Demonology Warlock guide

Rotation and opener

Choose the demon for the task. A damage-oriented Succubus setup and a Fire-oriented Imp setup have different needs; set pet controls before entering the dungeon.

Combat priority

1. 
   Summon Succubus

   Use the Succubus for the displayed shadow-damage build and keep it actively attacking your selected target. A summoned demon left idle removes much of the specialization's value.

2. 
   Shadow Bolt

   Cast after applying the group's assigned curse. Keep the demon on the same kill target and avoid repeated commands that send it toward controlled enemies.

3. 
   Soul Fire

   For the endgame build, use Soul Fire in the low-health Decimation window when the talent is active. This is a later-tree interaction, not a required level-30 button.

4. 
   Life Tap

   Recover your own Mana and support the demon's Mana through the Forever interaction. Tap during movement when possible and preserve enough Health for the next mechanic.

Multiple targets and dungeon pulls

Demonology still uses the Warlock spell toolkit: Rain of Fire on a tanked group, or periodic damage on a small set of durable enemies. The pet should remain on the most valuable kill target.

Before an accidental pull, use pet follow and reposition. A demon cutting through the wrong doorway can pull a pack even when your own route was safe.

Do not confuse the source Fire Imp alternative with an AoE rotation. It is a different pet and spell-school build, with Immolate and Searing Pain as its core damage choices.

Resources and cooldowns

Demonic Energies connects your own resource actions with the demon. Soul Link has value only while a suitable demon remains alive. Keep pet attack and follow on accessible bindings rather than relying on automatic behavior.

• Fel Domination and Master Summoner make a replacement or utility demon practical when the current demon dies or a different tool is needed. Choose the moment before the fight becomes a recovery emergency.
• Choose whether you are playing with an active demon or using Demonic Sacrifice. The supplied sacrifice effect is canceled when any demon is summoned; sacrificing an Imp and then summoning a Succubus does not preserve both benefits.
• Soul Link requires an active demon. Keep an eye on your demon's survival as well as your own, especially during unavoidable area damage; a sacrificed demon cannot supply this protection.

Specialization mechanics and group play

Demonic Energies lets your spell damage heal your demon in the supplied tree. Continue useful casts while monitoring pet Health; standing idle waiting for the pet to recover works against this interaction.

Unholy Power affects the demon's damage. The gain requires attack uptime, so recall the pet only when survival, crowd control or positioning makes it necessary.

Improved Sayaad directly rewards the Succubus setup. The Fire Imp alternative changes that emphasis; use the matching allocated build rather than merely switching demons and leaving incompatible priorities unchanged.

For PvP, a Felhunter can provide different utility from a Succubus. Pick utility for the opponent and keep pet abilities accessible; the PvE damage pet is not automatically the correct answer to every duel.

PvE talent choices

Shadow Succubus 51 points · 2 / 31 / 18

Affliction

0/2Improved Life Tap0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of Mana awarded by your Life Tap spell by 10%.2/5Suppression2/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 1% and reduces all threat you generate by 4%.0/5Improved Corruption0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Corruption spell by 0.4 sec and increases the damage it deals by 2%.0/5Malediction0/5 · PassiveIncreases all periodic damage done by your Warlock spells by 1%.0/2Soul Harvesting0/2 · PassiveYou gain Soul Harvest for 10 sec if a victim is killed while afflicted with your Drain Soul. Soul Harvest allows your Mana to regenerate at 50% of normal speed while you are casting spells, and grants a 50% increase to your Mana regeneration.0/3Improved Drains0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done or health drained by your Drain Life and Drain Soul spells by 2% per each of your other Affliction effects active on the target, up to a maximum increase of 6%. When your Drain Soul damages targets below 20% health, this bonus is tripled. Additionally, your Drain Life range is extended by 3 yards.0/2Improved Bane of Agony0/2 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Bane of Agony by 5%.0/3Fel Concentration0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling or casting your Drain Life, Drain Mana, or Drain Soul spells.0/1Amplify Curse0/1 · ActiveIncreases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or your next Curse of Exhaustion by 20%. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Pandemic0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Corruption, Bane of Agony, Bane of Doom, Drain Soul, Drain Life, Siphon Life, and Drain Hope spells by 33%.0/5Malevolence0/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical effect chance of your Shadow spells by 1%.0/2Nightfall0/2 · PassiveGives your Corruption, Drain Soul, and Drain Life spells a 2% chance to cause you to enter a Shadow Trance after damaging the opponent. The Shadow Trance reduces the casting time of your next Shadow Bolt spell by 100%.0/1Curse of Exhaustion0/1 · ActiveReduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 12 sec. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target.Requires Amplify Curse0/1Siphon Life0/1 · ActiveTransfers 15 health from the target to the caster every 3 sec. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Soul Siphon0/3 · PassiveIncreases the rate at which your Drain Life and Drain Soul deal damage by 17%, but reduces your healing from Drain Life by 10%.0/5Shadow Mastery0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt or life drained by your Shadow spells by 1%.0/1Drain Hope0/1 · ActiveDrains all hope from the target, dealing 52 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing all other Shadow damage over time you deal to that target by 10%. Lasts 6 sec.Requires Siphon Life

Suppression 2/5

Demonology

0/2Improved Health Funnel0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of health transferred by your Health Funnel spell by 20%, reduces its health cost by 15%, and reduces all threat your Health Funnel generates by 50%. Allows Health Funnel to be used regardless of your demon's health.0/3Improved Imp0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage of your Imp's Firebolt spell by 10% and the effect of its Fire Shield spell by 10%.2/5Demonic Embrace2/5 · PassiveIncreases your total Stamina by 3%.5/5Unholy Power5/5 · PassiveIncreases all damage done by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter pets by 2%.0/2Demonic Aegis0/2 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Demon Skin and Demon Armor spells by 15%.0/3Improved Voidwalker0/3 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Voidwalker's Torment, Consume Shadows, Sacrifice and Suffering spells by 10%.3/3Fel Vitality3/3 · PassiveIncreases the maximum health and Mana of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter by 5%, and increases your maximum Mana by 5%.2/2Demonic Energies2/2 · PassiveYou heal your pet for 8% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50% of the Mana you gain.3/3Improved Sayaad3/3 · PassiveIncreases the effect of your Succubus' and Incubus' Lash of Pain and Soothing Kiss spells by 30%, and increases the duration of your Succubus' and Incubus' Seduction and Lesser Invisibility spells by 30%.1/1Demonic Sacrifice1/1 · ActiveWhen activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned. Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%. Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec. Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%. Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.2/2Master Summoner2/2 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter Summoning spells by 4 sec and the Mana cost by 40%.2/2Decimation2/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20% and costs no Soul Shards.1/1Fel Domination1/1 · ActiveYour next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.Requires Master Summoner0/3Demonic Brand0/3 · PassiveYour Searing Pain generates 17% less threat and brands the target for 10 sec. Your pet's next 2 attacks against the target generate high threat and deal 39 to 42 Fire or Shadow damage based on the pet.0/3Improved Felhunter0/3 · PassiveIncreases the Attack Power reduction of your Felhunter's Tainted Blood, the healing of its Devour Magic, and the detection level of its Paranoia by 10%, and reduces the cooldown of its Spell Lock by 2 sec.1/1Soul Link1/1 · ActiveWhen active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.Requires Demonic Sacrifice3/3Demonic Knowledge3/3 · PassiveIncreases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your level while you have a summoned Demon pet active.5/5Master Demonologist5/5 · PassiveGrants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active. Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2%. Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2%. Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2%. Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2%.1/1Demonic Pact1/1 · PassiveYour Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.Requires Soul Link

Demonic Embrace 2/5Unholy Power 5/5Fel Vitality 3/3Demonic Energies 2/2Improved Sayaad 3/3Demonic Sacrifice 1/1Master Summoner 2/2Decimation 2/2Fel Domination 1/1Soul Link 1/1Demonic Knowledge 3/3Master Demonologist 5/5Demonic Pact 1/1

Destruction

0/2Destructive Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your damaging spells by 10%.5/5Improved Shadow Bolt5/5 · PassiveYour Shadow Bolt critical strikes increase Shadow damage taken by the target from your attacks by 4% for 12 sec.5/5Bane5/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Incinerate spells by 0.1 sec and your Soul Fire spell by 0.4 sec.0/5Molten Skin0/5 · PassiveReduces all damage taken by 2%.0/3Cataclysm0/3 · PassiveReduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 3%.0/5Aftermath0/5 · PassiveIncreases the initial damage of your Immolate spell by 10% and your Conflagrate spell has a 20% chance to Daze the target, reducing the target's movement speed by 50% for 5 sec.5/5Ruin5/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Destruction spells by 20%.0/1Shadowburn0/1 · ActiveInstantly blasts the target for 102 to 111 Shadow damage. If a non-trivial target dies within 8 sec of being hit with Shadowburn, the caster gains a Soul Shard.0/3Intensity0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to resist interruption caused by damage while casting or channeling any Destruction spell.3/3Agonizing Flames3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Searing Pain spell by 3% and the damage done by all your Destruction spells by 3%.0/1Conflagrate0/1 · ActiveIgnites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 109 to 132 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.Requires Shadowburn0/2Pyroclasm0/2 · PassiveGives your Soul Fire spell a 13% chance to Stun the target for 3 sec, and your Rain of Fire and Hellfire spells a 13% chance over their duration to Stun targets they damage for 3 sec.Requires Intensity0/1Bane of Havoc0/1 · ActiveAfflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. Bane of Havoc is limited to 1 target, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.0/3Fire and Brimstone0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Conflagrate spell by 8%.Requires Conflagrate0/5Shadow and Flame0/5 · PassiveHitting an enemy with Conflagrate increases all Shadow damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec, and hitting an enemy with Shadowburn increases all Fire damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec. In addition, Conflagrate has a 20% chance not to consume Immolate, and Shadowburn has a 20% chance to instantly refund a Soul Shard.0/1Incinerate0/1 · ActiveDeals 125 to 140 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.Requires Bane of Havoc

Improved Shadow Bolt 5/5Bane 5/5Ruin 5/5Agonizing Flames 3/3

Open this exact build in the calculator

Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Level 30 (Beta) 21 points · 3 / 18 / 0

Affliction

0/2Improved Life Tap0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of Mana awarded by your Life Tap spell by 10%.3/5Suppression3/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 1% and reduces all threat you generate by 4%.0/5Improved Corruption0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Corruption spell by 0.4 sec and increases the damage it deals by 2%.0/5Malediction0/5 · PassiveIncreases all periodic damage done by your Warlock spells by 1%.0/2Soul Harvesting0/2 · PassiveYou gain Soul Harvest for 10 sec if a victim is killed while afflicted with your Drain Soul. Soul Harvest allows your Mana to regenerate at 50% of normal speed while you are casting spells, and grants a 50% increase to your Mana regeneration.0/3Improved Drains0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done or health drained by your Drain Life and Drain Soul spells by 2% per each of your other Affliction effects active on the target, up to a maximum increase of 6%. When your Drain Soul damages targets below 20% health, this bonus is tripled. Additionally, your Drain Life range is extended by 3 yards.0/2Improved Bane of Agony0/2 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Bane of Agony by 5%.0/3Fel Concentration0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling or casting your Drain Life, Drain Mana, or Drain Soul spells.0/1Amplify Curse0/1 · ActiveIncreases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or your next Curse of Exhaustion by 20%. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Pandemic0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Corruption, Bane of Agony, Bane of Doom, Drain Soul, Drain Life, Siphon Life, and Drain Hope spells by 33%.0/5Malevolence0/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical effect chance of your Shadow spells by 1%.0/2Nightfall0/2 · PassiveGives your Corruption, Drain Soul, and Drain Life spells a 2% chance to cause you to enter a Shadow Trance after damaging the opponent. The Shadow Trance reduces the casting time of your next Shadow Bolt spell by 100%.0/1Curse of Exhaustion0/1 · ActiveReduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 12 sec. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target.Requires Amplify Curse0/1Siphon Life0/1 · ActiveTransfers 15 health from the target to the caster every 3 sec. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Soul Siphon0/3 · PassiveIncreases the rate at which your Drain Life and Drain Soul deal damage by 17%, but reduces your healing from Drain Life by 10%.0/5Shadow Mastery0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt or life drained by your Shadow spells by 1%.0/1Drain Hope0/1 · ActiveDrains all hope from the target, dealing 52 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing all other Shadow damage over time you deal to that target by 10%. Lasts 6 sec.Requires Siphon Life

Suppression 3/5

Demonology

0/2Improved Health Funnel0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of health transferred by your Health Funnel spell by 20%, reduces its health cost by 15%, and reduces all threat your Health Funnel generates by 50%. Allows Health Funnel to be used regardless of your demon's health.0/3Improved Imp0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage of your Imp's Firebolt spell by 10% and the effect of its Fire Shield spell by 10%.0/5Demonic Embrace0/5 · PassiveIncreases your total Stamina by 3%.5/5Unholy Power5/5 · PassiveIncreases all damage done by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter pets by 2%.2/2Demonic Aegis2/2 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Demon Skin and Demon Armor spells by 15%.0/3Improved Voidwalker0/3 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Voidwalker's Torment, Consume Shadows, Sacrifice and Suffering spells by 10%.3/3Fel Vitality3/3 · PassiveIncreases the maximum health and Mana of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter by 5%, and increases your maximum Mana by 5%.2/2Demonic Energies2/2 · PassiveYou heal your pet for 8% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50% of the Mana you gain.3/3Improved Sayaad3/3 · PassiveIncreases the effect of your Succubus' and Incubus' Lash of Pain and Soothing Kiss spells by 30%, and increases the duration of your Succubus' and Incubus' Seduction and Lesser Invisibility spells by 30%.0/1Demonic Sacrifice0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned. Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%. Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec. Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%. Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.0/2Master Summoner0/2 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter Summoning spells by 2 sec and the Mana cost by 20%.0/2Decimation0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20% and costs no Soul Shards.0/1Fel Domination0/1 · ActiveYour next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.Requires Master Summoner3/3Demonic Brand3/3 · PassiveYour Searing Pain generates 17% less threat and brands the target for 10 sec. Your pet's next 2 attacks against the target generate high threat and deal 39 to 42 Fire or Shadow damage based on the pet.0/3Improved Felhunter0/3 · PassiveIncreases the Attack Power reduction of your Felhunter's Tainted Blood, the healing of its Devour Magic, and the detection level of its Paranoia by 10%, and reduces the cooldown of its Spell Lock by 2 sec.0/1Soul Link0/1 · ActiveWhen active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.Requires Demonic Sacrifice0/3Demonic Knowledge0/3 · PassiveIncreases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your level while you have a summoned Demon pet active.0/5Master Demonologist0/5 · PassiveGrants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active. Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2%. Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2%. Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2%. Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2%.0/1Demonic Pact0/1 · PassiveYour Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.Requires Soul Link

Unholy Power 5/5Demonic Aegis 2/2Fel Vitality 3/3Demonic Energies 2/2Improved Sayaad 3/3Demonic Brand 3/3

Destruction

0/2Destructive Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your damaging spells by 10%.0/5Improved Shadow Bolt0/5 · PassiveYour Shadow Bolt critical strikes increase Shadow damage taken by the target from your attacks by 4% for 12 sec.0/5Bane0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Incinerate spells by 0.1 sec and your Soul Fire spell by 0.4 sec.0/5Molten Skin0/5 · PassiveReduces all damage taken by 2%.0/3Cataclysm0/3 · PassiveReduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 3%.0/5Aftermath0/5 · PassiveIncreases the initial damage of your Immolate spell by 10% and your Conflagrate spell has a 20% chance to Daze the target, reducing the target's movement speed by 50% for 5 sec.0/5Ruin0/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Destruction spells by 20%.0/1Shadowburn0/1 · ActiveInstantly blasts the target for 102 to 111 Shadow damage. If a non-trivial target dies within 8 sec of being hit with Shadowburn, the caster gains a Soul Shard.0/3Intensity0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to resist interruption caused by damage while casting or channeling any Destruction spell.0/3Agonizing Flames0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Searing Pain spell by 3% and the damage done by all your Destruction spells by 3%.0/1Conflagrate0/1 · ActiveIgnites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 109 to 132 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.Requires Shadowburn0/2Pyroclasm0/2 · PassiveGives your Soul Fire spell a 13% chance to Stun the target for 3 sec, and your Rain of Fire and Hellfire spells a 13% chance over their duration to Stun targets they damage for 3 sec.Requires Intensity0/1Bane of Havoc0/1 · ActiveAfflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. Bane of Havoc is limited to 1 target, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.0/3Fire and Brimstone0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Conflagrate spell by 8%.Requires Conflagrate0/5Shadow and Flame0/5 · PassiveHitting an enemy with Conflagrate increases all Shadow damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec, and hitting an enemy with Shadowburn increases all Fire damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec. In addition, Conflagrate has a 20% chance not to consume Immolate, and Shadowburn has a 20% chance to instantly refund a Soul Shard.0/1Incinerate0/1 · ActiveDeals 125 to 140 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.Requires Bane of Havoc

Open this exact build in the calculator

Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Fire Imp 51 points · 2 / 31 / 18

Affliction

0/2Improved Life Tap0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of Mana awarded by your Life Tap spell by 10%.2/5Suppression2/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 1% and reduces all threat you generate by 4%.0/5Improved Corruption0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Corruption spell by 0.4 sec and increases the damage it deals by 2%.0/5Malediction0/5 · PassiveIncreases all periodic damage done by your Warlock spells by 1%.0/2Soul Harvesting0/2 · PassiveYou gain Soul Harvest for 10 sec if a victim is killed while afflicted with your Drain Soul. Soul Harvest allows your Mana to regenerate at 50% of normal speed while you are casting spells, and grants a 50% increase to your Mana regeneration.0/3Improved Drains0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done or health drained by your Drain Life and Drain Soul spells by 2% per each of your other Affliction effects active on the target, up to a maximum increase of 6%. When your Drain Soul damages targets below 20% health, this bonus is tripled. Additionally, your Drain Life range is extended by 3 yards.0/2Improved Bane of Agony0/2 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Bane of Agony by 5%.0/3Fel Concentration0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling or casting your Drain Life, Drain Mana, or Drain Soul spells.0/1Amplify Curse0/1 · ActiveIncreases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or your next Curse of Exhaustion by 20%. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Pandemic0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Corruption, Bane of Agony, Bane of Doom, Drain Soul, Drain Life, Siphon Life, and Drain Hope spells by 33%.0/5Malevolence0/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical effect chance of your Shadow spells by 1%.0/2Nightfall0/2 · PassiveGives your Corruption, Drain Soul, and Drain Life spells a 2% chance to cause you to enter a Shadow Trance after damaging the opponent. The Shadow Trance reduces the casting time of your next Shadow Bolt spell by 100%.0/1Curse of Exhaustion0/1 · ActiveReduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 12 sec. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target.Requires Amplify Curse0/1Siphon Life0/1 · ActiveTransfers 15 health from the target to the caster every 3 sec. Lasts 30 sec.0/3Soul Siphon0/3 · PassiveIncreases the rate at which your Drain Life and Drain Soul deal damage by 17%, but reduces your healing from Drain Life by 10%.0/5Shadow Mastery0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt or life drained by your Shadow spells by 1%.0/1Drain Hope0/1 · ActiveDrains all hope from the target, dealing 52 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing all other Shadow damage over time you deal to that target by 10%. Lasts 6 sec.Requires Siphon Life

Suppression 2/5

Demonology

0/2Improved Health Funnel0/2 · PassiveIncreases the amount of health transferred by your Health Funnel spell by 20%, reduces its health cost by 15%, and reduces all threat your Health Funnel generates by 50%. Allows Health Funnel to be used regardless of your demon's health.3/3Improved Imp3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage of your Imp's Firebolt spell by 10% and the effect of its Fire Shield spell by 10%.0/5Demonic Embrace0/5 · PassiveIncreases your total Stamina by 3%.5/5Unholy Power5/5 · PassiveIncreases all damage done by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter pets by 2%.0/2Demonic Aegis0/2 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Demon Skin and Demon Armor spells by 15%.0/3Improved Voidwalker0/3 · PassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Voidwalker's Torment, Consume Shadows, Sacrifice and Suffering spells by 10%.2/3Fel Vitality2/3 · PassiveIncreases the maximum health and Mana of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter by 5%, and increases your maximum Mana by 5%.2/2Demonic Energies2/2 · PassiveYou heal your pet for 8% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50% of the Mana you gain.0/3Improved Sayaad0/3 · PassiveIncreases the effect of your Succubus' and Incubus' Lash of Pain and Soothing Kiss spells by 10%, and increases the duration of your Succubus' and Incubus' Seduction and Lesser Invisibility spells by 10%.1/1Demonic Sacrifice1/1 · ActiveWhen activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned. Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%. Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec. Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%. Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.2/2Master Summoner2/2 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter Summoning spells by 4 sec and the Mana cost by 40%.2/2Decimation2/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20% and costs no Soul Shards.1/1Fel Domination1/1 · ActiveYour next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.Requires Master Summoner3/3Demonic Brand3/3 · PassiveYour Searing Pain generates 17% less threat and brands the target for 10 sec. Your pet's next 2 attacks against the target generate high threat and deal 39 to 42 Fire or Shadow damage based on the pet.0/3Improved Felhunter0/3 · PassiveIncreases the Attack Power reduction of your Felhunter's Tainted Blood, the healing of its Devour Magic, and the detection level of its Paranoia by 10%, and reduces the cooldown of its Spell Lock by 2 sec.1/1Soul Link1/1 · ActiveWhen active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.Requires Demonic Sacrifice3/3Demonic Knowledge3/3 · PassiveIncreases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your level while you have a summoned Demon pet active.5/5Master Demonologist5/5 · PassiveGrants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active. Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2%. Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2%. Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2%. Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2%.1/1Demonic Pact1/1 · PassiveYour Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.Requires Soul Link

Improved Imp 3/3Unholy Power 5/5Fel Vitality 2/3Demonic Energies 2/2Demonic Sacrifice 1/1Master Summoner 2/2Decimation 2/2Fel Domination 1/1Demonic Brand 3/3Soul Link 1/1Demonic Knowledge 3/3Master Demonologist 5/5Demonic Pact 1/1

Destruction

0/2Destructive Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your damaging spells by 10%.0/5Improved Shadow Bolt0/5 · PassiveYour Shadow Bolt critical strikes increase Shadow damage taken by the target from your attacks by 4% for 12 sec.5/5Bane5/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Immolate, and Incinerate spells by 0.1 sec and your Soul Fire spell by 0.4 sec.0/5Molten Skin0/5 · PassiveReduces all damage taken by 2%.0/3Cataclysm0/3 · PassiveReduces the Mana cost of your Destruction spells by 3%.5/5Aftermath5/5 · PassiveIncreases the initial damage of your Immolate spell by 10% and your Conflagrate spell has a 20% chance to Daze the target, reducing the target's movement speed by 50% for 5 sec.5/5Ruin5/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Destruction spells by 20%.0/1Shadowburn0/1 · ActiveInstantly blasts the target for 102 to 111 Shadow damage. If a non-trivial target dies within 8 sec of being hit with Shadowburn, the caster gains a Soul Shard.0/3Intensity0/3 · PassiveGives you a 23% chance to resist interruption caused by damage while casting or channeling any Destruction spell.3/3Agonizing Flames3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Searing Pain spell by 3% and the damage done by all your Destruction spells by 3%.0/1Conflagrate0/1 · ActiveIgnites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 109 to 132 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.Requires Shadowburn0/2Pyroclasm0/2 · PassiveGives your Soul Fire spell a 13% chance to Stun the target for 3 sec, and your Rain of Fire and Hellfire spells a 13% chance over their duration to Stun targets they damage for 3 sec.Requires Intensity0/1Bane of Havoc0/1 · ActiveAfflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. Bane of Havoc is limited to 1 target, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.0/3Fire and Brimstone0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Conflagrate spell by 8%.Requires Conflagrate0/5Shadow and Flame0/5 · PassiveHitting an enemy with Conflagrate increases all Shadow damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec, and hitting an enemy with Shadowburn increases all Fire damage you deal by 2% for 20 sec. In addition, Conflagrate has a 20% chance not to consume Immolate, and Shadowburn has a 20% chance to instantly refund a Soul Shard.0/1Incinerate0/1 · ActiveDeals 125 to 140 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.Requires Bane of Havoc

Bane 5/5Aftermath 5/5Ruin 5/5Agonizing Flames 3/3

Open this exact build in the calculator

Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Important talent effects

Demonic Energies

You heal your pet for 8% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50% of the Mana you gain.

2 ranks

Demonic Sacrifice

When activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned. Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%. Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec. Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%. Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.

1 rank

Decimation

Reduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20% and costs no Soul Shards.

2 ranks

Soul Link

When active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.

1 rank · Requires Demonic Sacrifice

Master Demonologist

Grants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active. Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2%. Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2%. Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2%. Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2%.

5 ranks

Demonic Pact

Your Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.

1 rank · Requires Soul Link

PvP talent choices and play

Fel Domination and Master Summoner support replacing a lost demon. A Felhunter can supply caster utility; choosing a pet is a trade between damage, control and survival rather than a permanent one-pet rule.

Recommended gear & upgrades

Forever beta equipment options. Compare level requirements and sources; these are not final launch rankings.

Head

Source / location

Embalmed Shroudcloth · Level 30

Fallen ChampionScarlet Monastery

Enchanter's Cowlcloth · Level 28

TailoringCrafted

Filigreed Pristine Circletcloth · Level 25

TailoringCrafted

Filigreed Shadow Circletcloth · Level 25

TailoringCrafted

Holy Shroudcloth · Level 27

World drop

Show 5 more

Chest

Source / location

Beguiler Robescloth · Level 29

Trash dropScarlet Monastery

Bristle Hills Mystic Robecloth

Ceremonial Gowncloth

Dro'zem's Tuniccloth · Level 20

Green Silk Armorcloth · Level 28

TailoringCrafted

Show 5 more

Main Hand

Source / location

Clever Expeditionary's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Darkspear Insurgent's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Darkspear Raiders - ReveredReputation

Fallen Dragon's Scepterstaff

Stopping the CycleQuest (Alliance)

Glimmering Staffstaff · Level 25

EnchantingCrafted

Mindslicerdagger

Call to ArmsQuest (Horde)

Show 5 more

Off Hand

Source / location

A Lesson in Destruction

Cursed Eye of PalethLevel 26

Insurgent's ManifestoLevel 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Omega Orb

Compendium of the FallenQuest (Horde)

Orb of MistmantleLevel 23

World drop

Show 5 more

View equipment for every slot

Stats and equipment decisions

Enchanting equipment

For inexpensive leveling preparation, Enchant Bracer - Inferior Stamina and Enchant Chest - Inferior Stamina add survival to equipment you expect to keep. Prioritize an important weapon or role-specific item upgrade before spending heavily on temporary armor.

Consumables and preparation

Lesser Arcane Elixir

Use this sustained Spell Power buff for a dungeon run; short trash pulls rarely justify an expensive burst potion.

Lesser Spellblasting Potion

Save the temporary Spell Power increase for a boss damage window when you can stand still and cast.

Minor Wizard Oil

Apply the temporary weapon enhancement before the run. It supplies Spell Power without requiring a different weapon.

Healing Potion

Reserve for damage that would otherwise kill you. A dead caster loses every remaining cast in the fight.

Lesser Mageblood Elixir

Use for passive Mana recovery on sustained encounters, especially when frequent Life Taps would put pressure on your healer.

Healthstone

Create one before the pull and replace it after use. It gives you an emergency recovery option when Life Tap has left you vulnerable.

Useful profession pairings

Tailoring is useful for cloth caster equipment, including Shadow-oriented leveling pieces; pair it with Enchanting if you want to use surplus equipment as materials and improve your own gear.

Engineering provides explosives and emergency utility for solo and group content. It is a tool choice, not a replacement for keeping your demon controlled.

Alchemy and Herbalism support a supply of elixirs and recovery items. Cooking and First Aid remain useful secondary skills when you want recovery without consuming another Life Tap or asking for another heal.

Tailoring · Enchanting · Herbalism · Alchemy · Recipe database · Camping buffs

Races and racial abilities

Orc is a natural option for a demon-focused player because Command supports pet damage. Keep the demon active for that benefit to matter instead of judging the race while the pet is idle.

Gnome brings Escape Artist for roots and slows; Undead brings Will of the Forsaken against fear, charm and sleep. These are useful control responses, not a promise of a universal damage winner.

Choose the faction and available Forever race first, then compare utility for your normal content. Do not copy Blood Elf or Draenei recommendations from a TBC guide into these class pages.

Leveling and solo play

1. Demonology is a comfortable pet-focused leveling choice. Use the Voidwalker when you need a sturdy distraction, and the Succubus when its damage and control suit the pull.
2. Send the demon first, establish the kill target, then begin your own damage. Pulling every nearby enemy with spells before the demon can engage makes the pet's job harder.
3. Use the level-30 allocation for the current cap and the displayed shadow or fire allocation as the later-level destination. Do not assume Soul Fire execute talents are available in the beta opener.
4. Complete class summon quests and keep shards, food and recovery supplies ready. Replace a dead demon before the next pull instead of continuing as a weaker unprepared caster.

Leveling routes and preparation · Dungeon entrances and level ranges

Useful macros

#showtooltip Shadow Bolt
/petattack
/cast Shadow Bolt

/petfollow

Strengths and weaknesses

Common mistakes

• Letting the demon attack a controlled enemy
• Using Bane of Doom on a short-lived target
• Ignoring pet health until it dies

Full Demonology talent reference

Exact rank text and prerequisites from the calculator’s existing talent data. Use the interactive tooltip for additional ranks.

View every Demonology talent

Improved Health Funnel

Passive · Tier 1 · 2 ranks

Increases the amount of health transferred by your Health Funnel spell by 20%, reduces its health cost by 15%, and reduces all threat your Health Funnel generates by 50%. Allows Health Funnel to be used regardless of your demon's health.

Improved Imp

Passive · Tier 1 · 3 ranks

Increases the damage of your Imp's Firebolt spell by 10% and the effect of its Fire Shield spell by 10%.

Demonic Embrace

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Increases your total Stamina by 3%.

Unholy Power

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Increases all damage done by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter pets by 2%.

Demonic Aegis

Passive · Tier 2 · 2 ranks

Increases the effectiveness of your Demon Skin and Demon Armor spells by 15%.

Improved Voidwalker

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases the effectiveness of your Voidwalker's Torment, Consume Shadows, Sacrifice and Suffering spells by 10%.

Fel Vitality

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases the maximum health and Mana of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter by 5%, and increases your maximum Mana by 5%.

Demonic Energies

Passive · Tier 2 · 2 ranks

You heal your pet for 8% of all spell damage you deal. When you gain Mana from Life Tap, your summoned demon gains 50% of the Mana you gain.

Improved Sayaad

Passive · Tier 3 · 3 ranks

Increases the effect of your Succubus' and Incubus' Lash of Pain and Soothing Kiss spells by 10%, and increases the duration of your Succubus' and Incubus' Seduction and Lesser Invisibility spells by 10%.

Demonic Sacrifice

Active · Tier 3 · 1 ranks

100 yd range; Instant

When activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned. Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%. Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec. Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%. Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.

Master Summoner

Passive · Tier 3 · 2 ranks

Reduces the casting time of your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, and Felhunter Summoning spells by 2 sec and the Mana cost by 20%.

Decimation

Passive · Tier 4 · 2 ranks

Reduces the cooldown of your Soul Fire spell by 45%. When you cast Shadow Bolt or Searing Pain on an enemy below 35% health, they deal 3% increased damage, and for the next 10 sec your Soul Fire spell has its cast time reduced by 20% and costs no Soul Shards.

Fel Domination

Active · Tier 4 · 1 ranks

Instant; 5 min cooldown

Your next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.

Requires Master Summoner

Demonic Brand

Passive · Tier 4 · 3 ranks

Your Searing Pain generates 17% less threat and brands the target for 10 sec. Your pet's next 2 attacks against the target generate high threat and deal 39 to 42 Fire or Shadow damage based on the pet.

Improved Felhunter

Passive · Tier 5 · 3 ranks

Increases the Attack Power reduction of your Felhunter's Tainted Blood, the healing of its Devour Magic, and the detection level of its Paranoia by 10%, and reduces the cooldown of its Spell Lock by 2 sec.

Soul Link

Active · Tier 5 · 1 ranks

173 Mana; 100 yd range; Instant

When active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.

Requires Demonic Sacrifice

Demonic Knowledge

Passive · Tier 5 · 3 ranks

Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your level while you have a summoned Demon pet active.

Master Demonologist

Passive · Tier 6 · 5 ranks

Grants both the Warlock and the summoned demon an effect as long as that demon is active. Imp - Increases Fire damage done by 2%. Voidwalker - Reduces Physical damage taken by 2%. Succubus/Incubus - Increases Shadow damage done by 2%. Felhunter - Reduces Magic damage taken by 2%.

Demonic Pact

Passive · Tier 7 · 1 ranks

Your Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.

Requires Soul Link

Changes from Classic