Warlock Leveling Guide for Classic: The Drain Tanking Guide

[@ChurroDude]

I mained warlock in vanilla and this is honestly the best and most accurate drain tank guide I’ve seen yet! Imp DL & CoA are useless talents though because they only add the % to the base damage before any +SP. I prefer CoX for added utility, even for pve it’s great if you need to run away. Or even if you’re just passing by and don’t want to deal with them it’s easier to run away. I’m glad to finally see someone pass on imp DS. It’s not very good and unnecessary. NOBODY in vanilla ever took imp DS, that’s purely a ps thing. It amazes me how many guides pass on Fel Concentration. It’s absolutely necessary if using DL at all. Otherwise DL is unusable without it. Great job!

[@dubious6718]

At lower lvls you don't have much spellpower and everything helps

[@MrMannerless]

Imagine not abbreviating literally every second word in case some no sweaty elite jerkoff came here to learn and read your comment.

[@HavocParadox]

This actually is way better method than the method i was using before.. my up time has gone up a ton

[@yonosepe7491]

going to head for the succ at lvl 27 and respec into this it looks great for pvp world and surviving ganks

[@blakeshaw5526]

Go into master summoner, sacrifice voidwalker, resummon voidwalker and his full mana bar with your 6 second cast. Repeat when you need more mana from dark pact. Infinite mana and shield from spamming new voidwalkers

[@MW-cx3sb]

Literally the only guide I've seen that did exactly what I did for my warlock alt in 2006. Once you get shadow weaver set this is the best way to go, you just derp into packs and tank the lot. It doesn't matter what pet you use (not imp, mana and i never liked the range on this build), but succy is the best dps with it. But I did prefer voidy just for those oh shit moments of needing a bubble or his aoe threat incase I bit off more than I chewed. I never went 31 aff though, I'd shove points down demonology

[@foxmulder8955]

This is exactly what you did, but you didn't use dark pact ? You realize this is absolutely not what you did then, or how does it work lol

[@ManualBreathing]

Just hit 20 on Faerlina Horde and was starting to hate my VW. I'm glad I found this.

[@exiled4990]

it gets alooootttt better once you get into the 30s i was thinking about rerolling cause it was kinda aids but now im 41 and having a blast drain tanking :D unkillable

[@dubious6718]

@@exiled4990 I'm fairly sure he meant he hated the blue whale

[@arithebard2212]

I love the idea and how it works. In classic it's been like warlocks wont be able to not-steal aggro from tank if trying to max dps. This is a good solution, become the tank

[@jamesconkey1480]

How in the HELL do you have only 100k subs? This should be the prototype for ALL info type videos. Boom! IN... Cover basics.... explain specific elements... demonstrate!! Liked Loved Subbed Outstanding 👍

[@jw6567]

Wanted to learn about Drain Tanking while driving today, thank you for this video homie.

[@jmg4208]

Was one of the very few warlock on my server running a affliction *dot* spec in classic wow when most was destro.. The funny part & the true god mode power of that built was the jumper cable glitch with a voidwalker.. Ahhh memories

[@amnesia998]

@@reneekatz maybe they enjoy playing what they want instead of minmaxing?

[@solshine2510]

Great guide, but as a non native English speaker I had huge problems understanding you speaking so fast and I kept replaying lots of fragments to understand what you just said, which never happens to me when watching other English narrated guides. I appreciate you linked written guide!

[@AnnihilationXable]

Playback speed 0.75x bro

[@rotherr]

Great Guide

[@SzucsBence1992]

Is Improved Life Drain really worth it?

[@zoenna]

Great video with tons of info for sure! - however, it felt a bit like you were on a timelimit with speaking so fast.

[@nickdixon8373]

Nice video, direct and to the point.Thanks a bunch, subscribed

[@AntPDC]

Play at .75 speed, otherwise sounds like some legal disclaimer at the end of an ad.

[@BryonG9]

AntPDC i didn’t have an issue. Maybe think faster?

[@AntPDC]

@@BryonG9 I'm clearly not alone in my opinion, and the uploader will doubtless learn from them. Why counter with puerile snark?

[@christopherparks6487]

Just gonna add that u led with snark. That's why.

[@seffthechef4236bo]

Bro thank you so much, please keep up your work

[@kele473]

Tip - make the volume match in your videos. This is drastically quieter than the previous video of yours I watched. :)

[@PeanutButterNipple]

thanks for the feedback. I'll be sure to improve with my next video

[@brewtank6738]

Great video, really excited to play this build on live especially when I get to Ashenvale. I think using the succubus will be really fun and the drain build looks a lot more fun to play with! Great video and good resource.

[@Kivrus]

Great video, I'm 32 atm and leveling as drain tank since 22, very fun!

[@sejannus877]

Very comprehensive.

[@eurosonly]

I've been playing this class recently in wrath prepatch and noticed that void walker can't hold aggro like Huntrr pets. I love pet classes and really want to enjoy this class and after doing some researching I've found this meta build strategy. Let's hope it works.

[@DanielRibeiro-jc4pz]

Are u the owner of "Dive's Drain Tanking Guide" ? It's amazing, helping me a lot with my new Warlock. If not, thanks anyway for the video xD

[@Jorrywoodmen]

But why grim reach if you open with immolate? That isnt affected by it and thus ur grim reach is not neccesary? Why not invest in drain life first and then later grim reach? (lvl 24 now)

[@moxxxiemoxxxie1817]

Personally, after i get succ, I don’t even use immolate, it’s off my actionbars. Its very mana inefficient, and doesn’t increase ttk enough to warrant its use, especially once you start drain tanking.

[@grmensz]

Great guide. Been following others based on VW and wanting to avoid pulling aggro, but the kill rate is awful. Doubled DPS and reduced down time with this build... Only issue has been searing gorge and the proliferation of golems which seem to be created to foil this build. :(

[@patriciabeetschen1329]

I have a 43 warlock and have a void walker, fel hunter and imp but didn’t get a succubus at level 20. Now I’d like to get one but it is not available to me at the SW trainer or the other guy at the Slaughtered Lamb tavern. How can I find out where I messed up and I can get the quest again?

[@himalaYAK1983]

Had already decided to go Drain Tank before watching this video, but this even made me more comfortable doing so. One thing to improve for your next videos: check your audio levels. In this video they seem a little low.

[@PeanutButterNipple]

I'll be sure to do that. Audio seems to be the thing I'm not good at when editing videos.

[@australienski6687]

I am loving this build so much that I never want to respec. Can this be a viable end game PvP build? I don't plan on raiding ever.

[@PeanutButterNipple]

viable possibly, but certainly would never be the best. i would use soul link spec for early phase of pvp until honor system gear comes out.

[@youtubeuserx]

@@PeanutButterNipple What build would you recommend for a warlock that wants to be viable in both pvp and pve. I loved this one respeced at 24 and now I'm 58 I woud love if you do a simillar video or redirect us to another great end game builds!

[@ovedsommers3819]

This guide work in wotlk?

[@magnuspiotrowicz7662]

Heya. Whats the soulshard app in the left corner?

[@bonkersmcgee4356]

Interesting guide. I've been dabbling with different classes and specs since classic dropped. I think I've settled on Warlock. The utility is great, but the numerous viable builds are a big draw for me. You can be mage-like. You can be EQ Necromancer-like. You can be tanky with this build. You can be hunter-like with a pet focus.

[@slapt3245]

THIS is what's drawn me back to warlock since the beginning of WoW Classic. I've never played wow until the initial release of Classic, and got 3 different classes to 60 AFTER my warlock, before deciding to go BACK to my warlock to main/raid with. I alt-raided a warrior and a rogue, and never touched my priest again after dinging 60 lmfao. I hated that in order to find groups as a priest I pretty much HAD to heal.... on my warrior I was expected to be able to tank (I'm brand new!! I CAN Tank, I'm okay at it, IF you explain to me every mechanic every mob in the dungeon has! lmao). Rogue is fun, but I strongly dislike the ability point system and how switching targets dumps your points. Stupid. Warlock just feels like the 'best' class, imo.

[@Albinsson88]

Great video! Subscribed

[@SteezyTG]

Great guide Erick, thank you!

[@OdinCutiepie]

Can you also be effective in dungeons with this build? If so, what my role going to look like in the group? Dots + shadow bolt?

[@Redstripe921]

Its crap dps for dungeons, more often then not !

[@sirnodchalot]

Hey would love an update for Wotlk 1-80 lvl guide. Thinking about drain tanking in combination with a pala who is healing the lock.

[@parkerfrode5101]

If you have someone healing you or tanking for you then you just go straight dps build and pump your heart out. The whole point of drain tanking isn’t a by bc h of dps. It’s a moderate amount of dps that heals the damage you take at the same time

[@recreationalplutonium]

that's how I leveled back in vanilla. hope you get more subs - your videos are great. also wtf do you put assmangold into your thumbs?

[@PeanutButterNipple]

he's in the video

[@ramazantekin4144]

Can i cast immolate + corruption + CoA + siphon life to one mob then move on to another one while casting life tap and do the same to pull 5+ mobs and cast drain life if my hp drops low?

[@PeanutButterNipple]

don't forget to fear

[@dasveit]

Where are the other class channels of this quality? Ya boi needing help with shockadin leveling build now.

[@Kivrus]

What about using "curse of shadows" in this method?

[@bigtimetimmyjim6486]

Seems like a logical inclusion given the basic rotation does not default to CoA, although I always use CoA given I rarely have fights that do not allow it to tick fully, myself.

[@27648281]

Any wild PvP rotations? Got rekted by rogue for a few times today and it’s annoying.

[@PeanutButterNipple]

try to reset the fight with succubus's seduce, don't immediately apply a DoT. Create distance between you and your target and just do a normal rotation of fear/immolate/corruption/agony, and wand hop early lvls away from target or (drain life later lvls).

[@foxmulder8955]

@@PeanutButterNipple problem is, when you're farming mobs or are semi afk doing random tasks, seduce is not a good response to rogues because it takes too long to cast and you're already late because of the surprise effect. You're going to take a lot of damage and be cced before seduce hits (if it does) then you will just painfully walk few meters with slow and have very little time to do anything. Void walker is the only good measure against a stealthed rogue.

[@SharonPernes]

Wish I didn’t get the Felhunter...that quest took so long, way too long. Good info, going to swap to Succabus. So no mana tap? I’ve been wasting so much time mana tap the drain life. Thanks for the info. Great guide.

[@IncognitoGuerrilla]

Improved lifetap doesn't improve the hp:mana ratio, it just increases the overall amount converted meaning you have to lifetap less.

[@jetrpg22]

Yep

[@amnesia998]

It does improve the ratio, just tested.

[@IncognitoGuerrilla]

@@amnesia998 no it doesn't, you tested wrong

[@IncognitoGuerrilla]

@Jason Johnson posted this a year ago bro it's probably been patched by now

[@KorporateKotoo]

What does amplify curse do to curse of agony?

[@Gymkhana86]

It increases its DPS by 50%, so for instance, if you were using Rank 4 Agony, it would do 882 damage over 24 sec instead of 552 damage over 24 sec.

[@tiagoferrari2392]

Is this a good lvling spec if I want to do a lot of Wpvp while lvling?

[@PeanutButterNipple]

depends, but if you want to specifically do wpvp while lvling switch to soul link build at 45. it won't be as fast but you'll be able to go out of your way to pvp.

[@zepho100]

Go SL. You generally pull aggro from your VW and if you're not draining life you're going to get spanked. SL if incredibly forgiving.

[@Dissius]

Havent been able to find an answer for what add on causes the nifty floating damage/health over your character.

[@williamjeanrie8524]

Its not an addon its an option in the display menu i think... Dont remember exactly where but its in the menu somewhere

[@Dissius]

@@williamjeanrie8524 I will do a better look when I return from work. I appreciate your help. Thank you!

[@ubernoob458]

Does Eric ever answer questions?

[@PeanutButterNipple]

yeh sometimes

[@bluzenspyder8997]

@@PeanutButterNipple lmao. Was thinking that very answer, 🤘🤘

[@thorney0921]

Anyone having issues with fear? My feared mobs seem to run so far away they reset. I tried sending demon after the next one it reset again and the demon turned into a soul shard. Any ideas? Anyone seeing similar?

[@michaelmontes9820]

Try CoR if mob starts to head in a bad direction , Reapply CoA and Refear for different Fear path. But yes mobs are being Feared always out of range and straight into enemy mobs 90% of the time.

[@Just4KeigA]

one way to stop their fear is your CoR. So if you see the enemy is running in a wrong direction, like into another group or to far. Use CoR. it interrupts the fear. But be careful, it increases the melee attacks. So better run if the situation is anyway to tight for you.

[@michaelgriffiths1982]

Are you chasing them? If so, don't.

[@FraterOculus]

Where to grind warlock at level 20?

[@Dem0n5]

Why do so many videos insist on having that monotone "i'm reading a script as fast as possible no time for punctuation!" monologue shit. It makes it so hard to listen to.

[@Minecraftgeek]

He’s being max informational. If this makes u stress you should go google all this urself and spend hours and days to figure this out. Or you know, just sit back and learn in 8 minutes.

[@Deathelement53]

Just reading dives guide verbatim

[@ProdigalInk]

Did you just read off of that reddit image posted?

[@PeanutButterNipple]

summarized it. I got permission from the creator (dive) who I collaborated with in making this video to help others who didn't want to read the pdf

[@boredgamer7841]

to me it seems like going the drank tank route from level 10 is just weak. Drain tanking from my perspective. before you can get 5/5 in both Impr. Drain Life and Fel Con is piss poor both in terms of damage output and survivability. The benefits per point is very low this early on and the spec really only excels with those talents fully leveled. It could be argued it really starts to shine with Siphon Life and decent +shadow damage gear. The offensive and defensive talents for you and your pet in demo just seems to be way better early levels than the affliction talents are. Seems to me like the best option is to put 3/5 in Suppression and 5/5 in Improved corruption and then move on to demo to level 40-45 and respec. I actually have a question regarding Shadow Mastery. The tooltip clearly states the following: "Increases the damage dealt *or* life drained by your Shadow spells by 10%." so does this mean that say Siphon Life rank 1, no SP, does 15x1.10 dmg = 16.5dmg to the target. and then heals you for 16.5x1.10 = 18.5 hp? or does it not "stack" this way? If not then Master Demonologist might be a better choice since you and your pet get "10% to all damage". Which would pretty much be the exact same benefit to you but also your pet.

[@lolwhatidk]

imp drain life is a trap. the math has been done.

[@Ashir0k]

Thanks Ewikkkkkkkk

[@hunterosborne2373]

This is my leveling talent build if you want to use it. www.bobo-talents.com/?c=warlock&t=CyBSBTBUBVBWBIBJBKBLBMBDBEBFBGBHB3CGCHCzCACTByBzBABBBCCJCKCfCgCNCMCUCVCWCOCPCQCRCSCrCsCtCuCvB4B5CwCxCc The goal is to get shadow burn very early, but still have the QOL talents like imp corruption and life tap. I value spell hit pretty high for my fears, so that is why I love suppression. I was rushing straight for siphon life, but I have seen the math on it, that rank 1 is underwhelming and waiting until 38 for siphon life rank 2 is the preferred route. I don't think this build is very great for end game PVE raids, because it generates too much threat and relies on two dots which are limited slots on bosses.

[@duvaldragon]

Ur talking too fast damn!!!!

[@yasha886]

I remember that asmongold moment. I didn't realise YOU were the Eric lol

[@poatrykdas]

0:55 i lost

[@neolithic3]

I'd suggest talking slower. It's not a race to get out the information.

[@sunsh4de]

Haha, you're right. I had to watch at 0.75 speed.

[@alexstavrianopoulos7385]

Dark pact is terrible, unless you are getting spell damage gear while leveling you should stick with void walker.

[@MrSnoreye]

if you stop using streamers for your thumbnail i might start watching.

[@Overphased]

Who hurt you?

[@DaWanderer]

didn't speak fast enough

[@AntPDC]

IKR

[@jasonmuse1866]

Your content is good, why do you have to make such a dumb thumbnail? Don't be that guy.

[@eisberg7681]

seems like a good guide..why this asmongold clickbait? that alone lets me downvote

[@Hppyb0y123]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@Verrie77]

Great info, but omg such a boring voice. It's like listening to a robot trying to say as much as possible on a short period of time. Pro tip, there HAS TO BE a small paus every now and then when you talk. I'm not sure if you have edited it so hard that those aren't there anymore. But dude, it's really hard to listen to, even tho the stuff you say is great!

[@Sco777owel1]

I just respeced totry this build, never in all my life have I tried such faillure. I used to be about to kill 5 mobs alone as demo now I cant even kill 2 whats the fuck is this shit

[@Keeva-]

If you were killing 5 mobs at a time, why bother to re-spec? Sounds like you were doing ok. If it ain't broken, don't try and fix it, lol.

[@dubious6718]

Pretty much how I have been levling, without guides, just by learning my class

[@Shikoh1]

Can I have your autograph plz bro

[@Solidsteakx]

U smart

[@lmmnil4574]

i mean like yea alot of things can be figured out but if you dont go in depth spreadsheet and graph level analysis finding the best specc is impossible. i think most ppl would go VW and improved drain soul. while this argues that its unnecessary and ineffective. Comparing dps from wand and drain life is something i think most havent done. alot of people go draining away a lot earlier than the lvl 30 and 38 marks but yea. surviving by draining life faster than it is lost Is a pretty given strategy if you just read the talents. Once you go Fel Concentration you never go back.

[@nathanoconnell6348]

Drain tanking is boring as fuck

[@mattbagley2496]

This spec is a horrible meme. Just go full soullink with imp void. Your void walker becomes a monster and only really drops off at 55+ when you start getting decent amounts of spell power.

[@sopi9749]

👍