Yet Another Warlock Nerf

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The following post is submitted by Infynite as part of our TCG loot contest.

If you were to stop by most of the warlock communities, you’d be sure to find a variety of discussions on how to maximize your dps while raiding.  There would be the usual suspects:  What spec should I be, what rotation should I be using, and what gear should I be shooting for.  These topics are all essential to consider however most of the time it’s done in a vacuum - stats are calculated most often for ideal situations (eg, a Patchwerk style fight).  What happens when you’re in a less than ideal situation?  Do the same truths that were calculated out in a spreadsheet still apply? The answer will probably depend on the encounter on a case by case basis.  As such, let’s take a look at a couple of bosses from Naxxramas and see how we can maximize damage on a case by case basis.

Heigan the Unclean

Heigan is quite possibly the lowest DPS encounter in Naxx due to there being so much movement involved.  While the melee is dancing, you should be able to put out your normal amount of damage, but as soon as phase 2 hits your DPS falls to the floor, right?  Not really, no.  For a fight like this, having a large haste set, a minor run speed enchantment (if no unholy aura), and the Bane talent really shines.  First, make sure to refresh your instant dots while actually moving - especially corruption, as you might get a nightfall proc.  Past that however, you need a good understanding of zone lines.  You should be able to land an immolate or shadow bolt every other zone, if you stop just over the zone line and begin casting immediately.  Make sure to get moving the moment your spell finishes casting, otherwise you’ll end up getting hit and possibly dying.  Chances are, you’ll come out of the encounter with the rest of the DPS wondering how you were so far ahead.

Grobbulus

Grobbulus is another movement intensive fight that could make it difficult to maintain your rotation.  In this case however, the strategy you should employ isn’t one of just what to do while moving, but more where to stand and when to move.  Chances are, your tank will be pulling him slowly around the outside of the room.  Most of the time the ranged damage dealers I’ve seen will move up a few feet, fire off a few shots, move up another few feet, fire off some more shots, and just repeat that cycle endlessly.  This is the absolute worst thing you can do.  Sure, you’ll need to move but when you do so you should cover as much ground as possible.  You should get ahead of Grobbulus (but not in the 45 degree arc that will cause you to get hit with slime spray!), so that you can re-establish your rotations and keep from having to move as long as possible.  Use the add spawning as a marker of when you need to move - toss your instants on it, life tap if needed, and then re-establish your rotation on Grobbulus once you’re in place.  You shouldn’t ever need to move outside of that which allows for maximum time to get all of your rotation in.   If you happen to get mutating injection, make sure to drop your summoning circle to teleport back closer to the fight after it falls off.

Almost every encounter in Naxx has some mechanic that is going to prevent you from hitting ideal performance - your goal should be figuring out what those mechanics are and minimizing their impact on you.