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 10% stronger. 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 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · 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: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Bane of Agony at level 60. (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 1.323 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.9% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3.1%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.4% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 6.2% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Shadow Bolt 44%, Bane of Agony 17%, Corruption 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony 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 88% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Corruption 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 86% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): crit rating 0.24. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%. That is when the simulator uses it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Amplify Curse has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Bane of Agony at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +3.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 10.5% less damage at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage comes from: Shadow Bolt 41%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.9% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 87% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 9.7% 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: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Bane of Agony at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
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 1.353 times a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Greater Arcane Elixir (+5.2% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+4.9%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 9.5% less damage at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Shadow Bolt 37%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.2% 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 11.8% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 84% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Bane of Agony at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
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 1.447 times a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Baked Salmon (+5.5% DPS in the simulator); then Greater Arcane Elixir (+5%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +1.3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 9.1% less damage at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Shadow Bolt 36%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 13.2% 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: Corruption is worth 11% 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: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Amplify Curse (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Bane of Agony at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
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 1.327 times a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Greater Arcane Elixir (+6.9% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+5.5%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +1.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 8.9% less damage at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Shadow Bolt 40%, Bane of Agony 19%, Corruption 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 12.7% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 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 6.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Bane of Agony: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 88% of the sim's fight; worth 10% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 86% of the sim's fight; worth 7.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Siphon Life: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 90% of the sim's fight; the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 70% of the sim's fight; worth 1.3% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Shadow Bolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 32.1% 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 85% 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 90% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Immolate on the target, at least 65% 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)
Arcane Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Wisdom (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: 40-49: added Immolate; 1 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
6 November 2026: 40-49: removed Immolate; 60-60: added Siphon Life; 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 38.2% -> 32.1%; 2 new tip(s); 2 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Demonology

Updated 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · 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 drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.6% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+2.9%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +2.6% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 11.9% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Shadow Bolt 47%, Bane of Agony 15%, Immolate 13% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 7.4% 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 5.8% 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): Intellect 1.58, crit rating 0.46. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is the threshold the simulator uses at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.3% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+1.9%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.5% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 15.5% less damage at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: Shadow Bolt 38%, Bane of Agony 20%, Imp: Firebolt 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 13.6% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 92% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Corruption is worth 6.5% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 71% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.7% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+4.4%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 17.4% less damage at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Shadow Bolt 39%, Imp: Firebolt 17%, Bane of Agony 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 10.5% 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 6.1% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 71% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Baked Salmon (+4.7% DPS in the simulator); then Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.2%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +1.5% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 18.8% less damage at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Shadow Bolt 39%, Imp: Firebolt 18%, Bane of Agony 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 11.7% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 90% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Curse of the Elements is worth 5.2% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 100% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Greater Arcane Elixir (+5.8% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+4.7%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +1.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 17.1% less damage at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Shadow Bolt 42%, Imp: Firebolt 17%, Bane of Agony 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 9.9% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 85% of the time. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Curse of the Elements is worth 6.1% 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 5.8% 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 7.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 76% of the sim's fight; worth 2.5% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 77% of the sim's fight; worth 3.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Shadow Bolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 34.2% 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 75% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Imp (Simulator)
Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Intellect IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Wisdom (Simulator, Forever client)
Arcane Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
6 November 2026: 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 43.6% -> 34.2% (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Destruction

Updated 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · 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 drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.7% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+2.9%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.3% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 6.6% less damage at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Shadow Bolt 24%, Immolate 18%, Conflagrate 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 9.1% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 89% 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): crit rating 0.43. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana falls below 35%. That is the threshold the simulator uses at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.8% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+2.2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 11.8% less damage at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: Shadow Bolt 32%, Immolate 17%, Bane of Agony 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bane of Agony is worth 10.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 90% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 8.8% 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 drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Greater Arcane Elixir (+5.2% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+4.9%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.5% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 9.9% less damage at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Shadow Bolt 20%, Immolate 18%, Conflagrate 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 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 drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Baked Salmon (+5.5% DPS in the simulator); then Greater Arcane Elixir (+5%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +2.3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 10.7% less damage at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Conflagrate 22%, Immolate 17%, Shadow Bolt 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 12.8% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 50% 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 85% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Life Tap when your mana drops under 35%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Greater Arcane Elixir (+6.8% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+5.4%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +1.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Keep your Imp out: without it the simulator's fight does 10.7% less damage at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Conflagrate 22%, Immolate 21%, Shadow Bolt 14% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Immolate is worth 20.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 57% of the time. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Conflagrate is worth 8.9% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (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 89% of the sim's fight; worth 9.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 82% of the sim's fight; worth 3.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Conflagrate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (10 s cooldown); the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Immolate: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 62% of the sim's fight; worth 6.3% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Shadowburn: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (15 s cooldown); worth 2.2% 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 15.7% 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 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Corruption on the target, at least 80% 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)
Arcane Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Wisdom (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
6 November 2026: 50-59: Conflagrate worth 5% -> 7.9%; 50-59: Immolate worth 15.3% -> 19.7%; 60-60: added Conflagrate, Immolate; 60-60: Bane of Agony worth 6.6% -> 9.1%; 60-60: Corruption worth 1.3% -> 3.8%; 60-60: Shadow Bolt worth 19.9% -> 15.7% (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 1.60.1.70862, extracted 2026-11-07.