Warlock

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Other classes: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Druid

Warlocks are DoT and shadow casters with demon pets and strong self-sustain via Life Tap. Forever splits Curses and Banes (Bane of Agony and Bane of Doom can stack with a Curse like Curse of the Elements), adds Wrack as the channelled Affliction capstone, and gives Destruction the Conflagrate, Bane of Havoc and Incinerate talents.

Affliction (Caster DPS)

Affliction stacks Corruption, Bane of Agony, Siphon Life and a Curse, then channels Forever's Wrack, which deals shadow damage and makes your other shadow DoTs tick 100% faster while you channel it. Soul Siphon boosts Wrack and drains per active Affliction effect, and Nightfall procs instant Shadow Bolts.

Demonology (Caster DPS)

Demonology is a durable pet spec that either keeps a demon out with Soul Link, Demonic Knowledge and Master Demonologist, or sacrifices it with Demonic Sacrifice for a large personal damage buff. Demonic Pact, the tier 7 talent, lets the sacrifice buff survive summoning a different demon, so the endgame build can sacrifice the Imp for Shadow damage and still fight beside the Succubus or Incubus, spamming Shadow Bolt. Very strong for solo play thanks to Soul Link, which opens at 30.

Destruction (Caster DPS)

Destruction in Forever is a fire spec: Immolate, then Conflagrate (tier 4, from level 25) to consume Immolate for burst before re-applying it, and from level 40 Incinerate, the tier 7 talent, which deals 25% more to Immolated targets. Agonizing Flames adds up to 10% damage to all Destruction spells, Ruin doubles the crit bonus at 5/5, Fire and Brimstone raises Conflagrate's crit chance, and Bane of Havoc copies 15% of your damage onto a second target.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Affliction

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Simulator: At level 60, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, the simulator uses Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown) right before Bane of Agony. (level 60)
Simulator: Shadow Trance (from Nightfall): Your next Shadow Bolt becomes an instant cast spell. Cast Shadow Bolt within 10 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 4.273 times a 180 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.1% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3.3%). (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 6% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Shadow Bolt 39%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.6% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 93% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 10% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 87% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): hit rating 0.71, crit rating 0.27. (level 60)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, the simulator uses Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown) right before Bane of Agony. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+2.4% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+1.9%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +3.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 12.8% less damage without it. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 40%, Bane of Agony 18%, Corruption 17% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.5% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 87% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 9.5% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 78% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, the simulator uses Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown) right before Bane of Agony. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Shadow Trance (from Nightfall) makes your next Shadow Bolt an instant cast. Cast it within 10 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it 1.353 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+5.2% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+4.8%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +2.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 10.1% less damage without it. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 36%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.1% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 85% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 11.7% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 84% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, the simulator uses Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown) right before Bane of Agony. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, the simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 1.1% more damage without Immolate. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Shadow Trance (from Nightfall) makes your next Shadow Bolt an instant cast. Cast it within 10 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it 1.37 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Baked Salmon is your best consumable (+5.7% DPS in the simulator). Greater Arcane Elixir is second (+5.2%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +2.4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 9.3% less damage without it. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 37%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 86% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 10.3% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 85% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, the simulator uses Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown) right before Bane of Agony. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Shadow Trance (from Nightfall) makes your next Shadow Bolt an instant cast. Cast it within 10 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it 1.323 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+6.2% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+4.9%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +1.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 7.9% less damage without it. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 40%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 17% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.6% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 88% of the time. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 9.2% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 86% of the time. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Curse of the Elements: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 100% of the sim's fight; worth 8.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Bane of Agony: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 93% of the sim's fight; worth 12.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 87% of the sim's fight; worth 10% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Siphon Life: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 88% of the sim's fight; worth 1.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 74% of the sim's fight; the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client)
Shadow Bolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 26.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 35% mana: Life Tap: The sim uses Life Tap when your mana is under 35% (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
When Shadow Trance procs: Shadow Bolt within 10 sec: Your next Shadow Bolt becomes an instant cast spell. (Simulator, Forever client)

Keep up:

Curse of the Elements on the target, at least 95% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Bane of Agony on the target, at least 90% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption on the target, at least 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Siphon Life on the target, at least 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Immolate on the target, at least 70% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Amplify Curse: with:Bane of Agony (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Imp (Simulator)
Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 60-60: Bane of Agony worth 10.3% -> 12.6%; 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 32.7% -> 26.8%; 1 tip(s) dropped (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 40-49: removed Immolate; 50-59: Shadow Bolt worth 24.2% -> 26.3%; 1 new tip(s); new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Demonology

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: At level 60, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.8% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3%). (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 12.1% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Shadow Bolt 43%, Bane of Agony 17%, Corruption 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 10.2% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 91% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Curse of the Elements is worth 7.9% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 100% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): hit rating 0.75, crit rating 0.41. (level 60)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+2.2% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+1.8%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +2.4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 18.6% less damage without it. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 36%, Bane of Agony 20%, Imp: Firebolt 18% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 13.1% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 92% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 6.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 71% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+4.6% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+4.3%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +2.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 18.2% less damage without it. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 39%, Imp: Firebolt 18%, Bane of Agony 17% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 10.4% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 87% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 6% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 71% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Baked Salmon is your best consumable (+4.8% DPS in the simulator). Greater Arcane Elixir is second (+4.4%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +2.3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 19% less damage without it. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 38%, Imp: Firebolt 19%, Bane of Agony 16% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 11.3% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 85% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 5.7% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 78% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, the simulator uses Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+5.4% DPS in the simulator). Baked Salmon is second (+4.3%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin helps you the most of any party buff: +1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your Imp makes a real difference: the simulator's fight does 15.6% less damage without it. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your damage splits like this: Shadow Bolt 44%, Bane of Agony 16%, Imp: Firebolt 16% (simulator, recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 10.9% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 88% of the time. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Curse of the Elements is worth 7% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 100% of the time. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Curse of the Elements: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 100% of the sim's fight; worth 7.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Bane of Agony: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 91% of the sim's fight; worth 10.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 78% of the sim's fight; worth 4.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 75% of the sim's fight; worth 3.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Shadow Bolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 25.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 35% mana: Life Tap: The sim uses Life Tap when your mana is under 35% (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

Curse of the Elements on the target, at least 95% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Bane of Agony on the target, at least 90% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption on the target, at least 75% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Immolate on the target, at least 70% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Imp (Simulator)
Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 60-60: Curse of the Elements worth 5.2% -> 7.9%; 60-60: Bane of Agony worth 7.2% -> 10.2%; 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 33.2% -> 25.8%; 1 tip(s) dropped (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: Shadow Bolt worth 25.4% -> 28.4%; 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Destruction

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.3% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3.4%). (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 7% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Immolate 21%, Conflagrate 20%, Shadow Bolt 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 14.1% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 65% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 9% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 94% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): hit rating 0.71, crit rating 0.37. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+2.7% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin is the most useful party buff for you at levels 20-29: +2.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out. Without it the simulator's fight does 14.4% less damage at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29 your damage comes from Shadow Bolt 31%, Immolate 17% and Bane of Agony 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 9.9% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 90% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 8.6% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 69% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+5.2% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+4.9%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin is the most useful party buff for you at levels 30-39: +2.5% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out. Without it the simulator's fight does 10.5% less damage at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39 your damage comes from Shadow Bolt 20%, Immolate 18% and Conflagrate 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 8.7% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 92% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 6.8% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 58% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Baked Salmon is your best consumable (+5.9% DPS in the simulator), followed by Greater Arcane Elixir (+5.3%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin is the most useful party buff for you at levels 40-49: +2.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out. Without it the simulator's fight does 11% less damage at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49 your damage comes from Conflagrate 23%, Immolate 17% and Shadow Bolt 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 14.8% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 52% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 7.1% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 88% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Greater Arcane Elixir is your best consumable (+5.7% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+4.6%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin is the most useful party buff for you at levels 50-59: +2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out. Without it the simulator's fight does 9.2% less damage at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59 your damage comes from Conflagrate 20%, Immolate 19% and Shadow Bolt 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 12.6% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 58% of the time. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 8% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 85% of the time. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Curse of the Elements: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 100% of the sim's fight; worth 8.3% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Bane of Agony: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 94% of the sim's fight; worth 9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 74% of the sim's fight; worth 3.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Conflagrate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (10 s cooldown); worth 3.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 65% of the sim's fight; worth 14.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Shadowburn: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (15 s cooldown); worth 1.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Shadow Bolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 9.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 35% mana: Life Tap: The sim uses Life Tap when your mana is under 35% (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

Curse of the Elements on the target, at least 95% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Bane of Agony on the target, at least 90% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption on the target, at least 70% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Immolate on the target, at least 60% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Imp (Simulator)
Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 60-60: Immolate worth 6.7% -> 14.1%; 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 16.4% -> 9.9%; 1 new tip(s); 2 tip(s) dropped (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: Conflagrate worth 8.9% -> 3.9%; 50-59: Immolate worth 20.4% -> 12.6%; 50-59: Shadow Bolt worth 5.2% -> 7.9%; 60-60: added Conflagrate; 60-60: Bane of Agony worth 6.7% -> 9.3% (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: 60-60: removed Conflagrate; 60-60: Bane of Agony worth 9.1% -> 6.7%; 1 new tip(s) (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Affliction, Demonology, Destruction

Best professions for Warlocks: Tailoring + Enchanting.

Warlock abilities

Demon Skin (level 1)
Immolate (level 1)
Shadow Bolt (level 1)
Summon Imp (level 1, from the Classic class quest Piercing the Veil)
Corruption (level 4)
Curse of Weakness (level 4)
Life Tap (level 6)
Bane of Agony (level 8)
Fear (level 8)
Create Healthstone (level 10)
Drain Soul (level 10)
Summon Voidwalker (level 10, from the Classic class quest The Binding)
Health Funnel (level 12)
Curse of Recklessness (level 14)
Drain Life (level 14)
Unending Breath (level 16)
Create Soulstone (level 18)
Searing Pain (level 18)
Curse of the Elements (level 20)
Demon Armor (level 20)
Rain of Fire (level 20)
Ritual of Summoning (level 20)
Summon Incubus (level 20)
Summon Succubus (level 20, from the Classic class quest The Binding)
Eye of Kilrogg (level 22)
Drain Mana (level 24)
Sense Demons (level 24)
Curse of Tongues (level 26)
Detect Invisibility (level 26)
Banish (level 28)
Create Firestone (level 28)
Hellfire (level 30)
Hellfire Effect (level 30)
Subjugate Demon (level 30)
Summon Felhunter (level 30, from the Classic class quest The Binding)
Shadow Ward (level 32)
Create Spellstone (level 36)
Curse of Idiocy (level 38)
Howl of Terror (level 40)
Death Coil (level 42)
Soul Fire (level 48)
Inferno (level 50, from the Classic class quest Kroshius' Infernal Core)
Bane of Doom (level 60)
Portal of Summoning (level 60)
Ritual of Doom (level 60, from the Classic class quest Suppression)
Ritual of Doom Effect (level 60)

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70938, extracted 2026-11-13.