Affliction Warlock DPS Stat Priority in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Affliction Warlock's Strengths and Weaknesses
    • 3.1. Affliction Warlock Strengths
    • 3.2. Affliction Warlock Weaknesses
  • 4. Affliction Warlock's Viability in the Current Patch
  • 5. Contents
  • 6. Changelog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics of an Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Talent Choice for Affliction Warlock
  • 4. Stat Priority for Affliction Warlock
  • 5. Azerite Quick Reference for Affliction Warlock
    • 5.1. Single Target
    • 5.2. Cleave
  • 6. Single Target Rotation for Affliction Warlock
    • 6.1. Multiple Target Rotation for Affliction Warlock
  • 7. Changelog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Affliction Warlock Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources for Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Affliction Warlock
    • 3.1. Damage Over Time Spells (DoTs)
    • 3.2. Direct Damage Spells
  • 4. Cooldowns for Affliction Warlock
    • 4.1. Damage Cooldowns for Affliction Warlock
    • 4.2. Defensive Cooldowns and Tools for Affliction Warlock
  • 5. Changelog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Affliction Warlock
  • 9. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 9.1. Affliction Warlock War Mode Talents
      • 9.1.1. General PvP Talents
      • 9.1.2. Affliction Warlock PvP Talents
  • 10. Changelog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. General Azerite Gear Recommendation
  • 2. Choosing Azerite Gear as an Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Choosing Azerite Traits as an Affliction Warlock
    • 3.1. Outer Ring
    • 3.2. Middle Ring
    • 3.3. Inner Ring
  • 4. Azerite Simulation Rankings for Affliction Warlock
    • 4.1. Single Target
      • 4.1.1. Outer Ring
      • 4.1.2. Middle Ring
    • 4.2. Cleave/AoE
      • 4.2.1. Outer Ring
      • 4.2.2. Middle Ring
  • 5. Azerite Traits Rotation Changes and Details for Affliction Warlock
  • 6. Azerite Traits
    • 6.1. Generic Outer Ring Traits
    • 6.2. Affliction Warlock Specific Outer Ring Traits
    • 6.3. Generic Middle Ring Traits
    • 6.4. Inner Ring Traits for Affliction Warlock
  • 7. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 8. Changelog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Playstyle for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.1. Single Target Priority for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.2. Cooldown Usage for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.3. Opening Sequence for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.4. Multiple Target Priority for Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Important Notes for Affliction Warlock
    • 2.1. Soul Shards
    • 2.2. Deathbolt Usage
    • 2.3. Agony
    • 2.4. Unstable Affliction Usage
    • 2.5. "Pandemic" — Learning to Efficiently Refresh DoTs
    • 2.6. Pet Choice
    • 2.7. Movement Management
      • 2.7.1. Quiet Movement
  • 3. Changelog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Mythic+ Introduction for Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Affix List
    • 2.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 2.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 2.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 2.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 3. Mythic+ Talents for Affliction Warlock
    • 3.1. Talent Explanations
      • 3.1.1. Tier 1/Level 15
      • 3.1.2. Tier 2/Level 30
      • 3.1.3. Tier 3/Level 45
      • 3.1.4. Tier 4/Level 60
      • 3.1.5. Tier 5/Level 75
      • 3.1.6. Tier 6/Level 90
      • 3.1.7. Tier 7/Level 100
  • 4. Stat Priority for Affliction Warlock
  • 5. Pet Choice for Affliction Warlock
  • 6. Changelog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Letting Agony Stacks Drop
  • 2. Delaying Deathbolt Usage
  • 3. Patchy Unstable Affliction Coverage
  • 4. Improper Soul Shard Management with Drain Soul
  • 5. Seed of Corruption
  • 6. Summon Darkglare
  • 7. Holding Your Cooldowns
  • 8. Changelog
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Frequently Asked Questions for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.1. How Should I Play with Deathbolt?
    • 1.2. What Pets/Demons Should I Use?
    • 1.3. Is Phantom Singularity Affected by Darkglare or Deathbolt?
    • 1.4. Why Does My Darkglare Fail to Extend My DoTs Occasionally?
    • 1.5. Why is Phantom Singularity a Stronger Choice than Vile Taint?
    • 1.6. When Should I Use Seed of Corruption?
      • 1.6.1. What About With Sow the Seeds?
    • 1.7. What Piece is Better, X or Y?
    • 1.8. How Much of X Stat Should I Have?
  • 2. Changelog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Introduction for Affliction Warlock Boss Advice in Uldir
    • 1.1. Talent Cheatsheet for Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Taloc
  • 3. M.O.T.H.E.R.
  • 4. Fetid Devourer
  • 5. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
  • 6. Vectis
  • 7. Zul, Reborn
  • 8. Mythrax the Unraveler
  • 9. G'huun
  • 10. Changelog
• ×Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for an Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Statistics Explanations for Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Changelog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Enchants for Affliction Warlock
  • 3. Consumables for Affliction Warlock
  • 4. Changelog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons for Affliction Warlock
    • 1.1. Generic Addons for Warlocks
    • 1.2. ElvUI
    • 1.3. Weak Auras
    • 1.4. Boss Mods
      • 1.4.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.4.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.5. Name Plates
      • 1.5.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.5.2. TidyPlates
      • 1.5.3. Plater
    • 1.6. Damage Meters
      • 1.6.1. Skada
      • 1.6.2. Details!
    • 1.7. Extra AddOns
      • 1.7.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.7.2. xCT+ Combat Text
      • 1.7.3. DeathNote
      • 1.7.4. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.7.5. Angry Assignments
      • 1.7.6. Exorsus Raid Tools
  • 2. Macros for Affliction Warlock
    • 2.1. Pet Macros
      • 2.1.1. Dot Mouseover
      • 2.1.2. Banish Focus
      • 2.1.3. Soulstone Mouseover
      • 2.1.4. Demonic Circle
      • 2.1.5. Tier 5 talents
  • 3. Changelog
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. How To Effectively Compare Upgrades as an Affliction Warlock
  • 2. Best in Slot Items for Affliction Warlock
    • 2.1. Uldir Best in Slot
    • 2.2. Dungeon Best in Slot
  • 3. Azerite Gear for Affliction Warlock
  • 4. Trinkets for Affliction Warlock
    • 4.1. Trinket Simulations for Affliction Warlock
      • 4.1.1. Single Target
      • 4.1.2. Cleave
  • 5. Changelog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Affliction Warlock Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. Changelog

General Information

On this page, we explain what the best statistics are for Affliction Warlocks in World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth 8.0.1, how the class benefits from each of them.

The statistics priority is important as it influences itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

The other pages of our Affliction Warlock guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Motoko, Warlock main since The Burning Crusade, co-admin in the Warlock Discord, and theorycrafter and contributor for LockOneStopShop.

1. The Basics of Stats for an Affliction Warlock

The stat priority for an Affliction Warlock is:

1. Mastery;
2. Intellect;
3. Haste;
4. Critical Strike ≅ Versatility.

This stat priority was determined using a Simulation Craft profile in standard pre-raid gear. It was meant to simulate a very "average" set of player gear, but you should refer to this information with care. It is highly recommended you sim yourself to determine which stats your character gets maximum benefit out of, as this is subject to change depending on your ratios.

The general rule is that you want a good balance between Haste and Mastery for single target, but as you add more targets in the scenario Mastery gradually becomes our best stat, even above Intellect.

Most players will notice their stat priority shifts as they acquire higher item levels, due to the variance in scaling.

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using SimulationCraft.

2. Statistics Explanations for Affliction Warlock

Intellect is your primary stat. You should look for this stat in all of your upgrades. It provides you with Spell Power, which increases the damage of your spells.

Mastery, through Mastery: Potent Afflictions increases the damage of your DoTs ( Agony, Corruption, Seed of Corruption, and Unstable Affliction). Mastery does not affect your pets or Soul Shard generation at all.

Haste influences the cast speed of your spells and increases the number of ticks from your DoTs. This decreases the ramp up damage from Agony as well. Haste also reduces the global cooldown and scales with your pets. Since an increased number of DoT ticks also results in more Soul Shards, we can look at Haste as the stat that has the most effect on our resource generation.

Critical Strike increases your chance to critically hit with all spells and abilities.

Versatility is a flat-out damage done increase and damage taken reduction.

3. Changelog

• 30 Oct. 2018: Added a general rule for stat priority.
• 13 Aug. 2018: Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.

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