The destruction warlock has a very high potential for being the number one DPS in raids after a certain amount of goals are achieved. Being a destruction warlock you will be the envy of all your guild mates in raids, given it is one of the easiest classes to play in a PVE environment. In this guide I will be introducing some basics of: spec, early gear choices, strong and week sections of the build, and various other types information.
Spec:
The destruction tree is definitely not a very versatile tree. It provides high end damage with little survivability. Unlike most trees for other classes and specs, specing 41 points into Destruction has a lot of limitations in PVE encounters, but where it can be used, it shines. Because of this, the main spec choice is 0/21/40. By obtaining some sub par talents in the demonology tree to obtain Demonic Sacrifice. This will increase your shadow or fire damage by 15%! Some highlights of this tree are: Improved Shadow Bolt, Devastation, Ruin, and Shadow and Flame.
Default build - This is a full shadow build designed for pure Shadow Bolt damage.
Full fire destruction - Similar to the shadow build, however this adds Immolate to your rotation and Incinerate spam.
The Default build depends upon your own crits, Curse of Shadows, and (if available) the shadow priest thing (Dont know what this is called)
The fire destro build depends heavily upon having mages with imp scorch buff and Curse of Elements.
Early gear choices:
There is some craftable gear available for destruction warlocks in the early gear stages (beginning Kara - Mags, however affliction still dominates here)
The Spellstrike set is a good option.
[Spellstrike Hood]
[Spellstrike Pants]
[Belt of Blasting] is craftable using two nether vortexes. The pattern drops in SSC off trash. This is another good piece of gear and will last until you are hit capped + and replace it with Anetherons Noose.
Tailoring warlocks can get the Frozen Shadoweave Set.
[Frozen Shadoweave Boots]
[Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders]
[Frozen Shadoweave Robe]
For engineers, the [Destruction Holo-gogs]. Apparently there is an upgrade available to these [Annihilator Holo-Gogs] which drops off Sunwell Trash. (Confirmation needed)
Alchemy : [Sorcerer's Alchemist Stone].
Some easily obtainable trinkets are
[Darkmoon Card: Crusade] (Darkmoon card reward)
[Scryer's Bloodgem] (from vendor, requires scryer reputation)
[Icon of the Silver Crescent] (vendor, 41 Heroic Badges)
With 2.4 some very good gear has been released through a new 5 man known as Magister's Terrace.
NORMAL
[Bindings of Raging Fire] off Selin
[Band of Arcane Alacrity] off Vexallus
[Cloak of the Betrayed] and [Duskhallow Mantle] off Priestess Delrissa
[Gloves of Arcane Acuity]
HEROIC
[Jaded Crystal Dagger] off Selin
[Fel-tinged Mantle] off Vexallus
[Timbal's Focusing Crystal] off Priest Delrissa
[Scarlet Sin'dorei Robes] off Kael'thas
Strong and Week points:
Shadow:
- Shadow destruction is very mana inefficient. Meaning chug pots, life tap when safe.
- Survivability is very minimal, and an occasional heal will usually be required for dps to continue.
- It's very good damage and with proper curses / debuffs, is one of the best damage dealers available.
Fire:
- Requires certain debuffs to do a lot more damage than without.
- More mana efficient, and a dot that does considerable damage is up almost all the time on various moving fights.
Off Notes:
The hit cap for any warlock is 202, and there is no way to obtain more hit in the destruction tree.
Hit is the most important stat, then spell damage, crit, and finally haste, arguable.
25% Crit is required in order to keep up ISB all the time. ISB has 4 charges, 100% of the time/4 Charges = 25%.
References:
Elitist Jerks - The great Warlock PVE Raiding Compendium they have.
Wow head - The great resources they have available for us.
I hope you enjoy this guide. Feel free to add your own comments / suggestions. This is my first guide. Stay tuned for and Affliction and Demonology guide - Coming soon!