Affliction Warlock leveling guide

Affliction kills enemies slowly but safely with damage over time. Improved Corruption makes Corruption instant, Nightfall gives free instant Shadow Bolts, and Siphon Life and Drain Life heal you while your Voidwalker holds the enemy. With Life Tap, and Dark Pact at level 40, you rarely need to drink.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Damage over time and Drain Life keep your health up during fights.
• Life Tap and Dark Pact turn health and pet mana into your mana, so downtime is low.
• The Voidwalker holds enemies while your curses do the work.
• Little burst: an enemy with a lot of health takes a while to die.

Talents by level

Level 10 to 30

• Improved Corruption 5/5.
• Improved Life Tap 2/2 and Improved Drain Life 5/5.
• Improved Curse of Agony 3/3, Amplify Curse, Nightfall 2/2, Grim Reach 2/2 and Siphon Life at level 30.

Level 31 to 40

• Fel Concentration 4/5.
• Shadow Mastery 5/5, then Dark Pact at level 40.

Level 41 to 60

• In Demonology: Demonic Embrace 5/5, Improved Voidwalker 3/3 and Improved Health Funnel 2/2.
• Fel Domination, Fel Stamina 5/5 and Unholy Power 4/5.

Rotation

One enemy

• Send the Voidwalker from level 10, then Curse of Agony, Corruption and Siphon Life.
• Drain Life while the damage over time works, and an instant Shadow Bolt whenever Nightfall gives you Shadow Trance.
• Life Tap after the fight, and Dark Pact from level 40 to take mana from your pet.

Two enemies

• Let the Voidwalker hold one enemy, and put Corruption and Curse of Agony on both.
• If the pet cannot hold the second enemy, Fear it before it has damage over time on it, and kill the first.

Staying alive

• Sacrifice from the Voidwalker absorbs damage, and a Healthstone heals you at once.
• Death Coil from level 42 horrifies an enemy and heals you.
• Drain Soul on an enemy that is about to die gives a Soul Shard for Healthstones and demons.

Leveling route

Level	Alliance	Horde
1-12	Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh	Durotar, Tirisfal Glades
12-20	Westfall, Loch Modan, Darkshore	The Barrens, Silverpine Forest
20-30	Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, Wetlands	The Barrens, Hillsbrad Foothills, Thousand Needles
30-40	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace
40-50	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands
50-60	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring

Dungeons worth the detour: Scarlet Monastery from level 30 to 40, Zul’Farrak around 45 and Blackrock Depths from 52.

Stats, weapons and tradeskills

• Stamina and Intellect first, because Life Tap turns health into mana. Shadow Damage matters more at level 60.
• The wand finishes enemies and saves mana, so upgrade it often.
• Enchants: Mana or Stats on the chest, and Stamina or Intellect on the bracers.
• Tradeskills: Tailoring for cloth armor and bags, with Enchanting to craft your own wands.