Affliction Warlock DPS Guide — The War Within (11.2)

Patch 11.2 brings a plethora of changes both to the Warlock and to the Affliction:

• Corruption as baseline is now instant cast, and deals the first tick of damage on application for all Warlock specialisations;
• consequently Xavian Teachings has been removed;
• Unstable Affliction damage increased by 68%;
• Shadow Bolt and Drain Soul damage increased by 25% in PvE;
• Summon Darkglare damage increased by 35% in PvE;
• Haunt damage increased by 50% in PvE and the damage amplification is now 12%;
• Tormented Crescendo now stacks to 3;
• Focused Malignancy damage bonus doubled from 40 to 80% in PvE;
• Wither periodic damage increased by 15% in PvE;
• Blackened Soul damage increased by 30%;
• Xalan's Ferocity and Xalan's Cruelty values have been tripled to 6%;
• Wicked Reaping damage increased by 75% in PvE;
• Demonic Soul damage increased by 55% in PvE;
• Soul Anathema damage increased by 40% in PvE.

Season 3 introduces for the first time tier set bonuses associated with Hero Trees, rather than specialisations. The result however ends up altering the balance with clear favour towards specific Hero Trees for all three Warlock specialisations.

Bonuses for this set are centered around Wither and Blackened Soul passive damage, and while the resulting damage profile changes, there are no meaningful changes in terms of gameplay, other than trying to maximise the Shard consumption during Malevolence and talenting into Bleakheart Tactics over Hatefury Rituals.

• 2-piece set bonus: Warlock Hellcaller 11.2 Class Set 2pc
• 4-piece set bonus: Warlock Hellcaller 11.2 Class Set 4pc

Bonuses for this set offers even more passive damage, with no real implication in terms of rotational changes.

• 2-piece set bonus: Warlock Soul Harvester 11.2 Class Set 2pc
• 4-piece set bonus: Warlock Soul Harvester 11.2 Class Set 4pc

Season 3 introduces a Legendary Cloak for everyone, Reshii Wraps with different effects based on role. This best in slot item will be unlocked initially through the storyline and can be upgraded each week until reaching item level 730. The meta socket allows to slot various Fibers which will dictate the secondary stats allocated.

For more information on obtaining the new Reshii Wraps check out the post below.

Patch 11.1.7 contains no changes specific to Affliction Warlock, but introduces Durable Information Securing Container as an easily obtainable Best in Slot belt, and Combat Assistant with the aim of simplifying how a spec can be played.

For further insight and its impact on Affliction follow the link below:

Patch 11.1.5 did not bring directly changes to Affliction Warlock, however a live hotfix the 15th of April updated some of the tuning in regards to the relative strength of some spells and how are weighted in their application or intended scenarios:

• Agony damage increased by 10%.
• Soul Rot damage increased by 30%.
• Vile Taint damage increased by 40%.