Destruction Warlock

[JustinK]

EDIT: Question 1 has been answered: Goblin
EDIT2: Question 2 and 3 have been answered: stat priority can be everything, just focus on two. I went with vers > haste > crit. The talent should be flashover

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forums so if I made any mistake please let me know.

First, let me give some introduction;
Lately, I kept thinking that I wanted to make a warlock, because they are not played a lot, and the concept of a warlock really appeals to me.
Well, it turned out to be easier said than done.

I came to the conclusion that I wanted it to be a Horde race, what race? No idea, please help me!
Also, because afflication is not my playstyle and demonology is not something I like, I will go with destruction.
Now, a more difficult question than picking a race; stat priority.
I always look at Wowhead and Icyveins for stat priority, both of them list haste > critical strike > versatility for PvE and PvP, BUT, this is for max-level. Should anything be changed for level 20?
Also, for the talents, I see either Flashover or Eradication for PvE and Soul Fire for PvP, any opinion about that?

So, in short:

• What Horde race should I pick? And why?
• What is the stat priority for a destruction warlock? And why?
• What talent should I pick? And why?

I hope you guys can help me!

Greetings,
JustinK

 

[Leek]

I recommend
Troll (that haste buff wooo)
Belf (if you feelin lucky to run up to someone and purge their HoT and finish then off with conflagarate, highest intellect and 1%more crit adds a tiny bit to chaos bolt)
Orc (stuns wear off faster and extra sp buff)
Goblin (high intellect 1% passive haste and rocket jump to get away from nasty rogues)
Undead (touch of the grave hits pretty decent damage)
Tldr all except nightborne are good

 

[Mythic Al]

Greeting! Welcome to the forums, @JustinK.

I don't normally play Warlocks. I will simply mention the Active Racial Abilities for Horde, so that you can pick whatever can benefit you the most at level 20.

Goblins have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=69070/rocket-jump, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=69041/rocket-barrage, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=69046/pack-hobgoblin.
Orcs have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=33697/blood-fury.
Trolls have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=26297/berserking.
Undead have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=7744/will-of-the-forsaken, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=20577/cannibalize, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=5227/touch-of-the-grave
Blood Elves have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=28730/arcane-torrent.

Judging form the list of these abilities, Goblin gets you the most Utility, and Troll & Orc are the better choices for bigger damage numbers.

 

[JustinK]

Thanks for the response.

I came to realize that perhaps I should have stated my question in a different way. I am also able to look up racials and stats of all the possibilities, so what I actually want to know is; what race would fit a warlock, what race will look nicely in a warlock transmog (even though not many transmogs are available at level 20).
With this in mind I decided to not go with Orc (because I already have a few), Troll (they don't look nice in transmog and I thought the racial will be nerfed in 8.1) and Undead (because I already have a few).
So, now the decision will be between a Goblin and a Blood Elf.
I have already played a Blood Elf once, so I cannot do it for any transmogs I will acquire, also their main questline is very old.
I have never played a Goblin before, so their main questline will probably net me some transmogs, but does a goblin fit the concept of a warlock?
Also, while both racials and passives etc are nice, I guess there are not many goblins around, let alone a goblin warlock.

Do you have anything else that can help me decide?

 

[hom]

If you've never made a Goblin before I suggest you give it a go.

The questline is actually quite fun the first time around.
The Rocket Boost will help you out a lot as a caster with no mobility, the 1% haste + high natural intellect puts Goblin in a good spot for warlocks.

As far as theme goes I think Goblins are well versed in experimenting with dark magic. There are some nasty bankers that sell pieces of their soul to demons until they're charged with fel mystery. Greed always swallows the weak, lucky for the Warlocks out there it only makes them stronger.

 

[Leek]

Goblin is a fine choice , however if you are looking at them lorewise, their lore is pretty flimsy

 

[JustinK]

Well, then the choice is made. I will be playing a Goblin Warlock! Thanks for the help everyone.
Now I'll only need to know what stats I have to focus on and what talent to pick.

 

[hom]

Well, then the choice is made. I will be playing a Goblin Warlock! Thanks for the help everyone.
Now I'll only need to know what stats I have to focus on and what talent to pick.

Hmm.. stat priority is difficult the more I think about it.

As a destruction Warlock critical strike directly increases the damage to your Chaos Bolt so it seems like an attractive stat to pick up. You also have two charges of Conflagrate which are instant, again this suggests that crit will be nice as you don't have to worry too much about haste.

Not to mention once you've cast Conflagrate you will now gain Backdraft which again removes the urgency for haste.

But once those have been used up or in certain fights (especially 1v1) you will struggle to get casts off for fear and filler spells.

I think you can go 2 ways for destro Warlock. Either:

Int
Crit
Versa

This will give you big damage crits for your chaos bolt and conflagrate but you will be a sitting duck afterwards

Or you can go:
Int
Haste
Versa/Crit

This will given you a shorter gcd and cast time reduction to allow you to fear quicker & build soul fragments faster.

Overall I'd probably go with the Crit Versa build as it seems more fun and getting a double conflagrate crit will seriously chunk someones hp.

Best talent to pick is Flashover.

 

[JustinK]

Hmm.. stat priority is difficult the more I think about it.

As a destruction Warlock critical strike directly increases the damage to your Chaos Bolt so it seems like an attractive stat to pick up. You also have two charges of Conflagrate which are instant, again this suggests that crit will be nice as you don't have to worry too much about haste.

Not to mention once you've cast Conflagrate you will now gain Backdraft which again removes the urgency for haste.

But once those have been used up or in certain fights (especially 1v1) you will struggle to get casts off for fear and filler spells.

I think you can go 2 ways for destro Warlock. Either:

Int
Crit
Versa

This will give you big damage crits for your chaos bolt and conflagrate but you will be a sitting duck afterwards

Or you can go:
Int
Haste
Versa/Crit

This will given you a shorter gcd and cast time reduction to allow you to fear quicker & build soul fragments faster.

Overall I'd probably go with the Crit Versa build as it seems more fun and getting a double conflagrate crit will seriously chunk someones hp.

Best talent to pick is Flashover.

I don't know a lot about PvP, nor do I play it a lot, but how often are you in a 1v1? I guess crit > versatility > haste will be pretty nice indeed, so I guess I'll go after that.
Concering the talent, is Flashover always picked, also in PvP?

 

[hom]

I don't know a lot about PvP, nor do I play it a lot, but how often are you in a 1v1? I guess crit > versatility > haste will be pretty nice indeed, so I guess I'll go after that.
Concering the talent, is Flashover always picked, also in PvP?

Well twinks generally do a lot of pvp so...

1v1s will only happen occasionally in battlegrounds and of course in duel. Maybe if you go looking for a fight in the open world (i suggest Wetlands if you're horde or northern Barrens if you're alliance. Or be ballsy and go to Stranglethron Vale).

Eradication doesn't get enough use as things die before the full effect can be taken advantage of. Also without infernal it's difficult for you to build up the shards to pull off multiple chaos bolts in a row. This is where that talent really shines.

Soul Fire is too long a cast without a big enough payoff.

If you want to do pve. I'd probably recommend going crit and haste, forgetting about versatility.

 

[JustinK]

Well twinks generally do a lot of pvp so...

1v1s will only happen occasionally in battlegrounds and of course in duel. Maybe if you go looking for a fight in the open world (i suggest Wetlands if you're horde or northern Barrens if you're alliance. Or be ballsy and go to Stranglethron Vale).

Eradication doesn't get enough use as things die before the full effect can be taken advantage of. Also without infernal it's difficult for you to build up the shards to pull off multiple chaos bolts in a row. This is where that talent really shines.

Soul Fire is too long a cast without a big enough payoff.

If you want to do pve. I'd probably recommend going crit and haste, forgetting about versatility.

Thanks for all of the information, I know enough now to start building a character.

 

[Chops]

Goblin warlock is a solid choice. Though if I may, lemme shake up your stat priority just a little.

Warlocks are... squishy, to put it mildly. Drain life gives you a bit of survivability but you've got no defensive CDs and no way to really deal with opponents who get on you.

So instead of crit, I'd encourage you to prioritize versatility over everything else. Build like a tank. Lucky fishing hat, Stam trinkets, and vers gear. You should be able to hit 10% vers as a caster fairly easily, and that should be considered a benchmark.

It's badass that you've chosen to play a warlock. They're under represented in the bracket and frankly anyone who isn't a fury warrior or arcane mage is a hero.

But just be aware that you're going to have to play like a support class.

Youre not going to be able to compete with the damage output of other casters. Mages and boomkin are just too good. But they can't fear healers. And really thats gonna be your whole job. Fear the healer and soften up targets for the big DPS.

Good luck out there, and again, serious props for rolling a warlock

 

[JustinK]

Thanks for another opinion on the topic. So you say, go with versatility > critical strike > haste? If so, I should aim for 10% versatility and then focus on other stats?
I also made a little list of gear I should go for, which I will add at the bottom of this post, could you take a look and tell me what you think?
About going warlock, I don't like to be 'another insert class here', so I like playing shaman, warlock, monk, etc. I know there are other classes that are better at the same thing. But I still think that when you are good at your class you can make a notable difference.

Destruction Warlock Gear

Krom'gar General's Linen Cowl
Hematite Tortoise Pendant
Tattered Dreadmist Mantle (Heirloom)
Glowing Lizardscale Cloak
Tattered Dreadmist Robe (Heirloom)
Cuffs of Black Elements
Serpent Gloves
Girdle of Nobility
Gaze Dreamer Pants
Boots of Lingering Sorrow
Deep Fathom Ring
Murloc Oppressor’s Band
Discerning Eye of the Beast (Heirloom) / Mithril Wristwatch (Brewfest)
Discerning Eye of the Beast (Heirloom) / Coren’s Cold Chromium Coaster (Brewfest)
Dignified Headmaster’s Charge (Heirloom) / Durak’s wand + Tarren Orb

 

[Leek]

You could run several sets to allow you to adapt to situations, like a glass cannon crit vers set plus the others listed here.
Also i dont think chromium coaster's proc works at 20-29 ( unless youre using it for the crit stick)

 

[JustinK]

You could run several sets to allow you to adapt to situations, like a glass cannon crit vers set plus the others listed here.
Also i dont think chromium coaster's proc works at 20-29 ( unless youre using it for the crit stick)

I understand, but I prefer some set to focus on and then it will be possible for me to look at other possibilities. You are correct about the proc's not working, so perhaps the heirlooms are better.

 

[ohti]

EDIT2: Question 2 and 3 have been answered: stat priority can be crit > vers > haste or haste > crit = vers. The talent should be flashover

Generally you'll want aurora suffixes, aka vers and haste

My lock vet isn't geared but i've found the time to play a few games with her and she seems to do just fine with vers haste. vers > haste

 

[JustinK]

Generally you'll want aurora suffixes, aka vers and haste

My lock vet isn't geared but i've found the time to play a few games with her and she seems to do just fine with vers haste. vers > haste

Hmm, turns out it is not really something that can be decided at this level. I guess I'll just have to wait for gear and try it all.

 

[ohti]

Hmm, turns out it is not really something that can be decided at this level. I guess I'll just have to wait for gear and try it all.

you can stack either or and you should be fine really

in this day and age of twinking there really is no definitive bis set, lots of customization to be had

 

[JustinK]

you can stack either or and you should be fine really

in this day and age of twinking there really is no definitive bis set, lots of customization to be had

So, I should focus on any two (one priority, other one as back-up), three seems too much in my opinion, and then I will be fine?

 

[ohti]

So, I should focus on any two (one priority, other one as back-up), three seems too much in my opinion, and then I will be fine?

For every class and spec you can safely stack vers hard over all, that's one thing for sure
you shouldn't focus three no

it depends on your play style I suppose, you'll be a lot slower and easier to counter if you stack crit, but if you're able to get a cast off you'll do some nice damage

if you stack haste you'll probably have more sustainability and you'll be able to shoot out spells fast, aswell as cast fast fears

honestly there's not much reason to go crit over haste, i'd just say stack haste. But depends on your playstyle I guess