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== Patch changes ==
 
== Patch changes ==
 
* {{Patched|date=2009-04-30|bluenote=[[Mana Burn]] now causes Fear, [[Hex]] and [[Psychic Scream]] to break early when used.|link=http://blue.mmo-champion.com/23/16474158165-recent-ingame-fixes--41609.html}}
 
* {{Patched|date=2009-04-30|bluenote=[[Mana Burn]] now causes Fear, [[Hex]] and [[Psychic Scream]] to break early when used.|link=http://blue.mmo-champion.com/23/16474158165-recent-ingame-fixes--41609.html}}
  +
* {{Patch 1.3.0|note=Mana cost changed to a percentage of base, which results in an increase in cost.}}
 
* {{Patch 1.2.0|note=Players now have an increasing chance to break free of the effect, such that it is unlikely the effect will last more than 15 seconds.}}
 
* {{Patch 1.2.0|note=Players now have an increasing chance to break free of the effect, such that it is unlikely the effect will last more than 15 seconds.}}
   

Revision as of 18:58, 24 July 2010

For general info, see fear effect.
Fear
Inv misc questionmark
  • Fear (3 ranks)
  • Warlock ability
  • 20 yd range
  • 12% of base mana
  • 1.5 sec cast
  • Strikes fear in the enemy, causing it to run in fear for up to X sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect. Only 1 target can be feared at a time.
Properties
Class Warlock
School Shadow
Cooldown None/Global Cooldown
Improvements Grim Reach
Related debuff
Inv misc questionmark
  • Magic
  • Fear
  • Feared.
  • Duration: X sec

[[Category:warlock abilities]][[Category:warlock abilities]]

It fled without a word... unless "AAAAAGH!" counts as a word. [1]

Fear is a Warlock spell in the Affliction tree. Fear causes a single enemy to flee in fear, effectively disabling it temporarily. This can be a powerful, though dangerous, tool that is integral to the warlock crowd control.

Fear has a damage limit. If the damage limit is reached, the Fear spell will break, regardless of the length of the spell. Inv glyph majorwarlock [Glyph of Fear] increases the amount of damage a target can take before the Fear spell breaks by 20%.

Due to the diminishing returns rule, repeated castings of fear increase the victim's ability to resist it for players, but not for mobs. A mob can be repeatedly feared indefinitely.

Rank table

Rank Duration (sec) Level Cost
1 10 8 2s
2 15 32 63s
3 20 56 1g 98s

Notes

PvE

In a solo setting, Fear can put a mob out of commission for a period of time; this is hugely beneficial considering the low mana cost of Fear. The danger is that the feared mob can run into companions that, depending on the type of mob (usually humanoid and some beasts), may aggro. This drawback normally restricts Fear's PvE use to planned settings or emergency situations (i.e. the warlock is about to die). A common use of Fear is to cast many DoTs on a mob and then repeatedly fear it, hindering its ability to damage the Warlock or his minion so long as no additional mobs are aggroed.

Fear TCG

In the World of Warcraft: Trading Card Game.

Fear only works on one target at a time. Even so, a skilled warlock can keep two mobs running at once with Fear: fearing the first mob, then the second mob when the first is some distance away (breaking the fear spell on the first) then re-fearing the first when it gets back, causing a "fear relay" that takes a lot of the Warlock's attention.

PvP

In PvP, Fear finds its place to shine -- it is powerful tool, especially in a 1v1 setting, and when combined with the Succubus Seduction it can eliminate two opponents from the fray. This strategy has also resulted in the derogatory nickname "fearlock."

Diminishing returns

In PvP, Fear is subject to diminishing returns, meaning that it will have smaller maximum duration each time it's cast. The first fear cast against a player lasts up to 10 seconds (as opposed to 20 seconds stated in the tooltip), the second, up to 5 seconds, the third, up to 2.5 seconds and the enemy becomes immune in the fourth cast. To reset the fear length to 10 seconds the warlock must spend at least 15 seconds without casting fear. See also Diminishing returns.

Counters

Talent improvement

Tips and tactics

PvP gloves improve Fear by reducing pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Fear by 50%.
Most warlock PvP sets have a four piece bonus to reduce the casting time of the wearer's Fear spell by 0.2 seconds.

Controversy

Fear can be used as a last resort but in duels it is often considered cheap. This is because the opponent cannot break free without being hit. By the time the opponent recovers they could be feared again. On the other hand, the same could be said of many such abilities from other classes, and asking a player to handicap themselves (by not using particular spells or abilities, i.e. to deliberately play their character in a less than optimal fashion) is unfair. To make it fair, a warlock should only agree to refrain from using fear at the request of the other player, and in return, should be allowed to pick an ability that the other player must refrain from using as well.

See also

Patch changes

  • Template:Patched
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07): Mana cost changed to a percentage of base, which results in an increase in cost.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.2.0 (2004-12-18): Players now have an increasing chance to break free of the effect, such that it is unlikely the effect will last more than 15 seconds.

References

 
  1. ^ TCG Heroes of Azeroth, 123

External links