Warlock (Class)

Warlock
Image
Caption
Type	Ranged
Role	DPS
Resource	Mana, Soul Shards
Armor	Cloth
Weapons	Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Staves, Wands, Off-Hand Items
Races	Alliance — Human, Gnome; Horde — Orc, Undead
Faction	Both Alliance & Horde
Starting Level
Difficulty
Status

Overview

Warlocks are practitioners of dark magic who look at demonic power and see opportunity where most heroes see death. They afflict their enemies with curses and damage-over-time spells, drain their life and mana, and summon demonic minions to fight for them. Warlocks fight from range while their pets absorb damage, and are often marginalized, though increasingly relied upon for their demonic expertise.

Role and Resources

Warlocks are ranged damage casters. They use mana and need Soul Shards, a reagent gained by draining a dying enemy's soul, to fuel summoning and certain spells. They can also use a wand with the Shoot ability when mana runs low.

Armor and Weapons

Warlocks wear cloth armor only. They can wield daggers, one-handed swords, staves, and wands, and may use off-hand held items (but not shields).

Playable Races

Alliance: Human, Gnome
Horde: Orc, Undead

Key Abilities

Demons: Imp (ranged support), Voidwalker (tank), Succubus (crowd control), Felhunter (anti-caster and dispel), plus temporary Infernal and Doomguard summons
Damage over time and damage: Shadow Bolt, Immolate, Corruption, Curse of Agony, Siphon Life (talent), Searing Pain, Soul Fire, Rain of Fire, Hellfire, Shadowburn (talent), Conflagrate (talent)
Drains: Drain Life, Drain Soul, Drain Mana, Life Tap
Curses: Curse of Weakness, Recklessness, Shadow, the Elements, Tongues, and Exhaustion, and Curse of Doom
Crowd control: Fear, Howl of Terror, Death Coil, Banish, Enslave Demon
Utility: Create Healthstone, Create Soulstone, Ritual of Summoning, Unending Breath, Detect Invisibility, Eye of Kilrogg
Class mount: Felsteed (level 40) and Dreadsteed (level 60)

Specializations

Affliction: Curses, drains, and damage over time, with talents such as Siphon Life, Shadow Mastery, and Dark Pact.
Demonology: Empowering demon minions, with talents such as Soul Link, Demonic Sacrifice, and Master Summoner.
Destruction: Direct fire damage and offensive spell power, with talents such as Shadowburn, Conflagrate, Ruin, and Devastation.

Talents

Warlocks have 52 talents across three trees: Affliction (17), Demonology (19) and Destruction (16). Each tree has seven tiers, and each tier needs another 5 points spent in that tree. The trees work as a talent calculator: click a talent to spend a point and right-click to take it back (on a phone, use the Tap adds / Tap removes switch). Hover over a talent, or tap it, to see what it does. Copy link saves the build you have made.

Affliction17 talents

2

Improved Life Tap

2 ranks

Increases the amount of Mana awarded by your Life Tap spell by 10/20%.

5

Suppression

5 ranks

Improves your chance to hit by 1/2/3/4/5% and reduces all threat you generate by 4/8/12/16/20%.

5

Improved Corruption

5 ranks

Reduces the casting time of your Corruption spell by 0.4/0.8/1.2/1.6/2 sec and increases the damage it deals by 2/4/6/8/10%.

5

Malediction

5 ranks

Requires 5 points in Affliction talents

Increases all periodic damage done by your Warlock spells by 1/2/3/4/5%.

2

Soul Harvest

2 ranks

Requires 5 points in Affliction talents

Killing a non-trivial target afflicted by your Drain Soul increases your Mana regeneration by 50/100% for 10 sec and allows 50/100% of normal Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

3

Improved Drains

3 ranks

Requires 5 points in Affliction talents

Increases health drained or damage done by your Drain Life, Drain Soul, and Wrack spells by 7/13/20%.

2

Improved Bane of Agony

2 ranks

Requires 10 points in Affliction talents

Increases the damage done by your Bane of Agony by 5/10%.

3

Fel Concentration

3 ranks

Requires 10 points in Affliction talents

Gives you a 23/47/70% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling or casting your Drain Life, Drain Mana, Drain Soul, or Wrack spells.

1

Amplify Curse

1 rank

Instant · 3 min cooldown

Requires 10 points in Affliction talents

Increases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or your next Curse of Exhaustion by 20%. Lasts 30 sec.

3

Pandemic

3 ranks

Requires 10 points in Affliction talents

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Corruption, Bane of Agony, Bane of Doom, Drain Soul, Drain Life, Siphon Life, and Wrack spells by 33/67/100%.

5

Malevolence

5 ranks

Requires 15 points in Affliction talents

Increases the critical effect chance of your Shadow spells by 1/2/3/4/5%.

2

Nightfall

2 ranks

Requires 15 points in Affliction talents

Gives your Corruption, Drain Soul, Drain Life, and Wrack spells a 2/4% chance to cause you to enter a Shadow Trance after damaging the opponent. The Shadow Trance reduces the casting time of your next Shadow Bolt spell by 100%.

1

Curse of Exhaustion

1 rank

8% of base mana · 30 yd range · Instant

Requires 15 points in Affliction talents
Requires 1 point in Amplify Curse

Reduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 12 sec. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target.

1

Siphon Life

1 rank

150 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant

Requires 20 points in Affliction talents

Transfers 11 health from the target to the caster every 3 sec. Lasts 30 sec.

3

Soul Siphon

3 ranks

Requires 20 points in Affliction talents

Increases the damage done or health drained by your Drain Life, Drain Soul, and Wrack spells by 4/8/12% per each of your other Affliction effects active on the target, up to a maximum increase of 12/24/36%.

5

Shadow Mastery

5 ranks

Requires 25 points in Affliction talents

Increases the damage dealt or life drained by your Shadow spells by 1/2/3/4/5%.

1

Wrack

1 rank

200 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant

Requires 30 points in Affliction talents
Requires 1 point in Siphon Life

Tears the target apart from within, inflicting 36 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing the damage they take from your other Shadow damage over time effects by 10% for 6 sec.

Demonology19 talents

2

Improved Health Funnel

2 ranks

Increases the amount of health transferred by your Health Funnel spell by 20/40%, reduces its health cost by 15/30%, and reduces all threat your Health Funnel generates by 50/100%. Allows Health Funnel to be used regardless of your demon's health.

3

Improved Imp

3 ranks

Increases the damage of your Imp's Firebolt spell by 10/20/30% and the effect of its Fire Shield spell by 10/20/30%.

5

Demonic Embrace

5 ranks

Increases your total Stamina by 3/6/9/12/15%.

5

Unholy Power

5 ranks

Increases all damage done by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter pets by 2/4/6/8/10%.

2

Demonic Aegis

2 ranks

Requires 5 points in Demonology talents

Increases the effectiveness of your Demon Skin and Demon Armor spells by 15/30%.

3

Improved Voidwalker

3 ranks

Requires 5 points in Demonology talents

Increases the effectiveness of your Voidwalker's Torment, Consume Shadows, Sacrifice, and Suffering spells by 10/20/30%.

3

Fel Vitality

3 ranks

Requires 5 points in Demonology talents

Increases the maximum health and Mana of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter by 5/10/15%, and increases your maximum Mana by 5/10/15%.

2

Demonic Energies

2 ranks

Requires 5 points in Demonology talents

You heal your pet for 8/15% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50/100% of the Mana you gain.

3

Improved Sayaad

3 ranks

Requires 10 points in Demonology talents

Increases the effect of your Succubus' and Incubus' Lash of Pain and Soothing Kiss spells by 10/20/30%, and increases the duration of your Succubus' and Incubus' Seduction and Lesser Invisibility spells by 10/20/30%.

1

Demonic Sacrifice

1 rank

100 yd range · Instant

Requires 10 points in Demonology talents

When activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned.
Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%.
Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec.
Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%.
Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.

2

Master Summoner

2 ranks

Requires 10 points in Demonology talents

Reduces the casting time of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter Summoning spells by 2/4 sec and the Mana cost by 20/40%.

2

Decimation

2 ranks

Requires 15 points in Demonology talents

Reduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45/90%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3/6% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20/40% and costs no Soul Shards.

1

Fel Domination

1 rank

Instant · 5 min cooldown

Requires 15 points in Demonology talents
Requires 2 points in Master Summoner

Your next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.

3

Demonic Brand

3 ranks

Requires 15 points in Demonology talents

Your Searing Pain generates 17/33/50% less threat and brands the target for 10 sec. Your pet's next 2/4/6 attacks against the target generate high threat and deal 65 to 68 (at level 60, plus 7.8% of your spell power) Fire or Shadow damage based on the pet.

3

Improved Felhunter

3 ranks

Requires 20 points in Demonology talents

Increases the Attack Power reduction of your Felhunter's Tainted Blood, the healing of its Devour Magic, and the detection level of its Paranoia by 10/20/30%, and reduces the cooldown of its Spell Lock by 2/4/6 sec.

1

Soul Link

1 rank

20% of base mana · 100 yd range · Instant

Requires 20 points in Demonology talents
Requires 1 point in Demonic Sacrifice

When active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.

3

Demonic Knowledge

3 ranks

Requires 20 points in Demonology talents

Increases your spell damage and your Demon pet's spell damage by up to 33/67/100% of your level while you have a summoned Demon pet active.

5

Master Demonologist

5 ranks

Requires 25 points in Demonology talents

Grants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active.
Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2/4/6/8/10%.
Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2/4/6/8/10%.
Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2/4/6/8/10%.
Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2/4/6/8/10%.

1

Demonic Pact

1 rank

Requires 30 points in Demonology talents
Requires 1 point in Soul Link

Your Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.

Destruction16 talents

2

Destructive Reach

2 ranks

Increases the range of your damaging spells by 10/20%.

5

Improved Shadow Bolt

5 ranks

Your Shadow Bolt critical strikes increase Shadow damage taken by the target from your attacks by 4/8/12/16/20% for 12 sec.

5

Bane

5 ranks

Reduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Incinerate spells by 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5 sec and your Soul Fire spell by 0.4/0.8/1.2/1.6/2 sec.

5

Molten Skin

5 ranks

Requires 5 points in Destruction talents

Reduces all damage taken by 2/4/6/8/10%.

3

Cataclysm

3 ranks

Requires 5 points in Destruction talents

Reduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 3/6/10%.

5

Aftermath

5 ranks

Requires 5 points in Destruction talents

Increases the initial damage of your Immolate spell by 10/20/30/40/50% and your Conflagrate spell has a 20/40/60/80/100% chance to Daze the target, reducing the target's movement speed by 50% for 5 sec.

5

Ruin

5 ranks

Requires 10 points in Destruction talents

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Destruction spells by 20/40/60/80/100%.

1

Shadowburn

1 rank

105 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 15 sec cooldown

Requires 10 points in Destruction talents

Instantly blasts the target for 66 Shadow damage. If a non-trivial target dies within 8 sec of being hit with Shadowburn, the caster gains a Soul Shard.

3

Intensity

3 ranks

Requires 15 points in Destruction talents

Gives you a 23/47/70% chance to resist interruption caused by damage while casting or channeling any Destruction spell.

3

Agonizing Flames

3 ranks

Requires 15 points in Destruction talents

Increases the critical strike chance of your Searing Pain spell by 3/7/10% and the damage done by all your Destruction spells by 3/7/10%.

1

Conflagrate

1 rank

100 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 10 sec cooldown

Requires 15 points in Destruction talents

Ignites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 95 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.

2

Pyroclasm

2 ranks

Requires 20 points in Destruction talents
Requires 3 points in Intensity

Gives your Soul Fire spell a 13/26% chance to Stun the target for 3 sec, and your Rain of Fire and Hellfire spells a 13/26% chance over their duration to Stun targets they damage for 3 sec.

1

Bane of Havoc

1 rank

5% of base mana · 30 yd range · Instant

Requires 20 points in Destruction talents

Afflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. Bane of Havoc is limited to 1 target, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.

3

Fire and Brimstone

3 ranks

Requires 20 points in Destruction talents
Requires 1 point in Conflagrate

Increases the critical strike chance of your Conflagrate spell by 8/17/25%.

5

Shadow and Flame

5 ranks

Requires 25 points in Destruction talents

Hitting an enemy with Conflagrate increases all Shadow damage you deal by 2/4/6/8/10% for 20 sec, and hitting an enemy with Shadowburn increases all Fire damage you deal by 2/4/6/8/10% for 20 sec. In addition, Conflagrate has a 20/40/60/80/100% chance not to consume Immolate, and Shadowburn has a 20/40/60/80/100% chance to instantly refund a Soul Shard.

1

Incinerate

1 rank

205 Mana · 30 yd range · 2.5 sec cast

Requires 30 points in Destruction talents
Requires 1 point in Bane of Havoc

Deals 97 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.

Talent data read from the beta client (build 1.60.1.70170). Trees and values may change before launch.

Organizations

Warlocks are associated with the Shadow Council, the orcish warlock cabal that Gul'dan founded, and with the Burning Legion, whose eredar leaders such as Kil'jaeden and Archimonde first taught fel magic. Warlock circles also gather in cities, such as the Slaughtered Lamb in Stormwind.

Best in slot

PvP

Priority: Stamina first: Corruption and Curse of Agony do the killing, so the job is to still be standing when they finish. Then shadow damage and spell power, valued equally, with fire damage at half (it only helps Immolate), then Intellect for the mana.

Talents: Affliction 11 / Demonology 0 / Destruction 0

Best in slot (level 20) – PvP
Slot	Alliance	Horde
Head	Shadow Circlet Tailoring (100), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Neck	Scholarly Pendant Friend of the Library · +6 Spell Power Quest	Same as Alliance
Shoulder	Magician's Mantle World drop, auction house Drop Unverified	Chestnut Mantle Allegiance to the Old Gods Quest
Back	Feyscale Cloak Deviate Faerie Dragon, Wailing Caverns · +60 Armor Drop	Same as Alliance
Chest	Necrology Robes Trash mobs, Shadowfang Keep · +8 Sta Drop	Same as Alliance
Wrist	Aetherwisp Bracers Faldrim Anvilmar, Hall of Thanes · +5 Sta Drop	Tabitha's Cuffs A Frightened Request · +5 Sta Quest
Hands	Shadow Gloves Tailoring (75), maker only · Heavy Armor Kit Crafted	Same as Alliance
Waist	Shadow Sash Tailoring (85), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Legs	Filigreed Shadow Leggings Tailoring (100), maker only · Heavy Armor Kit Crafted	Same as Alliance
Feet	Spidersilk Boots Tailoring · Minor Speed Crafted	Same as Alliance
Finger 1	Philanthropist's Ring Greater Friend of the Library Quest	Same as Alliance
Finger 2	Minor Channeling Ring WANTED: Chok'sul Quest	Skull Ring Souvenirs of Death Quest
Trinket 1	Minor Recombobulator Engineering (140) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Trinket 2	Lookie's Spyglass Cookie, The Deadmines Drop	Same as Alliance
Two-hand	Staff of Soran'ruk The Orb of Soran'ruk · +5 Int Quest	Same as Alliance
Ranged	Sizzle Stick Deviate Eradication Quest	Same as Alliance

Rankings adapted from ForeverChanges. See the full list there for alternatives per slot.

Priority: Stamina first, then shadow damage and spell power, then Intellect.

Talents: Affliction 5 / Demonology 21 / Destruction 0

Best in slot (level 30) – PvP
Slot	Alliance	Horde
Head	Filigreed Shadow Circlet Tailoring (125), maker only Crafted Unverified	Same as Alliance
Neck	Souvenir Sea Shell Gezzy Gunkgear, Booty Bay (Honored) · +6 Spell Power Vendor	Same as Alliance
Shoulder	Berylline Pads The Crone of the Kraul Quest	Berylline Pads A Vengeful Fate Quest
Back	Hillman's Cloak Leatherworking · +60 armor Crafted	Same as Alliance
Chest	Shadow Gown Tailoring (110), maker only · +8 Sta Crafted	Same as Alliance
Wrist	Stonecloth Bindings +5 Sta World drop Auction house Unverified	Knife-Polishing Rag Open the Maw · +5 Sta Quest
Hands	Shadow Gloves Tailoring (75), maker only · Heavy Armor Kit Crafted	Same as Alliance
Waist	Ghamoo-ra's Bind Ghamoo-ra, Blackfathom Deeps Drop	Same as Alliance
Legs	Necromancer Leggings Thick Armor Kit World drop Auction house Unverified	Same as Alliance
Feet	Spidersilk Boots Tailoring · minor speed Crafted	Same as Alliance
Finger 1	Philanthropist's Ring Greater Friend of the Library Quest	Same as Alliance
Finger 2	Curl of Life Horrors in the Highland Quest	Sea Giant's Toe Ring Gezzy Gunkgear, Booty Bay (Friendly) Vendor
Trinket 1	Minor Recombobulator Engineering (140) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Trinket 2	Gnomish Net-o-Matic Projector Engineering (210) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Main hand	Swinetusk Shank Agathelos the Raging, Razorfen Kraul · Revelation Drop	Same as Alliance
Off hand	Orb of Soran'ruk The Orb of Soran'ruk Quest	Same as Alliance
Ranged	Starfaller World drop Auction house Unverified	Same as Alliance

Notes:

Curl of Life is an Alliance-only quest reward (Horrors in the Highland, Excavation Site). Horde uses Sea Giant's Toe Ring.

Rankings adapted from ForeverChanges. See the full list there for alternatives per slot.

Coming soon.

PvE

Priority: Shadow damage and spell power first, since Corruption, Curse of Agony and Shadow Bolt all run on them. Fire damage is worth half, for Immolate only. Then Intellect, because a warlock with no mana has nothing left to do. Stamina barely matters and healing not at all.

Talents: Affliction 11 / Demonology 0 / Destruction 0

Best in slot (level 20) – PvE
Slot	Alliance	Horde
Head	Shadow Circlet Tailoring (100), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Neck	Mark of the Pack Leader Humar the Pridelord, the Barrens (rare) Drop Unverified	Same as Alliance
Shoulder	Magician's Mantle World drop, auction house Drop Unverified	Same as Alliance
Back	Heavy Woolen Cloak Tailoring (80) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Chest	Necrology Robes Trash mobs, Shadowfang Keep Drop	Same as Alliance
Wrist	Aetherwisp Bracers Faldrim Anvilmar, Hall of Thanes Drop	Mindthrust Bracers Trash mobs, Shadowfang Keep Drop
Hands	Shadow Gloves Tailoring (75), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Waist	Shadow Sash Tailoring (85), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Legs	Filigreed Shadow Leggings Tailoring (100), maker only Crafted	Same as Alliance
Feet	Spidersilk Boots Tailoring Crafted	Same as Alliance
Finger 1	Minor Channeling Ring WANTED: Chok'sul Quest	Malignant Root Nightveiled Rotheap, Wetlands Drop Unverified
Finger 2	Malignant Root Nightveiled Rotheap, Wetlands Drop Unverified	Sacred Band The Den Quest
Trinket 1	Minor Recombobulator Engineering (140) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Trinket 2	Lookie's Spyglass Cookie, The Deadmines Drop	Same as Alliance
Two-hand	Staff of Soran'ruk The Orb of Soran'ruk Quest	Same as Alliance
Ranged	Gravestone Scepter Blackfathom Villainy Quest	Same as Alliance

Rankings adapted from ForeverChanges. See the full list there for alternatives per slot.

Priority: Shadow damage and spell power lead, since Corruption, Curse of Agony and every Shadow Bolt run on them. Fire damage counts half, for Immolate alone. Then Intellect. Stamina weighs almost nothing and healing nothing.

Talents: Affliction 26 / Demonology 0 / Destruction 0

Best in slot (level 30) – PvE
Slot	Alliance	Horde
Head	Filigreed Shadow Circlet Tailoring (125), maker only Crafted Unverified	Same as Alliance
Neck	Scorn's Icy Choker Scorn, Scarlet Monastery Graveyard (rare) · +6 Spell Power Drop	Same as Alliance
Shoulder	Bloodmage Mantle Bloodmage Thalnos, Scarlet Monastery Graveyard Drop	Same as Alliance
Back	Thornweaver Drape Roogug, Razorfen Kraul · +60 armor Drop	Same as Alliance
Chest	Shadow Gown Tailoring (110), maker only · +2 all stats Crafted	Zealot's Robe An Unholy Alliance · +2 all stats Quest
Wrist	Mindthrust Bracers Trash mobs, Shadowfang Keep · +5 Int Drop	Knife-Polishing Rag Open the Maw · +5 Int Quest
Hands	Hands of Darkness Tailoring (120) · Mystic Heavy Armor Kit Crafted	Same as Alliance
Waist	Belt of Arugal Archmage Arugal, Shadowfang Keep Drop	Warsong Sash Warsong Supplies Quest
Legs	Shadow Leggings Tailoring (125), maker only · Mystic Heavy Armor Kit Crafted	Same as Alliance
Feet	Black Slippers Tailoring (140), maker only · +5 Sta Crafted	Same as Alliance
Finger 1	Philanthropist's Ring Greater Friend of the Library Quest	Same as Alliance
Finger 2	Ladimore Heirloom Ring A Daughter's Love Quest	Sea Giant's Toe Ring Gezzy Gunkgear, Booty Bay (Friendly) Vendor
Trinket 1	Minor Recombobulator Engineering (140) Crafted	Same as Alliance
Trinket 2	Mechanical Dragonling Engineering (200) Crafted	Satchel of Potions Changing Tastes Quest
Main hand	Swinetusk Shank Agathelos the Raging, Razorfen Kraul · Revelation Drop	Same as Alliance
Off hand	Orb of Soran'ruk The Orb of Soran'ruk Quest	Same as Alliance
Ranged	Thunderwood World drop Auction house Unverified	Dancing Flame Final Passage Quest