Affliction Warlock leveling guide
Affliction is the Warlock who lets enemies wither away. Corruption, Curse of Agony and Unstable Affliction do damage over time, Haunt makes those effects hit harder and heals you back, and Nightfall gives free instant Shadow Bolts. You can tag several enemies at once and let them fall while your pet holds them, and Siphon Life and Soul Link keep you standing.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Very little downtime: Life Tap, Improved Life Tap and Siphon Life keep mana and health up.
- Damage over time on several enemies at once, and Seed of Corruption for groups.
- Curse of Exhaustion and Fear keep melee enemies away from you.
- Slower against a single enemy with little health, since your damage takes time to tick.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Affliction: Improved Curse of Agony 2/2, Improved Corruption 5/5, Improved Life Tap 2/2, Soul Siphon 2/2, Fel Concentration 3/3, Amplify Curse, Nightfall 2/2 and Empowered Corruption 3/3.
- Shadow Embrace 5/5, Siphon Life, Curse of Exhaustion, Shadow Mastery 5/5, Eradication 3/3, Contagion 5/5, Malediction 3/3, Unstable Affliction and Pandemic.
- Everlasting Affliction 5/5 and Haunt, for 51 points. In Demonology: Improved Healthstone 2/2, Improved Imp 3/3 and Demonic Embrace 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Fel Synergy 2/2, Fel Vitality 3/3 and Soul Link.
- Demonic Aegis 3/3 and Fel Domination, for 20 points in Demonology.
Rotation
One enemy
- Send your pet in, then Haunt and Unstable Affliction.
- Corruption and Curse of Agony, then Shadow Bolt, and an instant Shadow Bolt when Nightfall lights up.
- Drain Soul once the enemy drops below 25% health, for extra damage and a Soul Shard.
Groups of enemies
- Corruption on every enemy, and Seed of Corruption on the one in the middle.
- Curse of Exhaustion on an enemy that runs at you, and Howl of Terror when several reach you.
Staying alive
- Soul Link with your Voidwalker or Felhunter, and Fel Armor always active.
- Drain Life and a Healthstone when your health drops, and Death Coil as an instant heal and fear.
- Life Tap when mana runs low, and Demonic Circle from level 80 to get away.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Power first, then Hit, Haste, Crit and Spirit.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, and a wand with Spell Power.
- Enchants: Mighty Spellpower on the weapon, Exceptional Spellpower on the gloves and Superior Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for caster cloth and Lightweave Embroidery, with Enchanting to disenchant what you replace.