Demonology Warlock DPS Guide — Dragonflight 10.0.7
Welcome to our Demonology Warlock guide for World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.0.7. Here, you will learn how to play as a Demonology Warlock in both raids and Mythic+ dungeons: from the very beginning to maximizing your DPS.
If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Demonology Warlock guide.
Demonology Warlock Overview
Demonology Warlock is a versatile specialization centered around summoning waves of expendable minions to do your bidding while you generate resources in between. While the specialization does have some ramp up time, it does feel smooth and fast once it is running at full steam. Demonology Warlocks are especially strong on encounters that have stable mobility, rather than helter-skelter movement.
Like all Warlock specializations, Demonology brings
Demonic Gateway, a powerful raid cooldown that can transport your
entire group 40 yards instantly.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strong single target cooldowns
Efficient cleave damage
High mobility
Very high AoE burst with enough resources
Not the best single target output, especially compared to other Warlock specialisations
Requires time to gain a steady flow of resources
Non-existent spread cleave
Being dependent to pets and guardians their AI can sometimes be problematic
Patch 10.0.7 Changes for Demonology Warlock
Demonology Warlock received a minor spec tree update with several changes:
- the addition of a new talent choice
Immutable Hatred which shares the slot with
Guillotine;
- the return of a Battle for Azeroth Azerite Power in the form of a
talent,
Umbral Blaze which takes place of the now deprecated
Hounds of War;
- increase in
Reign of Tyranny baseline effectiveness;
- buffs to underpeforming talents such
as
Pact of the Imp Mother,
Guillotine and
Stolen Power.
In addition Wild Imp Fel Firebolt received a 20% damage increase.
Class tree also received an update aimed at introducing some output nodes, with a resulting shuffle of talent positions.
Last but not least both Summon Soulkeeper
and
Inquisitor's Gaze received a much needed buff.
For a full list of all Warlock changes in Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7, see our Patch 10.0.0 Warlock Changes page.
Leveling a Demonology Warlock
We have a dedicated leveling guide to help you get your Demonology Warlock to max level, complete with many tips and suggestions.
While playing with the default UI for the leveling is entirely possible, transitioning to a max level rotation with a substantially different UI layout can feel overwhelming and ultimately disorient or frustrate the player. We recommend instead to implement Layout changes gradually in order to allow yourself to acclimate to a more effective and personal UI. The Addon page below offers some recommended options.
Basics of Demonology Warlock Gameplay
Demonology Warlock is a spec designed around continuously summoning temporary demons to do your bidding with relatively short cooldowns, some of them requiring a precise setup, and a good amount of pet management. At its core the gameplay is about generating and spending the Warlock's iconic resource: Soul Shards.
Demonology is the spec that embodies the rule of Always-Be-Casting the most,
but is also straightforward and intuitive. Keep generating Soul Shards
through Shadow Bolt and
Demonbolt and spend those resources on
Call Dreadstalkers and
Hand of Gul'dan.
If you are a newcomer to the spec, but would like to learn the basics start browsing the Spell Summary and head over the page linked below.
For those more familiar with Warlocks we invite you to check out the Talents and Rotation pages to have access to more detailed and in depth information.
How to Gear Up as Demonology Warlock
Due the increased number of variables and additional systems, picking gear has become a much less intuitive and immediate process. Nevertheless you can find guidelines in how to best equip your Demonology Warlock in our dedicated gearing page, including the current Best in Slot equipment for the current tier.
Equipping gear is not enough, as you also need to choose the right consumables and gear augments to maximize your character potential. Below is listed a page that can guide you through those choices as well as a page to better understand the implications each stats has on your Warlock.
End-Game as a Demonology Warlock
Being geared and well-equipped is only half of the journey, as the end game activities require each a different approach to the spec. In order to find out more information regarding how to better tackle these challenges check out the pages below.
Improving as a Demonology Warlock
Understanding your errors and refining your performance is a constant exercise, which can be frustrating or confounding at times. Below are listed some pages that offer tools and can point and help correcting those mistakes.
Demonology Warlock Viability in the Current Patch
Demonology Warlock in patch 10.0.7 offers a sense of familiarity with mostly unchanged talents (in regards to how relevant they are at least) with few buffs aimed at bringing up the power of the spec.
While Demonology has been great for progressing through Vault of the Incarnates due to very favourable timings in general, the reality is that the spec outside that specific content has been trailing behind the other 2 Warlock options, in both single target and multitarget output.
At the time of writing Demonology single target is substantially behind the likes of Affliction Warlock and especially Destruction Warlock and the only silver lining is the greater burst capabilities offered by a spec centered around cooldowns.
Changelog
- 24 Mar. 2023 (gear page): Updated Onyx Annulet section to account for live hotfixes.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Legendaries): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (gear page): Added patch 10.0.7 new ring section. .
- 20 Mar. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (enchants page): Added Primordial Stones section for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Talents updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (mythic+ page): Talents updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (talents page): Updated talents for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (spells page): Updated talent trees to reflect class and spec changes for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (easy mode page): Updated talents for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (this page): Added Patch 10.0.7 and updated the viability sections.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (enchants page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (mythic+ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (talents page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (easy mode page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 07 Jan. 2023 (enchants page): Updated dungeon phial to a more reliable Phial of Tepid Versatility.
- 03 Jan. 2023 (addons page): Removed Soulburn macro.
- 24 Dec. 2022 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Updated talent suggestions.
- 23 Dec. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated talent tree.
- 15 Dec. 2022 (stats page): Clarified the priority list reasoning.
- 14 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Updated Weapon Runes.
- 14 Dec. 2022 (stats page): Split the stats priority between single and multitarget.
- 13 Dec. 2022 (gear page): Updated Embellishment recommendations.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (FAQ page): Added Guillotine/Demonic Strength sections.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Season 1 launch.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (addons page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (stats page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Page added.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated recommended build.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (rotation page): Updated selectors for the openers and priority lists.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (spells page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (easy mode page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (stats page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Legendaries): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Torghast): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Covenants and Soulbinds): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (simulations page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (stats page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Castle Nathria page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sanctum of Domination page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sepulcher of the First Ones page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 24 Mar. 2022 (enchants page): Updated Primordial Stones recommendations to account for the additional live hotfixes.
- 22 Mar. 2022 (enchants page): Updated Primordial Stones recommendations to account for 25% buff hotfix.
- 22 Feb. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Updated to reflect Patch 9.2 launch.
- 15 Jan. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Page added with initial thoughts and information.
- 01 Nov. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
- 13 Jul. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Removed PTR disclaimer.
- 27 Jun. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): baseline changes, legendary and covenant recommendations updated.
- 05 May 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Page created.
- 12 Oct. 2020 (Ny'alotha page): Page updated for the Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Updated Boss Tips and Talent/Essences selection.
- 09 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Guide added.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 25 Jun. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 14 Apr. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Updated after recent raid nerfs.
- 14 Apr. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): Guide added.
- 11 Feb. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Updated with better talent choices, and more tips.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Page added.
- 03 Jan. 2019 (Uldir page): Updated Nether Portal value after simc hotfix.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated for Patch 8.1. Reviewed talent advice for all bosses.
- 06 Nov. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated tips for Uldir bosses.
- 07 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated for Uldir.
- 12 Aug. 2018 (Uldir page): Page added.
More Warlock Guides
Guides from Other Classes
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.
- PvP Play with the Blues on the 10.1 PTR: March 31st
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- Upcoming 10.1 PTR Changes to Class Tier Sets: March 28th
- Dragonflight 10.1, Season 2 New and Removed Mythic+ Affixes
- Dragonflight Patch 10.1 PTR Development Notes, March 28th: Old Mythic+ Affixes Removed, New Ones Added
- Riders of Azeroth Spotted in Zaralek Cavern in Patch 10.1
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