WoW Forever beta Warlock build for level 20: Affliction DoTs that crit

Overview

Levels 10–20 · Affliction Warlock, solo questing and grinding.

Beta testers expect Warlock to be “really good”, and the class has few complaints so far. Affliction is the leveling spec. The big Forever change is that your damage over time spells can crit, which Icy Veins and players both highlight. This build makes Corruption instant and stronger, adds Soul Harvesting for mana after Drain Soul kills, and Malediction for more periodic damage. With 10 points in Affliction, Pandemic increases the critical strike bonus of your DoTs. Written for the first beta phase: level cap 20, client build 1.60.1.69913. Talents and tuning will change before the level 30 phase and again before launch on November 4.

Why this build

• Instant Corruption at 5 points: apply it on the move to every mob.
• Low downtime. Life Tap, Drain Life and Soul Harvesting keep you going.
• Your pet tanks. The Voidwalker holds mobs while your DoTs tick.

Weak spots

• Fear range is shorter in Forever. Destructive Reach replaced Grim Reach, so Fear is back to 20 yards. Players think this is an oversight.
• Slow start before 10. Talents make the difference, so the first levels feel slow.
• Soul Shards need farming for some abilities.

Talent order by level

One point per level from level 10 to 20. The talent tree above shows the finished level 20 build; use the level slider to see it at any level.

• Levels 10–14 · Improved Corruption 5/5 — Corruption casts 2 sec faster (instant at 5 points) and deals 10% more damage.
• Levels 15–16 · Soul Harvesting 2/2 — Killing a target while Drain Soul is on it gives Soul Harvest, letting your mana regenerate at full rate for 20 sec.
• Levels 17–19 · Malediction 3/5 — +5% periodic damage at 5 points; 3 points here give 3%.
• Level 20 · Pandemic 1/3 — Increases the critical strike bonus of your DoTs. DoTs can crit in Forever. Unlocked by 10 points in Affliction.

Key levels

• Level 10 · Improved Corruption first: aim for instant Corruption at 14.
• Level 15 · Soul Harvesting: finish mobs with Drain Soul to regenerate mana.
• Level 17 · Malediction for more periodic damage.
• Level 20 · Pandemic: bigger DoT crits.

How to pull and kill

1. Send the Voidwalker in, then Bane of Agony and Corruption.
2. Drain Life while the pet tanks, or Drain Soul to finish and trigger Soul Harvesting.
3. Life Tap between pulls, then use Drain Life to recover the health.
4. Fear a second mob from 20 yards or closer, but mind the shorter range.

Leveling tips

• DoT everything. Tag several mobs in a row while you move through a quest area.
• Keep the Voidwalker while leveling solo; the Imp is for groups.
• Watch for a Fear range fix. Players expect Destructive Reach to be updated.
• Demonic Sacrifice feedback: players ask that it persist through death, so check for changes before relying on it later.

After level 20

When the cap rises, continue with the Affliction Drain-Tank Warlock leveling guide.

Sources

The talent path and leveling advice adapt these Classic guides to the WoW Forever talent trees; talents that are new or changed in Forever are chosen from this site’s talent data.

• WoW Forever Builds: beta class report (level 20)
• Official forums: Warlock Fear range reduced from 24 to 20 yards