Updated November 3, 2026.
Affliction levels on damage over time spells and its own healing, so you stop less between fights. Demonology lets its Demon tank and deal a large part of the damage. Destruction kills ordinary quest enemies quickly, but stops more often for Mana. At level 60 the dungeon and raid builds are the Shadow Mastery and Ruin build, the Demonic Pact Succubus build and the Demonic Sacrifice build, all three for damage. PvP has a build for each of the three trees. WoW Forever launches on November 4, so all of these come from the beta, and we will update them as players reach 60.
Warlock build planner
Pick a build and set your level: the planner shows the talents you should have now, where the next point goes and what to press.
Talents, spells and their numbers come from the game client. Every build and rotation comes from a published guide or plan, named under the planner. Where we changed an order or carried one over from leveling, the rotation says so. Nothing at level 60 is tested in play yet.
Warlock leveling builds
Affliction Leveling
Suppression takes the first four points: at 4% Hit you never miss an enemy of your level or lower. Improved Corruption makes Corruption instant by 18, and Nightfall at 25 and 26 can make your next Shadow Bolt instant. Siphon Life at 30 adds healing on enemies that live long enough. Eleven points in Demonology reach Demonic Sacrifice at 41: sacrifice a Felhunter and you restore 3% of your maximum Health every 4 seconds for two hours, or until you summon a Demon. You then return to Affliction for Wrack at 51 and the Drain talents.
Talent points: 40 Affliction, 11 Demonology.
Rotation: keep up: Demon Armor, Summon Voidwalker, Demonic Sacrifice; in the fight: Shadow Bolt, Immolate, Bane of Agony, Corruption, Siphon Life, Shadow Bolt, Drain Life, Wrack; two or more enemies: Bane of Agony, Corruption, Hellfire, Rain of Fire, Drain Life; when it helps: Curse of the Elements, Life Tap, Drain Soul.
Open Affliction Leveling in the planner
Demonology Leveling
Unholy Power takes the first five points, for 10% more damage from every Demon. Demonic Energies at 15 and 16 heals your Demon from the damage you deal and gives it Mana when you Life Tap. Improved Voidwalker by 22 helps it hold enemies, Demonic Brand by 27 makes Searing Pain empower its attacks, and Soul Link at 30 sends part of the damage you take to it. Demonic Sacrifice comes at 29, but wait for Demonic Pact at 40, which keeps the buff with a different Demon out. From 41 the points go to Affliction for Suppression and instant Corruption.
Talent points: 20 Affliction, 31 Demonology.
Rotation: keep up: Demon Armor, Summon Voidwalker, Soul Link, Demonic Sacrifice; in the fight: Searing Pain, Bane of Agony, Corruption, Shadow Bolt, Immolate, Shadow Bolt, Drain Life; two or more enemies: Corruption, Bane of Agony, Searing Pain, Rain of Fire, Hellfire; when it helps: Curse of the Elements, Life Tap, Health Funnel, Drain Soul.
Open Demonology Leveling in the planner
Destruction Leveling
Bane takes the first five points, for faster Shadow Bolt and Immolate casts, then Aftermath adds 50% to Immolate's first hit. Shadowburn at 20 finishes enemies and Conflagrate at 25 adds instant Fire damage, though it uses up your Immolate at first. Once Shadow and Flame is finished at 39, Conflagrate leaves Immolate on and Shadowburn refunds its Soul Shard, so both go on cooldown. Incinerate at 40 becomes your main cast. Suppression from 41 to 44 gives 4% Hit, and eleven points in Demonology reach Demonic Sacrifice at 55.
Talent points: 6 Affliction, 11 Demonology, 34 Destruction.
Rotation: keep up: Demon Armor, Summon Voidwalker, Demonic Sacrifice; in the fight: Shadow Bolt, Immolate, Bane of Agony, Conflagrate, Shadowburn, Incinerate, Drain Life; two or more enemies: Bane of Havoc, Shadowburn, Immolate, Hellfire, Rain of Fire; when it helps: Curse of the Elements, Life Tap, Drain Soul.
Open Destruction Leveling in the planner
Warlock raid builds
Shadow Mastery and Ruin
This is the Affliction build for dungeons and raids. Most of your time goes into Shadow Bolt while your damage over time spells run, and Improved Shadow Bolt lets its crits raise your Shadow damage on that enemy. Nightfall now and then gives an instant Shadow Bolt for between casts or on the move. Four points in Improved Corruption leave Corruption with a short cast time.
Talent points: 30 Affliction, 21 Destruction.
Rotation: keep up: Demon Armor, Summon Succubus; in the fight: Shadow Bolt, Corruption, Bane of Agony, Siphon Life, Life Tap, Shadow Bolt; when it helps: Curse of the Elements, Bane of Havoc.
Open Shadow Mastery and Ruin in the planner
Demonic Pact Succubus
This is the Demonology build for dungeons and raids. Sacrifice an Imp for 15% Shadow damage, then summon your Succubus: Demonic Pact keeps the bonus. Demonic Brand makes Searing Pain worth casting, because it empowers her attacks. Her Health and Mana lean on Demonic Energies, and the main drawback is that she must stay alive. A different Demon works if your group needs it, but summoning another Imp ends the bonus.
Talent points: 2 Affliction, 31 Demonology, 18 Destruction.
Rotation: keep up: Demonic Sacrifice, Soul Link, Searing Pain, Bane of Agony; in the fight: Corruption, Immolate, Life Tap, Shadow Bolt; when it helps: Curse of the Elements.
Open Demonic Pact Succubus in the planner
Demonic Sacrifice
This is the Destruction build for dungeons and raids. Eleven points in Demonology reach Demonic Sacrifice, and you still get Incinerate and Shadow and Flame. Incinerate takes most of your time. With Shadow and Flame, Conflagrate leaves Immolate running and Shadowburn raises your Fire damage, so both belong in your normal rotation. Fights with time to stand and cast suit it best. If your group needs a Felhunter's interrupt or a Succubus's crowd control, you give up the bonus to summon one.
Talent points: 7 Affliction, 11 Demonology, 33 Destruction.
Rotation: keep up: Demonic Sacrifice, Demon Armor, Corruption, Bane of Agony; in the fight: Immolate, Conflagrate, Shadowburn, Life Tap, Incinerate; when it helps: Curse of the Elements, Bane of Havoc, Shadow Bolt.
Open Demonic Sacrifice in the planner
Warlock PvP builds
Affliction PvP
Improved Corruption comes first, for an instant Corruption you can cast on the run. Fel Concentration from 20 to 22 keeps Drain Life going 70% of the time when you are hit, and Curse of Exhaustion at 25 slows the target by 30% for 12 seconds. Siphon Life comes at 30 and Shadow Mastery fills 35 to 39. From 40 the points go to Demonology for more health, Demonic Sacrifice at 52 and Soul Link at 60, which sends 30% of the damage you take to your demon.
Talent points: 30 Affliction, 21 Demonology.
Key moves: keep for the right moment: Corruption, Bane of Agony, Fear, Curse of Exhaustion, Drain Life.
Open Affliction PvP in the planner
Demonology PvP
Improved Corruption comes first, then Demonic Embrace for 15% more Stamina. Demonic Sacrifice comes at 25 and Soul Link at 35, which sends 30% of the damage you take to your demon and adds 3% damage for you both. Improved Felhunter brings Spell Lock back 6 seconds sooner. Master Demonologist fills 40 to 44, and Demonic Pact at 45 keeps the sacrifice bonus with a different demon out. The last points go to Affliction for range, Hit and Curse of Exhaustion.
Talent points: 16 Affliction, 35 Demonology.
Key moves: keep for the right moment: Summon Felhunter, Summon Succubus, Corruption, Bane of Agony, Fear, Health Funnel.
Open Demonology PvP in the planner
Destruction PvP
Bane makes Shadow Bolt and Immolate cast 0.5 seconds faster, and Molten Skin takes 10% off all damage you take. Shadowburn at 20 and Conflagrate at 25 add instant damage, and Intensity keeps your casts going 70% of the time when you are hit. Aftermath lets Conflagrate slow the target by 50% for 5 seconds. Shadow and Flame fills 35 to 39 and Incinerate comes at 40. From 45 the points go to Demonology for health, Mana and faster demon summons.
Talent points: 16 Demonology, 35 Destruction.
Key moves: burst: Immolate, Conflagrate, Shadowburn; keep for the right moment: Fear, Death Coil.
