Edit: Added Firelands bosses.
In Cataclysm the spell Bane of Havoc was introduced for Destruction Warlocks and it’s a spell that is very situational. However, if you use it right it can help your dps on the fights where it’s viable.

Now that we’re getting further into the raiding content I’m finding which fights the spell can be useful, and I thought I’d put it down in writing (partly for myself so I don’t forget between raids – gold-fish memory and all that..)

How does it work?

First of all we need to understand what Bane of Havoc actually does. It’s a Bane – which means you can’t use it on the same target as your Doom or Agony target. You have to pick one Bane.

You can only have Bane of Havoc active on one target at a time, so you have to pick the correct target.

Because Bane of Havoc causes the target it’s active on to take damage equal to 15% of damage to other targets – you want to put Bane of Havoc on the target you’re currently not dpsing.

So in a fight with two targets, you put Bane of Havoc on target A while you dps target B.

In a fight with a boss and adds that you AoE, put Bane of Havoc on the boss while you dps the adds; he will take 15% of the damage done to each add.

So which fights should we use it on?

Beth’tilac

Put Bane of Havoc on the boss as you run in to start the fight. She will then take damage when you dps the adds downstairs.

Do note though that the window during which you can do this is very small before she retreats, so it’s best if your raid lets you do the pull with BoH. She doesn’t aggro you (though she’s bugged sometimes and hit me for 70k).

Shannox

If you’re assigned to dps Shannox, put BoH on either of the dogs.

If you’re assigned to dps either of the dogs, but BoH on the boss.

Lord Ryolith

Odds are that you will be assigned to dps the adds, so just put Bane of Havoc on one of his legs. If you end up dpsing the legs, put BoH on the leg you’re not dpsing.

Alysrazor

If you’re flying, put BoH on one of the hatchlings.

If you’re not flying, put BoH on Alysrazor.

Conclave of Wind

If you read the tooltip it says 40 yards range on Bane of Havoc, but it actually doesn’t have a limit when applied, so you can put it up on an add you’re not dpsing.

Personally I put it on Nezir (frost guy) for the most part, but I will put it on the add I’m assigned to (usually Rohash; wind guy) when I’m jumping across to dps Nezir during the full energy phase.

Omnotron Defense System

You can put Bane of Havoc on the omnotron that’s getting deactivated when you switch to a new one. The shield mechanic won’t be activated, except for Magmatron. Never ever BoH Magmatron because you’ll blow up the raid.

Magmaw

You can put Bane of Havoc on Magmaw as you’re AoEing the adds and he will take 15% of the damage done to each add.

It’s also a good idea to put Bane of Havoc on Magmaw just before he’s chained. It means the body will still take damage as you’re dpsing the exposed head. Then put Bane of Havoc on the head just before it disappears again.

However, note that this means you shouldn’t put BoH on the body again for dpsing adds – as it will then remove it from the head. Only use it during the adds before the first phase of the head becoming exposed.

Maloriak

Put Bane of Havoc on the boss when you’re about to dps the adds in the green phase.

Nefarian

In Phase 1; put Bane of Havoc on whichever dragon you’re not dpsing yourself.

In Phase 2; again, just put Bane of Havoc on whichever target you’re not assigned to dps directly.

Halfus Wyrmbreaker

Because in my guild we always dps down the drakes first I always put Bane of Havoc on Halfus as we run in so that he takes 15% of the damage done while we’re on the drakes/whelps.

Obviously remember to switch it to Doom as you switch to Halfus once the drakes/whelps are dead.

Valiona & Theralion

As you run in, put Bane of Havoc on Theralion before he takes off. After that, just put it on the dragon about to go in the air. You want the damage you do to the grounded dragon to transfer to the flying one.

Ascendant Council

Again, just Bane of Havoc the target you’re not dpsing directly. As ranged you’re most likely dpsing Feludius in Phase 1 and Arion in Phase 2. That means you’re putting BoH on Ignacious and then Terrastra. In Phase 3 there’s no one to put it on.

Cho’gall

If you’re assigned to switching to the Adherents put Bane of Havoc on Cho’gall before you switch.

 

A few points

• It counts as a hostile action even if you’re not dpsing anything yet. (I found this out the hard way by a misclick and pulled a boss.. oops.)

• Dpsing your Bane of Havoc target is a loss of dps since it does 0 damage to the target if you’re not dpsing something else. Remember to switch back to Agony or Doom.

• It only transfers damage done by you, your Imp’s damage doesn’t count (except for the Burning Embers effect which is triggered by both you and the pet).

• You can be the ultimate emo and use Hellfire – the damage you take will be transferred to the Bane of Havoc target. (This also works to take people out of stealth if you’re in PvP and managed to put Bane on a rogue etc. But note that you have to actually take damage, and not absorb it with a shield or ward.)