The Warlocks Den - WoW Warlock Discussions

So, I've talked to a lot of newer warlocks recently. I've realised that there are some simple things about our class that newbies either don't know, or forget. These are just some basic things that we all need reminding of sometimes. Feel free to add rules if you like. Hell, maybe there's something that I completely forgot about.

Rule 1: Don't die.
"Dead DPS doesn't." is a saying I used to use a lot. True, your dots keep ticking after you die, but if the boss is at 50% you've lost 50% of your total damage. Don't forget, you have other uses besides pure DPS. Don't die!

Rule 2: Keep your pet alive.
Your pet isn't just a blunt instrument, or a fire and forget DoT. It represents additional abilities, buffs, and flexability. This does not just apply to Demonology Warlocks. Felhunters can dispell, Voidwalkers can OT, Felguards have a number of abilities, heck, even the Doomguard has mitigation in the form of cripple, and and most of the time, that pet has a buff to give the group/raid/arena/whatever. Dead pets are useless.

Rule 3: Keep DoTs up, but don't clip.
This isn't just about Affliction Warlocks' DPS. As far as I'm aware, every single spec uses DoTs as part of its DPS. How can you improve your DPS? This is the first place to start looking for a little more damage. As far as not clipping, since DoTs only tick once every 3 seconds, if you clip a DoT in its last half second, it's the same as just not refreshing it for 2.5 seconds. Don't clip.

Rule 4: One LifeTap at a time.
This is not up for debate. Outside of special circumstances, you should never lifetap more than once at a time during a boss fight. I know the T7-4pc bonus to lifetap is nice, but it's really not worth any risk. For affliction especially, that includes the risk incurred by having a healer target you. If you're deep affliction, you should be lifetapping immediatly after a haunt. You should get a heal from that haunt within a second or two. For other specs, don't forget you have ways of healing yourself (such as Fel Armor). Trust me, your healers will be much happier if you keep it to one lifetap at a time.

Rule 5: Bring Shards.
This is for all Warlocks, not just hardcore raiders. Bring a full bag of shards. The more the better. For progression content you are going to want to have at LEAST 28 shards.
If you're really hardcore - I mean Sunwell guild progression hardcore - Bring at least this many shards:

Ok, maybe that's just a little over the top, but it can't hurt. Believe it or not, I usually carry more than 60 to a raid (with another 28+ in the bank). Also, don't think this rule is going to dissappear in the next patch. I don't know about the rest of you, but I intend to have 32 shards whenever I step through that portal.

Rule 6: Think ahead.
Every class has rotations. Warlocks just have harder rotations. What makes a great warlock great? Thinking ahead. Try to think 2 or 3 steps ahead of what you're doing now.
What's the next DoT you're going to have to refresh?
How long is left on that cooldown?
What can you be doing in the meantime. Actually, that brings me to my next rule:

Rule 7: Don't do nothing.
Yes, it's a double negative, but ignore that. Lets say you're playing affliction...The correct answer is B. If you don't have anything else to do, you should cast a shadowbolt. That DoT can wait a second. Time spent waiting is time spent not DPSing. Don't not DPS. Remeber the Never Ending Story? Don't let the nothing eat your DPS.

Rule 8: Know your class.
Remeber the sign above the Oracle's door in The Matrix? Temet Nosce. "Know thyself"* This applies in the game too.
Execution is only half the battle. You have to know your class before you can play it.
Now, we will never have a perfect knowledge of everything warlocks can do, but you have to keep reading up. Keep accumulating knowledge that you can use to your advantage in making decisions on gear, spec, even rotations. This is one of those things that seperates good locks from great locks.

Rule 9: Know the fights.
This is almost the same as Rule 8. Knowing your foe is just as important. I know there are people who like to go into an instance blind, but that's for extra challenge. Unless you've done all the achievements in WoW, you probably shouldn't bother with that. There's no reason to ever go into a fight without reading up on all the strats, and knowing the boss's abilities inside and out.

Rule 10: Keep a positive, professional Attitude.
This is probably the most important rule there is. Follow this one, and you'll be following the rest. It's so important to keep positive, especially in progression content. Please remember that, at the end of the day, this is a game. If you're not having fun, just calm down, take a deep breath, and figure out why. On the flip side, you'll make everyone else's day go a little better if you come prepared, and stay focused on the task at hand. No one should need to wait while you run back to the bank cause you forgot buff food or flasks. No one should have to do a boss 5 extra times because you feel like talking to your brother, and can't seem to get out of the voidzones.
If players in WoW followed this rule more often, what a wonderful WoW it would be.


*actually it's more like "thine own self thou must know" or something, but my latin sucks.

__________________
Got a question about Warlock gear? Just looking for an upgrade?
Check out Warlock gear: A Guide for everything you need to know about Warlock Equipment.
Find it at wowmb.net/forums/f104/35592-warlock_gear_guide/