Destruction Warlock leveling guide
Destruction gives the Warlock the biggest burst. Ruin and Devastation make critical strikes frequent and heavy, Backlash gives instant Shadow Bolts when you are hit, and Soul Leech heals you with your own damage. Shadowfury stuns every enemy around you, which makes the spec strong for pulling groups in dungeons.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Big burst with Shadow Bolt, Incinerate and Shadowburn.
- Shadowfury stuns a whole group at once.
- Soul Leech and Backlash help you survive while you deal damage.
- More mana use and more risk than Affliction when you quest alone.
Talents by level
At level 60
- In Destruction: Improved Shadow Bolt 5/5, Cataclysm 5/5, Bane 5/5, Devastation 5/5, Shadowburn, Improved Firebolt 2/2, Improved Lash of Pain 2/2, Intensity 2/2 and Destructive Reach 2/2.
- Ruin, Backlash 3/3, Soul Leech 2/3, Shadow and Flame 5/5 and Shadowfury, for 41 points.
- In Affliction: Improved Corruption 5/5 and Suppression 5/5.
Level 61 to 70
- Improved Life Tap 2/2, Soul Siphon 2/2 and Amplify Curse.
- Nightfall 2/2 and Empowered Corruption 3/3, for 20 points in Affliction.
Rotation
One enemy
- Send the Imp or Voidwalker, then Immolate and Curse of Agony.
- Shadow Bolt, or Incinerate from level 64 while Immolate is active, until the enemy is low.
- Shadowburn to finish, and an instant Shadow Bolt whenever Backlash or Nightfall gives you one.
Groups of enemies
- Shadowfury stuns the whole group, then Seed of Corruption from level 70 or Rain of Fire.
- Corruption on the enemies that stay out of the stun, and Howl of Terror when they reach you.
Staying alive
- Fel Armor from level 62, a Healthstone and Death Coil.
- Sacrifice from the Voidwalker absorbs damage when a pull goes wrong.
- Soulshatter from level 66 drops your threat in a group.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 60-62 | Hellfire Peninsula (Honor Hold) | Hellfire Peninsula (Thrallmar) |
| 62-64 | Zangarmarsh (Telredor) | Zangarmarsh (Zabra’jin) |
| 64-65 | Terokkar Forest (Allerian Stronghold) | Terokkar Forest (Stonebreaker Hold) |
| 65-67 | Nagrand (Telaar) | Nagrand (Garadar) |
| 67-68 | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Sylvanaar) | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Thunderlord Stronghold) |
| 68-70 | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Wildhammer Stronghold) | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Shadowmoon Village) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Hellfire Ramparts and The Blood Furnace from level 60, The Slave Pens and The Underbog around 62, and Mana-Tombs and Auchenai Crypts from 64.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Damage first, then Hit, Crit and Stamina.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, with Spell Damage, and a wand with Spell Damage.
- Enchants: Major Spellpower on the weapon and the gloves, and Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for the Frozen Shadoweave set, with Enchanting to disenchant what you replace.