# Warlock leveling guide 1–60: talents and class quests

> Level 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.

Page: https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock

Polestar is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) leveling guide addon for World of Warcraft: Forever. Every guide here ships inside the addon: in game, `/polestar guides` opens the guide menu, and the guide window shows the steps with a waypoint arrow.

## Who can be a Warlock

- Human (Alliance): starts with [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Gnome (Alliance): starts with [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Orc (Horde): starts with [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12), 25 guides to level 60
- Troll (Horde): starts with [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12), 25 guides to level 60
- Undead (Horde): starts with [Tirisfal Glades](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/undead/01-tirisfal-glades.md) (levels 1–13), 24 guides to level 60

## Leveling talent plans

Polestar marks the next pick on the talent frame (`/polestar talents`; Options, Questing, Talents) and never spends a point for you. Picks up to level 30 follow a community talent site's leveling builds; from there on, and every note, they are Polestar's own. Checked on game build 1.60.1.70450.

### Affliction (31/20/0, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved Corruption | 1–5 | Affliction | Improved Corruption makes Corruption instant: the core of Affliction leveling. |
| 15–16 | Improved Life Tap | 1–2 | Affliction |  |
| 17–19 | Improved Drains | 1–3 | Affliction | Improved Drains and Soul Harvest make Drain Life a heal and Drain Soul a mana return on kills. |
| 20–21 | Soul Harvest | 1–2 | Affliction |  |
| 22–23 | Improved Bane of Agony | 1–2 | Affliction |  |
| 24 | Amplify Curse | 1 | Affliction |  |
| 25–26 | Nightfall | 1–2 | Affliction | Nightfall gives an instant Shadow Bolt now and then while your damage over time ticks. |
| 27–29 | Fel Concentration | 1–3 | Affliction |  |
| 30 | Siphon Life | 1 | Affliction | Siphon Life adds another self-heal over time to the rotation. |
| 31–33 | Soul Siphon | 1–3 | Affliction |  |
| 34 | Curse of Exhaustion | 1 | Affliction |  |
| 35–39 | Shadow Mastery | 1–5 | Affliction | Shadow Mastery adds damage to every Shadow spell. |
| 40 | Wrack | 1 | Affliction | Wrack is the capstone: a strong channel that raises the damage the target takes from your other Shadow damage-over-time effects by 10%. |
| 41–45 | Demonic Embrace | 1–5 | Demonology | The last 20 points go to Demonology: more Stamina, a tougher Voidwalker, quicker summons and Demonic Sacrifice. |
| 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 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Demonic Embrace | 1–5 | Demonology | Demonic Embrace first: more Stamina means more Life Taps and fewer deaths. |
| 15–17 | Improved Voidwalker | 1–3 | Demonology | Improved Voidwalker makes your tank pet hold mobs better and shield you. |
| 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 Link | 1 | Demonology | Soul Link shares your damage with your pet: with a Voidwalker you rarely die. |
| 31–33 | Demonic Knowledge | 1–3 | Demonology |  |
| 34 | Improved Felhunter | 1 | Demonology |  |
| 35–39 | Master Demonologist | 1–5 | Demonology |  |
| 40 | Demonic Pact | 1 | Demonology | Demonic Pact is the capstone: you keep Demonic Sacrifice's effect when you summon another demon. |
| 41–45 | Improved Corruption | 1–5 | Affliction | The rest goes to Affliction: an instant Corruption, stronger drains and Life Tap, and Nightfall's free Shadow Bolts. |
| 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 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Bane | 1–5 | Destruction | Bane first: faster Shadow Bolts and Immolates. |
| 15–17 | Cataclysm | 1–3 | Destruction |  |
| 18–19 | Molten Skin | 1–2 | Destruction |  |
| 20 | Shadowburn | 1 | Destruction |  |
| 21–25 | Ruin | 1–5 | Destruction | Ruin makes Destruction crits hit much harder. |
| 26 | Conflagrate | 1 | Destruction | Conflagrate turns your Immolate into burst damage; open with Immolate, then Conflagrate. |
| 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 | Incinerate | 1 | Destruction | Incinerate is the capstone: a strong Fire nuke, best on an Immolated target. |
| 42–46 | Improved Corruption | 1–5 | Affliction | The rest goes to Affliction: an instant Corruption, stronger drains and Life Tap, and Nightfall's free Shadow Bolts. |
| 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

- [Incubus (Alliance)](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/incubus-alliance.md) (levels 20–25): Alliance, Warlock; reward: Summon Incubus, Small Soul Pouch
- [Incubus (Horde)](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/incubus-horde.md) (levels 20–28): Horde, Warlock; reward: Summon Incubus, Small Soul Pouch
- [Orb of Soran'ruk](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/orb-of-soranruk.md) (levels 25–30): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Orb of Soran'ruk, Staff of Soran'ruk
- [Felhunter (Alliance)](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/felhunter-alliance.md) (levels 30–33): Alliance, Warlock; reward: Summon Felhunter, Box of Souls
- [Felhunter (Horde)](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/felhunter-horde.md) (levels 30–33): Horde, Warlock; reward: Summon Felhunter, Box of Souls
- [Enchanted Gold Bloodrobe](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/enchanted-gold-bloodrobe.md) (levels 31–38): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Enchanted Gold Bloodrobe
- [Orb of Orahil](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/orb-of-orahil.md) (levels 35–40): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Orb of Dar'Orahil, Staff of Dar'Orahil, Orb of Noh'Orahil, Staff of Noh'Orahil
- [Warlock Felsteed](https://polestar.guide/guides/collectibles/mounts/neutral/warlock-felsteed.md) (levels 40–60): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Summon Felsteed
- [An Imp's Request](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/impsys-request.md) (levels 50–54): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Soul Harvester, Abyss Shard, Robes of Servitude
- [Shard of the Green Flame](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/shard-of-the-green-flame.md) (levels 50–56): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Shard of the Green Flame
- [Tome of Sacrifice](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/warlock/tome-of-sacrifice.md) (levels 60): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Tome of Sacrifice
- [Warlock Dreadsteed](https://polestar.guide/guides/collectibles/mounts/neutral/warlock-dreadsteed.md) (levels 60): Both factions, Warlock; reward: Summon Dreadsteed

## Warlock steps on the leveling routes

### Alliance

- [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13): quests Tainted Memorandum, Beginnings, The Slaughtered Lamb, Surena Caledon, The Binding
- [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13): quests The Stolen Tome, Tainted Letter, Gakin's Summons, Surena Caledon, The Binding
- [Redridge Mountains](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/04-redridge-mountains.md) (levels 20–23): quests Devourer of Souls
- [Thousand Needles, Duskwood & Wetlands](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/07-thousand-needles.md) (levels 28–31): quests Heartswood, What Is Love?
- [Desolace](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/30-40/02-desolace.md) (levels 31–34): 2 class steps
- [Arathi Highlands, Alterac Mountains & Swamp of Sorrows](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/30-40/05-arathi-highlands.md) (levels 37–40): quests The Binding
- [Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/40-50/01-stranglethorn-vale.md) (levels 40–43): quests Summon Felsteed
- [Badlands & The Hinterlands](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/40-50/02-badlands.md) (levels 43–44): quests Summon Felsteed

### Horde

- [Durotar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/orc-troll/01-durotar.md) (levels 1–12): quests Tainted Parchment (Orc), Tainted Tablet (Troll), Vile Familiars, Gan'rul's Summons, Creature of the Void, The Binding
- [Tirisfal Glades](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/undead/01-tirisfal-glades.md) (levels 1–13): quests Tainted Scroll, Piercing the Veil, Creature of the Void, The Binding
- [The Barrens](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/04-the-barrens.md) (levels 19–24): quests Devourer of Souls, Blind Cazul, News of Dogran, Ken'zigla's Draught, Dogran's Captivity, Love's Gift, The Binding
- [Feralas & Tanaris](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/02-feralas.md) (levels 42–44): quests Summon Felsteed

## Warlock gear

What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Warlock's. Before any talent points are spent it uses Affliction.

- Armor: Cloth
- Weapons: One-handed swords, Staves, Daggers, Wands

Stat weights per point while leveling, against 1 for the spec's main stat:

| 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 |

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Index for language models: https://polestar.guide/llms.txt