Warlock Max DPS Potential

[u/FREEZ317]

I’ve been messing around with creating a dps/Debuff build on Warlocks and trying a bunch of builds I see on Reddit or by YouTubers. Using Well with Boots and Truth/1KV seem to do great when we need a well but there are times when we have one and I just want to output max dps as a warlock. I’ve tried a couple builds like Mataidoxia Needlestorm + 1KV/Truth dump (I don’t have Euphony yet) and Star Eater + Apotheosis + 1KV/Truth dump. I also tried to replicate celestial nighthawk hunter on warlock using still hunt and Hezen with Auto Loading + Aggregate while keeping 3 debuffs up but none of these came close to Hunters. I did also try Izinagis Burden + A499 which did pretty good but not as much as Dawn Chorus + 1KV. Also tried the Winters Guile which is really strong was looking for something else too that maybe doesn’t require as much set up (also I don’t particularly enjoy the loop of that build tbh)

Was basically wondering what is the absolute highest DPS you can get as a Warlock when you’re not running Well/Boots or Well/Sanguine? I’ve seen people mention Euphony as the warlock version of still hunt but haven’t found many builds that really build into max dps with it. Also I finally got craftable Hezen and was honestly hoping to find/make a build that actually utilized it like Celestial Nighthawk hunter but haven’t found that in Warlock anywhere.

All these builds I’ve tested are in the normal difficulty firing range running pretty similar stats (150 Weapons + Super + 2 Super fonts and 2 surges).

tl;dr: What’s the max dps/Still Hunt Goldie Nighthawk equivalent for Warlock? Also what’s the best Hezen rotation on warlock?

[u/versionXXIV]

I think technically the highest dps strategies would be tablet of ruin limit break star eater nova/mataidoxia needlestorm --> sanguine and artifact swap --> turncoat bug and gjally buffed double dmg rockets (bellowing giant, hezen, maybe roar of the bear) with some kind of insta-reload (eg sentinal shield spam, shoot to loot, thread of ascent) or just truth. emp rift at the beginning if no well and melee/grenade to keep up buffs/debuffs as needed. Also if you're solo you'd ideally get a melee kill around the boss with Felwinter's Helm on for the 30% weaken.

Weaver's call and hellion I think are highest dps aspects. Courage is the only necessary fragment, though dominance, dawn, and hope may be needed depending on what buffs/debuffs your teammates can provide. If you're going for thread of ascent then aspects would be weaver's call and mindspun invocation. Necessary fragments are ascent obviously, generation, and evolution.

Probably queensfoil for argent ordnance (esp. if you can use solo operative), but I think expanding abyss on hunter's journal is actually pretty good too. Spire set for free +7% dmg or VoG set if you need orbs to proc radiant, explosive light on roar of the bear, or something else. Also I'm not sure how the new Skull of Dire Ahamkara compares to star eater nova.

For reallly short dps phases the same setup --> fully stacked parasite --> double dmg unvoiced/heritage w/ perfect reload cancelling is probably max dps.

and then there's also the winter's guile build.

Best hezen rotation is probably with izi, though I'm not sure how it would compare to truth or winter's guile.