Destruction Warlock Quick-Start Guide For WoW Patch 5.2 – Stats, talents and spec, glyphs, rotation, reforging and gems, and ability priorities

Burn! BURN, old talent trees, burn! Yes, us Destruction warlocks should enjoy the chaos of Mists of Pandaria and WoW Patch 5.2 – but what happens when there’s nothing left of the old system, and we’re staring around in confusion at the ashes? Well, don’t worry – with this quick-start guide, you’ll be able to get your talents and glyphs chosen, your reforging and gemming done for the right stats, and your DPS rotation sorted out in time to start burning things again in MoP!

Updated 5th March 2013 to World of Warcraft Patch 5.2

Destruction Warlock changes in Patch 5.2

• Glyph of Burning Embers has gone away, and we get its effects by default. Win.
• We’ve had some nice damage buffs.
• That’s about it.

Destruction “Rotation” and Priorities

Destruction’s new ability rotation looks complicated, but actually is pretty simple. You’ve got two new resources – Backdraft and Burning Embers. So it’s basically “build up one, build up the other”.

Single-target DPS

Start out by casting Immolate on your target.

• Top Priority: If Immolate is about to drop, re-cast it.
• Second Priority: If you have a Burning Ember and you don’t have three charges of Backdraft, cast Chaos Bolt, or Shadowburn if the target is below 20%.
• Third Priority: Cast Conflagrate if you can. If not, cast Incinerate.

You can use Fel Flame instead of Incinerate, but it may run you out of mana too fast for comfort.

Note that you can get more complex with how you’re managing your resources here – see the guides in “Links” for more advanced strategies.

AOE DPS

Open by casting Rain of Fire, then Fire and Brimstone, then Immolate on one of your targets.

Then:

• Top Priority: Keep Immolate running on all your targets. Keep Rain of Fire running.
• Second Priority: If you have spare Burning Embers, use them for Chaos Bolt or Shadowburn if your target is below 20%.
• Third Priority: Cast Conflagrate if you can. If not, cast Incinerate.

Cooldowns

• Build up as many Burning Embers as possible before using Dark Soul: Instability. Try to use Dark Soul: Instability as often as possible.
• Use Summon Doomguard for single-target DPS and Summon Infernal for multi-target DPS. Use whichever one is more appropriate whenever available.
• Ember Tap restores health, but at the cost of DPS, as it uses a Burning Ember. However, dead warlocks can’t DPS – so don’t be afraid to use it in an emergency.
• Use Soulshatter to drop aggro from monsters attacking you.
• Unending Resolve reduces damage you take.
• Soulstone now functions as a combat resurrection – remember to use it if no-one else can combat res.

Buffs

Summon an Observer. Remember to cast Dark Intent, and summon a Soulwell if your party or raid wants one!

Destruction Warlock Talent Choices

MoP talents are designed to be changed on a per-encounter basis – however, to start off with, here’s a solid general talent setup:

• Tier 1: Soul Leech – makes all your damage spells heal you (a bit).
• Tier 2: Mortal Coil – gives you a self-heal spell.
• Tier 3: Dark Bargain – gives you an 8-second 100% damage protection. Very useful!
• Tier 4: Unbound Will – gives you a cooldown which removes movement impairing effects, mind control, and magic debuffs.
• Tier 5: Grimoire of Supremacy
• Tier 6: Archimonde’s Vengeance – use when you’re about to take a lot of damage.

Stats, reforging and gemming for Destruction Warlock

Intellect is most important for Destruction warlocks. After that, it’s Hit to hit cap (15% / 1537 ) followed by Critical Strike.

Reforging: Reforge to hit cap first (15% / 1537), then reforge to Critical Strike. Reforge from Hit over cap first, then Mastery.
Gems: Use Brilliant gems in Red sockets, Reckless gems in Yellow sockets and Veiled gems in Blue sockets.
Meta Gem: Burning meta gem, whichever you can afford.
Expertise: Note that Expertise counts toward the Hit Cap – so if you can’t reforge to Hit, you can still reforge to Expertise.

Destro lock Glyphs

A number of glyphs have situationally specific uses, but here’s a good no-downsides selection:

Major: Glyph of Conflagrate, Glyph of Ember Tap, Glyph of Siphon Life
Minor: Your choice. No real effects in DPS terms.

Destruction Warlock enchants and item enhancements

You should almost always use a profession enhancement item if it provides appropriate stats instead of a general enchant.

• Shoulders – Greater Crane Wing Inscription
• Back – Enchant Cloak – Superior Intellect
• Chest – Enchant Chest – Glorious Stats
• Wrist – Enchant Bracer – Super Intellect
• Hands – Enchant Gloves – Greater Haste or Superior Expertise
• Belt – Living Steel Belt Buckle
• Legs – Greater Cerulean Spellthread
• Feet – Enchant Boots – Pandaren’s Step
• Weapon – Enchant Weapon – Jade Spirit
• Off-Hand Weapon – Enchant Weapon – Major Intellect

Links

Here are some options for more information:

• Megan O’Neill writes on Warlocks for WoW Insider, and has been writing some really great guides to everything you need to know about MoP
• Icy Veins has a good guide to Destruction.
• Finally, as a WoW player, you should really check out the latest and greatest from the blogosphere on World of Warcraft, here at the Melting Pot.

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