Demonology Warlock Guide

Table of contents

Demonology Warlock Overview

The Demonology Warlock in WoW offers a versatile DPS specialization, capable of summoning hordes of minions to fight alongside you while you generate resources during combat. This specialization becomes highly efficient and rapid once players navigate the initial learning curve. Demonology Warlocks excel in encounters that require steady mobility rather than chaotic movement patterns.

A key benefit of the Demonology spec is the ability to utilize the Demonic Gateway, which allows your entire team to be transported 40 yards forward, enhancing mobility in challenging encounters.

In World of Warcraft, the Demonology Warlock stands out as the most effective Warlock specialization, providing strong performance in both single-target and AoE damage. With the introduction of a new tier set, players can enjoy a fresh optimization approach for multitarget situations while preserving the core essence of the spec. The recent rework has successfully improved the specialization, ensuring a more balanced damage profile and resource management, effectively eliminating niche scenarios where resources could be hoarded for substantial burst damage moments.

Warlock Guide WoW: The War Within

Demonology Warlock Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths Weaknesses
✅Survivability; ⛔️Lack immunity;
✅Variable talent options; ⛔️Ramp-up DPS mechanic;
Soulstone and Demonic Gateway. ⛔️Low-Burst DPS in most situations.

Demonology Warlock Changes in The War Within

In *The War Within*, you won’t encounter major shifts in gameplay mechanics. However, the talents of the Demonology Warlock in WoW have undergone some significant reworks. The Season 1 Tier Set bonus has been updated, now enhancing Shadow Bolt.

Demonology Warlock Hero Talents

Diabolist Soul Harvester
Diabolic Ritual Demonic Soul
Cloven Souls Necrolyte Teachings
Touch of Rancora Soul Anathema
Secrets of the Coven Demoniac’s Fervor
Soul-Etched Circles/Annihilan’s Bellow Gorebound Fortitude/Friends In Dark Places
Cruelty of Kerxan/Infernal Machine Shared Fate/Feast of Souls
Infernal Vitality/Infernal Bulwark Eternal Servitude/Gorefiend’s Resolve
Flames of Xoroth Wicked Reaping
Abyssal Dominion Quietus
Gloom of Nathreza Sataiel’s Volition
Ruination Shadow of Death

Basics of Demonology Warlock Gameplay

As a Demonology Warlock, your primary focus is on continuously summoning demons with short cooldowns to fight alongside you. However, effective pet management is crucial; if your demons inadvertently pull extra mobs, it could lead to frustrations within your party. The key to your gameplay is generating and utilizing the Warlock’s signature resource: Soul Shards.

Demonology Warlocks thrive on casting spells without interruption, as any downtime can significantly hinder their performance. The rotation is both straightforward and intuitive. Continuously generate Soul Shards by using Shadow Bolt and Demonbolt, then spend those resources on powerful spells like Call Dreadstalkers and Hand of Gul’dan.

Demonology Warlock Rotation

Single-Target Demonology Warlock Rotation


Grand Warlock’s Design

significantly alters the timing and cooldown management of the specialization, providing a more intuitive and straightforward 1-minute rotation that naturally aligns with 2-minute buffs and trinkets.

To effectively establish this loop with maximum efficiency, several factors need to be taken into account.

At the start of a fight, it’s recommended to cast Demonic Core and Demonbolt on separate targets to apply multiple Brands. This strategy will allow them to detonate in succession, rather than concentrating solely on one target, which can reduce the Brand timer.

AoE Demonology Warlock Rotation

Demonology maintains a consistent playstyle, even when faced with multiple targets. The ability Implosion stands out as the only skill that deviates from the single-target rotation, which is important to note.

When confronting multiple stacked enemies, Implosion is often utilized for additional damage. Imps contribute substantial damage over time and generate Implosion damage right before they vanish. This approach also facilitates more frequent Demonic Core procs in the short term, providing extra resources for Hand of Gul’dan.

In scenarios with numerous targets and no specific damage priorities—such as during dungeon trash waves—when the Tyrant is on cooldown, you should refrain from casting Summon Vilefiend (without Fel Invocation). Instead, focus on using your Soul Shards for more frequent Hand of Gul’dan casts and Implosion uses. Always include Call Dreadstalkers in your AoE rotation, as it still provides Demonic Core procs.

If you have invested in additional AoE talents, like Bilescourge Bombers, make sure to use these abilities primarily on cooldown or when you assess that they will yield maximum benefit.

Demonology Warlock Talent Builds

Raid
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AoE Mythic+
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Demonology Warlock Stats

With the implementation of stacking diminishing returns on secondary stats, it’s essential to adhere to this WoW Demonology Warlock stat priority for simulating your character:

  • Item Level;
  • Intellect;
  • Haste (aim for approximately 27%*);
  • Versatility = Critical Strike;
  • Mastery;
  • Haste beyond 27%.

Note: This priority may vary based on your gear level. It’s advisable to regularly simulate your character to identify the best stat allocation for your unique setup.

This stat priority was established using a Simulation Craft profile featuring standard BiS gear for a WoW Demonology Warlock, reflecting normalized stats. While this represents a fairly “average” gear setup, it’s important to interpret this information with caution. Simulating your character is highly recommended to ascertain which stats offer the maximum benefit, as this can fluctuate based on your specific ratios.

Overall, Haste is generally regarded as the best secondary stat. In single-target scenarios, Critical Strike and, to a lesser extent, Versatility become more valuable, as damage distribution leans more toward player damage, thus minimizing the influence of Mastery.

Mastery continues to be valuable, particularly regarding the damage output of pets and guardians. Its significance increases as more targets become involved, shifting the damage profile toward AoE generated by pets and the casting of Implosion.

Demonology Warlock Leveling

The Demonology Warlock class excels as a pet-based specialization, capable of both AoE damage and single-target DPS. This flexibility allows you to tailor your leveling approach to your personal playstyle. Generally, you should aim to pull as many mobs as you feel comfortable with and utilize the wide range of AoE abilities in your toolkit to eliminate multiple enemies simultaneously. Alternatively, you can request Power Leveling, and our dedicated team will handle the leveling process for you.

Here’s a list of key leveling abilities for the Demonology Warlock:

  • Shadow Bolt — Your primary filler ability, generating 1 Soul Shard.
  • Hand of Gul’dan — The main Soul Shard spender, effective in both AoE and single-target encounters.
  • Soulstone — Your combat resurrection spell, usable before or immediately after a teammate’s death.
  • Ritual of Summoning — Allows you to summon allies with the assistance of your teammates.
  • Summon Felguard — Summons a powerful melee demon.
  • Summon Imp — Summons a ranged caster demon.
  • Summon Voidwalker — Summons a tanky melee demon.
  • Summon Sayaad — Summons demons with control abilities.
  • Summon Felhunter — Summons a melee demon capable of dispelling and interrupting.

Best Gear for Demonology Warlock

Slot Item Source
Head Devotee’s Discarded Headdress Rasha’nan
Neck Sureki Zealot’s Insignia Sikran
Shoulders Hexflame Coven’s Altar Catalyst, Raid, or Great Vault
Cloak Wings of Shattered Sorrow Rasha’nan
Chest Hexflame Coven’s Ritual Harness Catalyst, Raid, or Great Vault
Wrist Skeinspinner’s Duplicitous Cuffs Anub’arash
Gloves Hexflame Coven’s Sleeves Catalyst, Raid, or Great Vault
Belt Acrid Ascendant’s Sash undefined
Legs Hexflame Coven’s Leggings Catalyst, Raid, or Great Vault
Boots Consecrated Slippers Tailoring
Ring Key to the Unseeming The Bloodbound Horror
Ring Seal of the Poisoned Pact undefined
Trinket Spymaster’s Web Anub’arash
Trinket Empowering Crystal of Anub’ikkaj The Dawnbreaker
Main Hand Sovereign’s Disdain Queen Ansurek
Off-Hand Vagabond’s Torch Inscription
Staff Takazj’s Entropic Edict Anub’arash

Best Trinkets for Demonology Warlock

Below is a tier list of trinkets for the Demonology Warlock. Feel free to choose trinkets that best suit your playstyle or complement your character’s stats. However, it’s essential to use Simulation Craft (SimCraft) to determine which trinkets provide the best performance for your specific setup.

S Tier

A Tier

B Tier

If you have already used SimCraft and your top trinket isn’t included in this list or is from dungeons, feel free to reach out to our team. We can help you acquire the desired Dungeon Trinket of your choice.

Tier Set Bonuses for Demonology Warlock

Rites of the Hexflame Coven is the Warlock Tier Set for Season 1 in the War Within.

2-set Your primary demon deals 5% increased damage, and your Shadow Bolt damage is increased by 50%.
4-set Shadow Bolt has a chance to enrage your primary Felguard, increasing the damage of their next Legion Strike by 300%.

Best Crafted Gear for Demonology Warlock

Best Consumables for Demonology Warlock

Type Best Options
Flask Flask of Tempered Swiftness Flask of Alchemical Chaos
Combat Potion Tempered Potion Potion of Unwavering Focus
Health Potion Algari Healing Potion
Weapon Buff Algari Mana Oil
Augment Rune Crystallized Augment Rune
Food Feast of the Midnight Masquerade Everything Stew
Diamond Culminating Blasphemite
Other Gems Masterful Emerald

Best Demonology Warlock Enchants

Slot Best Enchant Cheaper Version
Weapon Enchant Weapon – Stormrider’s Fury Enchant Weapon – Stormrider’s Fury
Cloak Enchant Cloak – Chant of Winged Grace Enchant Cloak – Whisper of Silken Avoidance
Chest Enchant Chest – Council’s Intellect
Bracers Enchant Bracer – Chant of Armored Avoidance Enchant Bracer – Chant of Armored Leech
Legs Sunset Spellthread Weavercloth Spellthread
Boots Enchant Boots – Defender’s March
Ring – Regular Enchant Ring – Radiant Haste Enchant Ring – Glimmering Haste
Ring – Cursed Enchant Ring – Cursed Haste

Demonology Warlock End-Game

End-game content in World of Warcraft encompasses raiding, Mythic+, and PvP, with class performance varying across these areas. The Demonology Warlock stands out as a flexible and adaptive class, excelling in all forms of end-game content. You’ll have a fantastic and enjoyable experience as you progress through these challenges. PvP offers one of the most thrilling avenues, with the prestigious Gladiator Title being the ultimate reward that we can help you achieve.