Damage over Time

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 tick (when periodic damage is dealt once, one interval) 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.

Examples

• Death Knights with [Death Strike] and [Rune Tap].
• 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], [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.