Affliction Warlock PvP Guide — Midnight Pre-Patch (12.0.1) - World of Warcraft

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 MoP Classic content, please refer to our MoP Classic Warlock PvP guide.

PvP Affliction Warlock Guides

Warlock Leveling Guide

Affliction Warlock PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Playstyle & Rotations Battleground Blitz Compositions Macros Races

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

3. Affliction Warlock Strengths and Weaknesses

Notable Changes in The War Within

In The War Within, there are a few gameplay changes to Affliction Warlocks.

Malefic Rapture has been removed and Unstable Affliction can now stack on a target, similar to the Legion playstyle
Summon Darkglare no longer extends your DoT effects. Instead, it increases the damage they deal by 20%
Dark Harvest is a new offensive cooldown available to Affliction Warlocks

Affliction Warlocks in The War Within Pre-Patch

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.

Affliction Warlock Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Great spread damage
Strong burst potential
Good against teams with low self-healing or no hybrids

Weaknesses

Struggle to cast against teams with many interrupts
Lack of reliable crowd control
Weak survivability when targeted

Changelog

10 Feb. 2026 (races): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (macros): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (comps): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (blitz): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (gear): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (talents): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (this page): Updated for Patch 12.0.
10 Feb. 2026 (this page): Updated for Patch 12.0.
30 Nov. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
30 Nov. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.7.
05 Oct. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
05 Oct. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.5
04 Aug. 2025 (races): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (macros): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (comps): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (blitz): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (gear): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (talents): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Updated for TWW 11.2.
15 Jun. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7
21 Apr. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (macros): 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 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for TWW 11.1.
24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Updated for TWW 11.1.
24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for TWW 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for TWW 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 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
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 (comps): Reviewed for 11.0.
27 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for The War Within Patch 11.0.
23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
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 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight 10.0.7.
16 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 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 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
30 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.2.
02 Mar. 2022 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
06 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 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 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands 9.0.5.
30 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): 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 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): 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.

Show less

PvP Affliction Warlock Guides

Warlock Leveling Guide

Affliction Warlock PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Playstyle & Rotations Battleground Blitz Compositions Macros Races

Other PvP Guides

Affliction Warlock PvP Talents and Builds

Affliction Warlock PvP Arena Compositions

Affliction Warlock PvP Races and Racials

Affliction Warlock PvP Guide

Affliction Warlock PvE Guides

Affliction Warlock Builds and Talents

Affliction Warlock Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

Affliction Warlock Stat Priority

Affliction Warlock Gear and Best in Slot

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This guide is written and maintained by Chanimal, BlizzCon Champion Warlock with Rank 1 titles since 2011, competing in AWC. He streams Warlock PvP daily on Twitch, with highlights on YouTube.

SUPPORT OUR WRITERS

Sign In

Affliction Warlock PvP Guide — Midnight Pre-Patch (12.0.1)