The Warlocks Den - WoW Warlock Discussions

Draft 1: Basics- found my posts on the subject and put them together in a semi-comprehensible manner.
Draft 2: Expanded multiple sections, added some feedback, and also added an “Other Minion” section.
Draft 3: Added in variations for Destro/Demo builds, better crediting, fixed the mini-guide for talent point allocation.


Why "Drain Tank?"
The art of "Drain Tanking" is considered to be the fastest leveling route a Warlock can take from about levels 30-60. Before hand it's a mix between "Drain Tanking" and "Minion Reliance." Mind you, I'm explaining the general concepts of what is to be considered "Drain Tanking." Yes, there are different styles, and everyone should find the one that works best for their own play style. I will go in-depth into what I consider the most efficient, and then I will… “mention” the other styles.

Canadianpimp had this to say: “What's the downside of drain tanking? It's an efficient way to kill mobs, but it takes longer to kill a mob drain tanking than nuking.”
However, it is more efficient until higher levels, which I will briefly mention later.

What is "Drain Tanking?"
Now, in "Drain Tanking," the key word is "tanking." When you look for a tank for an instance, you're looking for a Warrior/Druid/Paladin in order to keep mobs from hitting the group. That's what you're doing. Except... You're just taking them on by yourself. You're supposed to be getting hit in the conventional "Drain Tanking" method.


So, now that’s out of the way, you’re probably wondering what else there is too it, or you’re skimming and skipped that whole rant. Anyway, this build relies on using the skill “Drain Life” in order to replenish lost life due to using the spell “Life Tap” and being hit by mobs.

Equipment:
Well, “Dark Pact” and “Life Tap” mean that you do not need a ton of mana to get by. Having a high life pool mixed with lots of +damage is the key to being a good warlock. When I was leveling to 60 using an Affliction build, I actually did not use much stamina gear at all, I massed +shadow damage instead. I found that the more my Drain Life was hitting for, the longer I could stay alive as well as the faster the mob would die.
Suggested equipment:
Shadoweave Compilation:
Shadoweave Pants - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
Shadoweave Robe - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
Shadoweave Gloves - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
Shadoweave Shoulders - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
Shadoweave Boots - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
Shadoweave Mask - Thottbot: World of Warcraft
What is nice about this equipment is that it can be cheaply made, if you're a tailor, or cheaply acquired through the Auction House. It has a very respectable +shadow damage bonus on each piece, and each piece does give a small bonus to some stat. Since I'm a +damage whore, this compilation worked perfectly for me, and most of it lasted me until I hit level 60.

I also suggest looking at Canadianpimp’s “Gearing Your Warlock” guide for a further in-depth look at possible gear for your Warlock.

How to "Drain Tank"
Here is what I would suggest. The following strategy is known as "drain-tanking" and is mostly done by Affliction Warlocks with Dark Pact. I found it had almost no downtime, and can easily be done for long periods of time.
1) Corruption -> Curse of Agony -> Siphon Life
2) Life Tap
3) Drain Life until mob is dead.
- If your Corruption runs out and the mob is not yet dead, but has a reasonable amount of HP left, reapply it.
- If "Nightfall" procs, and the mob has 20%+ life left, use an Instant Shadowbolt.
- If your health reaches 100%, or will on the next round of Drain Life, Life Tap.
- Spam Dark Pact after the fight until you are at full mana as you run to your next target.
- Use your Imp while using the above "drain-tanking" method. Keep him on passive for the awesome stamina buff, and amazing mana regeneration. This is key because he will usually have 100% by the end of the next fight which means you never run out of mana!

"Drain Tanking" Build
Here is the spec I would suggest for leveling to 30:
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
Here is the spec I would suggest for leveling to 40:
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
Here is the spec I would suggest for leveling to 60:
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
I don’t suggest going past Dark Pact until you’re a higher level because you do not need the extra damage from a spell like Unstable Affliction until later on when mobs have a lot more life.

Mini-Guide: Level-By-Level
10-14: Improved Corruption
15-16: Improved Life Tap
17-18: Soul Siphon
19: Improved Drain Soul
20-24: Fel Concentration
25-26: Grim Reach
27-28: Nightfall
29: Amplify Curse
30: Improved Drain Soul
31: Soul Siphon
32: Curse of Exhaustion
33-34: Empowered Corruption
35-39: Shadow Mastery
40: Dark Pact
41-45: Improved Shadow Bolt
46-50: Bane
51: Shadow Burn
52-56: Devastation
57-58: Destructive Reach
59-60: Intensity
Credits: Tahl, Canadianpimp

Summary / Random Notes
Drain Tanking 101:
- Use the Imp for the best mana battery in the game. Amazing mana regen, amazing buff, and impossible to kill while on passive.
- Applying Affliction spells raises your Drain Life tics. Apply your spells with a cast time as you pull the mob and then apply the instant casts as you are being hit because spells with a cast time will be interrupted and therefore take longer while you are tanking.
- Drain Life, with the right equipment, should be healing you enough to negate the damage you are taking, as well as the life lost due to Life Tap. If not, every several fights apply a bandage to yourself (high mana / low life) or eat and drink (mid-low mana / mid-low life)
- Drain Life is used to REPLACE LOST LIFE. In an order such as, Curse of Agony -> Corr -> DL -> DL -> LT, you have NOT lost any life and therefore, DL is worthless. At the same time, LT is meant to REPLACE LOST MANA, and if your mana is not low enough, don't use it, because then you are losing pointless life.
- Use Rank 1 “Drain Soul” when finishing a mob in order to gain the Improved Drain Soul bonus, which is 15% of your maximum mana being returned. (Credits: Canadianpimp, Swoop)

Other “Drain Tanking” Styles:
Still Affliction, but with a pet change:
Succubus-
When using your Succubus, turn off all of her abilities, except possible “Lesser Invisibility” so that she doesn’t use your precious mana. She adds the best DPS out of all the pets, even without using her abilities, and therefore makes a great choice. Many Warlocks consider her better because of this DPS boost.
Credits: Canadianpimp

Felhunter-
Once again, turn off auto-casting of abilities and have him attack the target. I feel if you’re going to use a pet for DPS, use the Succubus. This pet will work if you know that a Mage or other pesky caster is within the area and is out to gank you. Otherwise, I suggest summoning your Succubus over this PvP pet.

Voidwalker-
When using the Voidwalker to “Drain *cough*,” make sure that you know he will try to keep taking aggro from you. His taunts do cost a significant amount of mana, and I would even suggest turning them off. He should be able to hold a mob long enough for you to get your DOTs on it.
Mobious had the following to say about this method: “I send in VW then cast [UA -> Curse of Agony -> Corr -> SL -> LT -> DL and] if need be a first level drain soul just before the mob dies. The mob usually dies on its way to me. I can go all day nonstop and take 3-4 mobs at once if need be.” (Edited to keep the spell-order notation similar to the rest within the guide.)

Hybrid variations:
Destruction/Demonology (0/21/40)
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
Start off by sacrificing your Voidwalker in order to get the HP/5 regen, and then move on to grinding! Talents such as Intensity help you to Shadowbolt spam while being hit with mobs, as well as getting instant Shadowbolts from Backlash. Another addition here is the ability for your Shadowbolts to give you back health, which is obviously a plus when you’re the tank. This is very close to popular raiding builds, although it is missing some “key talents” to be a perfect raiding build. In light of that however, this is still a great Shadow-oriented build that can perceivably “Drain Tank!”

Destruction/Demonology/Affliction (7/21/33)
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
Once again, start off by sacrificing your Voidwalker for the health regen. This build is very similar to the above, but it makes use of having instant Corruption and Improved Life Tap instead of allowing your Shadowbolts to heal you. Another great build that can be used as a variation to the typical Affliction based “Drain Tanking” method.

Destruction/Demonology/Affliction (19/21/21)
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
In my opinion, this would be the best build to use for a variation on “Drain Tanking.” It allows for 70% chance to not be interrupted for all of your Affliction and Destruction spells, and overall is just very solid. The choice of which pet, Voidwalker or Felhunter, to sacrifice is up to you. Since you are able to gain health from Drain Life now that it won’t be interrupted as much, it may make more sense to gain mana from the Felhunter. I believe for this build it is personal preference at that point, so try them out and find which works best for you!
Credits: Tannenbernie (for all 3 “Hybrid variations”)

Looking Forward (Post-60)
At this point I suggest that you stop using what I consider the typical “Drank Tanking” method. As stated in the beginning, I believe that “Drain Tanking” is the most effective method from 30-60, but not necessarily for 60-70. This section is what I have done, I’m not sure what the consensus of the Warlock community believes is the “best” spec for this final grind.
At 60, I would suggest switching to the following:
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
This build is very quick and also has very limited downtime. When I single pull, I usually have my Felguard tanking and I will use the following rotation:
1) Felguard Attack -> Corruption -> Curse of Agony -> Immolate
2) Life Tap
3) Drain Life or Shadowbolt
- Repeat a Life Tap / Drain Life / Shadowbolt rotation, depending on mana/life levels, until the mob dies.
The reason I suggest this change is because, in my opinion, it is faster and easier to level with. It's also a nice change in play style for those that are all-out grinding their way up. Some great additions with this build are:
-increased damage from Fel Armor
-increased damage from Demonic Knowledge
-increased damage from Soul Link
-mitigated damage from Soul Link (basically adds an extra 20% to your life pool)
Mini-Guide: Level – by – Level
61: Soul Siphon(Should now be 2/2)
62: Improved Drain Soul
63-67: Fel Concentration
68-70: Empowered Corruption