Demonology Warlock DPS Spell List and Glossary — The War Within (Season 1)

Last updated on Sep 09, 2024 at 18:00 by Motoko 44 comments
General Information

On this page, we present you with all spells and procs that you need to understand as a Demonology Warlock in World of Warcraft — The War Within (Season 1).

If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Demonology Warlock spells.

1.

Demonology Warlock Spell Summary

If you are new to the Demonology Specialization, this is a great place to start reading and begin breaking down the key spells that hold together this specialization. On this page, we will discuss what abilities your specialization uses, how they influence gameplay and resource generation, and the ways they interact with each other and your cooldowns. If you have some experience with Demonology already, it is recommended you skip over this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

In order to utilize abilities more efficiently, check out the Macros section on the Addon page.

2.

Main Resources for Demonology Warlock

Soul Shards are the main resource of Demonology Warlocks. Soul Shards are generated by your filler spells, and they can be spent on summoning powerful demons. You can have a maximum of 5 Soul Shards.

Mana is a secondary resource for Demonology Warlocks. Your main spells do not cost very much Mana to cast and will never threaten your Mana pool. Utility spells, such as Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway, and Crowd Control abilities, such as Fear Icon Fear, cost relatively more Mana than ever before, so be wary about using them too liberally.

3.

Unlocking Abilities

This page lists all the different abilities available after reaching the max level. If you are still in the process of leveling, check out the Warlock Leveling page, which offers detailed information on when you unlock all of these abilities.

4.

Basic Abilities for Demonology Warlock

These abilities are available no matter what talents you choose and form the bread and butter of this specialization.

For more information on how to use these abilities together in your rotation, please read our rotation page.

Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt is your main filler spell. It generates 1 Soul Shard, has a slow travel time, and no cooldown.

Corruption Icon Corruption is a medium-strength DoT. As Demonology Warlock, this is a dps neutral ability that is often ignored as it does not generate soul shards, its damage contribution is marginal.

Hand of Gul'dan Icon Hand of Gul'dan costs 1-3 Soul Shards and summons Wild Imps, with the number summoned corresponding directly to Soul Shards spent.

5.

Important Procs

Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core is your main proc, and it has a 10% chance (per Imp) to trigger when your Wild Imps expire or implode. Demonic Core makes the next Demonbolt Icon Demonbolt cast instant, and has a maximum of 4 stacks.

5.1.

Demons

While leveling, Warlocks will learn to summon different demons, each one offering a unique set of abilities and, therefore, better suited for specific situations.

Demonology Warlocks have access to a unique demon, Summon Felguard Icon Summon Felguard which should be considered the default choice as it offers an interrupt that doubles down as a stun, serious damage, cleave, mobility, and durability. Worth noting multiple Spec Talents can enhance the pet, making it an even more compelling choice.

Summon Imp Icon Summon Imp is the first demon available, offering ranged attacks and a defensive dispel. It is better suited for scenarios where having an additional defensive dispel that does not come from a player is valuable and when there are frequent target swaps and a melee demon without a charge would waste precious seconds.

Summon Voidwalker Icon Summon Voidwalker is the second demon and the first melee. Sporting high armor, Taunt, and AoE is the better option to tank damage or deal AoE.

Summon Sayaad Icon Summon Sayaad offers the unique debuff that increases the damage taken from the demon by up to 10% and slows the target by 50% while also offering Seduction Icon Seduction as an additional form of crowd control. It is best suited for PvP and for pure single-target damage.

Summon Felhunter Icon Summon Felhunter is the only baseline pet with an interrupt and an offensive purge, making it desirable in those situations.

5.2.

Defensive Cooldowns and Tools for Demonology Warlock

Ability Abbreviation Description/Effect
Unending Resolve Icon Unending Resolve UR A baseline defensive cooldown, combining damage reduction along with interrupt and silence immunity.
Fear Icon Fear - An iconic Warlock ability that allows you to disorient a target for the duration, or until they suffer enough damage to snap out of it. It has no cooldown but is limited to 1 target at any time and has a relatively high mana cost.
Curse of Weakness Icon Curse of Weakness CoW Slows the target's attack speed; it is mostly useful against enemies (or classes) that hit hard with their auto attacks.
Healthstone Icon Healthstone HS These are unique consumables created by Warlocks that restore 25% of a target's total health with 3 charges, made using Create Healthstone Icon Create Healthstone or later Create Soulwell Icon Create Soulwell.
Health Funnel Icon Health Funnel - This initially sacrifices player health to heal their current pet over time; it is generally used to extend the survivability of the minion while under pressure.
Drain Life Icon Drain Life DL Channeled spell that transfers health from the target to the player; it is, first and foremost, a defensive tool to recover health points at the expense of lower damage output.
Eye of Kilrogg Icon Eye of Kilrogg - Summon a separate entity which the player controls instead of themselves, allowing you to remotely scout locations without putting yourself in danger.
Unending Breath Icon Unending Breath UB Enables underwater breathing and, most importantly, increases swim speed.
Subjugate Demon Icon Subjugate Demon - Take control of any non-boss Demon and use it as your main pet for its duration.
Soul Leech Icon Soul Leech - Passive that grants an absorption shield for 8% of all single target damage done, up to a maximum of 10% of maximum player health.
Soulstone Icon Soulstone SS Powerful utility that can be used both preemptively and reactively to resurrect a player in combat.
Command Demon Icon Command Demon - Condense, in a single keybind, your demon's most relevant active abilities:
  • Imp: Singe Magic Icon Singe Magic;
  • Voidwalker: Shadow Bulwark Icon Shadow Bulwark;
  • Sayaad: Seduction Icon Seduction;
  • Felhunter: Devour Magic Icon Devour Magic.
Ritual of Doom Icon Ritual of Doom - Allows you to summon a Doomguard with the aid of 4 more players.
Ritual of Summoning Icon Ritual of Summoning - Allows you to create a summoning stone and summon party/raid members.
6.

Class Tree Active Abilities of Demonology Warlock

Ability Abbreviation Description/Effect
Fel Domination Icon Fel Domination FelDom Reduces the next demon summon cast time by 6 seconds and removes the Soul Shard cost.
Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle TP Allows you to place a rune for 15 minutes and to teleport to that location while removing movement-slowing effects.
Burning Rush Icon Burning Rush BR Toggled ability that provides a movement speed bonus and a minimum speed of 100% at the expense of your health as long as it is active.
Curses of Enfeeblement Icon Curses of Enfeeblement CoT/CoEx grant access to both Curse of Tongues Icon Curse of Tongues and Curse of Exhaustion Icon Curse of Exhaustion.
Howl of Terror Icon Howl of Terror HoT A disorient ability that can affect up to 5 targets within 10 yards of you. It works similarly to Fear Icon Fear but can hit multiple targets and is instant-cast, making it valuable in PvP.
Mortal Coil Icon Mortal Coil Coil Horrify effect that incapacitates a target for 3 seconds but above all heals you for 20% of your total health. Extremely valuable both in PvP and PvE.
Amplify Curse Icon Amplify Curse - Empowers the next curse application. Abilities that apply a curse to multiple targets will also benefit from this active.
Banish Icon Banish - Allows you to phase a Demon or Aberration out, preventing any of their actions and making them immune.
Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway Gate, Gateway creates two points which players can travel between by interacting with. Players may only use the gateway once every 90 seconds.
Dark Pact Icon Dark Pact DP Sacrifices a portion of your current health to provide a much greater shield. It can be used while crowd-controlled. Due its low cooldown and strength of the shield it is one of the main reason Warlocks are considered very durable and survivable.
Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury SF The only AoE stun Warlocks have access to, valuable in dungeons and PvP alike.
Shadowflame Icon Shadowflame - Offers a very strong slow in a cone in front of you.
Soulburn Icon Soulburn Sburn consumes a Soul Shard to enhance the next selected spell. The Drain Life and Healthstone interactions are arguably the strongest defensive options while also being the ones with the highest usability across various situations. The other choices can be equally powerful but they are answers to very specific scenarios.
7.

Class Tree Passive abilities for Demonology Warlock

Ability Abbreviation Description/Effect
Fel Pact Icon Fel Pact - Reduces the cooldown of Fel Domination, increasing the frequency of use.
Demon Skin Icon Demon Skin - Empowers the Soul Leech Icon Soul Leech class trait offering passive generation while in combat and a maximum total shield possible.
Fel Armor Icon Fel Armor - Empowers Soul Leech Icon Soul Leech by staggering a portion of the damage received and offering passive damage reduction.
Fiendish Stride Icon Fiendish Stride - Reduces the health cost of Burning Rush Icon Burning Rush while also increasing the bonus movement speed.
Abyss Walker Icon Abyss Walker - Offers a very moderate damage reduction after using either Demonic Gateway or Demonic Circle.
Demonic Embrace Icon Demonic Embrace - increases stamina.
Demonic Inspiration Icon Demonic Inspiration - Increases pet attack speed each time the Warlock generates a full shard.
Wrathful Minion Icon Wrathful Minion - Provides a pet damage boost whenever the Warlock generates a full shard.
Demonic Fortitude Icon Demonic Fortitude - Increases the Warlock and their pet's maximum health.
Teachings of the Satyr Icon Teachings of the Satyr - Reduces Amplify Curse Icon Amplify Curse cooldown.
Accrued Vitality Icon Accrued Vitality - Adds a healing over time component to Drain Life Icon Drain Life.
Sweet Souls Icon Sweet Souls - Increase Healthstone heal and makes it so any party/raid member that uses one of the warlock healthstones also heals the Warlock themselves for the same amount.
Nightmare Icon Nightmare - Increase the amount of damage the targets will suffer before breaking from a Feared effect.
Horrify Icon Horrify Fear Icon Fear causes targets to tremble in place instead of fleeing.
Lifeblood Icon Lifeblood - Grants the caster leech after using a healthstone.
Strength of Will Icon Strength of Will - Increases the damage reduction component of Unending Resolve Icon Unending Resolve
Dark Accord Icon Dark Accord - Reduces the cooldown of Unending Resolve Icon Unending Resolve.
Ichor of Devils Icon Ichor of Devils - Reduces the amount of health sacrificed for the same shield value.
Frequent Donor Icon Frequent Donor - Reduces Dark Pact Icon Dark Pact cooldown.
Socrethar's Guile Icon Socrethar's Guile - Increases Wild Imps damage.
Sargerei Technique Icon Sargerei Technique - Increases Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt damage.
Dark Fury Icon Dark Fury - Increases Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury range by 2 yards and reduces its cooldown.
Swift Artifice Icon Swift Artifice - Cast time reduction on Soulstone Icon Soulstone and Create Healthstone Icon Create Healthstone.
Demonic Tactics Icon Demonic Tactics - Passive critical strike chance and additional critical strike chance from gear rating.
Teachings of the Black Harvest Icon Teachings of the Black Harvest - Enhance the pet's utility ability with a corresponding minor bonus effect.
Resolute Barrier Icon Resolute Barrier - Provide cooldown reduction on Unending Resolve Icon Unending Resolve whenever the caster suffers damage instances greater than a percentage of their maximum health.
Fel Synergy Icon Fel Synergy - Provides constant background healing for the Warlock and their pet.
Soul Link Icon Soul Link sl, link Transfer a percentage of the damage taken by the Warlock to their pet instead. When using Grimoire of Sacrifice Icon Grimoire of Sacrifice, it provides extra stamina.
Demonic Resilience Icon Demonic Resilience - Reduces the chance the Warlock will be critically hit and also reduces the damage their pet takes.
Pact of Gluttony Icon Pact of Gluttony PoG Warlock Healthstones can be used by the caster every minute without being limited to one per combat.
Soul Conduit Icon Soul Conduit SC Gives a chance for every Shard spent to be refunded.
8.

Specialization Tree Active Abilities of Demonology Warlock

Ability Abbreviation Description/Effect
Demoniac Icon Demoniac DB Grant access to both Demonbolt Icon Demonbolt and Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core. The first is an active ability that generates 2 Soul Shards with a long cast time. Instant-cast when used to consume a stack of Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core.
Implosion Icon Implosion - Sacrifices all of your active Wild Imps, flinging them towards a target and dealing AoE damage to all targets within 8 yards.
Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers CDs, doggos One of your main sources of damage, with a 2 Soul Shard cost and 20-second cooldown. After Dreadstalkers expire, they have a chance to grant Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core.
Bilescourge Bombers Icon Bilescourge Bombers BB Ground-targeted AoE spell that costs 2 Soul Shards and deals damage in 8 yards over 6 seconds.
Demonic Strength Icon Demonic Strength DStr A 1-minute cooldown Felstorm that does 4 times the damage. Cannot be used if the Felguard is already performing a Felstorm.
Power Siphon Icon Power Siphon PS Sacrifices 2 Wild Imps to grant 2 Demonic Cores and 30% additional damage on the 2 Demonbolt Icon Demonbolts.
Summon Demonic Tyrant Icon Summon Demonic Tyrant tyrant Extends the duration of all the non-Wild Imps existing demons by 15 seconds, freeze the energy consumption of up to 10 Wild Imps, and increases the damage of all active demons by 15%.
Grimoire: Felguard Icon Grimoire: Felguard GF Summons a temporary second Felguard, which will charge and stun the target before dealing increased damage for a limited duration.
Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend VF Single-target damaging demon with a cooldown; very efficient for its shard cost.
Guillotine Icon Guillotine - Creates a ground-targeted AoE damage pulse and makes your Felguard's auto attacks cleave. During this duration, Felguard will not cast Felstorm Icon Felstorm.
9.

Specialization Tree Passive Abilities of Demonology Warlock

Ability Abbreviation Description/Effect
Imp Gang Boss Icon Imp Gang Boss IGB Gives each Wild Imp summoned a chance to become an Imp Gang Boss which deals more damage, even when imploded.
Spiteful Reconstitution Icon Spiteful Reconstitution BbI Implosion Icon Implosion deals 10% additional damage and consuming a Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core has a chance to summon a Wild Imp.
Dreadlash Icon Dreadlash DdL Turns Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers Dreadbite into an AoE ability while also increasing the damage.
Carnivorous Stalkers Icon Carnivorous Stalkers CaS Gives Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers melee a chance to cast additional Dread Bites.
Inner Demons Icon Inner Demons ID Spawns a Wild Imp every 12 seconds with a chance for an additional random demon spawn while in combat.
Soul Strike Icon Soul Strike SS Short cooldown instant ability that makes Felguard charge an enemy, dealing damage.
Sacrificed Souls Icon Sacrificed Souls SaS, sacsouls Increases Demonbolt Icon Demonbolt and Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt damage for each active demon.
Rune of Shadows Icon Rune of Shadows RoS Increases the damage done by your pet and reduces Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt cast time while increasing its damage.
Imp-erator Icon Imp-erator Ie Increases the Critical Strike chance of Wild Imps Fel Firebolt Icon Fel Firebolt.
Fel Invocation Icon Fel Invocation FI Soul Strike Icon Soul Strike now deals 20% increased damage and generates a shard. Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend cast time is reduced, and now pulses AoE damage while active.
Annihilan Training Icon Annihilan Training - Increases Summon Felguard Icon Summon Felguard damage while also reducing the damage it takes.
Shadow Invocation Icon Shadow Invocation SI Bilescourge Bombers Icon Bilescourge Bombers now deal 20% additional damage and each spell cast has a chance to summon a Bilescourge Bomber.
Wicked Maw Icon Wicked Maw WM Applies a debuff to all targets hit by Dreadbite, which increases the Shadowflame damage received.
The Expendables Icon The Expendables TE When Wild Imps expire, the damage of current demons is increased up to a given value.
Blood Invocation Icon Blood Invocation BI Increases the damage bonus of Power Siphon Icon Power Siphon.
Umbral Blaze Icon Umbral Blaze HoW Gives Hand of Gul'dan Icon Hand of Gul'dan a chance to burn the target for additional Shadowflame damage.
Reign of Tyranny Icon Reign of Tyranny RoT Summon Demonic Tyrant Icon Summon Demonic Tyrant now can affect 5 more Wild Imps, and deals 10% increased damage for each empowered demon.
Demonic Calling Icon Demonic Calling DC Gives Demonbolt Icon Demonbolt and Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt a chance to make the next Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers instant-cast and cost no shards.
Fiendish Oblation Icon Fiendish Oblation FO Increases the damage of Grimoire: Felguard Icon Grimoire: Felguard and grants a Demonic Core at the end.
Fel Sunder Icon Fel Sunder FeS Makes Felstorm Icon Felstorm apply a debuff, which increases the damage taken from you and your demons. Works with both Demonic Strength Icon Demonic Strength and Grimoire: Felguard Icon Grimoire: Felguard.
Doom Icon Doom - Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core Demonbolt Icon Demonbolts apply a debuff that deals high damage in an area if the target dies or the debuff expires. Additional Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core Demonbolt Icon Demonbolt casts on the same target will reduce the debuff time
Pact of the Imp Mother Icon Pact of the Imp Mother PotIM Gives Hand of Gul'dan Icon Hand of Gul'dan a chance to replicate itself at no additional cost.
Dread Calling Icon Dread Calling DrC, inq Increases the damage of the next Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers for each Soul Shard spent before.
Antoran Armaments Icon Antoran Armaments AnA Increases Summon Felguard Icon Summon Felguard damage and makes Soul Strike Icon Soul Strike cleave nearby targets.
Doom Eternal Icon Doom Eternal DE Demonic Core Icon Demonic Cores further reduce Doom Icon Doom duration.
Impending Doom Icon Impending Doom ID Doom Icon Doom deals increased damage and summons a Wild Imp after expiring.
Foul Mouth Icon Foul Mouth FoMo Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend deals increased damage, and its spit cast will apply Wicked Maw Icon Wicked Maw
The Houndmaster's Gambit Icon The Houndmaster's Gambit HG Increases the damage of Dreadstalkers while Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend is active
Improved Demonic Tactics Icon Improved Demonic Tactics IDT Primary Felguard receives a portion of the Warlock Critical Strike chance as a bonus.
Demonic Brutality Icon Demonic Brutality DBr Passive critical strike damage increase.
Pact of the Ered'ruin Icon Pact of the Ered'ruin PotEr, Ered Each time Doom Icon Doom expires, there is a chance for a Doomguard to spawn and cast Doom Bolts at the target.
Shadowtouched Icon Shadowtouched Sht Wicked Maw Icon Wicked Maw increases the damage targets take from the Warlock Shadow spells.
Mark of Shatug Icon Mark of Shatug MoS, gloom Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend becomes a Gloomhound that applies a shadow damage over time effect with its melee attacks.
Mark of F'harg Icon Mark of F'harg MoF, char Summon Vilefiend Icon Summon Vilefiend becomes a Charhound, dealing constant Fire damage around for its duration.
Flametouched Icon Flametouched Ft Increases both attack speed and critical strike chance of Call Dreadstalkers Icon Call Dreadstalkers.
Immutable Hatred Icon Immutable Hatred IH When consuming a Demonic Core Icon Demonic Core your Felguard will attack the target, dealing additional damage.
10.

Changelog

  • 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within pre-patch.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Updated for talent changes in Patch 10.1.5.
  • 01 May 2023: Renamed From the Shadows to The Houndsmaster's Stratagem as per change in Patch 10.1.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Updated talent trees to reflect class and spec changes for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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