Warlock spec guide

Destruction Warlock

Everything for Destruction Warlock on one page: role, talent order by level, Destruction abilities and recommended gear for each level range. Talent and gear picks are calculated from the tooltip values in official game data plus the assumptions Forever Tool states below.

All Warlock abilities Open the level 60 build in the calculator

Gear focus: Spell DPS
Talent calculation: Destruction
Level 60 build: 7/11/33
Estimated DPS: +82.6%

Destruction Warlock at a glance

Summarized from Blizzard's class deep-dive articles. They were published during the beta, so live numbers and talents may differ.

Warlock as the developers describe it

Warlocks get new ways to command Shadow, Fire and demonic power. Damaging Curses split off as Banes, pets scale with their master's stats, and talents support damage over time and drains, deeper demon synergies, and Shadow and Fire combinations.[1]

Warlocks are still physically weak and depend on their demons for protection, but all three specializations now deal damage that can compete with any other spellcaster.

Destruction talents in Forever

Conflagrate moves from row 7 up to row 4 as the 16-point gold medal.
Bane of Havoc (21-point gold medal): for 5 minutes, 15% of the damage you deal to other targets is also dealt to the cursed target.
Incinerate (31-point gold medal): deals Fire damage, 25% more if the target has your Immolate. 2.5-second cast, 30-yard range.
Shadow and Flame (new row 6 talent): Conflagrate increases your Shadow damage and Shadowburn increases your Fire damage for 20 seconds.

Destruction talent build

One point per level from level 10, 51 points at level 60. The Destruction tree is filled to 31 points first, and the remaining points go where they raise estimated DPS the most in the other trees.

The level 60 build uses the same method as the calculator's "Recommended build" (estimated DPS from tooltip values + judgment weights for talents the math can't capture, such as rage, energy and mana talents), with the extra rule "Destruction tree to 31 points first". The order picks, one point at a time, the talent that raises the score the most on the way to that build. Estimated DPS is a rough "compared with no talents" figure and leaves out the damage of newly learned abilities. Talent point rules (starting at level 10) follow classic, since nothing has been announced officially.

Builds by level

Level	Points	Tree split	Est. DPS	Calculator
Level 20	11 points	0/0/11	+17.3%	Open
Level 30	21 points	0/0/21	+28.3%	Open
Level 40	31 points	0/0/31	+54.5%	Open
Level 50	41 points	7/3/31	+65.2%	Open
Level 60	51 points	7/11/33	+82.6%	Open

Talent order by level

Consecutive levels spent on the same talent are grouped on one line.

Levels 10–14Bane1→5/5
Levels 15–19Improved Shadow Bolt1→5/5
Level 20Shadowburn1/1
Levels 21–23Cataclysm1→3/3
Level 24Aftermath1/5
Level 25Conflagrate1/1
Levels 26–28Agonizing Flames1→3/3
Levels 29–33Ruin1→5/5
Level 34Aftermath2/5
Levels 35–39Shadow and Flame1→5/5
Level 40Aftermath3/5
Levels 41–45SuppressionAffliction1→5/5
Levels 46–47Improved Life TapAffliction1→2/2
Levels 48–50Improved ImpDemonology1→3/3
Levels 51–55Unholy PowerDemonology1→5/5
Level 56Bane of Havoc1/1
Level 57Incinerate1/1
Levels 58–59Demonic EnergiesDemonology1→2/2
Level 60Demonic SacrificeDemonology1/1

Key talents of the level 60 build

Talents with a large share of estimated DPS, plus talents that grant abilities or handle resources. Descriptions are the tooltip at the rank taken.

Suppression5/5 · Affliction
Est. DPS +5.8%
Improves your chance to hit by 5% and reduces all threat you generate by 20%.
Demonic Sacrifice1/1 · Demonology
Est. DPS +9.4%Ability
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.
Improved Shadow Bolt5/5 · Destruction
Est. DPS +4.5%
Your Shadow Bolt critical strikes increase Shadow damage taken by the target from your attacks by 20% for 12 sec.
Bane5/5 · Destruction
Est. DPS +12.4%
Reduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Incinerate spells by 0.5 sec and your Soul Fire spell by 2 sec.
Cataclysm3/3 · Destruction
Resource / utility
Reduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 10%.
Aftermath3/5 · Destruction
Est. DPS +1.6%
Increases the initial damage of your Immolate spell by 30% and your Conflagrate spell has a 60% chance to Daze the target, reducing the target's movement speed by 50% for 5 sec.
Ruin5/5 · Destruction
Est. DPS +3.9%
Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Destruction spells by 100%.
Shadowburn1/1 · Destruction
Ability
Instantly blasts the target for 196 to 219 Shadow damage. If a non-trivial target dies within 8 sec of being hit with Shadowburn, the caster gains a Soul Shard.
Agonizing Flames3/3 · Destruction
Est. DPS +8.7%
Increases the critical strike chance of your Searing Pain spell by 10% and the damage done by all your Destruction spells by 10%.
Conflagrate1/1 · Destruction
Ability
Ignites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 239 to 240 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.
Bane of Havoc1/1 · Destruction
Ability
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.
Shadow and Flame5/5 · Destruction
Est. DPS +15.9%
Hitting an enemy with Conflagrate increases all Shadow damage you deal by 20% for 20 sec, and hitting an enemy with Shadowburn increases all Fire damage you deal by 20% for 20 sec. In addition, Conflagrate has a 100% chance not to consume Immolate, and Shadowburn has a 100% chance to instantly refund a Soul Shard.
Incinerate1/1 · Destruction
Ability
Deals 334 to 354 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.

Destruction abilities

Destruction abilities in the order you first learn them. The numbers are the levels at which each rank is learned; the description is rank 1 without gear or stats.

Destruction Warlock gear by level

The 3 highest-scoring items for each slot in every level range. Only items whose required level falls inside the range are compared.

How were these picked?

The score is the sum of the item's tooltip lines from official game data (Strength, Stamina, Spell Power, damage per second and so on) multiplied by the weights below. There is no official formula, so the weights are Forever Tool's rough estimates (assumptions). Compare scores only within the same slot.
Equip, use and chance-on-hit effects, set bonuses and resistances are not scored. Items without fixed stats (only armor in the tooltip) are left out.
Only Uncommon and Rare items, plus craftable Epic items, of item level 65 or lower are included (no raid loot). Items that require a profession to use and crafts that need raid materials are left out.
Items without a required level count as item level minus 5. Only armor types a Warlock wears are included, with mail and plate counted from level 40 (classic rules, since nothing has been announced).
Sources list only crafting (professions) and quest rewards. Dungeon drops are being collected from player reports; check the item page.

Destruction weights (assumed)

Stat	Score per point
Wand damage per second	2
Spell Power	1
Spell Damage	1
Shadow Damage	0.9
Hit	0.8
Critical Strike	0.6
Haste	0.5
Mana Regeneration per 5 sec	0.5
Fire Damage	0.5
Intellect	0.4
Stamina	0.2
Spell Piercing	0.2
Spirit	0.1

Levels 1–20

Hall of Thanes 13–18 Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 Level 1–10 quest zones Level 11–20 quest zones

Head

Shadow CircletScore 11.9
Req. 20 · Shadow Damage +11 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine CircletScore 8.0
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +6 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring
Flame CircletScore 7.5
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +11 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring

Neck

Scholarly PendantScore 0.8
Item level 23 · Stamina +3 · Spirit +2
Erudite's AmuletScore 0.6
Item level 23 · Stamina +3
Scout's MedallionScore 0.4
Req. 18 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Sentinel's Medallion

Shoulder

Reinforced Woolen ShouldersScore 6.6
Req. 19 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Double-Stitched Woolen ShouldersScore 4.8
Req. 17 · Spell Power +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Back

Heavy Woolen CloakScore 4.4
Req. 16 · Spell Power +4 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Battle Healer's CloakScore 4.0
Req. 18 · Spell Damage +3 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +2
Same stats: Caretaker's Cape
Pearl-clasped CloakScore 3.2
Req. 14 · Spell Power +2 · Intellect +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Chest

Filigreed Shadow GownScore 11.2
Req. 15 · Shadow Damage +9 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Tailoring
High Robe of the AdjudicatorScore 8.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +8 · Intellect +2
Quest: Assault on Fenris Isle (Silverpine Forest)
Filigreed Pristine GownScore 8.1
Req. 15 · Spell Damage +5 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Wrist

Tabitha's CuffsScore 3.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +3 · Stamina +4
Quest: A Frightened Request (Ruins of Lordaeron)
Owlbeard BracersScore 2.0
Item level 20 · Spell Power +1 · Intellect +2 · Stamina +1
Quest: Earthen Arise (Stonetalon Mountains)
Windsong BanglesScore 1.0
Item level 13 · Spell Power +1
Quest: Breaking the Breaker (Zephras Isle)

Hands

Shadow GlovesScore 8.3
Req. 15 · Shadow Damage +7 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine GlovesScore 6.0
Req. 15 · Spell Damage +4 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Flame GlovesScore 5.5
Req. 15 · Fire Damage +7 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Waist

Shadow SashScore 8.9
Req. 17 · Shadow Damage +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +5
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine SashScore 6.6
Req. 17 · Spell Damage +4 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +5
Crafted: Tailoring
Flame SashScore 6.1
Req. 17 · Fire Damage +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +5
Crafted: Tailoring

Legs

Filigreed Shadow LeggingsScore 13.7
Req. 20 · Shadow Damage +11 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Filigreed Pristine LeggingsScore 9.8
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +6 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Filigreed Flame LeggingsScore 9.3
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +11 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Feet

Spidersilk BootsScore 9.4
Req. 20 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Shadow BootsScore 7.4
Req. 12 · Shadow Damage +6 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine BootsScore 5.0
Req. 12 · Spell Damage +3 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Finger

Advisor's RingScore 6.4
Req. 18 · Spell Power +5 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +2 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Ring
Minor Channeling RingScore 5.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +2
Quest: WANTED: Chok'sul (Loch Modan)
Sacred BandScore 2.4
Item level 25 · Spell Power +2 · Spirit +4
Quest: The Den (Stonetalon Mountains)

Trinket

Rune of PerfectionScore 0.8
Req. 20 · Stamina +4
Same stats: Rune of Duty

Two-hand

Staff of Soran'rukScore 50.4
Item level 25 · Damage per second 15.7 · Shadow Damage +34 · Fire Damage +34 · Stamina +14
Quest: The Orb of Soran'ruk
Advisor's Gnarled StaffScore 4.7
Req. 18 · Damage per second 19.7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +8 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +3
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Staff
Polished Walking StaffScore 3.4
Item level 24 · Damage per second 11.7 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +3
Quest: Torek's Assault (Ashenvale)

Main hand

Royal DaggerScore 1.6
Item level 25 · Damage per second 8.5 · Intellect +4
Quest: A Friend of the Family (Stormwind City)
Quilboar ToothpickScore 1.0
Item level 24 · Damage per second 8.1 · Intellect +2 · Spirit +2
Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens), Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens)
Night Watch ShortswordScore 0.8
Req. 15 · Damage per second 13.5 · Stamina +4

Held in off-hand

Orb of Soran'rukScore 12.6
Item level 25 · Shadow Damage +9 · Fire Damage +9
Quest: The Orb of Soran'ruk
Mathystra Channeling OrbScore 2.6
Item level 21 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +3
Quest: Baron Marinous (Darkshore)
Defective SamophlangeScore 2.5
Req. 20 · Intellect +5 · Spirit +5
Reputation required

Wand

Restored WandScore 89.4
Item level 1 · Damage per second 44.7
Greater Magic WandScore 37.0
Req. 13 · Damage per second 17.5 · Spell Power +2
Crafted: Enchanting
Torchlight WandScore 33.6
Item level 21 · Damage per second 15.8 · Spell Power +2
Quest: The Coastal Menace (Westfall)

Levels 21–40

Excavation Site 24–29 City of Dalaran 28–33 The Drowned City 35–40 Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 Level 21–30 quest zones Level 31–40 quest zones

Head

Twilight Mine LightScore 15.4
Item level 45 · Spell Power +13 · Stamina +12
Quest: A Miner Problem (Riverglades)
Filigreed Shadow CircletScore 15.0
Req. 25 · Shadow Damage +14 · Stamina +12
Crafted: Tailoring
Blackwater CapScore 12.8
Item level 45 · Intellect +17 · Spell Power +6
Quest: The Bloodsail Buccaneers (Stranglethorn Vale)

Neck

Scorn's Icy ChokerScore 10.4
Req. 30 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5
Seal of the ExpeditionScore 5.0
Req. 38 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +11
Reputation required
Same stats: Darkspear Warding Pendant
Amulet of ForgivenessScore 4.7
Item level 43 · Spell Damage +4 · Spirit +7
Quest: Forlorn Necklace (Shen'dralas)