Switching builds at an end game level?

Arya · August 09, 2008, 10:57 PM

hello! I hope I'm posting in the correct spot. I've been lurking here for a while and only recently registered... and I saw other people get snipped at for not using the search... but I swear I searched!

I also hope I'm not bugging anyone with any kind of redundant questions (I have, indeed, read all 18 pages of the discussion about affliction vs destruction talent builds in reference to raiding).

My question/situation is this. I took a warlock to 48 about a year ago, then stopped playing because my old computer broke and up until now, I have not had one. But now I have this new snazzy computer and what do I do? Install WoW the night I get it

. So, I've been invited into a friends guild, and have switched servers and am working on lvling a warlock once again. With my previous warlock, I completely enjoyed the affliction build. I rocked it, it level'd me pretty fast, and felt extremely effective.... but I was mostly solo-ing or in pick up groups, and not raiding or anything too big.

I have started to go affliction with my new lock, but I really want to be an effective part of a raid eventually, and I definitely don't know anything about what it's like to completely switch specs much later in the game. Will I have trouble playing differently if I take my Affy to endgame then get asked to switch? If anyone is a guild leader out there, what do you guys prefer out of a lock at that point? I guess what I really want to know is how different and/or difficult is it to switch at that point, and should I be focusing on figuring this out now and switching now instead? (My guild master is a destro lock and I'm already feeling like a sore thumb as an affy). Also, since I really like, and am completely used to an affliction build, are there any tips on how to be much better at it, so that I don't get asked to switch?

Yeah, I'm just a bundle of questions. Again, I completely apologize if this has been said and done before. If so, please help me in that direction and I'll gladly sut my mouth and soak up the knowledge. Maybe I didn't search correctly, and/or with the right phrases to get the answers to this stuff, and if so... totally ream me one.

Thanks!

DakHam · August 10, 2008, 12:29 AM

You're golden as Affliction when it comes to raiding.

When you hit 70 and start raiding Kara, you can put in talent points into Suppression to help reach the hit cap. For this reason, Affliction is the spec of choice for new raiders.

Most guilds would prefer to have at least one Affliction utility lock, but I'm not certain as my guild only does Kara and 10-mans don't classify as full 25-man raids.

And if you "have to" change to Destro, it's a snap. You just sac your succy and spam Shadow Bolt all day... Even easier to play Destro in raids than Affliction.

DrkSnpr14 · August 10, 2008, 09:57 AM

There is always need for an affliction warlock in raids, and to raid as destruction you need a certain level of gear anyways, so you'd be worse off to make the switch as soon as you hit 70 anyways.

Arya · August 10, 2008, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the advice, and the redirect! I'm kind of the same in WoW as I am in music... Love to play, Love to get a natural feel for things, It's just tough for me to wrap my head around the technicalities and such. I just really only feel comfortable playing a warlock, so I guess I should just wrap my head around each talent spec eventually?

I'll probably end up with three locks, one of each spec, when it comes down to it, because I love playing the class so much. I've always wanted to try a demonology spec as well, but I've never been sure where that would fit in with grouping and raiding. It seems to be the most vulnerable of the three? Or am I totally wrong?

Draldor · August 10, 2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arya

Thanks for the advice, and the redirect! I'm kind of the same in WoW as I am in music... Love to play, Love to get a natural feel for things, It's just tough for me to wrap my head around the technicalities and such. I just really only feel comfortable playing a warlock, so I guess I should just wrap my head around each talent spec eventually?

I'll probably end up with three locks, one of each spec, when it comes down to it, because I love playing the class so much. I've always wanted to try a demonology spec as well, but I've never been sure where that would fit in with grouping and raiding. It seems to be the most vulnerable of the three? Or am I totally wrong?

I personally love Demonology, rocks for PvP but...I don't know about raids, I've not really done any with my Lock yet.

luziferial · August 10, 2008, 02:37 PM

Believe me, there is always a spot for Afflic lock. Your CoE will be loved by many people. Maybe at T6 you'll have to change spec, but I have always been the afflictor slave ever since we were in Kara. Now I'm on T6 and my class leader still wouldn't let me go destro as I still do more damage, not the dps, than some of the destro lock even though I'm in the full raid support spec. (not that I want to respec, but I just wanted to see if he wants me to change spec or not).

Demonology is viable in raids and instance. Sadly my class leader is against it and wouldn't accept any demo lock without the trinket from Astromancer and 2 T5 in set. After you have those three pieces of the gear required, you'll do fine as a demo. It is the most challenging spec I've ever tried.

Destro can be viable as long as your hit rating and crit rating are high enough at the start.

As the tip for affliction raiding, make sure ALL of your DoTs are up. Watch aggro. DoTs. Never stand still. LT when you're running. All that sort of stuffs. Keeping the dots up are the most important thing for afflic. Gets an addon that tell you about the timer of DoTs.

And it is completely acceptable as an afflic to go dotting the tanked target. In big pull and when we have about 4 tanked mob I'll make sure I have dots up on most of them first. DoTs deal more damage per casting time for affliction.

Dunwich · August 10, 2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luziferial

Demonology is viable in raids and instance. Sadly my class leader is against it and wouldn't accept any demo lock without the trinket from Astromancer and 2 T5 in set. After you have those three pieces of the gear required, you'll do fine as a demo. It is the most challenging spec I've ever tried.

OK...your class leader needs his head examined. Demo is not just about Felguard, in fact I can sac the felguard in Hyjal and throw SoC all day at the trash waves and still rock the bosses by spamming SB. Gruul's? Can you say improved enslave demon? Mag?, Improved Imp to help the tank and myself as the clicker on cube 2. SSC...ummm, ok, respec cause you're tanking Leo

-Dunwich

August 09, 2008, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Arya Registered Character Info Arya 29 Gnome Warlock Gorefiend US PvP Guild: Riot Talent Spec: 19/0/0	Switching builds at an end game level? hello! I hope I'm posting in the correct spot. I've been lurking here for a while and only recently registered... and I saw other people get snipped at for not using the search... but I swear I searched! I also hope I'm not bugging anyone with any kind of redundant questions (I have, indeed, read all 18 pages of the discussion about affliction vs destruction talent builds in reference to raiding). My question/situation is this. I took a warlock to 48 about a year ago, then stopped playing because my old computer broke and up until now, I have not had one. But now I have this new snazzy computer and what do I do? Install WoW the night I get it . So, I've been invited into a friends guild, and have switched servers and am working on lvling a warlock once again. With my previous warlock, I completely enjoyed the affliction build. I rocked it, it level'd me pretty fast, and felt extremely effective.... but I was mostly solo-ing or in pick up groups, and not raiding or anything too big. I have started to go affliction with my new lock, but I really want to be an effective part of a raid eventually, and I definitely don't know anything about what it's like to completely switch specs much later in the game. Will I have trouble playing differently if I take my Affy to endgame then get asked to switch? If anyone is a guild leader out there, what do you guys prefer out of a lock at that point? I guess what I really want to know is how different and/or difficult is it to switch at that point, and should I be focusing on figuring this out now and switching now instead? (My guild master is a destro lock and I'm already feeling like a sore thumb as an affy). Also, since I really like, and am completely used to an affliction build, are there any tips on how to be much better at it, so that I don't get asked to switch? Yeah, I'm just a bundle of questions. Again, I completely apologize if this has been said and done before. If so, please help me in that direction and I'll gladly sut my mouth and soak up the knowledge. Maybe I didn't search correctly, and/or with the right phrases to get the answers to this stuff, and if so... totally ream me one. Thanks!

August 10, 2008, 12:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
DakHam Registered	Re: Raiding Builds - 41 / 0 / 20 (Draft 1) You're golden as Affliction when it comes to raiding. When you hit 70 and start raiding Kara, you can put in talent points into Suppression to help reach the hit cap. For this reason, Affliction is the spec of choice for new raiders. Most guilds would prefer to have at least one Affliction utility lock, but I'm not certain as my guild only does Kara and 10-mans don't classify as full 25-man raids. And if you "have to" change to Destro, it's a snap. You just sac your succy and spam Shadow Bolt all day... Even easier to play Destro in raids than Affliction.

August 10, 2008, 09:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
DrkSnpr14 Your Overlord Character Info Gallaira 70 Undead Warlock Laughing Skull US PvP Guild: Death and Destruction Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/2/59	Re: Switching builds at an end game level? There is always need for an affliction warlock in raids, and to raid as destruction you need a certain level of gear anyways, so you'd be worse off to make the switch as soon as you hit 70 anyways.

August 10, 2008, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Arya Registered Character Info Arya 29 Gnome Warlock Gorefiend US PvP Guild: Riot Talent Spec: 19/0/0	Re: Switching builds at an end game level? Thanks for the advice, and the redirect! I'm kind of the same in WoW as I am in music... Love to play, Love to get a natural feel for things, It's just tough for me to wrap my head around the technicalities and such. I just really only feel comfortable playing a warlock, so I guess I should just wrap my head around each talent spec eventually? I'll probably end up with three locks, one of each spec, when it comes down to it, because I love playing the class so much. I've always wanted to try a demonology spec as well, but I've never been sure where that would fit in with grouping and raiding. It seems to be the most vulnerable of the three? Or am I totally wrong?

August 10, 2008, 02:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
luziferial Registered Character Info Hyakinthas 70 Blood Elf Warlock The Sha'tar Euro RP Guild: Ruin Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 47/3/11	Re: Switching builds at an end game level? Believe me, there is always a spot for Afflic lock. Your CoE will be loved by many people. Maybe at T6 you'll have to change spec, but I have always been the afflictor slave ever since we were in Kara. Now I'm on T6 and my class leader still wouldn't let me go destro as I still do more damage, not the dps, than some of the destro lock even though I'm in the full raid support spec. (not that I want to respec, but I just wanted to see if he wants me to change spec or not). Demonology is viable in raids and instance. Sadly my class leader is against it and wouldn't accept any demo lock without the trinket from Astromancer and 2 T5 in set. After you have those three pieces of the gear required, you'll do fine as a demo. It is the most challenging spec I've ever tried. Destro can be viable as long as your hit rating and crit rating are high enough at the start. As the tip for affliction raiding, make sure ALL of your DoTs are up. Watch aggro. DoTs. Never stand still. LT when you're running. All that sort of stuffs. Keeping the dots up are the most important thing for afflic. Gets an addon that tell you about the timer of DoTs. And it is completely acceptable as an afflic to go dotting the tanked target. In big pull and when we have about 4 tanked mob I'll make sure I have dots up on most of them first. DoTs deal more damage per casting time for affliction.