Leveling on the Fresh PvP Server

[AgentMulder 2]

Hi Everyone,

 

Apologies beforehand for the long post!

 

I am planning to level a Warlock on the fresh PvP server.  My concern is how leveling is going to be on the fresh PvP server once into those neutral zones and beyond.  I'm fully expecting it to be one giant gank fest all the way to level 60, with zones like Hillsbrad, STV and Searing Gorge so bad that they may be unplayable for large portions of the day.

 

I've read through the first 5 pages of the old sticky on the Nostalrius forum: http://forum.nostalrius.org/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=14455

 

That guide however is prefaced with a disclaimer: "The following is a PURE PvE leveling spec, focusing on quests and mob grinding."

 

So...I'm looking for some feedback.  I've been toying around with the talent calc and have been trying to devise a more suitable leveling spec that favors some survivability and PvP.  I generally don't gank other players, and I don't really seek out world PvP, but that isn't going to stop other people from starting fights with me.

 

I'm not concerned with min/maxing for damage while leveling, or being the most uber mana efficient.  I get that these things generally speed up leveling, but if I'm dead because of world PvP then it kind of becomes moot yeah?

 

So I'm stuck here: http://db.vanillagaming.org/?talent#IA0bZbxhz

 

I understand that I need to work down toward Siphon Life, but I don't know where to go from here?  Does a talent like Fel Concentration start to have value?  Improved Drain Life?

 

And then in Demo...does Master Demonologist have any value while leveling?  Again I'm trying to shift my mentality toward "fresh PvP server", in my head I'm picturing having my VW out and getting ganked...that 10% reduction seems pretty good if it helps me get my bearings, apply dots, and start to defend myself.

 

On a fresh PvP server with 5000+ players...corpse walks are coming.  Alot.  I get this.  But if I can mitigate some of them by choosing the right talents while leveling...I'm all for that.

Edited December 9, 2016 by AgentMulder

[Drain 19]

PVP as Warlock revolves around surviving long enough for dots to kill enemies before they kill you. Every tool you have focuses towards this end. Fear/shield/stones are all defensive. Until you get Deathcoil, things are difficult, but an early game 2/2 stone and 3/3 void can make things easier. The real winner is having Master Summoner, which can mean dumping a fresh Voidwalker almost instantly for zill mana, which can then be eaten for another shield, ideally 3/3. Rushing this does mean delaying Nightfall/Siphon Life though, so the choice is yours. Eventually, you can get both, and this is when you'll feel godlike. In many situations, you'll find death unavoidable, and the best tactic is to simply revive afterwards, trying to get them killed too, even if you die again. Most players will die if a Warlock stones and starts reapplying dots, even if they kill the guy again. It's better for the enemy who ganked you to share your corpse run, rather than you being alone on it.

 

Ideal build is Siphon Life+Master Summoner (Your choice which is first).

[AgentMulder 2]

Ok that makes senses, thanks for the quick reply.  I did read that VW's have their own sacrifice ability, I forgot about that.  And if your going to sac your VW in a PvP situation...then any points spent in Master Demonologist are wasted.

 

What's the general consensus on Fel Intellect vs Fel Stamina?  Seems to me that neither matter end game seeing as you'll either have your Imp phased out or your Succubus sacrificed.  So these talents are really only useful during the leveling journey, but just as filler?  Seems like Fel Intellect would be the better choice if you are primarily using your Imp or Succubus, but Fel Stamina would be more beneficial if you are using your VW or Felhunter to be a little extra tanky?

[Destron 2]

I've heard people say Fel Int > for leveling due to the fact that the VW has trouble holding aggro without mana. 

[Drain 19]

That helps a little bit, but his mana is going to be фекал one way or the other. This is why at 50+, you just eat the thing for health regen. You see in the last bracket, you get enough talent points for Siphon Life + Demonic Sacrifice in 1 build, meaning you may as well stack the health regens, and not bother with a pet anymore.

[Numi 0]

You want to run Voidwalker all the way to 60, including for a while at 60 while grinding until it simply becomes impossible for it to hold aggro.

 

Because of how mana works in vanilla, Fel Intellect >>>>>> Fel Stamina for all pets, it's very very rare that anyone targets your pet and if they do, you'll 100% win anyway.

 

The build you've linked is actually probably the best there is in world PvP while leveling, it gets all the benefits that keeps you healthy for longer while fighting mobs, preventing the annoying ganks on low hp / mana. If you play that build right you'll basically always be on full mana and health.

 

It also picks up the improved sac from void, 30% more hp for 30 seconds is increadibly powerful, as the sac shield often gives close to, or more hp than you have in total without it.

 

You do want to pick up curse of exhaustion if you're playing on the pvp server, there will be plenty of times where you're getting ganked where your only choice is run away or die, where the curse of exhaustion helps in the run-away scenario.