5.4 Destruction Tips and Quirks

[Padlok 0]

Few quick questions.

 

For the opener, when should I be popping my Doomguard? Straight after darksoul or after my second CB? (PBoI/WFC) trinkets.

 

Note that because of the exponential scaling of secondary statistics versus primary statistics, Intellect now has such a low value that Keen Vermilion Onyx gems are a DPS gain at any level above 550. The caveat being that you have to be able to reforge out of enough Hit Rating on your gear to use the gems. Ideally you want as little Hit Rating on your gear as possible so you can use as many Keen Vermilion Onyx gems as needed.

 

 

I don't see a lot of high level locks with Keen gems. How viable is this gemming strategy?

 

Last question, What's the range on Glyph of the Elements?

 

Thanks guys.

 

< 554 lock

 

 

[Lockybalboa 618]

Few quick questions.

 

A few slow answers:

 

 

For the opener, when should I be popping my Doomguard? Straight after darksoul or after my second CB? (PBoI/WFC) trinkets.

 

Doesn't matter. I've seen some people say that DG snap shots with INT and INT only and I 90% believe that is true, but the bastard does such piss poor DPS that it doesn't matter. At all. Ever. I think the most the SoB ever did for me was 1.5mil. So, he's a free CB that takes 1 min to finish. IF he is on the right target, and that's always hit or miss.

 

 

I don't see a lot of high level locks with Keen gems. How viable is this gemming strategy?

 

Lot of upper end warlocks do it, lock of us don't. IMO, it's not as good as people say it is. If you have really low hit gear, it's useful. If you're 570+ then you're almost assured to not have this problem and so the value of the gems goes way down. You can ONLY gain crit or haste by using them, crit is meh and haste is shit. Int is always good clean DPS. No RNG, no guessing, just damage.

 

If your gear is so low ilvl or so badly itemized that you're having to reforge out of MASTERY in order to get your hit cap, then exp/mastery gems are useful. Other wise, no.

 

Int/mastery >>>>>>> any other type of 180/180 gem imo.

 

 

Last question, What's the range on Glyph of the Elements?

 

 

I don't have numbers but it's around melee. So 6-8 yards. 

 

 

Thanks guys.

 

You're welcome.

[Khaos 5]

I'm getting genuinely confused in my new 25m guild , i see the other locks aren't using shadowburn at all on single target , is that a "thing" now? O_o

[Lockybalboa 618]

I'm getting genuinely confused in my new 25m guild , i see the other locks aren't using shadowburn at all on single target , is that a "thing" now? O_o

 

It's not new, bads have been doing that since SB was added.

[Severan 0]

Lot of upper end warlocks do it, lock of us don't. IMO, it's not as good as people say it is. If you have really low hit gear, it's useful. If you're 570+ then you're almost assured to not have this problem and so the value of the gems goes way down. You can ONLY gain crit or haste by using them, crit is meh and haste is shit. Int is always good clean DPS. No RNG, no guessing, just damage.

 

If your gear is so low ilvl or so badly itemized that you're having to reforge out of MASTERY in order to get your hit cap, then exp/mastery gems are useful. Other wise, no.

 

Int/mastery >>>>>>> any other type of 180/180 gem imo.

 

I'm not sure how else to measure this. Using toons ranging from 560-574 ilvl I'm having trouble finding a case in simcraft where 1 int > 2 mast/crit/haste. For the most part it seems that if you can convert 160 hit to mast/hast/crit then it's worth using a 160exp-160mast gem.

[Liquidsteel 279]

Using expertise gems to get 2 points of crit or haste elsewhere is still better than 1 point of intellect.

 

It's up to the individual if they choose to believe it or not, but all our secondaries are better than intellect seeing as we gain double from gems.

 

The only time I wouldn't use them is if for some reason I had an abundance of hit, and even after reforging completely out of hit I was still above the cap.

[Kazistrasz 216]

I did the math for keen vs. artful for myself the other day. It worked out to an extra 1200 crit and a negligible amount of haste if I went with keen versus 970 spell power if I went with artful. I much prefer 970 spell power to 1200 crit. Like Locky said, if I was getting a couple hundred mastery out of it I'd definitely go with keen. It's really personal preference.

[Khaos 5]

It's not new, bads have been doing that since SB was added.

 

Yes but it's not "bads" or at least they're not that bad, we're 12/14 hc and stuff , it just threw me off.

[Oldtrout 7]

I heard somewhere (maybe here) that with certain haste procs / buffs / rating a chaos bolt is more valuable than a shadowburn. Being alliance and always running low haste I've never really thought this could ever apply to me so haven't even bothered testing.

[JvChequer 43]

I heard somewhere (maybe here) that with certain haste procs / buffs / rating a chaos bolt is more valuable than a shadowburn. Being alliance and always running low haste I've never really thought this could ever apply to me so haven't even bothered testing.

 

IF CB it's next to GCD or at GCD it's more worthy drop it than Shadowburn.

[Nytemare 2]

Other day on Garrosh, I had this DK whisper me telling me I need to hit the hate break point (Destro) so I can cast faster and get more embers.

 

What I do is Garrosh gets pulled, I FNB+ Immolate him and all adds, then keep ROF down until star comes and adds die, While ROF is going I not stop spam CB as time I get one off I have that ember plus more back. Once I to the point I not getting ember back by the time I finish CB, I go back to single target (as I waiting for new set of add), then new set comes and rinse and repeat. I use Havoc + three Shadowburn (mouse over) to nail almost dead adds that still alive and boss. My group gets him to one before P2 starts (So wish he would just die at that point).

 

So question is do I need to get more haste? You can see my armor link below

Edited December 12, 2013 by Nytemare

[Drafty53 17]

Haste vs. Crit after Mastery is honestly a preference/convenience thing. Whether you go full haste or full crit or an even mix, the dps you get will not be THAT big of a difference.  I know a lot of people on these forums say crit.  I know a lot of the locks in the top 20 guilds go haste. It really does not matter.  With more crit, you get higher CBs, better ember generation in single target fights, higher average SB damage.  Full haste brings faster cast time on non-haste buffed casts (Valuable for Heroic fights where movement can be VERY high) which can be beneficial in AoE and Single target.  It also allows you to switch to one of the other specs A LOT easier as Affliction and Demo both prefer Haste in pretty high numbers.

 

In the end, maximizing your rotation and priorities will make the most difference, whether you go haste or crit is negligible at this point.  I've seen top notch warlocks parse very high with crit builds and others with haste builds...Your play style is the ultimate decider.

[Typecast 16]

Yes but it's not "bads" or at least they're not that bad, we're 12/14 hc and stuff , it just threw me off.

 

There are only a few reasons why you wouldn't shadowburn a sub-20% target.

• Target is immune, reflecting, or heavily negating the dmg.
• Target is not a boss and doesn't return embers on death. Unsure if it still returns the 15% mana.
• You are about to die with no defensive cooldowns, and all you can do is drain life and clench.  In this case, I would probably still YOLO the boss and shadowburn.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Typecast

[JvChequer 43]

 

There are only a few reasons why you wouldn't shadowburn a sub-20% target.

• Target is immune, reflecting, or heavily negating the dmg.
• Target is not a boss and doesn't return embers on death. Unsure if it still returns the 15% mana.
• You are about to die with no defensive cooldowns, and all you can do is drain life and clench.  In this case, I would probably still YOLO the boss and shadowburn.

 

 

4. You have high haste and low crit chance and your CB it's at GCD a.k.a 1sec cast.

 

CB does more dmg than SB average, if u SB crits, SB it's better, if it don't, CB it's better, at this scenario.

[Typecast 16]

4. You have high haste and low crit chance and your CB it's at GCD a.k.a 1sec cast.

 

CB does more dmg than SB average, if u SB crits, SB it's better, if it don't, CB it's better, at this scenario.

Pretty sure it doesn't need to be a 1s cast if your goal is to have the DPET of CB be better than the AvgDPET of shadowburn. I calculated it before and found I needed roughly 120% haste (1.38s cast) for the DPET of CB to be equal to the AvgDPET of Shadowburn. The MaxDPET is impossible to reach since the 280% haste required resulted in a 0.788s cast.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Typecast

[raz27 0]

When we discust abou CB and SB on a target bellow 20%health and very prbly that target will die we have to consider that SB gives you 2 embers bck , so embers reg is another reason to SB , if it crits is a bonus if not thx for my 2 embers

[Khaos 5]

When we discust abou CB and SB on a target bellow 20%health and very prbly that target will die we have to consider that SB gives you 2 embers bck , so embers reg is another reason to SB , if it crits is a bonus if not thx for my 2 embers

 

 

I'm talking about a boss tho.

[Nytemare 2]

My team finally down Garrosh this Thursday it was a good feeling to have Garrosh on normal beating finally, starting Tuesday we going to work on Heroics

 

On Garrosh I would Havoc Weapon + Boss, or Boss + 3SB on adds - should I always be using SB when they hit under 20% even if they will not die? I try to follow the CB rule for SB as I only use it with procs, greater than 3.5embers. Expect with I use Havoc I will spam 3 SB quickly (am I doing this right)

[PhilColins 9]

My team finally down Garrosh this Thursday it was a good feeling to have Garrosh on normal beating finally, starting Tuesday we going to work on Heroics

 

On Garrosh I would Havoc Weapon + Boss, or Boss + 3SB on adds - should I always be using SB when they hit under 20% even if they will not die? I try to follow the CB rule for SB as I only use it with procs, greater than 3.5embers. Expect with I use Havoc I will spam 3 SB quickly (am I doing this right)

First, grats!

Second, time the SB appropriately so when you do, you get 3 in and the add dies. Personally, because I'm so familiar with the fight I can tell how my raid DPS is going to kill the adds. Since I have this knowledge I can effectively "spread" SB around. This means: I have 3ish embers so I use 2 on one target and immediately switch to another and blow 2 more (by the time the first one is dead I get my embers back to full). With this technique I can properly spread the SB herpes and effecitly do good Destro numbers.

Depending on your assignment you might be able to cleave off of the weapon. MOST 10 mans have the warlock solo'ing the weapon since CB does so much damage. If you're not assigned to it then put up Immo and go to town on Garrosh since boss damage is most important. Burn, burn, burn those embers with FnB on the adds then SB your heart out.

There is a setting in TidyPlates that increases the Healthbar by X% when an add is at Y% if you use this add on. I find it very helpful for Destro. Good luck!

[Nytemare 2]

First, grats!

Second, time the SB appropriately so when you do, you get 3 in and the add dies. Personally, because I'm so familiar with the fight I can tell how my raid DPS is going to kill the adds. Since I have this knowledge I can effectively "spread" SB around. This means: I have 3ish embers so I use 2 on one target and immediately switch to another and blow 2 more (by the time the first one is dead I get my embers back to full). With this technique I can properly spread the SB herpes and effecitly do good Destro numbers.

Depending on your assignment you might be able to cleave off of the weapon. MOST 10 mans have the warlock solo'ing the weapon since CB does so much damage. If you're not assigned to it then put up Immo and go to town on Garrosh since boss damage is most important. Burn, burn, burn those embers with FnB on the adds then SB your heart out.

There is a setting in TidyPlates that increases the Healthbar by X% when an add is at Y% if you use this add on. I find it very helpful for Destro. Good luck!

 

No one is assigned to weapon I just do it, team is me, hunter, shadow priest and elem shammy so we just throw a dot on weapon (SS, Immolate, etc,,) and I will mouseover incinerate and Havoc it with GoSac.

 

What do you mean with the tidyPlates? I have ElvUI and if it just so you know they at 20% and under than I good as I can tell at a glace, but if you talking about  knowing something different like under 10 or 5% no I do not have something like that set up.

 

P1: FNB+ Immolate + ROF -> CB spamming as long as time I finish the cast I already or will have the ember I about to use refilled. If I cast a CB and didn't get the ember back by the time I finish than I go back to normal rotation until new adds come and than I repeat what I was doing.

 

P2-P3 - normal rotation following the CB rule

[Liquidsteel 279]

Discovered a bug on wed night during Garrosh progress. Had me stumped for a few days but managed to find it in recordings in the end.

 

I had 4 full embers and was casting an incinerate with FnB toggled on due to just aoeing the shit out of some adds. Mid incinerate cast I realised FnB was turned on so hit the hotkey to disable it. This usually just turns it off at the end of the cast. My incinerate still went off, but I ended up losing all 4 embers instead of just 3.

 

Only had this happen to me in Garrosh 2nd transition, but it happened at least 2 or 3 times on wednesday. Just a PSA to let you guys know about it, and wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

[Omaric 246]

That's weird.  Whenever I'm casting Incinerate or Immolate and toggle F&B midcast, it will stop my cast before it completes.

[Liquidsteel 279]

Yes, most of the time this is what happens. It's weird because it happened a few times but only in that exact situation (engaging the boss in second transition).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oElo4V4q1SA

 

Above is the youtube clip I made of the effect occuring. The incinerate still goes off and I lose all 4 embers, gaining a few back from the incinerate and subsequent conflag.

 

Really odd.

[JvChequer 43]

Havoc glyphed at Paragons H just make our opening AMAZING.

 

Love this semi-padding/mega-bursted havoc baby.

[Zagam 1,983]

Havoc glyphed at Paragons H just make our opening AMAZING.

 

Love this semi-padding/mega-bursted havoc baby.

Just as long as you remember only damage done to Skeer really matters.  Having big numbers here only looks impressive if it's helping you kill Skeer first.  Using Havoc to pad here may make you look good to some scrubs, but the real raiders will be able to find out if you're making your numbers artificially larger.