Warlock Debuff Importance

eqbulldog13 · 02-05-2009, 12:13 PM

I am an 80 warlock in a Raiding guild that is currently in VP and new TSO raids. I have been experimenting with my debuffs and would like to get some feedback on how often everyone uses them and when they use them. Since we are not a huge debuff class, is it worth giving up dps spells to cast debuffs throughout the fight and at the beginning?...Just looking for more information on how important it is to debuff and when to use them.

In Raids i usually use all 3 of the debuffs at the beginning of the fight and cast them randomly as they are up throughout the fight except for the Dec Int debuff because that lasts for a minute or so. Do you guys normally cast the debuffs as they are up throughout the fight or just at the beginning??

Also, in instances how often should I use debuffs? I usually use the mitigation debuff at the beginning and then just straight dps because the fights are not as long or as hard as raids.

Please send feedback!!

Rhand · 02-05-2009, 01:47 PM

In instances I never debuff. Mobs die too fast.
On raids I use noxious debuff on almost everything. Str debuff I keep on names. And if your're talking about the curse line debuff for the 3rd debuff remove it off your hotbar. Useless.

eqbulldog13 · 02-05-2009, 02:05 PM

Right now I use Curse of Humility, Vacuum Field, and Curse of Luclin on Names in Raids. Do you guys recast these at all during a long fight or just keep DPSing? Also how do you throw them into your normal casting order? Do you do all three at once or throw hits in between to keep dps up?

Kabs · 02-05-2009, 02:32 PM

Don't use either of the curse lines personally, but i do generally keep the nox debuff up on named fights, though rarely on trash.

Xede · 02-05-2009, 02:46 PM

nox debuff is essential at the minimum...but the str/int debuff is nice for named fights at least initially to help the AE's whether they are spell or melee type ae's

Khaotic · 02-05-2009, 04:28 PM

i generally just burn but if i see debuffs star dropping off the mob or if a tank switch is about to happen, ill lay off the nukes and throw a few debuffs in to possibly prevent the mob from bouncing around. or if my robe is proccing like a mofo and i dont have any decent spells up ill throw on my nox debuff and str/int debuff

LightCC · 02-05-2009, 05:36 PM

All situational.

If you have 2 or 3 brigands in the raid, I would never use the nox, except at the start of the fight possibly. If you find yourself getting resists at any given time, then try to fit the nox debuff in. If you have no brigands, I'd recast regularly on all fights, as it will probably take you and all the other classes using all of the debuffs available to keep the mob debuffed fully (which gives everyone +50% damage). Dispatch is just the lazy way to get there...

Oh, also cast nox at least at the start of any aoe fight as only the main mob will likely be debuffed at all... Nox usually fits in well at the start anyway because it won't grab too much aggro and also setup your other spells. So a typical pull I'll do something like:

Gift
Netherealm
Acid Storm(irresistable)
Acid(irresitable)
nox debuff
STR-INT debuff (if needed)
all other dps spells

STR/INT I basically save for fights where the tank(s) have trouble or ones with massive aoes that kill folks..

Most people say the curse is useless, but if you are unable to do anything but debuff (during stoneskin or the silverwing fight while statues are being clicked, etc.) it's better than nothing.

Keep in mind all these debuffs will trigger at least some procs (like tandem), some trigger gift too.

pyrotesss · 02-05-2009, 06:42 PM

nox debuff is nice to always keep up if for nothing else then the fast cast/proc aspect of it. and lets face it. it can't hurt to have it on the mob :P. i like it to help proc dmg procs and things like trixy and alkabor tho. nothing like casting it on begining of fight and seeing alkabor go off :P

Xede · 02-05-2009, 06:54 PM

pyro pretty much hit the nail in the head.....fast cast+procs=win

pyrotesss · 02-06-2009, 10:08 AM

omfg write that down. i was right about something that nobody else told me first! :P