.) Pre-patch I almost never used Immolate due to the fewer number of debuff slots. I have now added it to my normal line-up of dots. Of course, it also helps my AoE, but warlock AoE is fairly situational so that's not a huge DPS boost.
- Soul Leech - This is neat, but I haven't found it to be too useful. It's OK on some fights such as Buru, Huhu, or Vael, but seems to have limited use on trash mobs and most bosses. It might be more useful in 5 and 10 man. I could see this being nice for the Baron in Strat Dead for example. I picked it up hoping it would replace Siphon Life. I'm not sure if it fills that role. It doesn't feel like I'm getting much health from it, but that may be because I almost always have healers keeping me topped off when raiding. I've found it almost useless in PvP. The amount of health you get back isn't that much and I do more DoTing that Shadow Bolting in PvP anyway.
- Backlash - I picked this up for the crit bonus mostly. The proc is fun. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I will say it procs almost all the time if you are being hit by a hunter or rogue in PvP. The problem is, I'm normally stun-locked to death before I get a chance to fire it if I'm up against a rogue and if a hunter actually hits me, chances are I will be dead before I'm in range to use the proc. Still, I think it has lots of potential in PvP and some in PvE. (Though in PvE if something is hitting you (causing the proc), firing a insta-cast shadow bolt into their face is generally not the best way to shed agro.)
- Conflagrate - Nice insta-cast direct damage. A good way to add another ~900 damage to an immolation that is about to tick its last tick. Also very useful in PvP. Shadowburn + Conflag = polish off that last 40% of someone's health. In PvE, using conflag with an DoTimer is a must. In initial trial runs, it looks like conflag will make up for the harder hitting DoTs I could have gotten from an SM/Ruin build. Haven't had a chance to test it too much though as I've only been in BWL and lots of stuff there is fire immune.
- Shadow and Flame - The question is, is the +20% bonus damage to my Shadow Bolt able to replace the +10% to all shadow from Shadow Mastery. The answer? Maybe. If you have more +dmg than the base of your Shadow Bolt, then Shadow and Flame makes for harder hitting shadow bolts. I have about +620 some odd damage right now so Shadow and Flame is pretty good investment. Does it make up for not having Shadow Mastery though since Shadow Mastery effects all shadow damage? No. But I'm relying on Backlash's +crit, Conflag, and a harder hitting Immolate to make up the difference.
So, what have a given up? Harder hitting DoTs, better Drain Life, Nightfall, Siphon Life, and Shadow Mastery. Is it worth it? Probably not as a person who does primarily 40-man content. I think I would be able to squeeze more DPS out of SM/Ruin than the hybrid build. Is the DPS close? Yes, I think so. I was the top warlock in the BWL run I did. (Others were SM/Ruin or 41 Affliction with similar gear). I was second in damage overall. If I do decide to stick with this sort of build, I will probably end up taking points out of soul leech and moving them into Suppression and Improved drain life.
Anyway, this too-long post should get the ball rolling. Anyone else want to chime in? (Sorry for the the typos and grammar errors. It's 3am and I should really be asleep.)