Destruction Warlock DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Destruction Warlock Strengths
  • 6. Destruction Warlock Weaknesses
  • 7. Destruction Warlock Viability in the Current Patch
  • 8. Contents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Talent Choice for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Stat Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Basic Rotation for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Destruction Warlock Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Destruction Warlock
    • 3.1. Demonic Summons
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets for Destruction Warlock
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
      • 2.1.1. Single Target
      • 2.1.2. 2-3 Targets
      • 2.1.3. Heavy Cleave/AOE
    • 2.2. For General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression for Destruction Warlock — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Relic Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Ability Priority List for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Important Notes for Destruction Warlock
    • 2.1. Roaring Blaze
    • 2.2. Chaos Bolt
    • 2.3. Dimensional Rift
    • 2.4. Soul Shard Generation and Consumption
    • 2.5. Wreak Havoc!
    • 2.6. Doomguard and Infernal
    • 2.7. Unending Resolve
    • 2.8. Pet Choice
    • 2.9. Cataclysm
  • 3. Core Concepts for Destruction Warlock
    • 3.1. Soul Shard Management
    • 3.2. Havoc Usage
    • 3.3. Movement Management
      • 3.3.1. Quiet Movement
  • 4. Opening Sequences for Destruction Warlock
    • 4.1. With Roaring Blaze
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Destruction Warlock Boss Advice: The Nighthold
    • 1.1. Skorpyron
      • 1.1.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.2. Chronomatic Anomaly
      • 1.2.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.3. Trilliax
      • 1.3.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.4. Spellblade Aluriel
      • 1.4.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.5. Tichondrius
      • 1.5.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.6. Star Augur Etraeus
      • 1.6.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.7. Krosus
      • 1.7.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.8. High Botanist Tel'arn
      • 1.8.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.9. Grand Magistrix Elisande
      • 1.9.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
    • 1.10. Gul'dan
      • 1.10.1. Talents, Trinkets, and Legendaries
  • 2. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Stat Priority for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.1. Without Tier 20 4-piece bonus
    • 1.2. With Tier 20 4-piece bonus
  • 2. Statistics Explanations for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Enchants for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Consumables for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. DeathNote
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros for Destruction Warlock
    • 2.1. Havoc
    • 2.2. Cursor Rain of Fire
    • 2.3. Pet Macros
      • 2.3.1. Soulstone Mouseover
      • 2.3.2. Demonic Circle
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 21 Set Bonuses for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Tier 20 Set Bonuses for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Best in Slot List for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Trinket Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Evaluating Upgrades Using Stat Weights
  • 6. Legendary Items for Destruction Warlock
    • 6.1. Single Target
    • 6.2. Two Targets
    • 6.3. Three Targets
    • 6.4. Descriptions
  • 7. Loot Competition
  • 8. ChangeLog

This section is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous priorities and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics for Destruction Warlock

Destruction is a flexible specialization that can provide a variety of damage types and pressure without much rotational complexity. In this section we will be focusing on a setup that minimizes the amount of buttons and reactivity necessary without unduly compromising overall damage output.

2. Talent Choice for Destruction Warlock

These choices are optimized for ease of use. Although some talents might offer marginally higher gains when played perfectly, these same talents often result in damage losses when utilized by many players. These talents aim to present the best setup that has very little punishment for unfamiliarity or mistakes.

• Level 15: Backdraft
• Level 30: Eradication
• Level 45: Demonic Circle
• Level 60: Soul Harvest
• Level 75: Demon Skin
• Level 90: Grimoire of Service
• Level 100: Channel Demonfire

3. Stat Priority for Destruction Warlock

Currently, you will want to prioritize secondary stats as follows:

1. Intellect;
2. Haste;
3. Critical Strike;
4. Versatility;
5. Mastery.

4. Basic Rotation for Destruction Warlock

1. Keep Immolate applied to up to 3 targets at all times.
2. Cast Conflagrate to generate Soul Shards.
3. Cast Chaos Bolt to spend Soul Shards.
4. Cast Channel Demonfire when available.
5. Cast Grimoire: Imp when available.
6. Cast Incinerate as a filler.
7. Cast Rain of Fire on 4+ targets if they are stacked.
8. Cast Havoc whenever a secondary target is present to cleave your single target spells.
9. Cast Summon Doomguard or Summon Infernal on cooldown (Infernal for 2+ targets).
10. Cast Soul Harvest whenever available.
11. Cast Dimensional Rift whenever it reaches maximum charges, you need to move, or you need to burst.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Deepshades, a top raider who plays in Method; you can watch his stream on Twitch and follow him on Twitter.

5. ChangeLog

• 28 Aug. 2017: Updated talents and rotation sections for Patch 7.3.
• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Updated the easy mode talent build for Patch 7.1.5.
• 11 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode for Destruction Warlocks.

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