New Warlock...

[Assid]

ok, im kinda new to being a warlock, im level 56, but thats due to knowing which quests to do quickly. i havent really spent much time getting used to using the warlocks abilities etc, i was going to do that when i ding 70.

but ive seen a few videos on youtube of affliction locks (like ymself) grinding, and they never seem to lose any health because of siphon life, but when i try to do it, i end up dying if i take on more than 2 mobs, anyone have any idea what im doing wrong?

firstly, i use siphon life, then i dot them with the two instant dots (cant remember wot they are right now, as i cant get on wow, but will let you know asap if you need to know).

thanks for any help

[Maltyrius]

Are you using Drain Life as well?

[Assid]

i do sometimes, but when i do, i always seem to end up oom, so i tend not to use it unless im very very low life.

maybe its just that i dont have enough + shadow gear, i dunno.

[vpotter]

Typically drain-tanking uses not just the three insta-dots (Curse of Agony, corr, and Siphon Life) but the Fel Concentration, Soul Siphon and Shadow mastery talents. The talents give you a 70% chance to avoid interruption when channeling drain life, increased damage/health drain per affliction effect on the target and increased damage, respectively. So, cast your instant dots, then life tap and start draining life, with those talents you really shouldn't have too much of a problem out-draining incoming damage.

[Devicus]

Taking multiple mobs is doable but not safe and it will create downtime until spend a few weeks at level cap and accumulate a mostly blue set and a couple of rep/tailored epics. Then the fun starts. Even then, while you can take multiple mobs better than most, this works best when they have a green level. The nature of drain tanking is such that you can take 2 or 3 mobs 3 to 6 levels below you without downtime when well geared, which is is better than other classes can do without ever stopping. Howevr till you're packing a decent gear this won't work as well.

[forketta]

wall of text incoming!!!

According to drain tanking guides, grinding "only" one mob is to be consideres bandaging; you "have" to get 3 mobs per pull. I tend to consider these guides a little.... let's say exaggerated? They have a big e-pen? I don't know.
What i know for sure is that with my loooow skill (i leveled all the way to 70 by grindong alone), and my crappy equip, the most efficient way to drain tank is:
put on your bar or on your bash-macro the spells starting with one with cast time and max duration, then one istant, then one with cast time, then one istant... ordered per spell duration descending. (i hate macros)
EG:
1 mob, no pet needed (obviously having one helps); COS, fear, UA, si/li, immo, corr, lifetap once, drainlife, talented drainsoul level1 to get shard+mana ;P
1 mob, VW; send pet and cast IMMO (initial damage after VW torment), COS, UA, si/li, corr, fast fear and retire VW (so low chance that mob breaks fear), lifetap once or twice (not to full mana!!!), drain life, talented drainsoul. With these 2 rotations i usually finish almost full life/mana.
In case of 2/3 mobs: Imp out for sta buff, phased. COS UA first second and third mob.Talented HoTerror. complete spell rotation following the order of first casts. This will cost let's say half of your mana. Lifetap once or twice, drainlife starting from the healthier mob. I tend to skip talents on Curse of Agony, and use instead CoS, even if not talented, because Curse of Agony does 66% of the damage in the last 33% of the time. So if mob dies before 18 secs of a full Curse of Agony duration, i wasted mana for a spell that will last not enough to be effective. Well i skipped those talents because i barely farm anymore, and in pvp CoW amped CoEx and CoT are too useful ;P

[Devicus]

I disagree. You should only have 1 cast time affliction spell if you're drain tanking. UA.

I'd say, UA, corruption, start running away from the mob! siphon life, Curse of Agony, life tap, turn and drain. Switch to DS last second.

[Assid]

Originally Posted by Devicus

Taking multiple mobs is doable but not safe and it will create downtime until spend a few weeks at level cap and accumulate a mostly blue set and a couple of rep/tailored epics.

ok thank you, im doing everything else that has been suggested so i guess that must be the problem, hopefully all will be well wen im 70.

bout 5k away from 60 now, so shudnt be too long.

thanks for all the help everyone