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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsCataclysm Class Changes: Warlock
by Adam Holisky 
Apr 7th 2010 at 3:14PM
The initial post was a Spanish Translation from Google. We now have the full English version up.
Some of the major highlights:
- Green fire is confirmed
- Demon Soul (level 85): Merges the soul of the Warlock and the demon, giving a benefit to damage
- Dark Intent (level 83): The targeted player receives an additional 3% chance to critically hit with all damaging spells and damage-over-time effects;
- Voidwalker Torment will do increased damage and generate a lot of area-of-effect (AoE) threat.
This post is currently being edited; thank you for your patience.
Warlock Cataclysm ChangesIn World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, warlocks will receive changes to their class talents and abilities. Outlined below are some of these changes. Keep in mind that this is an early preview and that these modifications are still under development, so you may see further adjustments to the listed changes as we get closer to launch. That said, here is a first look at these new warlock spells and abilities!
New Warlock Spells
Fel Flame (level 81): Quick-hitting spell dealing Shadowfire damage. This is similar to the mage ability Frostfire Bolt, in that the lower of the two resistances (in this case shadow and fire) on your target will be used for calculating its damage. Additionally, Fel Flame refreshes the duration of Immolate and Unstable Affliction. Our goal for Fel Flame is to provide a spell that's good for mobility and for use by Destruction and Demonology specs. Also, did we mention it uses green fire? Yep. Instant cast.
Dark Intent (level 83): Increases the target's chance for a critical effect with periodic damage or healing spells by 3%. When the target lands a crit, you get a buff to your damage for 10 seconds. This effect stacks up to three times.
Demon Soul (level 85): Fuses the warlock's soul with his or her demon. This provides warlocks with a self-burst cooldown to use. The specific effects granted by Demon Soul depend on the demon chosen. Demon Soul lasts for a certain number of charges or until it expires (around 20 seconds), depending on the demon used. 2-minute cooldown.
Soul Shard Overhaul
This major change regarding Soul Shards was previously announced at BlizzCon 2009. Soul Shards will no longer be inventory items, but instead a new UI resource mechanic. Warlocks will have 3 Soul Shards that can be used during a fight and will not be able to gain additional shards during combat. Soul Shards will not be required outside of combat. Soul Burn will consume a Soul Shard resource, thereby allowing you to use the secondary effects of some spells. Soul Burn has no mana or health costs and is off the global cooldown. Planned secondary effects are outlined here.
Next you will find a list of some of the warlock spell and talent changes for the release of Cataclysm. There will be further changes, but those revealed below should offer some insight into our goals.
Changes to Abilities and Mechanics
New Talents and Talent Changes
Affliction
Demon Damage: The damage caused by pets and Metamorphosis is increased.
Fire Direct Damage: The damage caused by Fire direct damage spells is increased.
Well that concludes this Cataclysm preview for the warlock class. The development of these changes will continue to evolve in the coming months. Please be sure to provide any feedback and thoughts you might have on what was covered here.
New Warlock Spells
Fel Flame (level 81): Quick-hitting spell dealing Shadowfire damage. This is similar to the mage ability Frostfire Bolt, in that the lower of the two resistances (in this case shadow and fire) on your target will be used for calculating its damage. Additionally, Fel Flame refreshes the duration of Immolate and Unstable Affliction. Our goal for Fel Flame is to provide a spell that's good for mobility and for use by Destruction and Demonology specs. Also, did we mention it uses green fire? Yep. Instant cast.
Dark Intent (level 83): Increases the target's chance for a critical effect with periodic damage or healing spells by 3%. When the target lands a crit, you get a buff to your damage for 10 seconds. This effect stacks up to three times.
Demon Soul (level 85): Fuses the warlock's soul with his or her demon. This provides warlocks with a self-burst cooldown to use. The specific effects granted by Demon Soul depend on the demon chosen. Demon Soul lasts for a certain number of charges or until it expires (around 20 seconds), depending on the demon used. 2-minute cooldown.
Soul Shard Overhaul
This major change regarding Soul Shards was previously announced at BlizzCon 2009. Soul Shards will no longer be inventory items, but instead a new UI resource mechanic. Warlocks will have 3 Soul Shards that can be used during a fight and will not be able to gain additional shards during combat. Soul Shards will not be required outside of combat. Soul Burn will consume a Soul Shard resource, thereby allowing you to use the secondary effects of some spells. Soul Burn has no mana or health costs and is off the global cooldown. Planned secondary effects are outlined here.
- Summon Demon + Soul Burn = summon the demon instantly.
- Drain Life + Soul Burn = Reduces cast speed by 60%.
- Demonic Circle + Soul Burn = Increases movement speed by 50% for 8 seconds after teleporting.
- Unstable Affliction + Soul Burn = Instantly deals damage equal to 30% of its effect.
- Soul Fire + Soul Burn = Instant cast.
- Healthstone + Soul Burn = Increases total health by 20% for 8 seconds.
- Searing Pain + Soul Burn = Increases the crit chance of Searing Pain by 100%, and subsequent Searing Pain spells by 50% for 6 seconds.
Next you will find a list of some of the warlock spell and talent changes for the release of Cataclysm. There will be further changes, but those revealed below should offer some insight into our goals.
Changes to Abilities and Mechanics
- All warlock damage-over-time (DoT) spells will benefit from crit and haste innately. Haste will no longer act to reduce the DoT's duration, but rather to add additional ticks. When reapplying a DoT, you can no longer "clip" the final tick. Instead, this will just add duration to the spell, similar to how Everlasting Affliction currently works.
- Curse of Agony and Curse of Doom will be converted into Bane of Agony and Bane of Doom. Bane spells are considered magic instead of curses. This means you will be able to cast one Bane (e.g. Bane of Agony) and one Curse (e.g. Curse of Elements) on a single target.
- Hellfire will no longer deal damage to the warlock.
- Imps will lose Fire Shield, but will gain a new ability, Burning Ember, which is a stacking DoT.
- The succubus melee range will be increased. The succubus will no longer have Soothing Kiss, but will instead have Whiplash, which knocks back all enemies within 8 yards.
- Voidwalker Torment will do increased damage and generate a lot of area-of-effect (AoE) threat. Suffering will become a single-target taunt.
New Talents and Talent Changes
- Pandemic will now cause Drain Soul to refresh Unstable Affliction and Bane of Agony on targets below 25% health.
- The ability Fel Domination will be removed (because Soul Burn accomplishes the same effect).
- Demonology will gain a new direct-damage spell, Demon Bolt. Demon Bolt will add a debuff that improves the damage done by the demon to the target.
- We plan to add a new talent, Impending Doom, which will give certain spells a chance to reduce the cooldown on Metamorphosis and Bane of Doom.
- Metamorphosi
s will no longer be subject to demonic crowd control. Furthermore, abilities available only while under the effects of Metamorphosis will be altered to put more emphasis on the warlock's own spells. - Shadowburn will now do additional damage to targets below 25% health.
Affliction
- Spell Damage
- Spell Crit
- Shadow DoTs
- Spell Damage
- Spell Haste
- Demon Damage
- Spell Damage
- Spell Critical Damage
- Fire Direct Damage
Demon Damage: The damage caused by pets and Metamorphosis is increased.
Fire Direct Damage: The damage caused by Fire direct damage spells is increased.
Well that concludes this Cataclysm preview for the warlock class. The development of these changes will continue to evolve in the coming months. Please be sure to provide any feedback and thoughts you might have on what was covered here.
In addition to commenting, don't forget that we're also looking for guest posts on the above changes.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Warlock, News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 9)
deluded spider Apr 7th 2010 4:34PM
I'll play my mage when I can make it 10 minutes without going into a coma due to boredom.
Suzaku Apr 7th 2010 3:39PM
These changes are most truly amazing. I can not wait to Demon Soul with my witch and melting faces. Fragments of soul is very interesting additionally. I hope the players do not scream for the snow storm needs entirely toy ball diffuse these changes in the job!
Continuum6 Apr 7th 2010 4:09PM
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand...
WIN
Brian Apr 7th 2010 5:32PM
Rofl.. well done, sir.
Mintos Apr 7th 2010 3:41PM
"Increaseemos range combat Succubus's melee, it no longer has the option Soothing Kiss."
Okay ... Spenglish! -.- Jokes aside.. Increases ranged something melee... Wuut? :O
Johnster Apr 7th 2010 3:38PM
Thank you WoW insider. even if it is a google translation, this news just HAD to be told asap. I love you @__@;
paul Apr 7th 2010 3:42PM
So comic translation aside, it sounds you can pop a shard on most spells, or even just as a health boost (possible healthstone replacement?).
Wondering how this will be implemented - will we need to hit the 'shard' key then a spell? shift+spell?
Sounds interesting though.
And
"The Hellfire will no longer cause damage to the witch."
awesome
Azizrael Apr 7th 2010 3:46PM
Shard macros are going to be a huge boon, I think. I'm guessing/praying they're not on the GCD, either.
Delerius Apr 7th 2010 4:05PM
They are not on the GCD. Macros FTW.
Pfooti Apr 7th 2010 4:30PM
Soul burn is probably (IIRC) not on the GCD, but you only get 3 soul shards per fight, so macroing it might not be good.
archbaotho Apr 7th 2010 3:39PM
F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5!!!!!!!!!!
dark intent sounds like focus magic eh? a few minor tweaks, but obviously the warlock version is better. and come on, thats how its supposed to be anyways :)
V Magius Apr 7th 2010 3:41PM
I'm going to have to wait for the English version.
I do find it odd the English version isn't out yet. I thought the post was written in English then translated to other languages. Or at least that they all recieved the same info, so it should be put out at about the same time.
It's like American shows filmed in Canada showing in England first. Boggles the mind.
nwoods13 Apr 7th 2010 3:42PM
Burn Pain Hugger.... I LIKE IT!
Methnor Apr 7th 2010 3:48PM
So not only are 'locks getting a version of Frostfire Bolt, they're getting a souped-up Focus Magic as well?
Continuum6 Apr 7th 2010 3:46PM
Amen to a baseline Feldom, FINALLY.
Having to blow 17-20 points in Demo for ALL pvp builds to acquire one effective ability is slightly absurd. I suppose mages would agree with me there, concerning Torment. (Imp CS is down there too though.)
hopefully a pvp "anti-stun" will be built into the "Demon Soul" mechanic (lol translations).
*sigh* Still no stun break on port. If I set up a port in a clever place, not even knowing if there's a rogue around yet (more set-up than is required of any other class' anti-stun), then my port should dang well break his stun when I blow it for 30 seconds.
feniks9174 Apr 7th 2010 3:46PM
I like everything except this:
""Fel Flame" (available at level 81): An instant-cast spell that causes "Shadowfire" damage; it's similar to the mage spell "Frostfire Bolt" in that it will choose whichever spell type to which the enemy is least resistant (in this case shadow or fire) when calculating damage. Additionally, Fel Flame refreshes Immolate and Unstable Affliction. Our goal with "Fel Flame" is to provide a viable spell option while moving for Destruction and Demonology warlocks; Did we mention that this spell will use green fire and be instant cast?
"Dark Intent" (available at level 83): The targeted player receives an additional 3% chance to critically hit with all damaging spells and damage-over-time effects; When the player critically hits, the warlock receives a spell damage boost for ten seconds. This effect can stack up to three times."
Soooooo Warlocks are getting a green version of Frostfire Bolt and our own Focus Magic? But I want to be LESS like a fail mage.
KJP Apr 7th 2010 3:51PM
Mages can go back to FM'ing each other instead of having to boost warlock egos in raid? Not seeing the downside there.
feniks9174 Apr 7th 2010 4:01PM
I can't remember the last time I was given FM with more than 1 mage in the group.
Besides, my point was that I like the idea of Warlocks having a distinctly different feel and flavor than mages and I keep seeing spells being introduced that make us MORE similar rather than less.
Demonic Portal = Blink 2.0
Fel Flame = Frostfire Bolt
Dark Intent = Focus Magic
Glyphed Water Ele = Lol, I have a pet too!!
devilsei Apr 7th 2010 4:14PM
Feniks, advantage of the circle compared to the blink spell, is that the summon circle doesn't make the warlock teleport backwards, or get caught on a weed. =P
KJP Apr 7th 2010 4:35PM
Actually, in my guild, the net effect will be the lock I have to FM (for lack of another mage to target) will have to return the favor now.