How do DOTs stackFollow

Good question.

I guess the best answer is you learn from experience. Not sure how much overlap there is with BST/Shammy. If you see your DoT wearing off too quickly and you do not suspect it was mob dispell, it was probably overwritten. If you the the message 'Your spell did not take hold' It is probably being blocked.

When this sort of thing happens you can inquire as to what everyone is casting to sort out what is occuring.

Some higher buffs overwrite others and some stack. I can only say for the ones I have had experience with, such as druid DoTss. Most of the Magic DoTs stack but my Fire DoTs seem to be heirarchical meaning the best one wins out. My cleric undead DoTs all stack (magic based).

I could be wrong, but I don't think this is an issue any more. I seem to remember that they changed it over a year ago that all dots pretty much stack. So if you're grouped with the same class they can cast the same dots as you and both will land and take affect.

The only remaining stacking issues (and in a guild with a Shaman, Beast Kitten and 6 Necros.. DoT stacking is my bread and butter) I know about are:

Debuff Lines. Things like Heart Flutter/CoC/Grip of Mori do not stack.

Snare Lines. Two people can stack the same snare dot, but if you can a different one it will replace mine. And I overwrite a Druid snare.. and block it.

Shaman and BST do not have a snaring DoT, do they have DoTs with a debuff compenent? I honestly do not know.

But in general, yes, they changed years ago so most all DoTs stack from every player.

EDIT: Hey, we cast different level posion DoTs all the time and they stack just fine. Specifically which DoT is overwritting which other DoT in the OPs statement?

Edited, Thu Nov 17 12:59:57 2005 by Felicite

Your BST DoTs will stack with other classes DoTs. You can also, if you want, load up your different lvl DoTs and stack those; if your looking at a group DoTing down your MoBs.


Not sure about post 65, but no DoTs up to 65 debuff (edit: for BSTs)...

Edited, Thu Nov 17 13:28:41 2005 by Chakrill

Actually, my 66 BST stacks 2 poison-based spells, Scorpion Venom and Chimera Blood all the time. I even throw in Plague, (disease-based). Now when I duo with a Beasty friend, I do the Dotting and he does the nuking and slowing. Good times.

Edited, Thu Nov 17 15:23:13 2005 by Tallymorm

For the most part DoTs come in 2 magic types, Evo and Conj. Evo DoTs contain debuffs of some type and Conj DoTs are strictly damage spells.

Not 100% on this but it's what I go by and don't ever remeber having a problem.

All Conj DoTs stack because they are just damage spells.

Evo DoTs will not stack if they contain the same type of debuff or are of the same spell line as another Evo DoT that is being used. As far as Evo DoTs are concerned the higher DoT will either overwrite or block lower lvl ones.

This rule does not apply to necro snare/DoTs. IIRC these spells are actually classified as a snare and not a DoT so special rules apply.



Necros and SKs really need to keep this in mind while grouped with a Dru/Rng. Most Druids or Rangers will not continue to snare if it keeps getting blocked by these spells as Dru/Rng snares generate HUGE amounts of agro.

2 dru's casting from the fire/debuff line will not stack...the lower level will be overwritten or if the same level of spell, the most recently cast will overwrite.

Communication between you is a good idea and saves frustration.