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Affliction Warlock PvP Guide — The War Within (11.1.5)

Last updated on Apr 21, 2025 at 19:35 by Chanimal 8 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Affliction Warlock in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Warlock PvP guide.

PvP Affliction Warlock Guides
Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

Notable Changes to Affliction in 11.1.5

There are no significant changes to Affliction Warlocks in 11.1.5, however, the changes below were included in 11.1.

  • Soul Rot Icon Soul Rot has been redesigned to heal the caster for 50% of the damage it deals.
  • Bloodstones Icon Bloodstones is a new PvP talent that replaces your Healthstone Icon Healthstone with a Bloodstone Icon Bloodstone, increasing Haste by 20% instead of healing the caster.
2.

Affliction Warlocks in The War Within Season 2

Affliction Warlocks struggle against melee. However, they perform well into casters and have the potential to do incredible amounts of spread damage. If left alone for a few seconds, they can easily apply their DoTs to multiple targets and begin melting entire teams simultaneously. If an Affliction Warlock is being focused by enemies, it can be difficult to survive while dealing out damage.

3.

Notable Changes in The War Within

Malefic Rapture Icon Malefic Rapture is now on the Shadowflame school. The talent tree for Warlocks and Affliction has been reworked. Soul Swap Icon Soul Swap is now a PvP Talent, and Inevitable Demise Icon Inevitable Demise has been removed. As a result, Drain Life Icon Drain Life is severely weaker. Pact of Gluttony Icon Pact of Gluttony allows for multiple uses of your Healthstone Icon Healthstone as well as many talents which increases the effectiveness of your Critical Strikes.

4.

Affliction Warlock Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Great spread damage
  • +Strong burst potential
  • +Good against teams with low self-healing or no hybrids
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -Struggle to cast against teams with many interrupts
  • -Lack of reliable crowd control
  • -Weak survivability when targeted
5.

Changelog

  • 21 Apr. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (comps): Updated for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (races): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (macros): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (comps): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (gear): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (talents): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.1.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.0.5
  • 11 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 27 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 11.0.
  • 27 Jul. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 11.0.
  • 27 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for 11.0.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Patch 11.0.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
  • 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflgiht Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
  • 09 May 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.0.7.
  • 16 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.0.7.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (races): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 30 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (races): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (races): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Aug. 2021 (gear): Added mention of the Shackles trinket and Domination Shards.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (comps): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (races): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 30 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
  • 08 Jan. 2021 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 07 Jan. 2021 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 07 Jan. 2021 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 01 Jan. 2021 (races): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 01 Jan. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 01 Jan. 2021 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 27 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1
  • 27 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1
  • 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Rotations to include Covenant Ability.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (playstyle): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
  • 27 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
    • Removed outdated gear.
    • Added gems section.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
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