Mop/wod demo wasn’t exactly cookie cutter perma meta form, there was actually a build that intentionally burned its meta form rapidly using demonbolt (each bolt would apply a debuff increasing damage but also the cost drastically) which was really popular and very burst or bust play style .
Legion had its issues as the first expansion that changed demo but imho bfa was the one where the spec went down hill.
I LOVED mop demo and wod demo. I was really worried i can recall they was going to destroy my favourite spec in legion but honestly I actually think legion was better than I expected for the spec. It was kinda true to the core of feeling very versatile and adaptable to a player who enjoyed methodological thinking to achieve success rather than having a single minded progression to success.
To clarify on my meaning, in MoP many found it daunting “do I hand of gul dan or save up for chaos waves in meta they share the same CD” which an experienced player would know the answer was just “depends on the situation” the entire spec system rewarded future planning and that felt incredibly different to other specs.
Legion felt kinda like despite losing meta it still had some of that at its core, in pvp our talents like fel lord were highly reliant on good planning to really shine but had huge reward if you could bait a situation with it, the artifact ability was very predictable as it was visually veri obvious when you was preparing it but rewarded you the same.
The current design feels like some of the specs core inspiration died imho in favour of flashy demons, the old spell “darksoul: Knowledge” used to have some small flavour text speaking about hearing the whispers of demonic cunning and that is really what made demo “demo”
The current current version will shine with more hp. As the Tyrant will hit harder as the expansion goes. But no class should be designed like this, I really hope they revert it back to MoP, but at least WoD. My only problem with the revert is destruction gonna be strong and I didn’t like the malegic grasp style of Affliction.
That’s a WoD build. Demonbolt was a tier 7 talent in WoD
MoP gameplay was around efficiently using meta uptime - or off-spec perm meta tank with the Glyph of Demon Hunting (that was a really unique glyph in MoP that was removed in WoD)
i feel like Legion’s rework was the time the spec began going into a weird direction.
right now - its a really hard and complicated spec which is also super gear dependent, most people will avoid it in the current state.
the spec in MoP was all about managing your demonic fury and then efficiently using Meta uptime, this design was something unique to demo warlock - something a lot of people really liked.
In my opinion - while current demo warlock also rewards future planning (imp numbers and tyrant) - it isn’t near as rewarding as MoP/WoD and WAY more complicated. bringing it somewhat close to WoD/MoP state should be the way to go.
The spec is really gear dependent right now - which is really bad and i agree that no class should be designed like that.
Both MoP and WoD designs were really good and i also hope they go back there.
I want to take a look at Affliction and destruction from Wotlk to WoD and see if there are some changes that can be made.
from what i understand Affliction has Shadow embrace right now - which people hate.
and i dont know about Destruction but i understand its in a bad spot (it was in a good spot during BFA because of corruptions - which lead into Shadowlands nerfs.
I liked the MoP Version of destruction and demo(demo more that’s why I played demo) also I like the visual effect on the class with the demonic horns or the burning(destruction).
This needs to return, was awesome.
I don’t like channeling spells(I only post DS in SL cause I’m necrolord) I wish the Affliction would be around Shadowbolt with Nightfall and a talent that makes Nightfall procc crit 100% but increases the cd
Ah yes very true I brought up the wod build with demonbolt without being clear , my point was that OP put both mop /wod into the same bucket and their was a difference
I agree demo went in a weird direction in legion and I 100% preferred mop/wod design however I still think legion concept was better than bfa onwards - the only real issue legion design had was that demo was a slave to spamming Demonic empowerment which became tedious because you literally spammed the living hell out of it (some builds it was more efficient to drop using shadowbolt and just use DE which was even worse)
I agree the visuals on the three specs was great , destro literally setting on fire as you built embers, demo growing horns and dark animations of power and affliction having souls surround you with soul burn haunt
We had lots of love in MoP, Green Fire Quest, design was good, dmg was good.
Then came Ion with his twisted idea of the class.
Sad he destroyed so much potential for the class of he just kept the playstyle and improved it.
Legion has better concept - empower your demons. But execution of that concept was dreadfully bad.
BFA has mainstreamed our rotation, but along the way, it placed our burst on the shoulders of Tyrant - whom we cannot control - yet, in 9.0.5 we will be able to control Tyrant, but before that he is a dead weight.
If we will not get back the MoP/WoD spec design, and according by the lore we still able to use Metamorphosis and “other forms”. Then i would love to get back to the Vanilla/TBC ideas, where we used only our main demon and very limited numbers of other demons. We could summon and utilize any summoned demon on his or her full potential without any hiccups, and where core idea was in empowering you and your demon. TBC had an idea of synergy between you and demon that you has summoned. Very flexible and reliable desing of it’s time. Every demon had its use, Felguard was an exclusive choice, rather than mandatory demon -
You wanna wreck chaos using your imp? No problem Imp was a strong range damage dealer with group utility.
You wanna cause havok within casters or hybrids? Felhunter was demon for you.
You wanted to mix good CC with astounding damage? Then Succubus was lady of your own dark heart.
You wanted to have melee brawler who could shield you? Void was ready for the ultimate sacrifice.
I do agree with WoD and MoP being different in many ways - its just that the core gameplay was the same.
Cata/wotlk - Same design and almost the same rotation - meta was a massive offensive CD
MoP/WoD - efficiently using meta uptime - rotation got minor changes. new builds were created (such as Demonbolt)
Legion/bfa/SL - same playstyle but i dont think any demo warlock asked for that.
Oh I hated this, Summon pet, empower, Summon pet, empower and so on…
First i thought Summoner like Diablo2 Necromancer that would be fun. But then we got this.
I genuinely think the - demonic empowerment- only main issue with - demonic empowerment- legion design- demonic empowerment- was that demonic empowerment- demonic empowerment was not really thought o- demonic empowerment- out well
Serious note though, as much as I grew to hate that one spell legion demo had something that bfa/SL demo never had = it was playable in all content regardless of if it was meta or not to be played in that content . I recall watching streamers playing arena , some interesting full doom RBG utility specs , it was played in M+ raid or anything you could think of.
My largest issue with current is how it doesn’t feel just ‘bad at’ some content but rather ‘doesn’t even function in such circumstances’ of some content. I genuinely dont think gaining some control over tyrant is going to fix that issue ether
Demonic Empowerment should work like a burst cd, then a permanent bug apply sh*t.
Tyrant gets a dmg buff 1 min cd, remove the talent give us meta back. We get Demonic Fury back, We stop the counter for our demons to vanish as long as we stay in meta. After that they vanish instantly. And Demonic Empowerment even empower us.
increase duration of wild imps and dreadstalkers by 15%
increase damage of ALL demons by 15%
spam cast ranged attack while in LoS
if you have the Demonic Consumption talent then it also drains 15% of your summoned demons HP to empower itself (only deal more damage based on the amount drained).
