WoW Forever: Destruction Warlock
About the Class
Destruction relies on powerful direct spells and Fire damage over time. In this build, 
Incinerate is the core spell, while 
Conflagrate and 
Shadowburn keep the cross-school buffs between Fire and Shadow going. The spec shines when you can stand still and cast for long stretches.
Life Tap converts Health into Mana. Use it ahead of time, and don't drop yourself to dangerously low Health before a mechanic. 
Drain Life helps you recover, but it is no substitute for timely defensives and healing from your group.
Where does Destruction Warlock rank? See the WoW Forever tier list
Strengths
- Direct damage ramps up faster at the start of a fight.
- Instant spells help during short bursts of movement.
- Extra damage on a second target through a dedicated Bane.
Weaknesses
- Frequent movement interrupts your main damage.
- You have to track several buffs and damage over time effects.
- Sacrifice rules out a permanently active demon in the main build.
Stat Priority
- 1Hit
- 2Spell Power
- 3Haste
- 4Critical Strike
- 5Intellect
Against a level 63 boss, aim for 17% total spell hit, including talents. 
Suppression applies to all spells; count the points in your chosen tree specifically. At 5/5 it gives 5%, leaving 12% to come from gear and other sources. Don't carry this number over to a build with fewer points.
Spell Power increases damage without raising a spell's cost. Spirit also affects Mana regeneration and Life Tap. The rotation uses both schools, so a general spell bonus is more versatile than a bonus to a single school. If you use a demon, it inherits its master's spell hit and the matching share of melee hit.
Talents
Rotation (Ability Priority)
Send your demon at the enemy first. The early opener uses baseline spells and doesn't require the late level 60 talents.
- 1
Bane of Agony - 2
Corruption - 3
Immolate - 4
Shadow Bolt
- Bane of Agony — on an enemy that will live long enough
- Corruption — keep up your main damage over time effect; whether it is instant depends on the talents you have learned
- Immolate — extra damage when the cost has time to pay off
- Shadow Bolt — between effect refreshes
- Drain Life — when you need to restore Health, and Life Tap when it is safe to trade it for Mana
When the enemy is down to the last few percent of Health, a wand lets you finish the fight without wasting Mana.
Important Abilities
Ability | How to use |
|---|---|
| Life Tap | Sustain Mana while you have enough Health to spare |
| Drain Life | Restore Health while damaging the target |
 Fear | Crowd control a suitable enemy; watch where it runs |
 Ritual of Summoning | Help your group gather players when the ritual's requirements are met |
 Create Healthstone | Prepare your personal emergency heal in advance |
 Create Soulstone | Put insurance on a chosen ally before a dangerous fight |
Crowd control and demon abilities depend on the target type. If your group needs an interrupt, discuss your pet choice in advance: switching demons can change your main damage setup.
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Enchants, Gems, Consumables
Enchants and Enhancements
ConsumablesBest Race
Blood Fury temporarily boosts your Spell Power. Line it up with your other available buffs during a window when you can deal damage uninterrupted.
Eureka! empowers direct and channeled spells and reduces their cost for a short time. Damage over time effects don't get the same bonus, so its value depends on your chosen tree and what you cast during the buff window.
Best Professions
Tailoring lets you craft cloth gear, and 
Enchanting lets you enhance items and disenchant suitable unwanted ones. The pair is handy for gearing your character on your own and crafting some of your gear before raids.
Herbalism supplies you with herbs, and 
Alchemy lets you brew potions and elixirs for damage, resource restoration and survivability. It's a practical choice if you use consumables regularly.
Engineering suits players who enjoy extra gadgets and PvP. Among secondary professions, 
First Aid is useful for bandages and 
Cooking for buff food.
FAQ
Is the warlock a good class for beginners?
Yes, if you're ready to keep track of your demon, damage over time effects and resources. Your demon helps soak hits while questing, but it doesn't free you from managing your own threat and Health.
Which demon should I use while leveling?
Summon Voidwalker gives you a handy companion for solo play. In dungeons, pick your demon based on your role, the ability you need and your talents; for damage at level 60, follow your own build described above.
When do the main demons become available?
The Imp is available from the start, the Voidwalker from level 10, the Succubus or Incubus from level 20, and the Felhunter from level 30. Unlocking them is tied to class quests. Check your pet's training along with your own spells.
Should I keep trading health for mana?
Use Life Tap before your Mana runs dry, whenever it's safe. Save your Health before heavy incoming damage; your healer shouldn't have to save you in an emergency after an unnecessary resource trade.
How do I avoid losing damage in short fights?
In this tree, your main spell is a Fire spell. A Shadow hybrid from another source needs its own build and its own priority. Keep the target's remaining Health in mind and plan target switches in advance.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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