TehBuG's 2.3.3 Lock Leveling guide

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Submitted by TehBuG on Mon, 2008-03-24 20:43.

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Note: This guide was inspired by "Hakker's In Depth Warlock Guide v3.1" (witch was inspired by "Suicide's Lock Leveling Guide 1-70". Credits to them.)

Version 1:
Hakker's, with extremely minor changes to the builds to update to WoW-2.3.3 standard. slight changes to the Equipment section as well.

---Intro---

I saw the Hakker's build and used it to level my first character to lvl 70 in 14 days. not an amazing accomplishment, but for a first time player, also not a BAD job either. (Jame's lvl guide also helped a lot.)

but in some places it was just plain impossible to follow this well created guide. it was out of date.

so i updated it.

enjoy.

-TehBuG-

---Note about Drain Tanking---

Few realize that Drain-Tanking is nearly useless before level 30, due to the weakness of the lower versions of the Drain Life spell. So for the first 19 levels just use the method of placing your DOTS on the
target and shadow bolting to death.

---Character Creation to level 29---

1-9: Do your lowbie quests. Should take 2-3 hours.

10-14: 5/5 Improved Corruption
15: 1/5 Demonic Embrace
16-18: 3/3 Improved Imp (For the instances you should be running right now)
19: 2/5 Demonic Embrace
20-22: Improved VW
23-25: 5/5 Demonic Embrace
26: 1/1 Fel Domination
27-29: 3/3 Fel Stamina

Using the method during this stage
Stack all your DoTs on a mob, send in the VW, stack all your DoTs on a second mob, and then wand the second mob to death. Repeat until low health, and then bandage/Consume Shadows. Each level should take about an hour, moving toward an hour and a half as you get closer to 30. If they are taking longer, figure out what the problem is (mobs too far apart, mobs have too much life, too much downtime) and move to an area that solves it.

---Level 30 to Level 49--

At level 30, visit your class Trainer and Unlearn all your skills.
Spec to the following.

--Affliction Tree
5/5 Improved Corruption
2/2 Soul Siphon
2/2 Improved Life Tap
2/2 Drain Soul
1/2 Improved Curse Of Agony
5/5 Fel Concentration
2/2 Nightfall
2/2 Grim Reach

And, on we go!

31: 1/1 Siphon life
32-34: 3/5 Suppression
35-39: 5/5 Shadow Mastery
40: 1/1 Dark Pact
41-45: 5/5 Demonic Embrace
46-48: 3/3 Fel Intellect
49: 2/2 Improved Curse of Agony

Using the method during this stage
Load the mob up on DoTs, send in the Succubus, cast Drain Life while the mob beats on you, rinse and repeat.
Once you acquire the Dark Pact skill, use it instead of life tap except in emergencies. generally try not to Dark pact your succubus under 2/3 of its mana.

---Level 50 to Level 60---
At level 50, go unlearn everything again.
Spec to the following
.

--Affliction tree

5/5 Improved Corruption
2/2 Improved Life tap
2/2 Soul Siphon
1/2 Improved Drain Soul
5/5 Fel Concentration
2/2 Grim Reach
2/2 Nightfall
1/1 Amplify Curse

--Demonology Tree
5/5 Demonic Embrace
3/3 Improved Imp
3/3 Improved VW
3/3 Improved Succubus
1/1 Fel Domination
2/2 Master Summoner
3/5 Unholy Power
1/1 Demonic Sacrifice

And, once again, Onward!

51: 1/1 Siphon Life
52: 2/2 Drain Soul
53-55: 3/3 Empowered Corruption
56-60: 5/5 Shadow Mastery

/cheer and /dance at getting lvl 60.

You are now spec'd SM/DS, which is generally accepted to be best grinding spec pre-burning crusade

Using the method during this stage
The Drain Tanking gets even better now. By Demonic Sacrificing your pet, you are able to regen even more life per fight, keeping up with increasing monster damage, while still 'Tapping up to full mana whenever you want because of the passive regen.

---Level
60 to Level 70---

Unlearn again, and Spec to the build shown here:
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=NyMriRfzqtbo0x

And here we go again! except, now we go to outland ^.^

61: 5/5 suppression
62-64: 3/3 Fel Intellect
65-66: 2/2 Improved Health stone
67: 1/1 Fel Domination
68-70: 3/3 Demonic Aegis

congrats on hitting the level cap!

How to use the method at this stage:
Stack your dots on the target, and use the traditional drain tanking method. Just about every mob you face should be able to be down able with taking little to no damage. I recommend using the succubus, Felhunter or Imp during this stage.

How to level:
Grind and quest at the same time. Either look for multiple quests that involve killing the same mobs, or look for multiple quests in the same areas. The more quests you can get done before running back to turn in, the faster your leveling will go. Perfect guides on where to find these areas can be found here:

James' Leveling Guides - http://www.wow-pro.com/node/692

also, the mod "Questhelper" can be excellent , by showing you where you need to go for each quest. it gets confused a bit in the outlands, but it is still an excellent addon.

Equipment Choice:
I found that during early levels it was best to find / purchase "Of the eagle" equipment, or if none was available, +Sta gear. At around 35 or so +shadow/+dmg gear takes precedence, as it will make your DoTs tick much harder. at this point, and all the way to level 70, the priority will be (in this order): +shadow/+dmg (either), +Stam, +int, anything else. Basically, don't bother with any gear that doesn't buff Stam, int or your +spell damage.

At lvl 30, start looking for Shadoweave gear, and around 40 switch into it. Full Shadoweave can be made by tailors, and will give a bonus of +114 shadow damage, along with some Int and Sta, and can be equipped at level 44.

At lvl 60 start looking for Netherweave gear, and around 56 switch into it. Full Netherweave can be made by tailors, and will give +188 Spell damage, +204 Stamina. i recommend going with the robe. you can wear it a full level earlier, and its only
2 spell dmg / 4 armor less. (and it looks better, if this matters to you)

For weaponry, the previous versions of this guide recommended going with a sword and offhand item. i believe that it should be up to you, but you need to choose extremely early. don't switch from sword/offhand to staff at level 56 for example unless its an incredible difference in stats.

Equipment to look out for

HORDE ONLY: Ragefire Chasm
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=14150
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=14148
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=15444
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=15449
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=15452

Wailing Caverns
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=5243
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6632
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6465
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=5970
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6631
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6629
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6463
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6461

Black Fathom Deeps
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=1155
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6910
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7001
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=16887
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=3415

Razorfen Krual
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6697
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6695
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6689
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=6693
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=4197
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=2549
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=2039

Scarlet Monastery
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7685
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7714
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7713
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7720
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7722

Razorfen Downs
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=10762

Uldaman
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=18082
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=9470
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=9484

Maraudon
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17719
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17780
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17715
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17707
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17710

Sunken Temple
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=12462
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=10844
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=10751

Blackrock Depths
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=11624
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=11824
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=11808

Lower Blackrock Spire
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13143
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13161
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13181

Undead Strathholme
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=18727
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13376
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=18022
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17045
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13249

Live Strathholme
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13390
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13392
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13391
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13389
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13388

The Scholomance
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13314
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13937
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=14514 (If you are a tailor, i HIGHLY recommend getting this)
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13986

Upper Blackrock Spire
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=12752

My Stand on Teir 0/0.5
Typically i would not recommend getting t0/t0.5 because there are much better options for this level,

Builds:

you may need to change these up slightly, as i have not looked through them to update to 2.3.3 standard.

Raiding Builds

Build #1
Dark Pact/Ruin
Respec to the following

Build #1 Link

This is a favorite build of mine, maximizing shadow bolt damage output/casting time. By placing corruption on your target every once in a while you will get an instant cast shadow bolt that even further improves your damage output.

Build #2
Minimize your aggro!
Respec to the following

Build #2 Link

PvP Builds
If you've payed attention to the forums, than you would know that warlocks are currently one of the most powerful pvp'ers ever. These builds should help you maximize your pvp power

Build #1
Respec to the following

PvP Build #1

This build allows you to do EXTREMELY high amounts of damage in short amounts of time, with nightfall you get instant cast shadow bolts, and with soul leech you even get to regenerate health when you attack targets!

Build #2
Respec to the following

PvP Build #2

This build focuses around the demonology tree, increasing your durability and at the same time buffing you and your pet to do more damage.

Also, the official WoW forum has an entire section devoted to Warlocks... look there for builds too.

Conclusion:
once again, thank you Suicide for making this guide. Thank you Hakker for Updating it.

and, thank me for updating it again ^^

people can call warlocks Op (except rouges, they call us lunch)
they can rant and rave about it......

or they can make one, and have the fun were having ;P

Thanks for reading, good luck hitting that cap!

-TehBuG-

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Member

For the record

Submitted by Pammijo on Sun, 2008-04-13 04:03.

I'm trying this on now. I'm Lvl 45 and respec'd according to this guide. Just found out recently about the guides and I'm going to follow this and will update how it's going. Yes, if you build it, they will come.

Member

Apparantly noone at all

Submitted by TehBuG on Sat, 2008-04-05 04:45.

Apparantly noone at all feels the need to comment.... or knows that this guide exists.... or something....
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till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the shadow with teeth bared, Screaming Defiance with the last breath, to spit in sightblinders eye on the last day. - (R. Jordan, Wheel of Time)

Administrator

This looks ok at first

Submitted by Jame on Fri, 2008-04-11 02:43.

This looks ok at first sight, but it could use some colors here and there to make it look prettier. Sticking out tongue
I haven't tried the guide myself, so I can't really comment on the actual content.