Mists of Pandaria Classic Affliction Warlock Guide

This page contains an overview for the Affliction Warlock You will find important information needed for Affliction Warlocks in Mists of Pandaria Classic. We will be updating this with all the latest information as soon as anything more is discovered, so make sure to check back!

Affliction Warlocks have phenomenal burst, top-tier single-target, with some of the highest multi-target damage in the game, with respectable AoE. They shine on encounters that have any long standing additional enemies or more than one boss, with the ability to instantly apply all their powerful DoTs to the targets thanks to Soul Swap. They excel even more in execute damage thanks to Drain Soul. Add in their very high single target and you can expect to see many raids looking for Affliction Warlocks.

This has been and remains the go to Warlock spec for any player who enjoys min-maxing to the fullest. Constantly watching timers, managing many different DoTs, snapshotting those DoTs to maximize their damage and paying attention to your Soul Shards, while not incorrectly spending them. It's a lot of work, for a MAJOR payoff.

For more information on the best Talent and Glyphs, check out our Talents and Glyphs Guide.

• Dark Soul: Misery — Massive 2 minute cooldown that increases your Haste by 30% for 20 sec.
• Haunt — Same Haunt that deals damage and buffs your DoTs, but now costs a Soul Shard.
• Soul Swap — Copies all the DoT's from one target and puts them onto another target. This spell no longer has a cooldown and no longer removes DoTs from previous target.
• Seed of Corruption — Puts a seed on an enemy that blows up when it takes enough damage. Once it blows up, it applies Corruption to all targets in the area.
• Drain Soul — One of the main ways to get Soul Shaards. If used when the target is below 20% HP, Drain Soul does 100% more damage and makes all of your DoT's instantly do 60% of their normal damage.

Strengths

• Insanely high multi target and cleave damage.
• Great single target damage and execute damage.
• Great sustained AoE and funnel damage.
• Great mobility with Kil'jaeden's Cunning, Burning Rush and Demonic Circle: Teleport.
• Strong utility, buffs and debuffs with Dark Intent, Demonic Gateway, Curse of the Elements,
• Soulstone and more.

Weaknesses

• Very Low burst damage - all damage has to Ramp
• Harder to play. Balancing DoT's and Snapshotting.
• Rotation/DoT management can be difficult for some.
• Resource Management - Inefficient use of Soul Shards can lead to a SEVERE DPS loss.
• Pet management, unless using the talent Grimoire of Sacrifice.

Any Horde race except Tauren can be a Warlock. Orc and Troll are the best choices thanks to Blood Fury and Berserking.

• Orc: Blood Fury for Spell Power burst, Command for pet damage, and Hardiness for PvP stun resist.
• Troll: Berserking for 20% Haste on a 3-min CD.
• Goblin: Rocket Jump (mobility), Time is Money (+1% Haste).
• Undead: Will of the Forsaken — excellent for PvP.

Any Alliance race besides Draenei and Night Elf can be a Warlock. Gnome and Humans are the best choices thanks to the 1% Expertise/Hit they get from their Racials Shortblade Specialization and Sword Specialization.

• Gnome: Shortblade Specialization = +1% Expertise (Hit).
• Human: Sword Specialization = same benefit as Gnome.
• Worgen: +1% Crit, Running Wild = free Sprint.
• Dwarf: Stoneform — PvP utility.

You really can't go wrong with your profession choice, as all of them besides Herbalism, Skinning, and Mining bring roughly the same amount of Intellect. The only one that stands out more than the rest is Tailoring, as it provides the most Intellect with its bonus. What you choose for your second profession is completely up to you. My personal second pick is Engineering for explosives, Nitro Boosts and the all powerful Synapse Springs.

• Engineering — This gives you access to some very powerful items. Synapse Springs is an Engineering only enchant that you put on your gloves and it stacks with your normal glove enchant. This is an on use that gives you 1920 Intellect for 10 seconds and is only on a one minute cooldown. Engineering also allows you craft the best in slot Lightweight Retinal Armor, an extrememly strong helmet that's best in slot to start the expansion. Engineers also have Nitro Boosts that enchant to your belt and when activated gives you a rocket boost, greatly increasing your movment speed for 5 seconds.
• Tailoring — This allows you to enchant your cloak with Lightweave Embroidery, which is a proc that gives you 2000 Intellect for 15 seconds, on a 1 minute cooldown.
• Blacksmithing — This allows you to gain two extra sockets, one in your gloves and bracers. You can add two red gems for 320 Intellect or even a 640 Mastery one if you want.
• Jewelcrafting — This allows you to craft three Brilliant Serpent's Eye and Fractured Serpent's Eye, which give you 160 more stats, equating in 320 Intellect.
• Alchemy — Thanks to Mixology, this will add 320 Intellect to your Flask of the Warm Sun. Alchemists can also craft Zen Alchemist Stone for an easy to get and pretty strong trinket with a big chunk of Mastery, as well as an Intellect proc.
• Enchanting — This allows you to enchant your rings with 160 Intellect on each one, for a total gain of 320 Intellect.
• Inscription — This allows you to enchant your shoulder with 320 Intellect, Secret Crane Wing Inscription
• Leatherworking — This allows you to enchant your bracers with 320 Intellect.
• Herbalism — This gives you Lifeblood, which gives you 2880 Haste for 20 seconds and is on a two minute cooldown.
• Mining — This just provides 480 Stamina.
• Skinning — This gives you 480 Critical Strike Rating.

Addons and Macros can drastically improved your gameplay when it comes to DPS'ing as a Warlock. We highly suggest you check out our Macros and Addons pages linked below to help maximize your damage.