With the recent news that Wrath of the Lich King talents will be released prior to the expansion, I began planning some arena builds for fun. I came up with three variations which are somewhat dependent on just how much damage increase the other classes see. Here are what I had in mind. Feel free to comment/critique as well as include your own.
53/7/0 - Deep affliction
Description:
This build is going to forgo soul link all together and only pick up Demonic Embrace and imp HS in demo. Instead, it will focus more talents on the deep affliction goodies. Mentionables are UA (which now gets pushback resistance via fel conc.), Death's Embrace (better drains when low on life), Everlasting Affliction (stronger dots and DL resets duration of corr.), and Haunt.
Strengths:
Extremely high multi-target dps that is relatively unaffected by LOS and being focused. Some survivability via haunt, SiLi, and Death's Embrace.
Weaknesses:
No Soul Link will mean you are taking substantially more damage. No mana feed or demonic resilience means your pets are squishier and may run out of mana in longer fights.
17/44/0 - Grim Reach/Felguard
Description:
This build will operate well if dps output of other classes becomes a big issue. It gives you increased survivability through Soul Link, Demonic Resilience, and imp. Fear. It also focuses on talents that increase the damage output and survivability of your pet. If you are getting heavily focused, this build will also still output high damage since a large portion of your damage will come from your Felguard.
Strengths:
Very high survivability via Soul Link and Master Demonologist. Dps remains high if you are focused hard. Your pet is also very difficult to kill and peel off of a target (thanks to Demonic Empowerment). You retain high CC range on your fears via grim reach.
Weaknesses:
Little in the form of regen. Your dps (not your pet) is also heavily dependant on both casting spells and LOS so it take a bit of a hit to burst from pillar humping.
17/44/0 - imp Fear/Felguard/Bane
Description:
Very similar to the previous build with the exception of dropping points from imp LT, amp curse, and grim reach and putting them into 5/5 Bane. If you have a team that can hold the DPS target still (like a rogue or mage) you stand to gain a lot in the area of dps and burstability on a target.
Strengths:
Very high survivability via Soul Link and Master Demonologist. Dps remains high if you are focused hard. Your pet is also very difficult to kill and peel off of a target (thanks to Demonic Empowerment). Higher sustained and burst damage on your target via SB spam.
Weaknesses:
Less regen than the other FG build since you don't have imp LT. Your dps (not your pet) is also heavily dependent on both casting spells and LOS so it will take a substantial hit from pillar humping.
Note to moderators: I posted this in the PVP section rather than the Wrath of the Lich King section since there are not talents that will be unique to the expansion. This will be released prior to the expansion and I was hoping to get some discussion about builds that are balanced specifically around level 70 arena pvp with the new talents. If you feel it belongs somewhere else feel free to move it, though.