Demonology Warlock PvP Guide — The War Within (Season 1)
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Demonology 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.
Demonology Warlocks in The War Within Season 1
Demonology Warlocks have more crowd control than the other specs and, therefore are also much harder to kill. They have utility in the form of Axe Toss, allowing them to kite or set up a Fear freely. If the Demonology Warlock is unchecked, they can easily burst an enemy down in seconds using Summon Demonic Tyrant.
Notable changes in The War Within Prepatch
The talent tree has been completely reworked with Doom now becoming a passive. Additionally, you can use multiple charges of Healthstone due to Pact of Gluttony. In the Demonology tree, there are several new talents that change your Summon Vilefiend ability, as well as talents that buff the damage your Summon Felguard does.
Demonology Warlock Strengths and Weaknesses
- Great control
- Multiple casting schools
- Strong consistent damage
- Predictable burst damage
- Lack of scary damage outside of Summon Demonic Tyrant
Changelog
- 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): Reviewed 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 11.0.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch 11.0.
- 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 (comps): 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 Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Best Alliance races.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Removed Spell Lock macro.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Best 2v2 and 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Recommended gear.
- Added Embellishment section.
- Updated Gems and Enchants section.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Recommended talents.
- Updated PvP talents.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 07 May 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated Best 2v2 Team Compositions.
- Updated Best 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 07 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated Recommended Gear section.
- Updated Tier-Set section.
- 07 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated PvP Talents section.
- 07 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Best Alliance Races.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Best 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Trinkets to Recommended Gear.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- Updated Best Gems.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Talent Tree.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 04 Jan. 2023 (gear): Updated Best Leg Enchant.
- 16 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Enchants.
- 15 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated Damage rotations.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Gems and Enchants.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed 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.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 19 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- 10 Jun. 2022 (playstyle): Updated Damage rotations.
- 10 Jun. 2022 (talents): Updated Tiers 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 regular talents.
- 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.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- Removed Shards of Domination section.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Talent Table.
- Updated Tier 1 Regular Talent.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (comps): Updated best 2v2 Compositions.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- Updated Tier 7 Regular Talent.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 26 Nov. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (playstyle): Updated sustained and burst damage rotations.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (gear): Updated recommended gear.
- Added Shards of Domination section.
- 09 Aug. 2021 (talents): Updated Talent table.
- Updated Tiers 1 and 5 regular talents.
- Updated PvP talents.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated Stat Priority.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 18 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Rotations to have Covenant Abilities buff the correct spell.
- 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 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- Removed outdated gear.
- Added gems section.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (talents): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Guide updated for Shadowlands release. Missing Covenants page.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Guide updated for Shadowlands release. Missing Covenants page.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (races): This page was checked for patch 9.0.1 and no updates were necessary.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (macros): This page was checked for patch 9.0.1 and no updates were necessary.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Added Generating and Spending Soul Shards section.
- Updated all damage rotations.
- Updated Defensives section.
- Added Curses section.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (comps): This page was checked for patch 9.0.1 and no updates were necessary.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (gear): Removed Corruption sections.
- 27 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- Updated Tiers 1, 4, 5, 7 Regular Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 03 Jul. 2020 (gear): Updated Corruptions.
- Added Recommended Corruptions section.
- 19 May 2020 (gear): Updated Corruptions section.
- 08 Apr. 2020 (gear): Updated Recommended Items.
- 14 Feb. 2020 (gear): Several changes made.
- Updated stat priority.
- Added Corruption Gear section.
- Updated Recommended Gear section.
- 14 Feb. 2020 (talents): Updated Tier 7 Regular talent.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (races): This page was checked for Patch 8.3 and no update was deemed necessary.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (macros): This page was checked for Patch 8.3 and no update was deemed necessary.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (playstyle): This page was checked for Patch 8.3 and no update was deemed necessary.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (comps): This page was checked for Patch 8.3 and no update was deemed necessary.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (gear): Updated PvP gear to be Season 4 Corrupted gear.
- 20 Jan. 2020 (talents): This page was checked for Patch 8.3 and no update was deemed necessary.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (races): Page added.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (macros): Page added.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (playstyle): Page added.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (comps): Page added.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (gear): Page added.
- 13 Jan. 2020 (talents): Page added.
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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.
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