Preliminary Mentions↑top

In this guide, we will offer you some quick and practical information for leveling up your Warlock from level 85 to level 90. We cover rotation, talents and glyphs. We do not, however, cover statistics, gear, or any information about the zones you should be questing in.

This guide requires a basic understanding of how the Warlock class works at level 85. This guide is not meant to reflect how you should play your character at level 90, or in a raid environment or dungeon.

While leveling up, you can complete 4 dungeons:

• Temple of the Jade Serpent;
• Stormstout Brewery;
• Shado-Pan Monastery;
• Mogu'shan Palace.

These dungeons have quests which reward you with vast amounts of experience.

In the next few weeks, we will extend this guide to cover the entire leveling journey, from level 1 to level 90.

1. Affliction Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

1.1. Level 85

1.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty. For the 2 remaining minor glyph slots, choose whichever glyph you prefer.

1.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation slighty, so that it works against targets which, generally, will not live very long. Thanks to your Voidlord, which you should always be using, you can easily pull several mobs at a time and are encouraged to do so.

Use the following priority list.

1. Use Soulburn+ Soul Swap to apply Agony, Corruption, and Unstable Affliction on all your targets.
2. Cast Haunt one your primary target when you have a Soul Shard and Haunt's debuff is not applied on that target.
3. Cast Malefic Grasp as a filler on your primary target.

When the target's health reaches below 20%, make sure to replace Malefic Grasp with Drain Soul. This way, you will regenerate all your Soul Shards when the target dies.

Remember to keep Dark Intent up at all times.

1.1.3. DPS Cooldowns

When you want to kill mobs faster, activate Dark Soul: Misery and call forth your Terrorguard with Summon Terrorguard. You can also use these spells as survival cooldowns that you will cast when you need to kill mobs before they kill you.

1.1.4. Surviving

Soul Leech will cover most of your health regeneration needs, but if you pulled too many mobs, it might not be enough. In such cases, you can:

• call forth your Abyssal with Summon Abyssal;
• use Howl of Terror to send the enemies running around, allowing you to single one out and DPS it;
• use Dark Bargain if your minion is dead and mobs are starting to attack you;
• use Unbound Will, if you want to flee and you are being slowed down.

As a Warlock, you have little room for errors when you pull mobs, as you have virtually no ability that enables to easily run away.

1.2. Level 86-90

As you level up, only one change will occur. At level 87, you get a new ability called Demonic Gateway. It is a sort of improved Demonic Circle. It has a larger range and can be used by party/raid members.

2. Demonology Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

2.1. Level 85

2.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty. For the 2 remaining minor glyph slots, choose whichever glyph you prefer.

2.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation slighty, so that it works against targets which, generally, will not live very long. Thanks to your Voidlord, which you should always be using, you can easily pull several mobs at a time and are encouraged to do so.

To build up Demonic Fury, use the following rotation.

1. Apply and keep Corruption up on all targets.
2. Cast Hand of Gul'dan when you have a charge and Shadowflame is not applied on the target.
3. Cast Soul Fire when Molten Core occurs.
4. Cast Shadow Bolt as a filler.

To spend Demonic Fury, activate Metamorphosis and use the following rotation.

1. Apply and keep Doom up on all targets.
2. Spam Touch of Chaos (it will keep Corruption up). Rotate it between all the enemies if you are fighting several mobs at a time.

Remember to keep Dark Intent up at all times.

2.1.3. DPS Cooldowns

When you want to kill mobs faster, activate Dark Soul: Knowledge and call forth your Terrorguard with Summon Terrorguard. You can also use these spells as survival cooldowns that you will cast when you need to kill mobs before they kill you.

2.1.4. Surviving

Soul Leech will cover most of your health regeneration needs, but if you pulled too many mobs, it might not be enough. In such cases, you can:

• call forth your Abyssal with Summon Abyssal;
• use Howl of Terror to send the enemies running around, allowing you to single one out and DPS it;
• use Dark Bargain and/or a Healthstone if your minion is dead and mobs are starting to attack you;
• use Unbound Will, if you want to flee and you are being slowed down.

If things really get difficult, you can activate Dark Apotheosis and transform your Warlock into a tank. Proceed as we explain in our raiding guide.

2.2. Level 86-90

As you level up, only one change will occur. At level 87, you get a new ability called Demonic Gateway. It is a sort of improved Demonic Circle. It has a larger range and can be used by party/raid members.

3. Destruction Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

3.1. Level 85

3.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty. For the 2 remaining minor glyph slots, choose whichever glyph you prefer.

3.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation slighty, so that it works against targets which, generally, will not live very long. Thanks to your Voidlord, which you should always be using, you can easily pull several mobs at a time and are encouraged to do so.

Use the following priority list.

• Apply Immolate on all targets and keep it up.
  • Use Fire and Brimstone to help you apply Immolate all multiple targets. It costs 1 Burning Ember.
• Activate Rain of Fire (only against 3 enemies at least).
• Cast Conflagrate as often as possible.
• Cast Chaos Bolt when you have a Burning Ember.
  • Never cast Chaos Bolt when you have 3 charges of Backdraft.
• Cast Shadowburn instead of Chaos Bolt when the target is below 20%.
• Cast Incinerate to build up Burning Embers.
  • Against multiple targets, use Fire and Brimstone, when you do not have to apply/refresh Immolate, to damage all enemies with Incinerate.

Remember to keep Dark Intent up at all times.

3.1.3. DPS Cooldowns

When you want to kill mobs faster, activate Dark Soul: Instability and call forth your Terrorguard with Summon Terrorguard. You can also use these spells as survival cooldowns that you will cast when you need to kill mobs before they kill you.

3.1.4. Surviving

Soul Leech will cover most of your health regeneration needs, but if you pulled too many mobs, it might not be enough. In such cases, you can:

• call forth your Abyssal with Summon Abyssal;
• use Howl of Terror to send the enemies running around, allowing you to single one out and DPS it;
• use Dark Bargain if your minion is dead and mobs are starting to attack you;
• use Unbound Will, if you want to flee and you are being slowed down.

As a Warlock, you have little room for errors when you pull mobs, as you have virtually no ability that enables to easily run away.

3.2. Level 86-90

As you level up, only one change will occur. At level 87, you get a new ability called Demonic Gateway. It is a sort of improved Demonic Circle. It has a larger range and can be used by party/raid members.