Warlock Guide

1. Introduction
2. General Information
3. Talent Builds
4. PvE
5. PvP
6. Raiding
7. Pets

1. Introduction

Warlocks are a very powerful class, with the ability to place numerous curses upon opponents crippling the opponents efficiency and ability to strike back. Many times a warlock can end a fight with full life as they have the ability to drain the life and mana of their opponents.

Also warlocks can summon up allies from the abyss to aid them in battle allowing them to completely disable opponents and destroy them. The warlock also has the ability to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents forcing them to run in fear.

Also if they would prefer to a warlock can simply harness their shadow ability and blast the opponent into oblivion with very high damage spells. Overall the warlock has many ways to destroy an opponent and end fights fast.

2. General Information

Warlocks have 3 trees of abilities each focusing on a different aspect of the warlock.

The Destruction tree focuses on the warlocks ability to annihilate opponents in a matter of seconds. This is for warlocks wishing to deal massive amounts of damage in the space of a few seconds. Also this gives you access to a number of instant abilities which can be very helpful in PvP.

The Demonology tree is used to buff your pets in combat allowing them to do a greater part of combat whether in PvP or PvE. This is commonly used for grinding allowing the warlock to throw a few DoT's on and let the pet do the rest. This also gives your pets special benefits such as +resistances to you and your pet and other things.

The Affliction tree enhances your abilitie to de-buff opponents. This allows you to slow them down and wear them down preventing them from ever reaching you. Also you can use your curse of exhaustion to give you time to cast your bigger spells. This is useful in PvP.

3. Talent Builds

Dark Pact Leveling/Grinding build 32/8/11

Affliction Talents (32 points)

Suppression (3/5)
Improved Corruption (5/5)
Improved Life Tap (2/2)
Fel Concentration (5/5)
Amplify Curse (1/1)
Grim Reach (2/2)
Nightfall (2/2)
Siphon Life (1/1)
Curse of Exhaustion (1/1)
Improved Curse of Exhaustion (4/4)
Shadow Mastery (5/5)
Dark Pact (1/1)

Demonology Talents (8 points)
Improved Imp (3/3)
Demonic Embrace (5/5)

Destruction Talents (11 points)
Improved Shadow Bolt (5/5)
Bane (5/5)
Shadowburn (1/1)

SM/Ruin DPS Build/PvP

Affliction Talents (30 points)

Suppression (3/5)
Improved Corruption (5/5)
Improved Life Tap (2/2)
Fel Concentration (5/5)
Amplify Curse (1/1)
Grim Reach (2/2)
Nightfall (2/2)
Siphon Life (1/1)
Curse of Exhaustion (1/1)
Improved Curse of Exhaustion (3/4)
Shadow Mastery (5/5)

Destruction Talents (21 points)

Improved Shadow Bolt (5/5)
Bane (5/5)
Devastation (5/5)
Shadowburn (1/1)
Intensity (2/2)
Destructive Reach (2/2)
Ruin (1/1)

Demonology/Destuction Leveling/Instance Build

Demonology Talents (31 points)

Improved Imp (3/3)
Demonic Embrace (5/5)
Fel Intellect (3/5)
Fel Domination (1/1)
Fel Stamina (5/5)
Master Summoner (2/2)
Unholy Power (5/5)
Demonic Sacrifice (1/1)
Master Demonologist (5/5)
Soul Link (1/1)

Destruction Talents (20 points)

Improved Shadow Bolt (5/5)
Bane (5/5)
Improved Firebolt (2/2)
Devastation (5/5)
Shadowburn (1/1)
Destructive Reach (2/2)

4. PvE

Warlocks are very efficient grinders as they scan sick the theirpet on a monster, throw a few DoT's on the target and regain all mana lost by the end of the fight. Also if oyu need health/mana you can just drain your opponent.

Either Dark Pact builds or Demonology builds seem the best for grinding. Both give you ways to continue to kill without the need to stop at all. Warlocks also can generally have enough HP/Mana left after each fight that you would still be able to put up a fight in PvP.

A Warlock/Mage or Warlock/Shadow Priest team does extremely well as the mage help DPS down the mobs/give food/water to the warlock and himself. The Priest can put shadow vulnerability on mobs to make them take alot more damage from shadow bolts.

5. PvP

Warlocks excell in PvP with their numerous ways to cripple opponents and then destroy them. Deathcoil is a great ability for dealing damage and it has the unbreakable fear effect. Most of the time your enemy will be un-able to hurt you much at all.

Opening up with seduce and then firing off a your best damage spells then re-seducing/fearing and doing it again is a great way to slaughter someone without them being able to retaliate.

Your worst enemy is a fury warrior with a healer in PvP. With there multiple tools for breaking fear/seduce they can really put the hurt down on you. Try and conserve Death Coil until the your opponent is almost dead and then unload DC and everything else you have on him.

Also in group PvP just throw DoT's on everyone in the enemies group and watch your team tear them apart. Also focusing on priests/DoT'ing them a bunch can disrupt healing and draining their mana is even better. A Priest with no mana means a warrior with no heals.

6. Raiding

Warlocks are very good DPS in raids with Curse of Doom on bosses and shadowbolt spam/imp DPS as well. Your role is very basic, just DPS a bunch and make sure not to pull aggro off the tank. Also finding a mana efficient way to DPS so as to provide a constant source of damage rather then bursts is good.

Stick your curses on the mobs and then just spam shadowbolt/immolate. Your role is rather easy and you can generally do this half-afk. Also in the Garr fight you will be required to banish/pet tank some of the adds but beyond that theres not much to do.

Try for +Damage gear here as it will help improve your overall DPS.

7. Pets

Here is a list of the pets and their general use:

Imp:

The Imp is primarily used as a DPS pet but is also useful for tank groups because of Bloodpact. Also the best pet for most of MC/BWL as it can just sit back and DPS. Not so great for leveling with his low HP.

Voidwalker:

The Voidwalker is a tank pet designed to hold aggro while you DoT/Nuke away. Great for Affliction warlock leveling as it can tank while your DoT's kill the mob.

Succubus:

The Succubus is a support DPS/crowd control pet. Alright for leveling, and great for PvP with it's invisibility. Also good for PvE situations where you get an additional monster which she can seduce till your done with the first mob.

Fel-Hunter:

Great for killing enemy casters in PvP, not of much use for leveling but rocks for PvP. also useful in FR(Fire Resistance) heavy fights if you have the demonology talents having it give you + to all resistances.