Malefic Grasp

[Deleted]

I noticed that the new level 15 talent Soul Leech heals us for 25% of the damage done of Shadow Bolt, Incinerate and Malefic Grasp.

Is this a new spell, if so, will it be considered as affliction's spam button in PvE (Incin for Destro, SB for Demo and MG for Affl)?

Edit: Also noticed it at Illidan's Guille.

[TheShadowsProphet]

My guess is it's going to be Demo's main spell for building up Demonic Fury.

[gynshon]

The spell itself sounds more like a Death Grip ability just from the name. But I agree, it might be a new Demo spell since Sbolt and Incin are also included.

[Deleted]

Horizontal HoG.

[Palmz]

my guess is it's going to be affliction's main nuke.

[Twilight Cultist]

Affliction uses all shadow spells.

Shadow Bolt

Shadow

Malefic Grasp is more likely for Demonology.

[Kaopectate]

Affliction uses all shadow spells.

Shadow Bolt

Shadow

Malefic Grasp is more likely for Demonology.

And there's no chance whatsoever that Malefic Grasp will be shadow as well...

Sounds more afflictiony to me, maybe shadow bolt will end up being exclusive to demonology (in practical use, not saying aff/destro locks won't be able to use it).

[kefkf]

Horizontal HoG.

It would be much more awesome if it were horizontal HoG in reverse i.e. if animation was the projectile travelling from the mob to the caster.
Probably won't happen since it would be confused with other harmful effects being cast on the lock but it would fit the name of the spell and the warlock class.

[Spastic_Dreamer]

To me it would be cool if it was a spell that had an animation of a demonic shadow hand picking up a target and flinging them.
Different from a Shaman's thundershock or a Druid's Typhoon because it wouldn't be knocking them back per-say, it would be throwing them like a reverse Death Grip.

If it did that + a bit of damage it would be amazing.

More than likely though, it's probably a spell that deals damage and extra for each DoT on the target.

[Exotath]

Maybe it's some kind of root? The grasp part has me lead to that. A silence would be orgasmic....

OR

It is some kind of ability related to demons, the demon has a grasp on the target do "A" or "B" attack.

[Twilight Cultist]

And there's no chance whatsoever that Malefic Grasp will be shadow as well...

Sounds more afflictiony to me, maybe shadow bolt will end up being exclusive to demonology (in practical use, not saying aff/destro locks won't be able to use it).

Malefic Synonyms: malign - evil - pernicious - malignant - ill - harmful

It leans more towards demonology imo.

[Skayth]

Would like to remind you of T6, Malefic raiments. What did it look like? and what procced? Need i say more? Definately sounds demonology to me

[Penguin FTW]

I can see it going either way, though honestly Affliction not using a Destruction nuke sounds better than Demo getting a new ability to me.

[Last Starfighter]

Horizontal HoG.

ROFL /10 chars

[Deleted]

To me, it seems Shadow Bolt is more demonology than Affliction. It is a spell in the destruction tab of your spell book (don't ask me why). Shadow Bolt is frequently used by Demonology as it can reduce the CD on Meta. Shadow Bolt isn't very affliction. It isn't about pain or stealing life which is affliction all about. The only thing that it fits Affliction is because of Nightfall. Shadow Bolt in Affliction PvP is barely used besides of NF.

I really hope it is something awesome for affliction.

[Netherspark]

If you look at the talents, none of them seem to be triggered by or even mention Hand of Gul'dan.

I think it's likely that Hand of Gul'dan has just been renamed to Malefic Grasp and will have the root aura built into it (hence the "grasp").

[Deleted]

If you look at the talents, none of them seem to be triggered by or even mention Hand of Gul'dan.

I think it's likely that Hand of Gul'dan has just been renamed to Malefic Grasp and will have the root aura built into it (hence the "grasp").

That would make Demonology benefit from those talents more than Affliction or Destro because every spell cast as demonology will proc the talent (except immolate) while Affliction has to cast Haunt and UA and Destro has to cast Immo and Chaos Bolt. And the procs won't proc for affliction at all during the Drain Soul phase (unless with NF procs).

[Klokie]

im thinking since alot people loved when life steal was the filler/nuke spell of choice(me included), they are adding a new channel spell to the affliction rotation.

Sound like a hand that grabs the target and slowly tries to corrupt the being, imo.

And shadow bolt for demo is more obvious. Since meta form in the WotLK beta had demon bolt as the nuke.

but it could be that malefic grasp is the main demon enery filler.

[Veyne]

They've said on multiple occasions that they want Affliction to continue using Shadow Bolt. When the issue arose concerning Drain Life replacing Shadow Bolt, Blizzard said that they didn't want that to be the best rotation choice for Affliction because it would feel too similar to Shadow Priests. I'm not saying Malefic Grasp is not a new Affliction spell, but it's unlikely it will be a channeled spell.

My guess, however, is that Malefic Grasp will be Demonology's main nuke. As it stands right now, Demonology feels pretty much just like Affliction except with a handful of Fire spells replacing Shadow spells. Immolate and Unstable Affliction can be considered sister spells since neither you can't have both on a target at the same time. Hand of Gul'dan is very much like Affliction's Haunt. Haunt increases Affliction's DoT damage and Hand of Gul'dan increases Demonology's pet damage.

Shadow Bolt has been pretty iconic for Affliction for quite some time now and giving Demonology a little more to set it apart other than Metamorphosis would be great. It also sounds like a spell with a very Demonic air to it.

Thus, Malefic Grasp will be Demonology's new spell and Demonology won't touch Shadow Bolt or Incinerate anymore. Molten Core already procs too infrequently as it stands. Just my theory.

[ComputerNerd]

Grasp to me sounds more like some sort of pull or slowing/rooting effect than a nuke.
Though the idea of a spec specific nuke does sound good from an interest/balance point of view.
Whether demo would see such an overhaul however to limit its nuking to one school then I doubt it.
The entire point is demo sitting between the other two specs so has to share those two schools.