Challenge Modes - What Spec(s)?

[Kadill 0]

I am looking to begin striving for Gold Challenge Mode times with a group of guildies. We need a Warlock, so I leveled my Lock recently. Now I need to know if I should be using Destruction, Affliction, and/or Demonology. If I should be using more than one, in what cases?

 

I reasoned that it's likley I should be playing Destro for most of the dungeons, due to single target capabilities, and Fire and Brimstone for mass pulls. I was thinking I might see a dps increase if I went Affliction for any council bosses we encounter. Is this a correct analysis of when the specs will be at their peak?

[Liquidsteel 279]

A mix of Destruction and Demonology is what I'm going for, but I've only had time to do 4 CMs properly.

In Shadowmoon Destruction with GoServ and Servitude provided the necessary Single Target to beat all the bosses that dungeon has. For Grimrail, Docks and Everbloom I favoured Demonology for the mass pulls, but kept my ST Destruction spec for certain encounters.

[Kadill 0]

That sounds interesting to me. I have never played Demonology properly, and due to the guides on this site seeming to be mainly for raiding, and sometimes lacking with dungeon content. Would you find the guides here sufficient to learn what I would need to perform great AoE damage during the required sections, or are there other things I would need to look into and learn to play Demo in this situation near peak?

[Liquidsteel 279]

I would just stick with Destruction in this situation. You can run two Destro specs, one with Cataclysm + GoSac for AoE, another with Supremacy/Service + Servitude for Single Target.

 

You need to stay within your comfort zone. Often people will switch specs because someone told them it was better, and whilst that might be true, their lack of experience and understanding causes them to fall flat on their face.

 

Stick with Destruction for CM's, and if you want to learn Demonology, read the guides, watch a ton of videos, and go spam LFR to get a feel for the rotation and different talent combinations. It's not a spec you can learn overnight but (Demonbolt aside) it's quite a rewarding and fun spec, in my opinion.

[Virzaol 0]

Demonology can do some impressive AOE if you learn the nuances of the spec. There's a lot more than just spamming Hellfire and Immolation Aura. Chaos Wave is great for snaring large groups, and does a good bit of damage on its own. Your felguard/wrathguard's Command Demon spell is also very powerful when timed well on a tightly packed group.

There's another aspect to consider as well: mobility. Sure, you can grab Burning Rush as any spec, but what other spec gives you a gtfo button on such a short cooldown?

Steel is right though. If you're comfy with Destruction, stick with it. If you're feeling adventurous, I'd bet that Demonology could serve you quite well if played right.

[Phenax 12]

Did all golds easily with destro GoSac/Cata, I can't really imagine Demo being a better CM spec in most situations so I'd just keep with destro and not specswitch along the way.

[Liquidsteel 279]

It depends on your set up. We did Shadowmoon and had Boomkin / WW Monk / Destro Lock. We actually lacked Single Target damage on the bosses (it's a very boss heavy dungeon), so I went GoServ + Servitude and it did the trick.

[Vile 9]

It's been a while now but am I crazy thinking I remember spec swapping mid CM in WoD? As in changing from primary to secondary spec or vice versa while changing talents/glyphs is still locked.

[Liquidsteel 279]

Yeah that works same as it used to.