Affliction Warlock DPS Sepulcher of the First Ones Raid Guide — Shadowlands 9.2.5

In this section, you will find information and guidance for each boss individually in Sepulcher of the First Ones as a Affliction Warlock. These are not complete encounter guides, but rather provide specific tips for any Affliction Warlock on each boss.

During Shadowlands Season 4, Castle Nathria, Sanctum of Domination, and Sepulcher of the First Ones will each spend time being featured as a Fated Raid. During these times encounters within the specific raid will include an additional mechanic and items will drop at increased item levels. If you would like to learn more general information about the Fated Raids system as a whole, please see our overview below. Otherwise, continue to use this page for specialization-specific tips.

We advise you to use the following talents against Vigilant Guardian.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity (or Vile Taint, situationally)
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Vigilant Guardian: Wrath of Consumption.

This is a three-phase boss with adds and a single-target burn.

During Phase 1 pool resources for the Pre-Fabricated Sentry. There will be plenty of opportunities to snipe Shards with Drain Soul and Unstable Affliction on smaller adds. Demonic Gateway can be used to facilitate the bomb mechanic.

In Phase 2 Demonic Circle can trivialise the Matter Dissolution mechanic.

Try to enter Phase 3 with all cooldowns since it is either kill or be killed.

For more information, please refer to our Vigilant Guardian guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Skolex, the Insatiable Ravener.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Skolex, the Insatiable Ravener: Malefic Wrath.

This is a single-target fight with periodic wide movements.

Pay attention to Retch and try to not have your cooldowns rolling during that ability. Demonic Circle can be used to both dodge Retch or nullify the knockup from the Ravening Burrow later on.

For more information, please refer to our Skolex, the Insatiable Ravener guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Artificer Xy'mox.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Artificer Xy'mox: Malefic Wrath.

This is a two-phase boss with mostly single-target and few adds in Phase 2.

Demonic Circle can bypass the Genesis Rings mechanic entirely, reducing the need for additional movements.

During Phase 2 Affliction's funneling capabilities come in handy to focus the Acolytes down: try to have Agony rolling on every target.

We advise you to use the following talents against Dausegne, the Fallen Oracle.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Dausegne, the Fallen Oracle: Malefic Wrath.

This is a single-target fight with occasional cleave.

Focus the Domination Core down and at the same time use it to gain additional Shards through Drain Soul and Unstable Affliction.

Demonic Circle can be used to nullify Disintegration Halo damage. Demonic Gateway can also be used to help the raid navigate across the platform during these movements.

Save cooldowns for when the boss casts Inevitable Dominion.

For more information, please refer to our Dausegne, the Fallen Oracle guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Prototype Pantheon.

• Level 15: Inevitable Demise (or Drain Soul, situationally)
• Level 25: Absolute Corruption (situational options: Writhe in Agony or Siphon Life)
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Vile Taint (or Phantom Singularity, situationally)
• Level 40: Mortal Coil (or Howl of Terror, situationally)
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery (or Soul Conduit, situationally)

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Prototype Pantheon: Perpetual Agony of Azj'Aqir.

This is a council fight with 2 to 4 targets in the fight.

Use Demonic Gateway and/or Demonic Circle to get in range and DPS Necrotic Ritualists and to counter the Pinning Volley.

Curse of Tongues can be used to slow down the frequency of Gloom Bolts.

Demonic Circle should be used to disengage from Hand of Destruction.

We advise you to use the following talents against Lihuvim, Principal Architect.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Lihuvim, Principal Architect: Relic of Demonic Synergy.

This is a two-phase single-target boss with several adds in the second phase.

Save cooldowns to burn down the designated add before it activates going into Phase 2.

As usual Demonic Gateway can be used to facilitate maneuvering across the arena.

For more information, please refer to our Lihuvim, Principal Architect guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Halondrus the Reclaimer.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Halondrus the Reclaimer: Malefic Wrath.

This is a three-phase, single-target boss.

In phase 1 it is extremely important to prioritise soaking orbs. Save cooldowns for when the boss reaches 100 energy and has the Reclaim shield.

The Crushing Prism magic effect can be dispelled by Imp.

During intermissions stay ahead of the boss to avoid any unwanted knockback.

Across the whole fight Demonic Circle can be used to bypass Planetcracker Beam safely.

For more information, please refer to our Halondrus the Reclaimer guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Anduin Wrynn.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Anduin Wrynn: Wrath of Consumption.

This is a three-phase encounter with multiple adds.

In the Shadow Realm funnel down the Anduin's Despair add using the small Anduin's Doubt adds to generate extra resources with Drain Soul and Unstable Affliction.

Save cooldowns for when the boss reaches 100 Willpower as it will cast a powerful buff on the whole raid entering the first intermission.

In Phase 2 use Curse of Tongues on Grim Reflection adds to reduce the amount of interrupts needed.

For more information, please refer to our Anduin Wrynn guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Lords of Dread.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Absolute Corruption
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery (or Soul Conduit, situationally)

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Lords of Dread: Malefic Wrath.

This is a two-target boss fight.

Make sure to apply Curse of Tongues on the Manifest Shadows add only after it is fully healed.

Save cooldowns for when Mal'Ganis reaches 100 energy and casts Unto Darkness.

For more information, please refer to our Lords of Dread guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against Rygelon.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life (or Absolute Corruption, situationally)
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity or Vile Taint
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Rygelon: Wrath of Consumption.

This is a two-phase fight with multiple adds in the first and boss in the second.

In phase 1 there will be plenty of opportunities to generate extra shards from Orbs, using Agony on the most distant ones and sniping the closest with Unstable Affliction and Drain Soul.

Additional orbs will still be attackable for additional resources with Agony but cannot be killed so avoid using Unstable Affliction and Drain Soul unless you need to burst them down for the Massive Bang.

For more information, please refer to our Rygelon guide.

We advise you to use the following talents against The Jailer.

• Level 15: Drain Soul (or Inevitable Demise, situationally)
• Level 25: Siphon Life
• Level 30: Demon Skin or Dark Pact (or Burning Rush, situationally)
• Level 35: Phantom Singularity
• Level 40: Mortal Coil
• Level 45: Haunt (or Shadow Embrace, situationally)
• Level 50: Dark Soul: Misery

We advise you to use the following Legendary against The Jailer: Malefic Wrath.

This is a three-phase boss fight.

Movement tools such as Demonic Circle and Demonic Gateway can help with handling the line-of-sight requirement for Relentless Domination although these are better used to handle the Chains of Oppression pull.

Demonic Circle in Phase 2 can be used to avoid a knock out of the platform after a Decimator.

In Phase 3 use active damage mitigation when soaking Desolation.

Demonic Circle and Demonic Gateway can be used to handle the Chains of Anguish mechanic.

Do not step into Defile. Please.

Use Curse of Tongues on the Torment add and focus it down.

For more information, please refer to our The Jailer guide.