Heroic enhancement choices

[Ravenbrew]

Hi. My Warlock is 8th level. I plan to switch to Enlightened and use a shield around 12th. In the meantime, what are the best pew pew Soul Eater/Tainted Scholar choices? I have Utterdark blast and Chain but several other options are avail on tainted (faltering and penetrating). I can only keep one type on at any given time. The goal is to range everything. Thanks

[Tsutti]

faltering is probably better than utterdark if your force and light spellpowers are similar, if light is noticeably ahead (probably like 20-30 ahead) then utterdark is probably better

Get cone shape from souleater, chain shape is not very good because it scales with 95% of your spellpower (less than a normal spell, which would scale with 100%) while every other blast shape, including cone, scales with 130% (a LOT more than a normal spell). Also cone can hit unlimited targets while chain only hits 3 things. Cone is bigger than it looks, and will hit a little farther than its animation suggests and hit in a slightly wider area when stuff is right next to you than it looks like. Also if you have the maximize metamagic, the two SLAs (consume and stricken) will probably still do a huge amount of damage at level 8.

[Maelodic]

I take 12 points in SE for cone, and then put everything else in TS, focusing on damage first and foremost.

[C-Dog]

A lot depends on the build, specifically the Feats you chose - if you have Maximize & Empower, then Stricken and Consume can one-shot mobs in mid-low heroics, or at least come close, surprising effectiveness.

[slarden]

The main things that make utterdark compelling is the extra spellpower from morninglord past lifes (30), enlightened spirit (50) and exalted angel. In addition there are several orbs that boost insightful radiance lore and insightful radiance spellpower (coalesced coinage at your level).

It also synergizes well with the light procs from enlightened spirit and consume/stricken from soul eater.

At level 10 you get evard's black tentacles which relies on force power and the dps is very good if you spec for force. In addition, against golems you want to switch to penetrating blast to bypass their dr and that uses force.

So you ultimately want to spec for force, light and your pact.

As far as enhancements, consume and stricken fully meta'd are really good at that level. I prefer cone over chain and it synergizes well with evard's black tentacles which you will get at level 10. I am a big fan of stunning blast at heroic levels.

I would definitely work your way up tainted scholar so you have penetrating blast available when you fight golems in ravenleoft, although it's arguably not as big of a deal during heroic leveling.

Spending 11 in feydark illusionist is very compelling because evards + greater color spray is fantastic cc all the way to 30 and even at level 30.

[Ravenbrew]

Thanks. I have maximize and empower. Currently only slotted ice and radiance - just grabbed a ruby of impulse. Need to find a weapon to slot it in