Damage over Time

From WoWWiki

Damage over Time, generally abbreviated as DoT and or simply dot, refers to inflicting some damage on one's foe which will be applied at a regular interval for a limited duration. Typically in World of Warcraft, the damage is applied every X seconds, where X varies from one DoT to the next. A DoT may be applied using a variety of methods — from a spell, a trap, a weapon, a poison, or some other form. Most DoTs are target specific, but some are also used as Area of Effect (AoE) attacks.

The Warlock is the most well-known class for using DoT type attacks with their spells, probably followed by the Rogue who can either use poisons or inflict lasting wounds with their special attacks.

See also: Area of Effect, Buff, DD, Debuff, Healing, HoT, Utility.

Contents 1 Examples 2 Limitations 3 Tips 4 Notes

Examples

• Druids with Moonfire and Insect Swarm (in generic caster or Moonkin form), Rip, Rake and Pounce (in Cat Form), and Lacerate (in Bear Form).
• Hunters with Serpent Sting, Immolation Trap and Explosive Trap as Area of Effect DoT.
• Mages with Fireball or Pyroblast (although these are primarily DD spells, they also add a small DoT even when offspec), If specced, fire spells criticals will put on the enemy a dot through Ignite talent which deals 8-40% of the damage done for 4 seconds.
• Paladins using Seal of Vengeance and Consecrate in a way. If specced, Divine Storm and Judgement spells criticals will put on the enemy a dot through Righteous Vengeance talent which deals 40% of the damage done for 8 seconds.
• Priests with Shadow Word: Pain, Vampiric Touch, and Devouring Plague.
• Rogues with Deadly Poison, Garrote, or Rupture.
• Shamans with Flame Shock (a DD spell with DoT). Magma, and Searing Totems may also be considered DoT (or AoE).
• Warlocks with Immolate, Corruption, Curse of Agony, Curse of Doom, Siphon Life, Seed of Corruption, or Unstable Affliction.
• Warriors with Rend, also if specced, their melee criticals will apply a Deep Wound that deals 60% of weapon damage.

Limitations

• Most spell-based or poison-based DoTs can be cured by potions or spells.
• Most methods of Crowd Control are broken if the target has a DoT on them.
• Most dots cannot crit, but some classes can with the proper talents or set bonus. (See Glyph of Explosive Trap)

Tips

• Rogues and Cat Form druids who stealth while a DoT is still on them will come out of stealth when the next tick of damage is inflicted.
• First Aid will be interrupted by a DoT.

Notes

• This term is often referred to as periodic damage by Blizzard.