In this WoW SoD Warlock DPS Build, you will find the best PvE DPS spec for Warlocks in the Season of Discovery in WoW Classic. The build shows the best talents, runes, BiS gear, and enchants to DPS in dungeons and raids with your Warlock.
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Table of Contents
- SoD Phase 5 DPS Warlock BiS List
- SoD Phase 4 DPS Warlock BiS List
- SoD DPS Warlock Pre-Raid BiS List
- Warlock Rotation in Season of Discovery
- DPS Warlock Consumables in SoD
- SoD Phase 3 BiS List for DPS Warlocks
- DPS Warlock Stat Priority
- Warlock Macros in WoW Classic
- Tank Build for Warlock in Season of Discovery
WoW SoD Demonology Warlock Talents & Runes
Choose the following talents and runes as a Demonology Warlock for Phase 5 at level 60:
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This Demonology Warlock spec is also known as MD/Ruin, stemming from the key talents Master Demonologist and Ruin. Use Summon Felguard with this Demo build. Learn where to find each rune in our guide WoW SoD Warlock Runes.
WoW SoD Affliction Warlock Talents & Runes
Choose the following talents and runes as an Affliction Warlock for Phase 5 at level 60:
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This Affliction Warlock spec is also known as SM/Ruin, stemming from the key talents Shadow Mastery and Ruin. Use Summon Succubus with this Affli build.
WoW SoD Destruction Warlock Talents & Runes
Choose the following talents and runes as a Destruction Warlock for Phase 5 at level 60:
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Use an extra pair of gloves with the rune Shadow Bolt Volley for trash mobs between the bosses to speed up your runs. If you’re never using Shadow Bolt Volley for fights with multiple targets, you can go 5/5 Cataclysm instead of Improved Shadow Bolt. But overall, boss fights are too short and the impact of Cataclysm is too low to make it a DPS increase. Since Life Tap now also returns mana to your pet, Improved Shadow Bolt with the extra pair of gloves is the recommended way.
SoD Phase 5 DPS Warlock BiS List
The following DPS Warlock BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery:
- Head (Hoodoo Hex)
Nemesis Skullcap ( Blackwing Lair)
Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer ( Blackwing Lair) - Neck
Choker of the Fire Lord ( Molten Core)
Kezan's Unstoppable Taint ( Zul'Gurub) - Shoulders (Zandalar Signet of Mojo)
Nemesis Spaulders (Blackwing Lair) - Back (Enchant Cloak - Fire Resistance)
Cloak of the Brood Lord ( Blackwing Lair)
Cloak of Consumption ( Zul'Gurub) - Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
Nemesis Robes (Blackwing Lair) - Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
Nemesis Bracers ( sold for 125 Tarnished Undermine Real by Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale)
Zandalar Demoniac's Wraps ( Zul'Gurub) - Hands
Nemesis Gloves (Blackwing Lair) - Waist
Nemesis Belt (Prince Thunderaan) - Legs (Hoodoo Hex)
Nemesis Leggings (Blackwing Lair) - Feet (Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
Nemesis Boots (Blackwing Lair) - Rings
Ring of Blackrock ( Blackwing Lair)
Band of Sulfuras ( Molten Core)
Zanzil's Seal ( Zul'Gurub)
Zanzil's Band ( Zul'Gurub) - Trinkets
The Black Book (Blackwing Lair)
Neltharion's Tear ( Blackwing Lair)
Hazza'rah's Charm of Destruction ( Zul'Gurub) - Main-Hand Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
Scythe of Chaos ( Depleted Scythe of Chaos from Blackwing Lair)
Staff of the Shadow Flame ( Blackwing Lair) - Wand
Touch of Chaos (Zul'Gurub)
Legend: Items marked with are BiS for the Destro Locks. Items marked with are BiS for Affli Locks. Items marked with are BiS for the Demonology MD/Ruin spec.
SoD Phase 4 DPS Warlock BiS List
The following DPS Warlock BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 4 of Season of Discovery to DPS in raids and dungeons:
- Head (Arcanum of Focus)
Deathmist Mask ( Saving the Best for Last) 1
Deathmist Mask ( Saving the Best for Last) 1
Felheart Horns ( Molten Core) - Neck
Choker of the Fire Lord (Molten Core) - Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Mojo)
Rugged Mantle of the Timbermaw ( Timbermaw – Revered & Tailoring) 4
Felheart Shoulder Pads ( Molten Core) - Back (Enchant Cloak - Greater Resistance)
Brilliant Chromatic Cloak ( Leatherworking)
Drape of the Fire Lord ( Molten Core) - Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
Felheart Robes (Molten Core) - Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
Felheart Bracers (Molten Core) - Hands
Felheart Gloves (Molten Core) - Waist
Knowledge of the Timbermaw ( Timbermaw – Honored & Tailoring) 4
Deathmist Belt ( Just Compensation) 3
Deathmist Belt ( Just Compensation) 3 - Legs (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
Felheart Pants (Molten Core) - Feet (Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
Deathmist Sandals ( Anthion's Parting Words) 2
Deathmist Sandals ( Anthion's Parting Words) 2 - Rings
Band of Sulfuras (Molten Core)
Dragonslayer's Signet (Head of Onyxia) - Trinkets
Talisman of Ephemeral Power (Molten Core)
Zila Gular ( Otherworldly Treasure)
Breadth of the Beast (12 Wild Offering) - Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
Key to the City (Onyxia)
Azuresong Mageblade (Molten Core) - Off-Hand
Tome of Fiery Arcana ( Alterac Valley – Exalted)
Drakestone of the Nightmare Harbinger ( Sunken Temple) - Wand
Skul's Ghastly Touch ( Stratholme)
Nightmare Trophy (Sunken Temple)
Legend: Items marked with are BiS for the Destro Locks. Items marked with are BiS for Affli Locks.
1 This quest requires Dreadmist Mask from Scholomance and Dreadmist Robe from Blackrock Spire to complete.
2 This quest requires Dreadmist Sandals from Stratholme, Dreadmist Leggings from Stratholme, and Dreadmist Mantle from Scholomance to complete.
3 This quest requires Dreadmist Belt from Stratholme and Dreadmist Wraps from Scholomance to complete.4
You only need the reputation with Timbermaw Hold to craft the base item. If you buy the base item from another player, being Friendly with Timbermaw Hold is enough to upgrade the base item to the epic version.
Fire Resistance for Heat Level 2 and Heat Level 3
To raid the more difficult heat levels in Molten Core you need to hit Fire Resistance thresholds. For Heat Level 2 you need at least 96 Fire Resistance and for Heat Level 3 you need at least 226 Fire Resistance. To increase your Fire Resistance you can equip gear, utilize enchantments, use consumables, and get buffs from your Druids, Shamans 1, and Paladins 1.
Use the following sources to increase your Fire Resistance to the required threshold:
- Mark of the Wild (up to 27 Fire Resistance if improved, does not stack with Fire Resistance Totem)
- Lesser Arcanum of Resilience (Head & Legs Enchants, Libram of Resilience)
- Blessed Flame Mantle of the Dawn (Argent Dawn – Exalted), Flame Mantle of the Dawn (Argent Dawn – Revered)
- Hydraxian Coronation (Hydraxian Waterlords – Honored)
- Juju Ember (Shardtooth E'ko at 61.8 38.2 in Winterspring)
- Magic Resistance Potion (does not stack with Mark of the Wild or Fire Resistance Totem)
- Miniaturized Fire Extinguisher (Demon Fall Canyon)
- Fine Flarecore Mantle (Lokhtos Darkbargainer in Blackrock Depths)
- Fine Flarecore Leggings (Lokhtos Darkbargainer in Blackrock Depths)
- Tidal Loop (A Hero's Reward)
- Dragonslayer's Signet (Head of Onyxia)
- Crimson Shocker (Molten Core)
- Miniaturized Combustion Chamber (Gnomeregan)
- Drakefire Amulet (Blackrock Spire)
- Wildfire Cape (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Using Fire Resistance items often results in a DPS loss in comparison to your BiS list. After you’ve acquired new raid items recalculate your Fire Resistance and re-optimize your gear loadout.
🔥 Since the boss Garr from Molten Core can dispel magic effects, you should make sure your Warlock is hitting the Fire Resistance threshold without Mark of the Wild for that specific fight. This might require you to have some off-pieces for that boss fight.
1 For most guilds, it is not recommended to rely on Shaman totems or Paladin auras to hit the minimum Fire Resistance thresholds. If the aura or totem is out of range or the player dies, you will lack Fire Resistance. Use the totems or auras as additional mitigation, but calculate your Fire Resistance without them.
SoD DPS Warlock Pre-Raid BiS List
The following DPS Warlock pre-BiS list contains the best items you can get in Season of Discovery before entering the endgame raids at level 60.
- Head (Arcanum of Focus)
Deathmist Mask ( Saving the Best for Last in Ironforge) 1
Deathmist Mask ( Saving the Best for Last in Orgrimmar) 1
Spellweaver's Turban (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Lieutenant Commander's Dreadweave Cowl ( PvP Rank 10)
Champion's Dreadweave Cowl ( PvP Rank 10)
Eye of Flame ( World Drop) - Neck
Orb of the Darkmoon (Darkmoon Faire)
Nacreous Shell Necklace (Stratholme Live)
Star of Mystaria (Stratholme Live) - Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Mojo)
Rugged Mantle of the Timbermaw (Timbermaw – Revered & Tailoring) 4
Champion's Dreadweave Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10)
Lieutenant Commander's Dreadweave Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10)
Deathmist Mantle ( Anthion's Parting Words in Ironforge) 2
Deathmist Mantle ( Anthion's Parting Words in Orgrimmar) 2
Soulstealer Mantle ( Stratholme)
Burial Shawl (Scholomance) - Back (Enchant Cloak - Greater Resistance)
Archivist Cape of Fiery Wrath ( Stratholme Live)
Master's Cloak of Fiery Wrath ( or similar with up to +21 Fire Damage, World Drop)
Archivist Cape of Shadow Wrath ( Stratholme Live)
Master's Cloak of Shadow Wrath ( or similar with up to +21 Shadow Damage, World Drop)
Brilliant Chromatic Cloak (Leatherworking)
Amplifying Cloak (Dire Maul – West)
Hukku's Hex Cape (Sunken Temple) - Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
Deathmist Robe ( Saving the Best for Last in Ironforge) 1
Deathmist Robe ( Saving the Best for Last in Orgrimmar) 1
Robe of the Void (Tailoring) - Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
Dryad's Wrist Bindings (Warsong Gulch – Exalted)
Cursed Slimescale Bracers (Sunken Temple)
Flameweave Cuffs of Fiery Wrath ( Blackrock Depths)
Flameweave Cuffs of Shadow Wrath ( Blackrock Depths) - Hands
Inferno Gloves ( Tailoring)
Deathmist Wraps ( Just Compensation in Ironforge) 3
Deathmist Wraps ( Just Compensation in Orgrimmar) 3
Hands of Power (Lower Blackrock Spire) - Waist
Knowledge of the Timbermaw (Timbermaw – Honored & Tailoring) 4
Deathmist Belt ( Just Compensation in Ironforge) 3
Deathmist Belt ( Just Compensation in Orgrimmar) 3
Master's Belt of Fiery Wrath ( or similar with up to +30 Fire Damage, World Drop)
Goblin Clothesline (sold for 25 Tarnished Undermine Real by Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale) - Legs (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
Master's Leggings of Fiery Wrath ( or similar with up to +41 Fire Damage, World Drop)
Master's Leggings of Shadow Wrath ( or similar with up to +41 Shadow Damage, World Drop)
Skyshroud Leggings (Lower Blackrock Spire)
Deathmist Leggings ( Anthion's Parting Words in Ironforge) 2
Deathmist Leggings ( Anthion's Parting Words in Orgrimmar) 2 - Feet (Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
Deathmist Sandals ( Anthion's Parting Words in Ironforge) 2
Deathmist Sandals ( Anthion's Parting Words in Orgrimmar) 2
Maleki's Footwraps ( Stratholme Undead)
Omnicast Boots (Blackrock Depths)
Fire Striders ( Stratholme Live) - Rings
Necromantic Band ( Scholomance)
Rune Band of Wizardry (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Burning Ring of Fire ( Demon Fall Canyon)
Flaming Band ( Upper Blackrock Spire)
Loop of the Magister (sold for 50 Tarnished Undermine Real by Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale)
Maiden's Circle (World Drop)
Don Mauricio's Band of Domination (Scholomance) - Trinkets
Zila Gular ( Otherworldly Treasure)
Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Breadth of the Beast (12 Wild Offering)
Eye of the Beast ( General Drakkisath's Demise in Upper Blackrock Spire)
Eye of the Beast ( For The Horde! in Upper Blackrock Spire)
Draconic Infused Emblem (Upper Blackrock Spire) - Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
Sageclaw ( Arathi Basin – Exalted)
Mindfang ( Arathi Basin – Exalted)
Hubris, the Bandit Brander (Sunken Temple) - Off-Hand
Drakestone of the Nightmare Harbinger ( Sunken Temple)
Tome of Shadow Force ( Alterac Valley – Exalted)
Tome of Fiery Arcana ( Alterac Valley – Exalted)
Scepter of Interminable Focus (Stratholme – Live)
Drakestone of the Blood Prophet ( Sunken Temple) - Wand
Skul's Ghastly Touch ( Stratholme)
Nightmare Trophy (Sunken Temple)
Legend: Items marked with are BiS for the Destro Locks. Items marked with are BiS for Affli Locks.
1 This quest requires Dreadmist Mask from Scholomance and Dreadmist Robe from Blackrock Spire to complete.
2 This quest requires Dreadmist Sandals from Stratholme, Dreadmist Leggings from Stratholme, and Dreadmist Mantle from Scholomance to complete.
3 This quest requires Dreadmist Belt from Stratholme and Dreadmist Wraps from Scholomance to complete.
4 You only need the reputation with Timbermaw Hold to craft the base item. If you buy the base item from another player, being Friendly with Timbermaw Hold is enough to upgrade the base item to the epic pre-BiS version.
While collecting your pre-BiS in Phase 4, you need to change the prioritization of the items to your current situation. Try to unlock the 4-set bonus of “Deathmist Rainment” and avoid over-capping your Spell Hit Chance. As a Destruction Warlock you don’t want more than 10% Spell Hit Chance from your gear. As an Affliction Warlock with 4 talent points in Suppression, you don’t want more than 2% Spell Hit Chance from your gear.
This P4 pre-BiS list is continuously being worked on. Please use the feedback button below to send us your thoughts and suggestions.
Warlock Rotation in Season of Discovery
The rotation for a Warlock depends on whether you play as Destruction, Demonology, or Affliction Warlock.
Demonology Warlock Rotation
The rotation as a Demo Warlock in WoW SoD with the MD/Ruin spec has the following priority list:
- Keep Curse of Recklessness or Curse of the Elements active, if required by your raid.
- Keep Shadowflame active.
- Keep Curse of Agony active.
- Keep Corruption active.
- Cast Haunt whenever it’s available.
- Cast Shadow Bolt.
Affliction Warlock Rotation
The rotation as a Shadow Affli Warlock in WoW SoD with the SM/Ruin spec has the following priority list:
- Keep Curse of Recklessness or Curse of the Elements active, if required by your raid.
- Keep Shadowflame active.
- Keep Unstable Affliction active.
- Keep Corruption active.
- Keep Curse of Agony active.
- Cast Haunt whenever it’s available.
- Cast Shadow Bolt.
Destruction Warlock Rotation
The rotation as a Fire Destro Warlock in WoW SoD consists of the following priority list:
- Keep Curse of Recklessness or Curse of the Elements active, if required by your raid.
- Keep the debuff from Incinerate active.
- Cast Conflagrate whenever it’s available. *
- Keep Immolate active.
- Cast Soul Fire, if the boss has 35% or less HP and Decimation is active.
- Cast Chaos Bolt whenever it’s available. Ignore this step, if the boss has less than 35% HP.
- Cast Incinerate.
* Skip this step, if the boss is in execute range (35% or less HP) and Backdraft is still active.
Only one Curse of Recklessness and one Curse of the Elements need to be active on the boss. Each Warlock has one defined curse they are responsible for. If there are more than 2 Warlocks in your raid and you are not responsible for one of the curses, skip this step.
DPS Warlock Consumables in SoD
The following list of consumables can be used by DPS Warlocks in endgame raids at level 60:
- Flask of Supreme Power
- Wizard Oil
- Greater Arcane Elixir / Arcane Elixir
- Elixir of Greater Firepower / Elixir of Firepower ( spec)
- Elixir of Shadow Power ( spec)
- Tender Wolf Steak / Blessed Sunfruit Juice
- Superior Mana Potion
SoD Phase 3 BiS List for DPS Warlocks
The following DPS Warlock best-in-slot list contains the best items you can get in Phase 3 of Season of Discovery. You need to get loot from the 20-man raid Sunken Temple and do PvP to get the best items in the game.
- Head (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
Visage of the Exiled (Sunken Temple) - Neck
Jin'do's Lost Locket (Sunken Temple) - Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Mojo)
Fractured Mind Pauldrons (Tailoring) - Back
Hukku's Hex Cape (Sunken Temple) - Chest (Enchant Chest - Stats)
Garments of the Atal'ai Prophet (Sunken Temple) - Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Intellect)
Cursed Slimescale Bracers ( Sunken Temple)
Void-Powered Invoker's Vambraces (Engineering)
Dryad's Wrist Bindings (Warsong Gulch – Exalted) - Hands
Atal'ai Hexxer's Gloves (Sunken Temple) - Waist
Cord of the Untamed (15 Wild Offering) - Legs (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
Malevolent Prophet's Leggings (Sunken Temple) - Feet (Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
Malevolent Prophet's Sandals (Sunken Temple) - Rings
Drakeclaw Band of the Harbinger (Sunken Temple)
Roar of the Dream (Nightmare Incursions – Exalted)
Cyclopean Band (Blackrock Depths) - Trinkets
Infernal Pact Essence (Stranglethorn Vale PvP event)
Breadth of the Beast ( 12 Wild Offering)
Atal'ai Blood Ritual Charm (Sunken Temple) - Weapon
Hubris, the Bandit Brander (Sunken Temple) - Off-Hand
Drakestone of the Blood Prophet ( Sunken Temple)
Drakestone of the Nightmare Harbinger ( Sunken Temple) - Wand
Nightmare Trophy (Sunken Temple)
Legend: Items marked with are BiS for the fire spec. Items marked with are BiS for the shadow spec.
Use our Epic Crafting Guide for Phase 3 to learn how to craft Fractured Mind Pauldrons.
DPS Warlock Stat Priority
As a DPS Warlock you want to prioritize gear with the following stats:
- Up to 16% Spell Hit Chance against level 60 raid bosses.
- Spell Critical Hit
- Spell Damage = Fire Damage (or Shadow Damage depending on your build)
- Spirit
- Intellect
After reaching the hit cap, more Hit Chance has no additional value. Due to the Spell Hit Chance from your finger runes and talents, you need less Spell Hit Chance from your gear.
Warlock Macros in WoW Classic
You can write very useful macros for a Warlock in WoW Classic to improve your gameplay. Find the most important macros in our guide “WoW Classic Warlock Macros“. You’ll learn how to write macros yourself by reading through the examples, too.
Tank Build for Warlock in Season of Discovery
To tank in dungeons and raids, use the WoW SoD Warlock Tank Spec. The Tank Warlock spec is optimized to maintain your opponents’ threat and reduce incoming damage.