Affliction talent build question

[Langseth]

I'm currently 58, almost 59 working my way through the outlands.

I have been working toward an eventual 45/5/11 build. I really enjoy the affliction playstyle. SCARY dots.

Anyway, my question is this: as not only a first time warlock, but a first time wower.. is this build a good one to be working toward? I've read all around the forum and looked at peoples specs and I haven't really seen many people using it.. and I was wondering if thats because it isn't a very good build or what.

If it's not, what affliction build with UA would you guys suggest over this one?

BTW, I'm on a pvp server if that plays into it at all. I'm in a guild with my friends who want to eventually run raids and such.

Thanks in advance!

[Akasha]

Approving this post, however for future reference, please note the following sticky: How to submit a talent build question! - The Warlocks Den Forums

[amiddleona]

I use a similar spec. and I have been doing just fine in raiding. Usually 3,4 in ssc,hyjal, and TK. It's mostly a support build though, malediction and shadow's embrace(if you spec. 5/5), but can still do solid damage. The main problem with it is that you are going to have threat issues because you don't have the threat reduction to SB, which should be the majority of your damage. All in all it has worked just fine for me, but once you get more gear you may want to look into spec.ing closer to
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
the point in intensity can be moved around if you want. Of course you will need to be hit-capped.

[Hakasa]

Originally Posted by amiddleona

I use a similar spec. and I have been doing just fine in raiding. Usually 3,4 in ssc,hyjal, and TK. It's mostly a support build though, malediction and shadow's embrace(if you spec. 5/5), but can still do solid damage. The main problem with it is that you are going to have threat issues because you don't have the threat reduction to SB, which should be the majority of your damage. All in all it has worked just fine for me, but once you get more gear you may want to look into spec.ing closer to
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft
the point in intensity can be moved around if you want. Of course you will need to be hit-capped.

I play with close to the same exact spec as the above link, only i'm 44/0/17 -- Yeah I have low HP for a lock but i'm Spell hit capped and the utility lock of the raids usually. You'll be able to put some solid dps out and while you won't as heavily rely on your shadowbolt it'll still be around 40% or so of your DPS so as stated above threat could be an issue(throw CoS up right away and then wait 4-5 seconds before opening up on bosses and you should be good with a well-timed soulshatter)

[mcgee84]

Hrm. I'm assuming the 5 in Demo is for Embrace? Or is it for Imp Imp/HS?

Speaking from personal experience, dropping Demonic Emprace or Healthstones for Grim Reach, but keeping Imp Imp, complements a heavy Aff build rather well, particularly in 5-man situations at 70.

First of all, you'll likely be using your imp, phase shifted, in 5-man runs. Dark Pact is too great not to use, and the imp is a near bottomless mana well. Because of that, you and your group will have Blood Pact on. Assuming 5 people in a group, you would have to have 1100 stamina so that the 9% gain from 3 points in Imp Imp going instead to Demonic Embrace would add more health to your group's HP total. This isn't an ideal analogy, sure, especially since the earlier you die, the less wipe prevention your imp's Blood Pact can do. Still, more health for the group is a good thing, -especially- now, though that's up to you to decide when it's no longer true.

The thing about healthstones is they require you to use them to help, and in the case of 5-mans, they require everyone else in the group to use them too. Don't expect this kind of discipline in your 5 mans. They also require you and the group to need and use them often to make the talent worth it. Things are different if you're one of a few locks in a raid, especially since you can each make different levels of healthstones and people can carry around one of each. But that doesn't come soon.

Also, I'd like to suggest the benefit of pushing for Destro's Destructive Reach. It's been mentioned earlier in the thread that threat will be an issue, especially for longish boss fights and you're spamming, and occasionally critting, shadowbolts. That kind of threat piles up, you can't use soulshatter that often, and soulshatter -can- be resisted. Having a threat reduction in both affliction and destruction is a good thing. But more importantly, having the -range- increase in both schools is a very good thing. It's nice to have your max spellcast distance work for both schools. Even if you're just bolting when you get a nightfall, having to run forward before you can use it wastes time, and it could easily be something you don't want to do in a situation, like walking into melee range of another mob, or anything else. Having to choose between not using your destro spells, not gaining a range increase from Grim Reach, or wasting time moving before casting is a choice it'd be nice to do without. Moreover, you can get shadowburn on the way. An instant nuke is something I bet you're wishing you have, when a mobs dying fast enough that it'll be dead by the time you finish casting shadowbolt, or it doesn't have enough health left to cast another dot, and getting the killing blow consistently in a group is -fun-. Plus you'll get another 4% crit, which is more time up for ISB debuff.

See what you can do with 41/3/17. You shouldn't have to give up -too- much taking 2 points out of Aff.