Demonless Destruction spec

[Rudyraccoon]

Looking at the upcoming talent changes to Warlock, and seeing Demonic Sacrifice being moved to being a Tier 3 talent, and with the new addition of the Soul Entrapment which gives you 3% additional damage dealt when you have no demon active, it got me thinking, would it actually be a viable spec to play as a Warlock without ever using a demon?
https://talents.turtle-wow.org/warlock? ... VIAoBAA%3D

Molten Core fire resists aside, I guess it would be most viable for dungeons and higher raids for obvious reasons, but if you were to use this for levelling and PvP, I don't know, I just thought it seemed like an interesting spec that might be very challenging. Understandably Destruction Warlocks on their own are not quite like Fire Mages since Mages tend to have more utility spells to keep mobs at bay with Frost Nova and Polymorph, while Warlock only has Fear which is a double edge sword of a spell, so it probably makes sense why the voidwalker is the best demon for levelling, as it can tank and hold the aggro away from you.

[Xudo]

Question is: what buttons are you going to press in this spec?
I assume you going to start with Soul Fire (to get fire buff) then immolate, then Conflagrate. If you have free time, then you spam Searing Pain or Life Tap.

In that case, you don't need improved shadowbolt.

I am not sure if it is viable for PvP, because it will be hard without Succubus Charm or Felhunter Dispel.
It means that this spec is for PvE. Then I am not sure if you actually need Pyroclasm.
That free talent point can be invested to Fel Domination, because it is useful and you have required talents to get it.

Next question is: how would you gear up with this spec?
You obviously need to reach spell hit cap. What then?
Assuming that Soul Fire has additional benefits from spell power and Immolate can crit only initially and I have no idea can Conflagrate crit or not. then it is better to go full to spell power.
Crit is not that important.

[Rudyraccoon]

Oh I see, although I imagine you would still need to use Shadowbolt for those fire-immune instances, but you're probably right that Cataclysm would be a more useful talent for this spec in general. Yeah, I can tell this is a PvE only spec, and yes you would indeed start with Soul Fire as your opener spell.

Ah yeah, I guess that would be the case for gearing up. And going by your talent suggestions, it would look like this.
https://talents.turtle-wow.org/warlock? ... VIAoBAA%3D

[Cheruscan]

You do realize that both deep affliction and deep destruction warlocks will play without demons?

If you ask from a lvling perspective; demons offer great utility and it would put lock in a rather akward spot since they only got fear for control which can be a hazard for pulling more enemies

[Xudo]

You do realize that both deep affliction and deep destruction warlocks will play without demons?

We do. Thread was named "Demonless" for a reason. What do you mean?

[Botticelli]

I've been wanting to play a firelock since I started playing Turtle Wow, so I'm excited to see these changes. The talent setup you linked was pretty close to what I had in mind.

[Sharders]

You do realize that both deep affliction and deep destruction warlocks will play without demons?

If you ask from a lvling perspective; demons offer great utility and it would put lock in a rather akward spot since they only got fear for control which can be a hazard for pulling more enemies

can not agree. sacrifice demon is cool but If the optimized solution for deep Aff.or Des.lock is got demon sacrfised . why dont bring shapriest or fire mage. they would do a better job. Demo spec should be more functional in different phases in boss fight

[rowechelon]

yo has anyone tried this in practise since this post? if so how is it?

[Wexx]

I think since it is a PvE spec it should have at least 6% hit chance from talents, add it to the Cataclysm talent.