Warlock leveling guide
Levels 1–60Alliance: Human, GnomeHorde: Orc, Troll, Undead
Alliance: Human, Gnome
Horde: Orc, Troll, UndeadYour plan in game
Open your talent plan in Polestar:
/polestar talentsLevel as Affliction (instant Corruption, Siphon Life, drains) or Demonology (a tougher Voidwalker, Soul Link) for the fewest deaths. Destruction hits hardest with Conflagrate and Incinerate but needs more rest.
Polestar ships 3 leveling talent plans for Warlocks (Affliction, Demonology and Destruction), 12 class quest guides, and Warlock steps in 12 leveling guides.
Who can be a Warlock
In WoW: Forever Warlocks are open to 5 races on both sides. Each race starts on its own route and joins its side's shared road; the guides carry the Warlock steps for you.
Alliance
- HumanElwynn Forest 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- GnomeDun Morogh 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
Horde
- OrcDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- TrollDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- UndeadTirisfal Glades 1–13Its road: 24 guides to level 60
Leveling talent plans
Picks up to level 30 follow a community talent site's leveling builds; from there on, and every note, they are Polestar's own. Every pick is checked against Forever's own Warlock talent tree (client 1.60.1.70450). Sources are named on Credits & data sources.
Each plan is written one point a level from 10. Points that come sooner (a Legacy talent can grant them from level 5) bring the picks sooner: in the game the plan follows its order, not the levels.
Affliction
31/20/0 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved CorruptionImproved Corruption makes Corruption instant: the core of Affliction leveling. | 1–5 | Affliction |
| 15–16 | Improved Life Tap | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 17–19 | Improved DrainsImproved Drains and Soul Harvest make Drain Life a heal and Drain Soul a mana return on kills. | 1–3 | Affliction |
| 20–21 | Soul Harvest | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 22–23 | Improved Bane of Agony | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 24 | Amplify Curse | 1 | Affliction |
| 25–26 | NightfallNightfall gives an instant Shadow Bolt now and then while your damage over time ticks. | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 27–29 | Fel Concentration | 1–3 | Affliction |
| 30 | Siphon LifeSiphon Life adds another self-heal over time to the rotation. | 1 | Affliction |
| 31–33 | Soul Siphon | 1–3 | Affliction |
| 34 | Curse of Exhaustion | 1 | Affliction |
| 35–39 | Shadow MasteryShadow Mastery adds damage to every Shadow spell. | 1–5 | Affliction |
| 40 | WrackWrack is the capstone: a strong channel that raises the damage the target takes from your other Shadow damage-over-time effects by 10%. | 1 | Affliction |
| 41–45 | Demonic EmbraceThe last 20 points go to Demonology: more Stamina, a tougher Voidwalker, quicker summons and Demonic Sacrifice. | 1–5 | Demonology |
| 46–48 | Improved Voidwalker | 1–3 | Demonology |
| 49–50 | Improved Health Funnel | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 51 | Demonic Sacrifice | 1 | Demonology |
| 52–53 | Master Summoner | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 54–56 | Fel Vitality | 1–3 | Demonology |
| 57 | Fel Domination | 1 | Demonology |
| 58–59 | Demonic Aegis | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 60 | Unholy Power | 1 | Demonology |
Demonology
20/31/0 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Demonic EmbraceDemonic Embrace first: more Stamina means more Life Taps and fewer deaths. | 1–5 | Demonology |
| 15–17 | Improved VoidwalkerImproved Voidwalker makes your tank pet hold mobs better and shield you. | 1–3 | Demonology |
| 18–19 | Demonic Aegis | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 20 | Demonic Sacrifice | 1 | Demonology |
| 21–23 | Fel Vitality | 1–3 | Demonology |
| 24 | Improved Health Funnel | 1 | Demonology |
| 25–26 | Master Summoner | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 27 | Fel Domination | 1 | Demonology |
| 28–29 | Demonic Energies | 1–2 | Demonology |
| 30 | Soul LinkSoul Link shares your damage with your pet: with a Voidwalker you rarely die. | 1 | Demonology |
| 31–33 | Demonic Knowledge | 1–3 | Demonology |
| 34 | Improved Felhunter | 1 | Demonology |
| 35–39 | Master Demonologist | 1–5 | Demonology |
| 40 | Demonic PactDemonic Pact is the capstone: you keep Demonic Sacrifice's effect when you summon another demon. | 1 | Demonology |
| 41–45 | Improved CorruptionThe rest goes to Affliction: an instant Corruption, stronger drains and Life Tap, and Nightfall's free Shadow Bolts. | 1–5 | Affliction |
| 46–48 | Improved Drains | 1–3 | Affliction |
| 49–50 | Improved Life Tap | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 51–52 | Soul Harvest | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 53–54 | Improved Bane of Agony | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 55 | Amplify Curse | 1 | Affliction |
| 56–57 | Nightfall | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 58–60 | Fel Concentration | 1–3 | Affliction |
Destruction
19/0/32 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | BaneBane first: faster Shadow Bolts and Immolates. | 1–5 | Destruction |
| 15–17 | Cataclysm | 1–3 | Destruction |
| 18–19 | Molten Skin | 1–2 | Destruction |
| 20 | Shadowburn | 1 | Destruction |
| 21–25 | RuinRuin makes Destruction crits hit much harder. | 1–5 | Destruction |
| 26 | ConflagrateConflagrate turns your Immolate into burst damage; open with Immolate, then Conflagrate. | 1 | Destruction |
| 27–29 | Intensity | 1–3 | Destruction |
| 30 | Bane of Havoc | 1 | Destruction |
| 31–32 | Pyroclasm | 1–2 | Destruction |
| 33–35 | Fire and Brimstone | 1–3 | Destruction |
| 36–40 | Shadow and Flame | 1–5 | Destruction |
| 41 | IncinerateIncinerate is the capstone: a strong Fire nuke, best on an Immolated target. | 1 | Destruction |
| 42–46 | Improved CorruptionThe rest goes to Affliction: an instant Corruption, stronger drains and Life Tap, and Nightfall's free Shadow Bolts. | 1–5 | Affliction |
| 47–49 | Improved Drains | 1–3 | Affliction |
| 50–51 | Improved Life Tap | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 52–53 | Soul Harvest | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 54–55 | Improved Bane of Agony | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 56 | Amplify Curse | 1 | Affliction |
| 57–58 | Nightfall | 1–2 | Affliction |
| 59–60 | Fel Concentration | 1–2 | Affliction |
Warlock class quests
12 class quest guides for Warlocks, each a guide of its own in Polestar's Class menu.
- Incubus (Alliance)20–25AllianceSummon Incubus, Small Soul Pouch
- Incubus (Horde)20–28HordeSummon Incubus, Small Soul Pouch
- Orb of Soran'ruk25–30Both factionsOrb of Soran'ruk, Staff of Soran'ruk
- Felhunter (Alliance)30–33AllianceSummon Felhunter, Box of Souls
- Felhunter (Horde)30–33HordeSummon Felhunter, Box of Souls
- Enchanted Gold Bloodrobe31–38Both factionsEnchanted Gold Bloodrobe
- Orb of Orahil35–40Both factionsOrb of Dar'Orahil, Staff of Dar'Orahil, Orb of Noh'Orahil, Staff of Noh'Orahil
- Warlock Felsteed40–60Both factionsSummon Felsteed
- An Imp's Request50–54Both factionsSoul Harvester, Abyss Shard, Robes of Servitude
- Shard of the Green Flame50–56Both factionsShard of the Green Flame
- Tome of Sacrifice60Both factionsTome of Sacrifice
- Warlock Dreadsteed60Both factionsSummon Dreadsteed
Warlock steps on the leveling routes
Steps the zone guides show only to Warlocks (a few to one or two other classes as well): class quests on the way and visits to your trainer.
Alliance
- Dun Morogh1–13Dwarf, Gnome
Tainted Memorandum, Beginnings, The Slaughtered Lamb, Surena Caledon, The Binding
- Elwynn Forest1–13Human
The Stolen Tome, Tainted Letter, Gakin's Summons, Surena Caledon, The Binding
- Redridge Mountains20–23
Devourer of Souls
- Thousand Needles, Duskwood & Wetlands28–31
Heartswood, What Is Love?
- Arathi Highlands, Alterac Mountains & Swamp of Sorrows37–40
The Binding
- Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows40–43
Summon Felsteed
- Badlands & The Hinterlands43–44
Summon Felsteed
Other Warlock steps Desolace
Horde
- Durotar1–12Orc, Troll
Tainted Parchment (Orc), Tainted Tablet (Troll), Vile Familiars, Gan'rul's Summons, Creature of the Void, The Binding
- Tirisfal Glades1–13Undead
Tainted Scroll, Piercing the Veil, Creature of the Void, The Binding
- The Barrens19–24
Devourer of Souls, Blind Cazul, News of Dogran, Ken'zigla's Draught, Dogran's Captivity, Love's Gift, The Binding
- Feralas & Tanaris42–44
Summon Felsteed
Warlock gear
What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Warlock's, and how it weighs stats for each spec. It reads your spec from your talent points; before you spend any it uses Affliction.
- Armor
- Cloth
- Weapons
- One-handed swords, Staves, Daggers, Wands
| Spec | Stats | Own weights |
|---|---|---|
| Affliction | Stamina 0.8 · Intellect 0.75 · Spirit 0.6 | To level 59 |
| Demonology | Stamina 1 · Intellect 0.75 · Spirit 0.55 | To level 59 |
| Destruction | Intellect 0.85 · Stamina 0.7 · Spirit 0.4 | To level 59 |
How Polestar helps a Warlock level
- One route, your class's steps in it. The guides show the steps for your race and class and skip the rest, so the Warlock quests above turn up where they belong on your road, and a waypoint arrow walks you to every goal.
- Your talent plan on the talent frame. Pick a plan (or let Polestar follow your spec): a ring marks the next talent while a point is unspent, each talent shows where it comes in the plan, and a chat line names the next pick when a point is waiting. Nothing is spent for you. Open it with
/polestar talents; the settings are under Options, Questing, Talents. - Gear advice for your spec. Quest rewards and items in your bags that are upgrades for your Warlock get a green arrow, and a turn-in names the reward to take.