Mage vs. Warlock

[sp0000n]

My alliance group is:

Prot Pally
Resto Shaman
Ele Shaman x2
Arcane Mage

I've got another group on Horde with nearly the same makeup and am kicking myself for not doing the same on alliance side. It has two mages instead of a second elemental shaman. The shamn just doesn't match up in damage so I'm going to replace her with either a mage or a warlock. Any suggestions on which way I should go? It seems to me that multiple frost mages have a lot of synergy for freezing. Warlocks have a potential off-tank pet, tho. My group currently lacks an off tank.

Suggestions welcome.

*EDIT* How much harder are warlocks to control as a 4th class?

[Kedash00]

i haven't played my lock past 80 but he was destro spec which is kinda like fire specced mage, just threw incenerate and that other fire spell spammed, the name eludes me at the moment. but it was easy to macro, affliction was a pain for me to macro once /click was removed

But warlocks do bring alot of tricks to the table, spell buff, hearthstones, ss, replinishment, all good stuff that a mage dosen't have

[sp0000n]

I actually thought that a DPS class would round out my crew. What did you find difficult/annoying about the affliction spec as a multi-boxer?

[pinotnoir]

I have a paladin, mage, priest, shaman, and lock. The mage has the worst dps of the group. My shaman does really well and the lock is the highest dps. The lock is super easy to macro. I have all my stuff on 1 button. They do great dps and I would recommend dropping the duplicate class and adding the warlock (destruction spec). Replenish, soul stone, curse of elements, summons, banish, and fear are really good for pve groups.

[sp0000n]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I meant to say a DOT class would round out my group but you both indicate destruction is the warlock spec of choice. Now I just have to get a warlock up to speed in order to join my group!

[Ualaa]

Affliction is great for bosses, or anything that is going to be up long enough for the Dots to start ticking away.
If your only measurement of DPS is on the boss, then Affliction is up there.

However, on trash their DPS is not going to be that good in comparison to a Demo/Destro Lock or an Elemental Shaman or a Mage of any spec.

[sp0000n]

I see... alrighty. Thanks again ^_^

[Littleburst]

Mage is more basic then lock.

I love having one of both in my team for portals and summons.

[Mercurio]

Affliction is great for bosses, or anything that is going to be up long enough for the Dots to start ticking away.
If your only measurement of DPS is on the boss, then Affliction is up there.

However, on trash their DPS is not going to be that good in comparison to a Demo/Destro Lock or an Elemental Shaman or a Mage of any spec.

And there is SO MUCH trash in the heroics these days - I'd much rather have a toon that could get me to bosses quicker even if it took longer to get the bosses down.

[Ghallo]

I have a Pally, Lock * 3, Shammy team, and then a Pally, 2xMage, Lock, Priest team

I don't even know what I would do without the Warlock - but oddly enough my 2x mage team does better than my all lock team.


Destro Lock is the way to go - you still get 2 instant and 1 cast DoT (and Improved Corruption and Bane are low enough to get for Destro) but you also get Improved Immolate for some truly lovely DoT damage.

DoTs are uber for grinding/leveling. My 3 lock team doesn't even fight non-elites. I just run into the area and start tab spamming Corruption/Agony on every quest mob I need to kill - run in a big circle always tabing and spamming the next one, and then stop to loot.

The other thing to note - Glyph of Voidwalker doesn't really make you miss out on a DPS glyph ... so even going Destro your VW can still take some damage and OT for you. My BRC strat on the second boss uses VW tanking to keep me alive instead of having to do some nasty dancing. Very helpful!