How to Level a Warlock in WoW Forever
A Warlock rarely needs to stop: Life Tap turns Health into Mana and Drain Life turns it back. The recommended Affliction plan makes Corruption instant at 14 and lets you tank monsters yourself with Drain Life from 30, which suits Forever's less sturdy pets. The Demonology plan leans on the demon and Soul Link instead. Neither needs a respec.
Warlock Leveling Milestones
- Lv 4
Corruption and Curse of Weakness.
- Lv 6
Life Tap.
- Lv 8
Bane of Agony and Fear.
- Lv 10
Summon Voidwalker, Drain Soul, and your first talent point.
- Lv 14
Drain Life, and instant Corruption for the Affliction plan.
- Lv 20
Summon Succubus or Incubus, Demon Armor, and Rain of Fire.
- Lv 30
Summon Felhunter and Hellfire; Affliction drain tanking starts here.
- Lv 40
Howl of Terror.
- Lv 42
Death Coil.
- Lv 57
Wrack, the top of the Affliction tree.
Warlock Affliction Drain Tank Leveling Build
Instant Corruption at 14, full hit at 19, and stronger drains at 29, so from 30 you can tank monsters yourself with Drain Life while your damage over time does the work. The plan reaches Shadow Mastery at 50, Siphon Life at 51, and Wrack at 57, with ten Demonology points for a stronger, self-sustaining pet.
How the Affliction Drain Tank Leveling Plan Works
Affliction41
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Demonology10
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Destruction0
Pets in Forever are less sturdy than they once were, so this plan does not ask the pet to tank three monsters. Instead you take the hits yourself and heal through them with Drain Life. Improved Drains adds 20% to your drains, Soul Siphon adds 12% more for each of your other Affliction effects on the target, and Fel Concentration stops the channel being pushed back when you are hit.
Life Tap is how the plan pays for spells: you turn Health into Mana, then drain the Health back. Improved Life Tap adds 20% to the Mana you gain, and Demonic Energies from Demonology passes the same Mana to your pet and heals it for 15% of your spell damage, so neither of you has to stop.
Everything else stacks damage over time. Improved Corruption makes Corruption instant, Pandemic raises the critical strike damage of your damage-over-time spells, Malevolence and Shadow Mastery add critical strike and damage, Nightfall gives you free instant Shadow Bolts, and Wrack at 57 is a strong channel that also raises the damage your other effects deal.
Affliction Drain Tank Leveling: Point Order by Level
| Level | Spend the point on | Tree points | Show in the calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 10–19Instant Corruption and hit Improved Corruption 5/5 at 10–14: Corruption is instant and deals 10% more damage. Suppression 5/5 at 15–19 adds 5% hit and lowers threat by 20%. | |||
| 10–14 | Improved Corruption 5/5 · Affliction | 5 / 0 / 0 | Open |
| 15–19 | Suppression 5/5 · Affliction | 10 / 0 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 20–30Pet support and stronger drains Unholy Power 5/5 in Demonology at 20–24 for 10% more pet damage and Demonic Energies 2/2 at 25–26. Improved Drains 3/3 at 27–29 adds 20% to your drains, and Amplify Curse at 30. With rank 3 Drain Life, this is where drain tanking begins. | |||
| 20–24 | Unholy Power 5/5 · Demonology | 10 / 5 / 0 | Open |
| 25–26 | Demonic Energies 2/2 · Demonology | 10 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 27–29 | Improved Drains 3/3 · Affliction | 13 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 30 | Amplify Curse 1/1 · Affliction | 14 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 31–40Life Tap and drain damage Improved Life Tap 2/2 at 31–32, Improved Bane of Agony 2/2 at 33–34, Pandemic 3/3 at 35–37 for bigger critical strikes from your damage over time, and Soul Siphon 3/3 at 38–40 so your drains grow with every effect on the target. | |||
| 31–32 | Improved Life Tap 2/2 · Affliction | 16 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 33–34 | Improved Bane of Agony 2/2 · Affliction | 18 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 35–37 | Pandemic 3/3 · Affliction | 21 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 38–40 | Soul Siphon 3/3 · Affliction | 24 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 41–51Critical strike and Shadow damage Malevolence 5/5 at 41–45 for 5% Shadow critical strike, Shadow Mastery 5/5 at 46–50 for 10% more Shadow damage, and Siphon Life at 51. | |||
| 41–45 | Malevolence 5/5 · Affliction | 29 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 46–50 | Shadow Mastery 5/5 · Affliction | 34 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 51 | Siphon Life 1/1 · Affliction | 35 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 52–60Wrack to finish Fel Concentration 3/3 at 52–54, Nightfall 2/2 at 55–56, Wrack at 57, and Demonic Embrace 3/5 at 58–60 for more Stamina. | |||
| 52–54 | Fel Concentration 3/3 · Affliction | 38 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 55–56 | Nightfall 2/2 · Affliction | 40 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 57 | Wrack 1/1 · Affliction | 41 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 58–60 | Demonic Embrace 3/5 · Demonology | 41 / 10 / 0 | Open |
Affliction Drain Tank Leveling: Rotation and How to Play
Single target
Apply Corruption to everything; add Bane of Agony on longer fights and Immolate on monsters with lots of health, and Siphon Life from 51. Fill with your wand before 30 and Drain Life after; from 57, use Wrack whenever you do not need the healing. When a monster is nearly dead, finish it with the wand rather than starting a cast.
Two at once
Put damage over time on the first monster and Fear it, so it runs while the damage ticks. Let your pet open on the second, apply your damage over time, and when it turns to you, drain it while it hits you. Then turn back to the first and Fear it again if needed. Two monsters is the limit; drain the third yourself only if you must.
Which pet
Voidwalker from 10 to 19, when you cannot drain-tank yet. From 20 a Succubus or Incubus for the most damage. Switch to the Voidwalker for elites and dangerous pulls, and the Felhunter against casters.
Warlock Demonology Leveling Build
The engine is Soul Harvest plus Demonic Energies: you and your pet keep each other going, so you rarely stop to drink. Pet damage and instant Corruption first, then pet toughness and Demonic Brand, Soul Link at 37, Master Demonologist at 42–46, and Demonic Pact at 47, with Affliction and Bane to finish.
How the Demonology Leveling Plan Works
Affliction152/25/52/23/33/3Demonology312/25/52/23/32/23/31/13/31/13/35/51/1Destruction55/5This plan treats you and your demon as one unit that feeds itself. Demonic Energies heals your pet for 15% of the spell damage you deal and passes the Mana from Life Tap to it, while Soul Harvest raises your Mana regeneration by 100% for 10 seconds after a monster dies under your Drain Soul, and keeps it going while you cast.
The middle of the tree is about a pet that survives and holds threat. Fel Vitality adds 15% to the pet's Health and Mana and to your own Mana, Improved Sayaad strengthens the Succubus and Incubus, and Demonic Brand cuts the threat of Searing Pain and makes your pet's next attacks deal bonus damage, which keeps monsters on the pet so you can keep casting.
The deep talents change how you survive. Demonic Sacrifice with the Felhunter restores 3% of your Health every 4 seconds, Soul Link moves 30% of the damage you take to your pet, and Master Demonologist with a Voidwalker cuts Physical damage taken by 10% for both of you. Demonic Pact keeps the sacrifice effect even after you summon another demon.
Demonology Leveling: Point Order by Level
| Level | Spend the point on | Tree points | Show in the calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 10–23Fit the engine Unholy Power 5/5 at 10–14 for 10% more pet damage, and Demonic Energies 2/2 at 15–16. Improved Corruption 5/5 in Affliction at 17–21 makes Corruption instant, and Soul Harvest 2/2 at 22–23 completes the Mana loop. | |||
| 10–14 | Unholy Power 5/5 · Demonology | 0 / 5 / 0 | Open |
| 15–16 | Demonic Energies 2/2 · Demonology | 0 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 17–21 | Improved Corruption 5/5 · Affliction | 5 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| 22–23 | Soul Harvest 2/2 · Affliction | 7 / 7 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 24–35A tougher pet that holds threat Fel Vitality 3/3 at 24–26, Improved Sayaad 3/3 at 27–29, Demonic Aegis 2/2 at 30–31 for stronger Demon Skin and Demon Armor, Demonic Brand 3/3 at 32–34, and Improved Health Funnel 1/2 at 35. | |||
| 24–26 | Fel Vitality 3/3 · Demonology | 7 / 10 / 0 | Open |
| 27–29 | Improved Sayaad 3/3 · Demonology | 7 / 13 / 0 | Open |
| 30–31 | Demonic Aegis 2/2 · Demonology | 7 / 15 / 0 | Open |
| 32–34 | Demonic Brand 3/3 · Demonology | 7 / 18 / 0 | Open |
| 35 | Improved Health Funnel 1/2 · Demonology | 7 / 19 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 36–47The deep Demonology talents Demonic Sacrifice at 36, Soul Link at 37, Demonic Knowledge 3/3 at 38–40, Improved Health Funnel 2/2 at 41, Master Demonologist 5/5 at 42–46, and Demonic Pact at 47. | |||
| 36 | Demonic Sacrifice 1/1 · Demonology | 7 / 20 / 0 | Open |
| 37 | Soul Link 1/1 · Demonology | 7 / 21 / 0 | Open |
| 38–40 | Demonic Knowledge 3/3 · Demonology | 7 / 24 / 0 | Open |
| 41 | Improved Health Funnel 2/2 · Demonology | 7 / 25 / 0 | Open |
| 42–46 | Master Demonologist 5/5 · Demonology | 7 / 30 / 0 | Open |
| 47 | Demonic Pact 1/1 · Demonology | 7 / 31 / 0 | Open |
| Levels 48–60Drains, Life Tap, and Bane Improved Drains 3/3 at 48–50, Fel Concentration 3/3 at 51–53, Improved Life Tap 2/2 at 54–55, and Bane 5/5 in Destruction at 56–60 for faster Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Soul Fire casts. | |||
| 48–50 | Improved Drains 3/3 · Affliction | 10 / 31 / 0 | Open |
| 51–53 | Fel Concentration 3/3 · Affliction | 13 / 31 / 0 | Open |
| 54–55 | Improved Life Tap 2/2 · Affliction | 15 / 31 / 0 | Open |
| 56–60 | Bane 5/5 · Destruction | 15 / 31 / 5 | Open |
Demonology Leveling: Rotation and How to Play
Every pull starts the same
Send the pet at the first monster and apply Corruption: the seconds it spends running to you are free damage. Low level, that means Corruption and Bane of Agony; add Immolate later. Then stand and wand it down, since the wand costs no Mana. Before each monster dies, use Drain Soul to trigger Soul Harvest. Short on Mana, Life Tap; short on Health, Drain Life.
When the rhythm is going
Give one monster to the pet and take the other yourself, draining it while Demonic Brand keeps the pet's target on the pet. For maximum speed, Fear a third and let it bleed out. To recover, fight one monster with the wand or Drain Life, but never let the pet stop.
Pet and gear
The Succubus or Incubus deals the most damage and holds threat without Mana; the Voidwalker is the safest with Master Demonologist. Spirit matters most because Soul Harvest scales with it, then Health regeneration gear before 30, then Stamina over Intellect: Health is Mana through Life Tap.
Warlock Talents, Spells, and Gear by Level
Each range shows the talent points of the recommended plan, the spells to train, and the best gear for your faction. Switch faction in the site header to see the other side's gear.
Warlock Levels 1–10
Shadow Bolt to pull, Corruption and Immolate on everything, and your Imp for damage. Life Tap from 6 lets you keep casting.
- 1 talent point
- 12 new spells
- 3 rank-ups
- 13 gear upgrades
Spells to Train
- 1Demon Skin
- 1Summon Imp
1Immolate- 1Shadow Bolt
- 4Corruption
4Curse of Weakness- 6Life Tap
- 8Bane of Agony
8Fear- 10Drain Soul
10Create Healthstone- 10Summon Voidwalker
Plus 3 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →- 1 talent point
- 12 new spells
- 3 rank-ups
- 13 gear upgrades
Spells to Train
- 1Demon Skin
- 1Summon Imp
- 1Immolate
- 1Shadow Bolt
- 4Corruption
- 4Curse of Weakness
- 6Life Tap
- 8Bane of Agony
- 8Fear
- 10Drain Soul
- 10Create Healthstone
- 10Summon Voidwalker
Plus 3 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Warlock Levels 10–20
Bring the Voidwalker from 10: it holds monsters while your damage over time works. Improved Corruption makes Corruption instant by 14, and Drain Life arrives the same level.
- 10 talent points
- 12 new spells
- 8 rank-ups
- 15 gear upgrades
Talents
- 5/5Improved CorruptionLv 11–14
- 5/5SuppressionLv 15–19
- 1/5Unholy PowerLv 20
Spells to Train
- 12Health Funnel
14Curse of Recklessness- 14Drain Life
16Unending Breath
18Create Soulstone- 18Searing Pain
20Curse of the Elements- 20Demon Armor
- 20Ritual of Summoning
20Summon Incubus
20Summon Succubus- 20Rain of Fire
Plus 8 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
Weapon
Ranged
Head
Neck
Shoulder
Back
Chest
Wrist
Hands
Waist
Legs
Feet
Ring
Ring
Trinket
- 10 talent points
- 12 new spells
- 8 rank-ups
- 15 gear upgrades
Talents
- 5/5Improved CorruptionLv 11–14
- 5/5SuppressionLv 15–19
- 1/5Unholy PowerLv 20
Spells to Train
- 12Health Funnel
- 14Curse of Recklessness
- 14Drain Life
- 16Unending Breath
- 18Create Soulstone
- 18Searing Pain
- 20Curse of the Elements
- 20Demon Armor
- 20Ritual of Summoning
- 20Summon Incubus
- 20Summon Succubus
- 20Rain of Fire
Plus 8 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Ranged
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Back
- Chest
Wrist- Hands
- Waist
- Legs
- Feet
- Ring
Ring- Trinket
Warlock Levels 20–30
The Succubus or Incubus at 20 deals the most damage. Demon Armor replaces Demon Skin, and Improved Drains at 27–29 sets up drain tanking.
- 10 talent points
- 10 new spells
- 16 rank-ups
- 16 gear upgrades
Talents
- 5/5Unholy PowerLv 21–24
- 2/2Demonic EnergiesLv 25–26
- 3/3Improved DrainsLv 27–29
- 1/1Amplify CurseLv 30
Spells to Train
22Eye of Kilrogg
24Drain Mana- 24Sense Demons
26Curse of Tongues
26Detect Invisibility
28Banish
28Create Firestone
30Subjugate Demon- 30Summon Felhunter
30Hellfire
Plus 16 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
Weapon
Off Hand
Ranged- Head
Neck
Shoulder
Back
Chest
Wrist
Hands
Waist- Legs
Feet- Ring
Ring- Trinket
- 10 talent points
- 10 new spells
- 16 rank-ups
- 16 gear upgrades
Talents
- 5/5Unholy PowerLv 21–24
- 2/2Demonic EnergiesLv 25–26
- 3/3Improved DrainsLv 27–29
- 1/1Amplify CurseLv 30
Spells to Train
- 22Eye of Kilrogg
- 24Drain Mana
- 24Sense Demons
- 26Curse of Tongues
- 26Detect Invisibility
- 28Banish
- 28Create Firestone
- 30Subjugate Demon
- 30Summon Felhunter
- 30Hellfire
Plus 16 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Off Hand
- Ranged
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulder
Back- Chest
Wrist- Hands
- Waist
- Legs
- Feet
- Ring
Ring- Trinket
Warlock Levels 30–40
From 30 you can take a monster yourself and drain it while your pet takes another. The Felhunter at 30 is the answer to casters.
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 19 rank-ups
- 17 gear upgrades
Talents
- 2/2Improved Life TapLv 31–32
- 2/2Improved Bane of AgonyLv 33–34
- 3/3PandemicLv 35–37
- 3/3Soul SiphonLv 38–40
Spells to Train
32Shadow Ward
36Create Spellstone
40Howl of Terror
Plus 19 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
Weapon
Off Hand- Ranged
Head
Neck- Shoulder
Back
Chest
Wrist
Hands
Waist- Legs
Feet- Ring
- Ring
Trinket- Trinket
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 19 rank-ups
- 16 gear upgrades
Talents
- 2/2Improved Life TapLv 31–32
- 2/2Improved Bane of AgonyLv 33–34
- 3/3PandemicLv 35–37
- 3/3Soul SiphonLv 38–40
Spells to Train
- 32Shadow Ward
- 36Create Spellstone
- 40Howl of Terror
Plus 19 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Off Hand
- Ranged
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Back
- Chest
- Wrist
- Hands
- Waist
- Legs
- Feet
- Ring
- Ring
- Trinket
Warlock Levels 40–50
Howl of Terror at 40 and Death Coil at 42 save pulls that go wrong. Malevolence and Shadow Mastery raise your Shadow damage.
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 26 rank-ups
- 17 gear upgrades
Spells to Train
- 42Death Coil
- 48Soul Fire
50Inferno
Plus 26 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
Off Hand
Ranged
Head
Neck
Shoulder
Back- Chest
- Wrist
Hands
Waist
Legs- Feet
- Ring
- Ring
- Trinket
Trinket
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 26 rank-ups
- 17 gear upgrades
Spells to Train
- 42Death Coil
- 48Soul Fire
- 50Inferno
Plus 26 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Off Hand
- Ranged
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulder
Back- Chest
- Wrist
- Hands
- Waist
- Legs
- Feet
- Ring
- Ring
- Trinket
Trinket
Warlock Levels 50–60
Siphon Life at 51 and Wrack at 57 finish Affliction; the last points add Stamina through Demonic Embrace.
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 31 rank-ups
- 17 gear upgrades
Talents
- 1/1Siphon LifeLv 51
- 3/3Fel ConcentrationLv 52–54
- 2/2NightfallLv 55–56
- 1/1WrackLv 57
- 3/5Demonic EmbraceLv 58–60
Spells to Train
60Bane of Doom
60Portal of Summoning
60Ritual of Doom
Plus 31 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Off Hand
Ranged
Head
Neck
Shoulder
Back
Chest
Wrist
Hands
Waist- Legs
- Feet
Ring
Ring- Trinket
- Trinket
- 10 talent points
- 3 new spells
- 31 rank-ups
- 17 gear upgrades
Talents
- 1/1Siphon LifeLv 51
- 3/3Fel ConcentrationLv 52–54
- 2/2NightfallLv 55–56
- 1/1WrackLv 57
- 3/5Demonic EmbraceLv 58–60
Spells to Train
- 60Bane of Doom
- 60Portal of Summoning
- 60Ritual of Doom
Plus 31 higher ranks of spells you already know.
Warlock spellbook by level →Best Gear
- Weapon
- Off Hand
- Ranged
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Back
- Chest
- Wrist
- Hands
- Waist
- Legs
- Feet
- Ring
- Ring
- Trinket
- Trinket
Warlock Leveling Gear and Stats
Wand first
A wand finishes monsters without Mana and keeps your regeneration going. Upgrade it whenever you can.
Stats
Stamina is worth more than Intellect for a Warlock: Life Tap turns Health into Mana. Spirit helps regeneration; spell damage matters more later.
Armor
Warlocks wear cloth the whole way. Stamina cloth is your best upgrade while leveling.
Warlock Leveling Questions
What is the best Warlock leveling spec in WoW Forever?
Affliction drain tanking. The plan on this page ends at 41 Affliction and 10 Demonology, makes Corruption instant at 14, and tanks with Drain Life from 30. Demonology is the alternative if you prefer a stronger pet.
Which demon should a leveling Warlock use?
The Voidwalker from 10 to 19, while you cannot drain-tank yet. From 20, the Succubus or Incubus for damage; switch back to the Voidwalker for elites, and use the Felhunter against casters.
When does a Warlock get the Voidwalker and Succubus?
Summon Voidwalker at level 10, Summon Succubus and Summon Incubus at level 20, and Summon Felhunter at level 30.
Should a Warlock level with a wand?
Yes. A wand finishes monsters without spending Mana, so you can Life Tap less and keep fighting.
What is drain tanking?
Taking a monster on yourself and channeling Drain Life while it hits you. Improved Drains, Soul Siphon, and Fel Concentration make the drain strong enough to out-heal the damage.
When does a Warlock get Fear and Howl of Terror?
Fear at level 8 and Howl of Terror at level 40.