WarlockWarlock leveling 1–60

Pick a leveling spec

Most sources pickAfflictionAlternativeDemonologyAlternativeDestruction

All three guide sites start Affliction. DoTs and drains work with a Voidwalker, and Life Tap and Drain Soul cover mana. Method says Demonology comes online later. WoW Forever GuidesMethodWoW Forever Builds

• Demonology: WoW Forever Guides takes 20 Demonology points after Affliction. Method calls it weaker early and Soul Link comes late in its order. WoW Forever GuidesMethod
• Destruction: Method opens with Bane and Aftermath, adds Conflagrate at 29 and Bane of Havoc, then Incinerate as filler. It does not rank Destruction above Affliction. Method

Affliction talent order 10–60

Talents start at level 10 and you get one point per level, 51 by level 60. The Talented Legacy perk can move each point up to five levels earlier; follow the order by points spent, not by level.

More Warlock builds, including level-30 and level-60 allocations from other sites, are on the builds page.

New abilities by level

Rank-1 trainer abilities from the WoW Forever Talents fansite report, beta build 1.60.1.70124, checked 2026-10-01. Abilities whose first rank comes from a talent are in the talent order above. Train every level you can afford.

1. 1–10
   • Demon SkinLevel 1 · Changed
   • ImmolateLevel 1 · Changed
   • Shadow BoltLevel 1 · Changed
   • Summon ImpLevel 1
   • CorruptionLevel 4 · Changed
   • Curse of WeaknessLevel 4 · Changed
   • Life TapLevel 6 · Changed
   • Bane of Agony was Curse of AgonyLevel 8 · Changed
   • FearLevel 8
   • Create Healthstone was Create Healthstone (Minor) / Create Healthstone (Lesser) / Create Healthstone / Create Healthstone (Greater) / Create Healthstone (Major)Level 10 · Changed
   • Drain SoulLevel 10 · Changed
   • Explorer ImpLevel 10New in Forever
   • Summon VoidwalkerLevel 10
2. 11–20
   • Health FunnelLevel 12 · Changed
   • Curse of RecklessnessLevel 14 · Changed
   • Drain LifeLevel 14 · Changed
   • Unending BreathLevel 16
   • Create Soulstone was Create Soulstone (Minor) / Create Soulstone (Lesser) / Create Soulstone / Create Soulstone (Greater) / Create Soulstone (Major)Level 18 · Changed
   • Searing PainLevel 18 · Changed
   • Curse of the ElementsLevel 20 · Changed
   • Demon ArmorLevel 20 · Changed
   • Rain of FireLevel 20 · Changed
   • Ritual of SummoningLevel 20
   • Summon IncubusLevel 20
   • Summon SuccubusLevel 20
3. 21–30
   • Eye of KilroggLevel 22
   • Drain ManaLevel 24
   • Sense DemonsLevel 24
   • Curse of TonguesLevel 26 · Changed
   • Detect Invisibility was Detect Lesser Invisibility / Detect Invisibility / Detect Greater InvisibilityLevel 26 · Changed
   • BanishLevel 28
   • Create Firestone was Create Firestone (Lesser) / Create Firestone / Create Firestone (Greater) / Create Firestone (Major)Level 28 · Changed
   • HellfireLevel 30 · Changed
   • Subjugate DemonLevel 30
   • Summon FelhunterLevel 30
4. 31–40
   • Shadow WardLevel 32
   • Create Spellstone was Create Spellstone / Create Spellstone (Greater) / Create Spellstone (Major)Level 36 · Changed
   • Howl of TerrorLevel 40
5. 41–50
   • Death CoilLevel 42 · Changed
   • Soul FireLevel 48 · Changed
   • InfernoLevel 50
6. 51–60
   • Bane of Doom was Curse of DoomLevel 60 · Changed
   • Portal of SummoningLevel 60New in Forever
   • Ritual of DoomLevel 60

Every rank and training level for the class is in the Warlock trainer spellbook.

How to play while leveling

1. Levels 1–9
   • Send the Imp first. Open with Immolate, then Shadow Bolt, then the wand or melee.
   • Keep Demon Skin up. Corruption comes at 4, Life Tap at 6, Bane of Agony at 8.
   • Fear is available at 8 for emergencies.
   MethodWoW Forever Guides
2. Levels 10–19
   • Switch to the Voidwalker and send it in before you attack.
   • Apply Immolate or Corruption and Bane of Agony, then Shadow Bolt or the wand. Drain Life from 14 when you need health.
   • Finish mobs with Drain Soul for a Soul Shard.
   • Life Tap after the fight, then Health Funnel (12) on the demon.
   MethodWoW Forever GuidesWoW Forever Builds
3. Levels 20–29
   • Searing Pain (18) and Rain of Fire (20) join the toolbox.
   • Spread Corruption and Bane of Agony over a second mob while the Voidwalker holds the first.
   • Fear the most dangerous mob when the pet is low.
   WoW Forever GuidesWoW Forever Builds
4. Levels 30–39
   • Siphon Life arrives at 30. The Felhunter (30) can handle caster mobs, per WoW Forever Guides.
   • Stack Corruption, Bane of Agony and Siphon Life, then drain the main target.
   • Spend Nightfall procs on Shadow Bolt once you take it (level 34 in this order).
   WoW Forever BuildsWoW Forever GuidesMethod
5. Levels 40–60
   • Wrack at 40 and Death Coil at 42 add burst and an escape.
   • Soul Fire arrives at 48.
   WoW Forever GuidesBlizzard

What Forever changes for Warlocks

• Curse of Agony and Curse of Doom became Banes. Only one Bane can be active per target. Curse of Shadows is gone. Blizzard
• Life Tap scales with Spirit, and the tooltip now shows the right Spirit-based Mana. BlizzardBeta notes
• Drain Soul has a per-tick chance to give a Soul Shard. The chance rises after each miss until it is guaranteed. Blizzard
• 10-01Drain Soul is interrupted when you start another cast. Beta notes
• 10-01Pets scale from their summoner's stats. Aggressive pet mode returned on Oct 1. BlizzardBeta notes
• 10-08Your active pet is stunned while you summon another one. Beta notes
• Firestone and Spellstone are weapon imbues that stack with temporary enchants such as Wizard Oil. Blizzard
• Improved Health Funnel moved to row 1, gives a larger transfer, works at any demon health, and cuts Health Funnel threat. Blizzard
• Demonic Sacrifice is now an 11-point talent whose effects last 2 hours. Soul Link is the 21-point talent. BlizzardBeta notes
• 10-15Grim Reach returns as an Affliction range talent (10 and 20%) and replaces Malediction. Shadow Mastery now gives 2 to 10%. Beta notes
• 10-15Reagent Economy no longer makes Summon Incubus free of shards. Beta notes
• 10-01Soul Harvest's mana regeneration was fixed on Oct 1. Voidwalker Sacrifice scales with 10% of your spell healing. Beta notes

Warlock leveling tips and tricks

• Forever tip

  Let Drain Soul finish

  Starting another spell cancels Drain Soul. Let it finish for the Soul Shard chance.

  Beta notesBlizzard
• Forever tip

  Drain Soul shards

  Each Drain Soul tick can give a shard, and the chance grows after each miss. Finish weak mobs with it.

  BlizzardWoW Forever Guides
• Forever tip

  Life Tap from Spirit

  Life Tap now scales with Spirit, so gear with Spirit refills mana faster. Life Tap, then eat or drain.

  BlizzardMethod
• Forever tip

  One Bane per target

  A target holds only one Bane from you. Bane of Agony is the leveling default.

  BlizzardWoW Forever Guides
• Forever tip

  Pets scale with you

  Pets now scale with your stats, so your gear upgrades strengthen the demon too.

  Blizzard
• Forever tip

  Pet stun on swap

  Your current pet is stunned while the new one is summoned. Swap between pulls, not mid-fight.

  Beta notes
• Forever tip

  Weapon imbues

  Firestone (28) and Spellstone (36) go on your weapon and stack with Wizard Oil. Check ranks at the trainer.

  BlizzardWoW Forever Guides
• Forever tip

  Health Funnel is safer

  Improved Health Funnel lowers its threat and works at any demon health. Funnel after fights.

  BlizzardWoW Forever Guides
• General

  Voidwalker default

  Imp until 10, then the Voidwalker. WoW Forever Guides tries the Felhunter against casters at 30.

  WoW Forever GuidesMethod
• General

  Sacrifice in danger

  If the Voidwalker is about to die, Sacrifice it, Fear the worst mob and drain. Method uses Sacrifice on the Imp when the Voidwalker tanks.

  WoW Forever BuildsMethod
• General

  Keep shards in stock

  Keep five or six shards and make a Healthstone and Soulstone before each session. The Imp is free; every later demon costs a Soul Shard to summon.

  WoW Forever BuildsWoW Forever Guides

Gear, weapons and professions

Gear and weapons

• Wands no longer gain damage from spell damage, so treat a wand as flat filler. Upgrade it when a better one drops. WoW Forever GuidesWoW Forever Builds
• Method's Tailoring picks: Filigreed Shadow Gown for Affliction, Filigreed Flame Gown for Destruction or Demonology. Method
• Keep Demon Skin or Demon Armor up for health regeneration. Carry food to eat after Life Tap. Method

Professions

• Tailoring and Enchanting, per Method. Tailoring also pairs with Alchemy in the WoW Forever Builds guide. MethodWoW Forever Builds
• Buy a Soul Pouch when possible to hold shards. WoW Forever Builds

Look up any item in the item catalog, compare the Warlock level-30 gear list or plan a route in the profession guides 1–300.

Warlock class quests

Level	Faction	What the sources report
1	Both	The Imp quest is available from level 1. Method
10	Both	Voidwalker quest. Method finds the Undercity chain quicker than Orgrimmar's for Horde, and Stormwind's slightly quicker than Ironforge's for Alliance. MethodWoW Forever Guides
20	Both	Succubus or Incubus quest. Like every demon after the Imp, it costs a Soul Shard to summon. WoW Forever BuildsWoW Forever Guides
30	Both	Felhunter chain: Seeking Strahad, three Tome of the Cabal steps, then The Binding, all through Strahad Farsan in Ratchet. It rewards Summon Felhunter and a Box of Souls. WoW Forever Guides

Level faster in Forever

Legacy perks for Warlocks

• Each character can spend 16 Legacy points at launch. The WoW Forever Talents Legacy record lists Talented, which starts talent points up to five levels early, behind Well Rested 5/5, so the pair costs 10 of the 16. BlizzardWoW Forever Talents
• Reagent Economy removes purchasable reagents from class abilities. Its text does not mention Soul Shards, and the Oct 15 notes say it no longer frees the Incubus shard. WoW Forever GuidesBeta notes
• WoW Forever Builds suggests Well Rested, Talented, Thrill of Adventure, Field Guide, Frequent Flier, The Quick and the Dead, Reagent Economy and Well Rested rank 2, and marks the order unconfirmed. WoW Forever Builds

Blizzard's Legacy explanation lets each character spend up to 16 points at launch. Plan yours in the Legacy planner.

• Rested experienceLog out in an inn, a city or at a campfire.
• Sleeping BagQuest chain from level 14.
• XP foodCooking buffs that add experience.
• Dungeon bonusExperience bonus in beta testing.
• Leveling addonsWhich ones work with Forever.

Dungeons on the way to 60

Level ranges from the dungeon guides. The Oct 1 notes cut the extra experience from dungeon quests by half, and the Oct 8 notes raised dungeon monster experience by about 20 percent.

1. Hall of Thanes13–18New
2. Ragefire Chasm13–18Classic
3. Ruins of Lordaeron15–20New
4. Wailing Caverns15–25Classic
5. The Deadmines18–23Classic
6. Shadowfang Keep22–30Classic
7. The Stockade22–30Classic
8. Blackfathom Deeps24–32Classic
9. Excavation Site: Wetlands26–31New
10. City of Dalaran28–33New
11. Scarlet Monastery: Graveyard28–38Classic
12. Gnomeregan29–38Classic
13. Scarlet Monastery: Library29–39Classic
14. Razorfen Kraul30–40Classic
15. Scarlet Monastery: Armory32–42Classic
16. Scarlet Monastery: Cathedral35–45Classic
17. The Drowned City35–40New
18. Krol'dok Stronghold40–45New
19. Razorfen Downs40–50Classic
20. Uldaman42–52Classic
21. Zul'Farrak44–54Classic
22. Maraudon: Foulspore Cavern45–53Classic
23. Maraudon: Wicked Grotto45–53Classic
24. Alcaz Prison48–53New
25. Maraudon: Earth Song Falls48–57Classic
26. Sunken Temple50–60Classic
27. Blackrock Depths52–60Classic
28. Blackmaw Hold55–60New
29. Lower Blackrock Spire55–60Classic
30. Dire Maul58–60Classic
31. Scholomance58–60Classic
32. Stratholme58–60Classic
33. The Shaper's Terrace58–60New
34. Upper Blackrock Spire58–60Classic

Where the sources disagree

No source has measured leveling speed for any class. The beta stops at level 30, and Blizzard says abilities and talents can still change before launch.

• Improved Corruption: WoW Forever Guides reports 5/5 makes Corruption instant; the Blizzard deep dive says it raises Corruption damage up to 10%.
• Malediction: the Blizzard deep dive lists it as new; the Oct 15 notes replace it with Grim Reach, and the deep dive says Grim Reach was removed. The Oct 13 talent snapshot still shows Malediction.
• Shadow Mastery: the deep dive says the damage bonus was reduced; the Oct 15 notes set 2 to 10%.
• Pets: Method sacrifices the Imp when the Voidwalker tanks and starts Demonology after Affliction; WoW Forever Guides keeps the Voidwalker as default and tries the Felhunter at 30.
• Talent order: Method opens with Suppression and Improved Corruption, WoW Forever Guides and WoW Forever Builds open with Improved Corruption only.
• Method ranks Human S, Orc A, Undead and Gnome B, Troll C. No other source ranks races.
• WoW Forever Guides says Blizzard has published no Forever change to any Warlock quest chain.
• Dark Pact has no beta spell entry. The Curse of the Elements schedule is unclear.
• WoW Forever Builds puts one point in Well Rested before Talented; the WoW Forever Talents Legacy record (build 70124) lists Talented behind Well Rested 5/5.
• Soul Siphon: WoW Forever Builds describes faster drains that heal less per tick; Blizzard's deep dive describes up to 12% more drain damage and healing per Affliction effect on the target, at most 36%. No newer source settles which is current.