Which spec to level
Level Affliction. Warcraft Tavern calls it the smoothest start, and Icy Veins and Mobalytics both have 1–60 leveling guides for it. The instant Corruption works on the move, you can keep two enemies going at once, and you hardly need to drink.
Demonology is strong too: Mobalytics considers it equal to Affliction and more forgiving, and Tavern calls it the most convenient after the Demonic Brand talent. Destruction is the hardest for solo: you have to stand and cast, but it is strong in dungeons.
| Spec | When to take it | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Affliction | Solo, the whole way to 60 | In short fights the effects don’t have time to deal damage |
| Demonology | You want the demon to do more | Opens up around Demonic Brand |
| Destruction | Dungeons | Slow solo |
Talents by level
The Mobalytics "tank through Drain Life" order (updated Oct 23). Warcraft Tavern goes the same way: first Improved Corruption and Suppression, and from level 30 talents for Drain Life. Levels 31–60 are closed on the beta: this is the source’s plan, and we will check it on live after Nov 4.
| Levels | Talent | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved Corruption | 5 |
| 15–17 | Suppression | 3 |
| 18–19 | Grim Reach | 2 |
| 20–21 | Soul Harvest | 2 |
| 22–24 | Improved Drains | 3 |
| 25–26 | Nightfall | 2 |
| 27–29 | Fel Concentration | 3 |
| 30–32 | Soul Siphon | 3 |
| 33–34 | Pandemic | 2 |
| 35–39 | Shadow Mastery | 5 |
| 40 | Pandemic | 3/3 |
| 41–45 | Unholy Power | 5 |
| 46–47 | Demonic Energies | 2 |
| 48–52 | Malevolence | 5 |
| 53–55 | Fel Vitality | 3 |
| 56–57 | Master Summoner | 2 |
| 58–60 | Your choice | 3 |
TipIcy Veins (Oct 21) goes differently: Suppression from level 10, Siphon Life at 30, then Demonology (Demonic Sacrifice at 41), the top of Affliction, Wrack, at 51, and talents for Drain Life only by 53–60. Pick one path and don’t mix them. The Legacy Talented perk gives talents from level 5 instead of 10.
Abilities and trainer
| Level | What to take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summon Imp (quest), Shadow Bolt, Immolate, Demon Skin | The first demon and damage |
| 4 | Corruption | The main shadow effect |
| 6 | Life Tap | Health into mana |
| 8 | Fear, Bane of Agony | Control and damage over time |
| 10 | Summon Voidwalker (quest), Drain Soul, Create Healthstone | The tank demon, soul shards |
| 12 | Health Funnel | Heal the demon |
| 14 | Drain Life | Damage and self-healing |
| 20 | Summon Succubus (quest), Demon Armor, Ritual of Summoning, Curse of the Elements | A damage demon, summoning the group |
| 30 | Summon Felhunter (quest), Siphon Life (talent) | A demon against casters |
| 38 | Drain Life rank 4 | Mobalytics: a noticeable damage jump |
| 40 | Class quest mount, dual specialization | — |
- 1Opening
the demon goes first and builds threat.
- 2Effects
Bane of Agony, Corruption, and on a long-lived enemy Immolate too; from level 30, Siphon Life.
- 3In the fight
the wand or Drain Life. If Nightfall procs, an instant Shadow Bolt.
- 4Resources
more health than mana: Life Tap; more mana: Drain Life. Don’t apply effects to an enemy that will die before they tick through.
Apply the effects to the first one, scare it (Fear) and hit the second with the demon. When the first returns, Fear again (Warcraft Tavern). In dungeons, hand out Healthstones before you go in.
Solo, duo, group
The demon depends on the situation: the Voidwalker holds the enemy, the Succubus hits harder from level 20 (Mobalytics recommends it), the Felhunter works against casters. The wand is strong through the 30s. Soul shards: rank 1 Drain Soul while the demon holds the enemy.
Curse of the Elements boosts your partner’s magic damage. The Voidwalker can tank for a pair with no tank.
Healthstones and Ritual of Summoning: in Forever, meeting stones no longer summon players, only the ritual does. Keep spare shards for it.
Stats and gear
Stamina is worth more to a Warlock than to other casters: the more health you have, the more mana Life Tap gives (Warcraft Tavern). At level 20, a quest gives Staff of Soran'ruk (+34 shadow and fire damage, +14 Stamina) or Orb of Soran'ruk; the orb needs shards from Blackfathom Deeps and Shadowfang Keep. The wand is Gravestone Scepter (29 damage per second).
Professions: Tailoring gives personal shadow gear for Merchant’s Favor. Class pairings and camp objects are in the professions guide.
How Forever differs from Classic
| What | In Forever |
|---|---|
| Curses | Split into Banes (damage) and Curses (utility): a target can have one of each. |
| Effects over time | Can crit. There is no limit on effects on a target (it was 16 in Classic). |
| Soul shards | Drain Soul can give a shard on every tick. |
| Life Tap | Scales with Spirit. |
| Demons | The Voidwalker holds threat better, and demons have a "Move to" command. |
| Fear | 20 yd range. |
| Summoning | Meeting stones don’t summon, only Ritual of Summoning does. |
| Firestone and Spellstone | Became weapon oils. |
| Dual specialization | From level 40. |
Questions
Which Warlock spec should I level in WoW Forever?
Affliction: Warcraft Tavern, Mobalytics and Icy Veins recommend it. Demonology is almost as good.
Which demon should I keep while leveling?
The Voidwalker until 20, then the Succubus for damage (Mobalytics). The Voidwalker is more reliable if enemies are strong.
Where do I get soul shards?
Drain Soul on a dying enemy. In Forever a shard can drop on every tick.
Why are the talents so different on different sites?
Mobalytics and Warcraft Tavern build "tank through Drain Life" from the 20s, while Icy Veins postpones it to the 50s and takes Demonology earlier. Both paths work.
Do I need to buy a mount?
No, at level 40 a class quest gives you a mount.
