DebuffManagement

From StratsFu

Overview

Currently WoW has a debuff limit of 40: this means that when you try to apply the 41st debuff, some other debuff is removed.

History

Originally WoW launched with a debuff limit of 8, and this was later raised to 16 and a "debuff prioritization" system was introduced, preventing longer-term buffs (curses, etc.) from being knocked off by shorter-term buffs like the fireball dot.

With TBC, the limit was raised to 40, however the prioritization system was never updated, so the level 60 versions of debuffs still are prioritized but 61+ are not.

A side effect of this is that warlocks can use the level 60 versions of CoE and CoS and they will not get knocked off even if others are careless with debuffs (level 60 still provides the damage boost, which is what's important.)

Watching the debuff count

Demon from WoWAce has a number on it that shows you the current debuff count.

If your unit frames support DogTags, you can use the dogtag "NumDebuffs(unit="target")" to display it.

Reducing debuff counts

DebuffList has a comprehensive list of the class-based debuffs. Not all debuffs, however, are of equal importance.

Some ideas of what to do if you're regularly hitting the debuff limit:

• Have warlocks run as destruction rather than affliction; shadow destruction locks should skip casting Immolate
• Run with fewer shadow priests (2 is a good balance)
• Enhancement shaman skip Flameshock (leaves a useless dot)
• Rogues switch from Deadly Poison to Instant Poison
• Hunters skip using any stings

• more stuff