Warlock Guide

[Ganom]

SUMMARY:
* Stamina is your primary Attribute.
* You are the master of DoT spells (damage over time), having the ability to stack multiple
DoT's on a single opponent.
* In PvP, you have the dreaded 'FEAR' spell, loathed by all players.
* Skip the Demonology Talent spec. Your best PvP line is Affliction with enough points in
Destruction to get Shadowburn.
* Manna Drain mages, pallys, priests, shamans. Get improved Manna Drain in Affliction as this
spell is extremely useful in PvP.
* Fear and DoT other classes, using your pet to distract.
* You have a superb ability to tank in PvE as a great solo player. Your minion pets are
excellent tanks.
* Choose a 1-H weapon and a wand in your off hand. Dump staves.
Basics: The warlock class like the hunter has the benefit of a "pet" (demon) he can use to tank
mobs. But instead of supplementing with arrows or bullets, he uses spells. Warlocks get the
following pets:
* Imp at level 1.
* Voidwalker at level 10
* Succubus at level 20
* Felhunter at level 30.
* Infernal at level 50
* Doomguard at 60
Warlocks are fabulous tanks, able to take on mobs solo. Utilizing their 'pet minions' well, a
Warlock will find that, just like the hunter, he can get more XP alone than in a group. The
Warlock's primary damage output is via the DoT (damage over time). A Warlock, in PvP needs to
be able to survive the initial onslaught. In the long-term, the warlock is perhaps the most powerful
PvP'er. The more time a player gives a warlock in a PvP duel, the stronger the warlock becomes.
Attributes: Stamina is supreme for the Warlock. Here are the reasons why: 1) Agility grants an
enhanced chance to critically hit in mele, and has nothing to do with your spells chance to crit, so
dont even think it.
2) Intelligence increases the chance to get critical hits with spells, BUT DoT's (Damage over Time
spells) DO NOT crit ever (exception: Immolate can crit with its initial blast). And since your
primary source of damage is DoT spells, it just doesn't make sense to put high investment into
INT. Strength is of no use. Only Spirit would seem to have good use here as it increases your
manna regen rate. But consider also that a warlock has the ability to convert Health into Manna,
so it makes yet even more sense to buff up that Stamina.
Weapons: Warlocks should go for a one-handed weapon, stick with daggers, so that you can
equip with a wand in your off hand. Right now, wands in the off hand do as much damage as
they would in the main hand. Utilizing this method gives simulates 'dual - wielding'
Talent Build
9/10 warlocks agree: Demonology is crap. No PvP'er puts points into it. Perhaps Blizzard will
ramp it up eventually, but as of now 12/2004, its crap. Demonic Embrace? Bah, forget about it.
Why spend precious talent points to drop a stat in order to raise another one? Just don't like it.
My recommendations:
Manna Burn is just so useful in PvP- especially while FEAR is on. Improved Corruption to instant
cast is also mandatory. Don't think about not getting it. My recommendation for PvP:
Improved Drain Life - 3/5 points
Increases the Health drained by your Drain Life spell by 6%.
Fel Concentration - 5/5 points
Gives you a 70% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channelling the Drain
Life, Drain Mana, or Drain Soul spell.
Amplify Curse - 1/1 point
Increases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Curse of Agony by 50%, or your next
Curse of Exhaustion by 20%.
Improved Drain Mana - 2/2 points
Causes the Mana drained by your Drain Mana spell to damage the opponent.
Nightfall - 2/2 points
Gives your Corruption and Drain Life spells a 3% chance to cause you to enter a Shadow Trance
state after damaging the opponent. The Shadow Trance state reduces the casting time of your
next Shadow Bolt spell by 100%.
Grim Reach - 2/2 points
Increases the range of your Affliction spells by 20%.
Siphon Life - 1/1 point
Transfers 13 health from the target to the caster every 3 seconds. Lasts 30 seconds.
Curse of Exhaustion - 1/1 point
Reduces the target's speed to 90% of normal for 12 seconds. Only one Curse per Warlock can
be active on any one target.
Improved Curse of Exhaustion - 4/4 points
Increases the speed reduction of your Curse of Exhaustion by 20%.
Shadow Mastery - 5/5 points
Increases the damage dealt or life drained by your Shadow spells by 10%.
In this line, the warlock gets extra range with Grim Reach (highly useful in PvP, esp when you lay
down a fear. While they run, you can continue to pound them- also very useful vs. melee class).
Of course Improved Manna burn rocks, and Curse of Exhaustion has numerous uses. Fel
Concentration is extremely useful in PvP as it allows you to remain undisturbed while channelling.
Destruction Talents (11 points)
Cataclysm - 5/5 points
Reduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 5%.
Bane - 5/5 points
Reduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt and Immolate spells by 0.5 seconds.
Shadowburn - 1/1 point
Instantly blasts the target with 87 to 99 Shadow damage. Requires 1 Soul Shard. If the target dies
from Shadowburn, and yields experience, the caster gains a Soul Shard.
I really like Shadow Burn, it is instant direct damage. This is the perfect spell to use as a
'finishing move'. A spell that takes 2 seconds to cast followed by an immediate insta-cast
shadowburn can make all the difference in wiping out that weakened target before it can raise a
heal.

MINION QUESTS

Voidwalker Quest:
Human: Visit Remen Marcot in the Lions Pride Inn basement in Elwynn Forest.
Gnome: Speak to Lago Blackwrench in Ironforge. He's in the Forlorn Cavern area.
Undead: Speak with Ageron Kargal in Brill at the Gallow's End Tavern
Orc: Speak to Ophek in Razor Hill in Durotar (south of Orgrimmar).
Succubus Quest
Human & Gnome: Obtained from Gakin the Darkbinder who's inside The Slaughtered Lamb in
Stormwind City. Far west end of the Mage Quarter. You will have to go to the Barrens to
complete it. Fastest way is through the Wetlands. Take the boat to Aberdeen, then head south
into Ashenvale. Stick to the road when you can, and go through the southern path and into the
barrens.
Orc: Obtained from Gakin the Darkbinder who's inside The Slaughtered Lamb in Stormwind
City. Again, just like the human and gnome, you will be journeying to The Barrens, but this time
stopping at the crossroads. You can simply fly there, or if you haven't been there just take the
west road out of Durotar. Gazrog is standing in front of the inn in the middle of town. From
Gazrog, you will go to the Stonetalon mountains- head west from the crossroads and turn left
when the path branches up into the mountains. Speak to Ken'zigla. Finally, go to Dogran just
north of Camp Taurajo
Undead: Speak to Carendin Halgar in the Undercity Magic Quarter- he's near some slime. From
there, go to the temple and speak to Godrick Farsan. Now, its south to the Silverpine Forest to
speak with Dalin. He's wandering around in front of the SW wall of the area map.
And then finally, its off to the Wetlands. At the north edge, kill Comar Villard
Warlock Method PvE: Best way to begin combat:
Immolate first - chance at a crit hit and a nice DoT.
send in pet
Agony
Corruption
Life tap
siphon life
drain life
Always have fear and seduce on call. Fear especially is your absolute hallmark spell, both for
PvE and PvP. If you are taking a load of damage, use Death Coil and Healthstone, don't worry
about the down time, you don't use them often, and that is what they are there for,
Warlock Method PvP:
Vs Warlock & Priest:
Both of these classes have a fear spell, and will be surely prepared to use it on you. Cast Fear
as soon as you can. Generally, I believe that getting in the first Fear on the other will have a clear
advantage. Throw up your DOTS and use your pet. Once their health drops to about 40%, get
them into a mez with seduce. Keep draining their manna. Hopefully you spent points in
Improved Manna Drain, so that while you suck out their manna, you also cause damage. A priest
is worthless w/o manna.
Vs Mages, Shamans, & Druids
Again, use your fear against these guys. Especially with mages, make sure you land your DoT's,
as they are unable to heal themselves well. The Mage can beat you in the short term with raw
damage output, which is why it is imperative you get a Fear in against the mage. He will be
distracted by your pet, making it a bit harder for him to cast. Toss in a Seduce and end with Soul
Fire + Shadowburn (if you have it). Remember that mages without manna are like naked babiesweak
and helpless. Smack mages and Shamans with Manna Burn as much as you can. The
Shaman who tries to beat you with this casting ability will be hard pressed when he finds his
manna gone. If he melee's you, seduce and/or fear. Increase range and DoT him.
Vs. Hunters:
For the warlock, there are two critical priorities when facing a hunter:
First is to rush him and get just outside melee range, but too close for his bow or gun. Then,
remove his pet from the picture. Normally, players should ignore pets when attacking a petowner,
but not in this case. The warlock will usually lose vs the hunter unless the pet is removed.
Seduce the hunter (if you have a succubus, which you should at least have if you are in PvP),
and kill the pet while the hunter is seduced. Once the pet is removed, it should be downhill. You
could also fear the pet, toss out a CoA, Corruption and repeat your SP until he is defeated.
Hunters have poor healing ability. Use your DoTs on them and mez/fears strategically.
Vs Rogues:
Understand that the Rogue has a get out of jail card: Vanish. Unless you tactically fight the
Rogue with this in mind, there is little chance you will defeat him, at most he will simply flee. The
Rogue's Vanish ability can be stripped if you keep DoT's on him. Any DoT will break Vanish, so it
is imperative that at all times you keep the Rogue under a DoT. With this in mind, your best
offense vs. a Rogue is to utilize your pet as his armor will most likely be leather, and dont forget
your FEAR. Remember to use first aid while someone is running in fear if your health is critically
low.
vs Warriors & Pallys-
Niether class really has any range. Get your DoT's on them. Fear them when they are close.
Send in your pet while they are feared. Move out to a good range, beyond melee (kite them).
Seduce is broken by a DoT, but often times it is just enough time to get your fear off. Remember
that once your enemies are down to about 40%, toss in your finishing spells. With a pally, he will
have a lay of hands, and do a full heal. When he does, fear him again. DoT him again. While
feared, set up your kite game- get some distance and send in pet. Drain his manna when you
can. Keep this method until he drops down and finish him with Soul Fire
Secondary Skills: Once again, Herbalism+Alchemy & First Aid are excellent for the warlock.
Having first aid works wonders since you can save precious manna. WHen you cast your FEAR
spell, you have a nice amount of time to use your bandages, saving manna for the fight. Alchemy
gives you even more buffs and HP. Something a warlock can always use. First Aid is also very
handy for taking care of your minion pets.

[Volund]

nice, you might want to add in that +shadow power and +spelldamage gear is beneficial for PVP, seeing as most DoT's are shadow.

[Ganom]

i got this guide from a blizzard guide pack

[Volund]

some parts are typoed btw, see succubus quest for orc