Warlock PVP Guide - Tips and Strategies For the Everyday Warlock
Warlocks have seen a whole lot of changes since the latest expansion, namely in the fact that everyone you see won't simply be SL/SL (Siphon Life/Soul Link) spec.
A lot of new ideas are out there for locks and priorities have even changed when it comes to what to look for in your gear.
This Warlock PvP guide is meant as a simple introduction to tips and tricks you can use to be more effective in PvP encounters.
Talents Nowadays there are a whole lot of options for your talent points, you've got 71 of them! A common spec is now to go down affliction to get haunt and instant Howl of Terror, then still have enough points to gain survivability from Demonology talents like Soul Link.
It is also more common today to see heavily Destruction spec'd Warlocks than it was in The Burning Crusade.
Pets Pet options have taken a turn, especially due to the fact that warlocks are no longer invincible with warrior-like health all the time.
In BC, no Warlock entered arenas without a felhunter.
The fact that 'Spell Lock' is useful still holds true today, this is not my pet of choice when it comes to arena or 1v1 player vs player encounters.
I use the a voidwalker.
Why? Because Warlocks need more tools to survive these days with players critting for insane amounts.
Sacrificing the voidwalker will give you an 8,000 damage absorb shield, and can be increased to 11,000 with talents.
If you summon one right after you sacrifice your pet (through demonology talents) you will have combined shield potentials of 16,000 to 22,000 damage.
Additionally, the "Consume Shadows" ability now reveals stealthed players within 30 yards.
This gives you a whole new unique edge over rogues and druids.
Random Tips And Strategies Fear Usage: From the beginning of WoW, fear has been one of the greatest tools in a Warlock's arsenal, that hasn't changed a bit.
What has changed however, is that every class now has A LOT of interrupts.
This means using death coil and then immediately afterward casting Fear can gain you the time you need to move or get your casts off.
Just casting fear on it's own may result in a lot of pushback and interruption.
Demonic Circle: This new WOTLK ability allows you to create a portal and then instantly teleport back to it at nearly any time, even when snared, rooted etc! This can really be a deal breaker for most fights.
Work on proper timing such as using this right after a charge/intercept to gain distance on a warrior.
Or if a Mage has you frost nova'd, use this to teleport behind him or out of range to avoid his cast and potential 'shatter crit'.
First Aid: As with all classes, First Aid is invaluable and warlocks can usually make use of this fairly easily.
You have lots of crown control so it's a great idea to get a bandage off while your opponent is running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
A lot of new ideas are out there for locks and priorities have even changed when it comes to what to look for in your gear.
This Warlock PvP guide is meant as a simple introduction to tips and tricks you can use to be more effective in PvP encounters.
Talents Nowadays there are a whole lot of options for your talent points, you've got 71 of them! A common spec is now to go down affliction to get haunt and instant Howl of Terror, then still have enough points to gain survivability from Demonology talents like Soul Link.
It is also more common today to see heavily Destruction spec'd Warlocks than it was in The Burning Crusade.
Pets Pet options have taken a turn, especially due to the fact that warlocks are no longer invincible with warrior-like health all the time.
In BC, no Warlock entered arenas without a felhunter.
The fact that 'Spell Lock' is useful still holds true today, this is not my pet of choice when it comes to arena or 1v1 player vs player encounters.
I use the a voidwalker.
Why? Because Warlocks need more tools to survive these days with players critting for insane amounts.
Sacrificing the voidwalker will give you an 8,000 damage absorb shield, and can be increased to 11,000 with talents.
If you summon one right after you sacrifice your pet (through demonology talents) you will have combined shield potentials of 16,000 to 22,000 damage.
Additionally, the "Consume Shadows" ability now reveals stealthed players within 30 yards.
This gives you a whole new unique edge over rogues and druids.
Random Tips And Strategies Fear Usage: From the beginning of WoW, fear has been one of the greatest tools in a Warlock's arsenal, that hasn't changed a bit.
What has changed however, is that every class now has A LOT of interrupts.
This means using death coil and then immediately afterward casting Fear can gain you the time you need to move or get your casts off.
Just casting fear on it's own may result in a lot of pushback and interruption.
Demonic Circle: This new WOTLK ability allows you to create a portal and then instantly teleport back to it at nearly any time, even when snared, rooted etc! This can really be a deal breaker for most fights.
Work on proper timing such as using this right after a charge/intercept to gain distance on a warrior.
Or if a Mage has you frost nova'd, use this to teleport behind him or out of range to avoid his cast and potential 'shatter crit'.
First Aid: As with all classes, First Aid is invaluable and warlocks can usually make use of this fairly easily.
You have lots of crown control so it's a great idea to get a bandage off while your opponent is running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
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