Destruction PvP Guide by Autschbatsch

[Autschbatsch]

Hello you peasant! My name is Martin, I am known as Autschbatsch or in short, Autschi.

 

This guide will mainly cover arenas and my personal preferences of playing it, therefore it should not be seen as an ultimate truth of concept.

 

Some facts about me:

I've been playing Warlock since earlier Wrath of the Lich King and always enjoyed the Destruction specialization.

 

I was the highest rated Destruction Warlock in my battle-group(Blutdurst) during whole season 13.

I reached the highest 5v5 rating playing as Destruction Warlock in Europe during season 15.

 

The spec:

 

Strengths:

• Insane Burst during well lined-up Procs&Cooldowns
  
• Best Execute-Ability in the game
  
• Lots of utility against casters
  
• Has strong CC & peels
  
• Is easy to learn and hard to master
  
• Is really rewarding to play since you can't win when playing stupid
  

 

Weaknesses:

 

• Takes more damage than any other spec in the game
  
• Limited tools against meeles and stuns
  
• Limited/impractical mobility
  
• Is highly comb/teammate dependent
  
• Requires a lot of experience to achieve the same rating as inferior players
  
• Can be a very frustrating spec due it's lack of viability against certain combs
  

 

Races

[spoiler=1 Races:]

:alliance:Alliance

 

:human2: By far the best Race for Destruction.

 

:gnome1: I found Gnome to be more than viable for competitive arena due http://www.db.pandawow.me?spell=20589/escape-artist -> more utility and Mobility ( lots of scenarios, like getting rooted/slowed in front of a pillar when you try to get a howl of terror etc etc. )

 

 

:horde:Horde

 

:ork1: The most damage output you can have as Destruction (has to be played only with unbound and no Insignia), has 15% stun reduction, some additional pet DMG.

 

:undead1: Viable due http://www.db.pandawow.me?spell=7744/will-of-the-forsaken against Fears, haven't played it on retail, but it's certainly better for peeling your teammates and interrupting setups from the enemy team.

 

:goblin1: I also played Goblin on retail during s15 and found it to be pretty underrated, http://www.db.pandawow.me?spell=69070/rocket-jump can also be a great tool in the same way as Gnome to get Howls/get in port&gateway range/Jumping in&out of Ring of Frost/Getting into Spirit Link etc. However it's on global-cooldown and can be interrupted mid-air.

 

 

 

 

Talents

[spoiler=2 Talents:]

The go-to spec for the very most arenas you will do:

Dark Regeneration - Simply mandatory, should almost always be combined with Healthstone, has obvious synergy with Ember Tap.

 

Mortal Coil - Mostly used with Havoc, is the overall better choice because your spec relies around CC and burst. You need a reliable stun in your team for this to get a long enough CC to kill.

 

Dark Bargain - Mandatory for 3v3, can be used while under all CC effects besides silence, will leave you with a big DoT on yourself, counts as magic damage and can be partly absorbed by Twilight Ward.

 

Unbound Will - Preferable used to finish someone off/avoiding burst with Teleport/Gate/lining.

 

Grimoire of Sacrifice - Mostly used with Fellhunter, can be played with Imp against Hunter teams since Supermancy Imp almost dies instantly, can be played with Voidwalker against double meele/hunter in 2v2 to first disarm and after use Command Demon->Last Stand->Heals

 

Archimonde's Darkness - Mandatory, Kil'jaeden's Cunning is a fun talent, but is not viable in 3v3 because Destruction is not build around doing constant pressure or kiting. Archimonde's Darkness gives you more Embers quickly to your disposal and makes you able to threaten a kill more frequently. Mannoroth's Fury is only made for pujo.

 

Green are viable options:

 

Shadowfury - Especially strong in duels/BGs, can be viable when playing with classes that don't have a reliable stun in arena.

 

Soul Link with Supermancy - I only used to play this spec against Turbo Cleave for example because you could simply not outlive the pressure. However this is not viable against DKs due passive DoT spread.

 

Soul Link with Sacrifice - Can be a viable choice in 2v2 when: You are facing a low BURST heavy comb like Caster/Hunter+Healer and you are playing with a hybrid class that is able to heal you. I never play this spec, because it's scaling really poorly without full prideful gear. This spec is also a risky trade-off, you lack the momentum to trade your cooldowns against the enemies cooldowns effectively to score a kill. You lose your strength of having 2 trinkets, since you are almost forced to safe 1 trinket for popping your heals and Ember Tap. However it's a legitimate playstyle that relies a lot on embertaping.

 

 

 

 

Glyphs

[spoiler=3 Glyphs:]

1. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/spell_fire_fireball.jpg I never do not use this Glyph.

 

2. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/warlock_-healthstone.jpg I always use this Glyph, you can discard this Glyph if you face a comb where you will just be able to use it when you are already low like against RMD for example.

 

3. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/spell_shadow_demonictactics.jpg Eternal Resolve - Passive 10% DMG reduction, is good against combs that don't have too many interrupts. I prefer a playstyle without this Glyph, it allows you to ignore 1factor which can ruin your attempt of forcing defensive's.

 

3. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/spell_shadow_demoniccircleteleport.jpg 4s reduction does not seem like much, but it makes a huge difference when you are able to port away earlier from meeles that train you. I mostly play this Glyph in 3v3.

 

3. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/ability_warlock_baneofhavoc.jpg Havoc is a Glyph that increases your charges by 3. That means you are able to perform 6 actions on 2 targets that are not Chaos Bolts (consumes 3). Now, this Glyph may be really sick, however you won't get a benefit out of it if you are playing with a teammate that has CC which breaks on DMG. If you are playing 2v2 as double DPS without real heals this Glyph is almost a must. You get 2x more embers since you duplicate your spells upton a second target, this translates into more self-healing and burst potential to end games quickly. I will elaborate later why this Glyph is mostly not used in 3s. (Don't like me Thugonomics VoDs where he oneshots 2targets in season 12), don't make me laugh, people didn't even know what havoc is back then.

 

4. http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/spell_shadow_possession.jpg Fear Glyph is a highly underrated Glyph that has the benefit of not having to move and getting safe re-fears without wasting time. It can be especially useful to fear DPS behind pillars so their healers have a hard time dispeling it.

 

There is no mandatory Glyph for Destruction, pick what you feel is enjoyable for your playstyle.

 

 

 

 

Professions

[spoiler=4 Professions:]

http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/trade_tailoring.jpg Tailoring is by far the best.

 

http://wow.zamimg.com/images/wow/icons/large/trade_blacksmithing.jpg Blacksmithing is the second best profession due it's unique support for Mastery instead of just Intellect/Crit

 

 

 

 

Reforging,Sockets and Enchants

[spoiler=5 Reforging,Sockets and Enchants:]

I recommend using "Reforge Lite" for reforging with the following priority:

6% Hit>Mastery>Crit>Haste

 

Meta Gem - http://www.db.pandawow.me?item=76885/burning-primal-diamond

Orange Socket - http://www.db.pandawow.me?item=76672/artful-vermilion-onyx

Yellow Socket - http://www.db.pandawow.me?item=76700/fractured-suns-radiance

Green Socket (non humans) - http://www.db.pandawow.me?item=76643/senseis-wild-jade ( hit+mastery )

 

Enchants:

Shoulders - Crit + Int Scroll

Cloak - Tailor Enchant/180 int if you dislike Tailoring Proc

Chest - 80 Stats

Bracer - 180 Intellect, yes not Mastery

Gloves - 170 Mastery

Belt - Bucket

Legs - Int+Crit

Feet - 140 Mastery+Movementspeed

Weapon - Jade Spirit

Off-Hand- 165 Int

 

 

 

 

Macros

[spoiler=6 Macros:]

If you want all my macros you can get them in my stream FaQ.

 

#showtooltip Dark Bargain

/stopcasting

/cast Dark Bargain

/cast Sacrificial Pact

 

#showtooltip Demonic Circle: Teleport

/cast Drain Soul

/cancelaura Havoc

/cancelaura Metamorphosis

/cancelaura Soul Swap

 

#showtooltip Dark Soul

/cast [target=Arena1] Fear

 

#showtooltip Fel Flame

/cast [target=mouseover,exists] Fel Flame

/cast [target=focus] Fel FLame

 

#showtooltip Grimoire of Sacrifice

/cast [@mouseover, exists] Banish; [@target] Banish

/cast Dreadsteed

 

#showtooltip Blood Horror

/cast Burning Rush

/cast Unbound Will

/cast Blood Horror

/cancelaura Burning rush

 

#showtooltip Command Demon

/cast [@player] Singe Magic

/cast Sear Magic

/cast Consume Shadows

/cast Devour Magic

/cast Whiplash

/cast Felstorm

/cast Fellash

/cast Clone Magic

 

#showtooltip Dark Soul

/cast Dark Soul

/use 14

 

#showtooltip Singe Magic

/petpassive

/cast [@Teammate1] Singe Magic

/cast [@Teammate1] Singe Magic

/cast [@Teammate1] Singe Magic

/cast [@Teammate1] Command Demon

/cast [@Teammate1] Command Demon

/cast [@Teammate1] Command Demon

 

#showtooltip Curse of Enfeeblement

/cast [@focus] Curse of Enfeeblement

/cast Magic Rooster

 

#showtooltip Command Demon

/cast [@focus] Devour Magic

/cast [@focus] Clone Magic

#showtooltip Command Demon

/cast [@focus] Command Demon

/cast [@focus] Spell Lock

/cast [@focus] Seduction

/cast [@focus] Disarm

/cast [@focus] Optical Blast

/cast [@focus] Mesmerize

/cast Flee

 

#showtooltip Havoc

/cast [target=focus] Havoc

 

#showtooltip Dark Regeneration

/cast Cauterize Master

/cast Dark Regeneration

 

#show Command Demon

/cast Command Demon

/cast Spell Lock

/cast Seduction

/cast Disarm

/cast Optical Blast

/cast Mesmerize

 

#showtooltip Command Demon

/stopcasting

 

 

 

 

Playable Compositions

[spoiler=7 Playable Compositions:]

Tier List from Top to Bottom in my experience:

2v2

Double DPS

Destro + Boomy

Destro + Feral

Destro + Windwalker

Destro + Mage

Destro + Rogue

Destro + Ret

Destro + Ele

Destro + Warrior *hehe

Heal

Destro + Rdruid

Destro + Mistweaver

Destro + Hpally

Destro + Rsham(I hate it)

 

3v3

Frost/Arcane :mage: :warlock: :shaman:

Frost :mage: :warlock: :druid:

Frost :mage: :warlock: :monk:

WW :monk: :warlock: :druid:

WW :monk: :warlock: :shaman:

Ele :shaman: :warlock: :druid:

Ele :shaman: :warlock: :monk:

Ele :shaman: :warlock: :paladin:

Enh :shaman: :warlock: :paladin:

B :druid: :warlock: :shaman:

 

 

 

 

Gameplan

[spoiler=8 Gameplan:]

The game plan does vary a lot so I will not try to explain in 50 paragraphs what you will have to do because it will only make things complicated for you to understand. However your goal is to accomplish timing windows where your opponents don't have the tools necessary to stop your Chaos Bolts. Your team mates are not allowed to use their CD bound CC without you having DMG ready unless the kill target is almost in reach to execute.

Burst rotation is roughly: Procs -> pop Dark Soul+on-use -> Chaos Bolt -> Conflagrate 1-2 if available-> get target in reach of execute with Fel Flame or incinerate if procs are not lined up.

 

If you have questions or just no basic idea what to do I recommend watching my stream and contact me for questions off-stream so I can take my time to explain/spectate.

 

 

 

Video Gameplay explained

[spoiler=8 Video Gameplay explained:]

2v2:

Playing with Boomy

Playing with Windwalker

Playing with Warrior

HpriestWW

RogMage

Playing with Mage

 

 

This guide will probably be updated in the coming days. If there is something you'd like me to cover please let me know.

If you want to know anything in-depth about when to play how just PM me ingame.

 

 

I hope you can find a portion of my joy in this spec! :heart:

Edited November 20, 2017 by Autschbatsch

[behindqq]

That seems like a bunch of text due to its font size. Could you make it smaller? It's kinda irritating to read it like that.

Btw, will you supplement it with something else? The text seems to be incompleted from my point of view. It lacks some your comments concerning the destro playstyle.

I do play destro a bit, but I did not see anything that I didn't know. Knowing you it seems to be poor. I know you as a good warlock, but the text doesn't reveal this at all. Seems like it could be written by anyone.

Edited May 21, 2017 by behindqq

[Veynnzy]

Like :heart:

[Flashbacca]

Not bad

[Repitchx]

destro bugged, wls lose instantly!!

 

jk

 

cool guide (:

[Milorad]

FINALLY. Now I can push out of 1200 with my destro swifty lock.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/919/108/fab.png

[Garodar]

/cancelaura Metamorphosis

in your macros? This means u qued demo at 1 point, doesn't it?

 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

 

Great guide tho. I can finally beat milorad now in the 1200 bracket.

 

http://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/05/31/3d97705c-8ea1-4030-ac30-193b4b22d9a7/resize/370xauto/32c3ff42142c8ec899e7c7f037a56fb3/twitch-kappa.jpg

[Autschbatsch]

but the text doesn't reveal this at all

 

Yea I know, as I said this is not supposed to be a skill capped guide. It still covers more than I could find on the internet, most stuff you read about how to play is nonsense anyway because they were playing in Challanger range.

 

However I could pick some VoD's and record them with my thought process spoken over it.

Videos are a lot more practical and I could not do that in the same day.

 

I've read Thilans guide and felt like it's not worth to write a whole lot about how you play. For someone like myself I only want to know what the class needs and get good myself, most classes are self-explanatory, I've read Dartmeganz ret guide to know how to set up my pally and what options I have, that's it.

Edited May 22, 2017 by Autschbatsch

[Garodar]

I've read Thilans guide and felt like it's not worth to write a whole lot about how you play. Videos are a lot more practical and I could not do that in the same day.

 

Tru dat. But I have a potato pc and I can't rly record videos and explain the game proccess, so I just write my thoughts down. Would've loved to do some commentaries, but rip.

 

I'd like to see you make some video commentaries tho. Like, how to beat X comp playing X comp etc... Just suggestion. :p

[Autschbatsch]

Tru dat. But I have a potato pc and I can't rly record videos and explain the game proccess, so I just write my thoughts down. Would've loved to do some commentaries, but rip.

 

I'd like to see you make some video commentaries tho. Like, how to beat X comp playing X comp etc... Just suggestion. :p

 

Yea, doing this for 2s should be no problem whatsoever since I got plenty of footage. Will experiment and maybe upload in the evening when I find time the coming days.

[Noneedholy]

 

Fuck yeah !

 

+1 guide

[Garodar]

Yea, doing this for 2s should be no problem whatsoever since I got plenty of footage. Will experiment and maybe upload in the evening when I find time the coming days.

 

You will need a good boomy. I can borrow tallaque. Kappa

[behindqq]

You will need a good boomy. I can borrow tallaque. Kappa

 

Talaa doesn't play with warlocks anymore. Only rogues. He said it two days ago to me in skype.

[Garodar]

Talaa doesn't play with warlocks anymore. Only rogues. He said it two days ago to me in skype.

 

Funny, cuz I still play with him.

[Funk シ]

Funny, cuz I still play with him.

 

demons everywhere

[Autschbatsch]

I added some videos. Will add more when I find time and footage. Kinda hard to provide what I want to but I'll upload what I have on my vods.

[FiZZyMAN]

Nice guide thx)

[mglasser]

1 CB = DEATH NO SKILL NOB

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Im still the best boomy on the server, and its not my main.

[Garodar]

How did that lock service silence u with Wrathguard? o.O Mind = blown.

 

Edit = JK, u reflected ur own silence. Almost thought there was a bug I could abuse. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Edited May 22, 2017 by Garodar

[Autschbatsch]

How did that lock service silence u with Wrathguard? o.O Mind = blown.

 

It actually was meta reflect from shaman.....

[Autschbatsch]

I added 2videos of DestroWarrior, can't preview more than 5videos, just click the links :P If you'd like me to cover something specific just comment it here.

[Garodar]

Boomy destro vs Mage Priest.

Boomy destro vs Warrior / any healer.

Boomy destro vs Hunter / Priest.

 

Ples.

[Kingbachx]

did u hit 200 follower Kappa

[xtendz]

nice guide man!but 1 question:when to use grimoire of service and when not?look at this:

 

you perfectly used grimoire of service here:

,but why you didnt use it here :

?why did you preffer to use it vs rogue/mage on the 1st video,but you didnt use it in dalaran arena video?in which sitiuations is best to use grimoire of service?thanks in advance :beer: Edited September 5, 2017 by xtendz

[Autschbatsch]

nice guide man!but 1 question:when to use grimoire of service and when not?look at this:

 

you perfectly used grimoire of service here:

,but why you didnt use it here :

?why did you preffer to use it vs rogue/mage on the 1st video,but you didnt use it in dalaran arena video?in which sitiuations is best to use grimoire of service?thanks in advance :beer:

 

Service is never good as destro in arenas. I played Sacrifice.