Bane of Agony

Bane of Agony is a warlock curse that does increasing damage over time.

Table
Bane of Agony is available at level 12 for.

Description
Bane of Agony is a "back-loaded" DoT, meaning that it delivers most of its damage toward the end of its duration. Damage is dealt in 12 two-second ticks. Without spell bonuses, the first four ticks deal 1/24 of the damage each (about 4.2%), the next four each deals 1/12 of the damage (about 8.3%), and the last four 1/8 of the damage each (12.5%). In other words, the first four ticks combine to 1/6 (16.6%) of the damage, the next four 1/3 (33.3%), and the last four together deal one half of the total damage.

Another way of breaking down the damage: Compared to a flat DoT, the first four ticks each deals 1/2 of the average damage-per-tick; the next four deal the average damage-per-tick; the last four deal 1.5 as much damage per tick.

For example, at rank 7 (without bonuses), the 1356 damage is broken down by tick as: 56.5, 56.5, 56.5, 56.5, 113, 113, 113, 113, 169.5, 169.5, 169.5, 169.5.

Bane of Agony receives 120% bonus from spell power items.

Talent improvement
Shadow Embrace reduces physical damage caused by 1%/2%/3%/4%/5%.

Tips and Tactics
Using Bane of Agony in a party or raid is difficult. The problem here, as for other DoTs, is that the mob may die before the DoT is complete. If that happens, the warlock is not using mana efficiently, and maybe not be providing maximal damage. However, in raid groups, you sometimes have the possibility of casting your DoTs at several opponents at once, therefore greatly increasing your damage per second and the likelihood your DoTs will last their full duration.

For solo play with a VoidWalker, CoA is most likely to reach its full duration if you let the VW tank a mob while you start dealing damage to a second mob. Typically, casting CoA and Corruption on a mob of near your own level and sending the VW in will allow the warlock to start attacking a second mob, using Immolate, CoA, and Corruption, then either drain life or wand. Combined with your CoA, the VW will likely kill the first mob about the time you solo the second one.