PLEASE NOTE: That currently I am only playing destro. Most of the info below will be based on the destro spec.
PvP Basics
This section is for anyone looking to start PvP with a Warlock. This is the most basic of information, but should help get you started…
Warlock Basics
The warlock is ranged class.
The warlock uses only cloth armor (very squishy).
The above statements are important to understand. All ranged/squishy classes prefer to fight an enemy from distance and avoid as much melee fighting as possible. Going toe-to-toe with a melee class will never end well. That being said, going toe-to-toe with another ranged/squishy class (i.e. Mages) does not need to be avoided as much as melee classes. The point here is that there are times when trying to gain distance between you and enemy is not as necessary or necessary at all. For the most part – keep your distance from your enemy. I will go into more detail on this in the Enemy Classes and/or Advanced Tactics sections.
PvP Basics
PvP basically tests your skills and knowledge of your class against other players. There are a few different types of PvP that you can get involved with. World PvP, battlegrounds, arena and now rated battlegrounds are the different types of PvP. Most players that are just starting out in PvP start with battlegrounds.
PvP Starting Hints
To start with, PvP should be fun and exciting. When you first begin PvP, having fun can be a challenge in and of itself. Here are some things to remember that will help as you are just getting started with PvP.
1.) You should focus on learning from everything that happens. Winning is not as important as learning from a challenging situation or an enemy that has you out-skilled. At first, you will probably get focused on a lot from the enemy players. You don’t have the best PvP gear, you’re squishy and other classes really seem to hate our fear spell. Take the time to learn and do not worry so much about the outcome of each encounter.
2.) Don’t let your nerves get the better of you. In most One-on-One battles, the advantage goes to the player that strikes first. One of the worst things that you can do is freeze up if you are attacked. I had a problem with this, at first, and by the time I figured out what was going on and what ability I wanted to use – it was too late. Indecision is a key factor in determining the outcome of a battle. The only fear that your enemy should see is the one that sends them running away from you as you light them up with crazy fire damage.
3.) Constantly move. Always be on the move. Did I mention you are squishy and take a lot of damage. Some enemy players (especially in BG’s) are lazy and will not chase when there is someone closer to go after. Constantly moving allows you to change your vantage point often so you have a good idea of your surroundings.
4.) You are squishy. Stay with the group. At first, you do not want to find yourself alone against the enemy. Actually, regardless of how much experience you have, you probably don’t want to be in this situation. In battlegrounds, stay with a group of people. Your job as a damage dealer is to pump out the damage from distance without the enemy getting near you. The best way to do this, when you are just learning, is to always have some of your team member between you and the enemy. Goes well with the next entry
5.) You don’t fight on the front line. If you understand #3 above, then this one will also make sense. Remember that you are not a melee class. Always watch where you are in the group and make sure that you are towards the back. This goes for when you are heading into a battle (i.e. charging a base in AB) or in the heat of a battle when the groups are constantly changing. I used to always start in the back, but somehow once the battle was going on – I would find myself either away from my team or with most of the team members behind me (usually because the guys that were ahead of me died and reinforcements are still making their way back up to the battle).
6.) It is OK to run away. Using the example from #4 above, if you find yourself being one of the last survivors of a battle, and you know that a group is coming to help out, it is OK to get the hell out of there and wait for your teammates. Actually, it is preferred. There are some fights that you just cannot win.
My first experiences with PvP battlegrounds was both exciting and frustrating. Sometimes it seemed that I was doing OK, playing a good contributing role, but more than not it felt like I was just dying way too often and it was a challenge to continue with it. These tips should help along as you learn more and more about PvP.
