Cataclysm Classic Affliction Warlock Guide

This page contains all relevant information needed for Affliction Warlocks in Cataclysm Classic. We will be updating this with all the latest information as soon as anything more is discovered, so make sure to check back.

Affliction Warlocks bring great single-target and AoE damage to the raid, while having the highest multi-target damage out of any classes in the game thanks to Soul Swap. Affliction comes With a strong Demon, Felhunter and a plethora of Damage over Time spells to rot all your enemies away.

Strengths

• Great single-target damage output.
• Excels in multi-DoT situations.
• Very strong damage during execute phase.
• Brings raid utility with Curse of the Elements, Create Healthstone and Create Soulstone.

Weaknesses

• Not as high single target as Demonology.
• Due to being a DoT spec, you have a slow ramp-up time.
• Absolutely no burst.

For Horde, every Race besides Tauren can be played as Warlock. Orc is the superior option due to the powerful Blood Fury, increasing your Spell Power for 15 seconds on a 2 minute cooldown and used for snapshotting certain spells, Command which increases your Demons damage by 5% and Hardiness for you PvPers. Both Goblin and Troll are great choices as well if you don't want to play as an Orc. Goblin has the infamous Rocket Jump, which propels you the way you're facing roughly 15-20 yards. Goblin also has a passive racial called Time is Money that gives them 1% Haste. Troll offers Berserking, a 3 minute cooldown that gives you 20% haste for 10 seconds. Sadly, Blood Elf and Undead don't bring much to the table.

For Alliance, there are four races you can choose from, with Draenei and Night Elf being left out. Worgen is the best pick for Alliance. They get flat 1% crit, as well as Running Wild, which acts like a Sprint, allowing you to quickly get to and from. Gnome, Human and Dwarf don't bring much to the table.

You really can't go wrong with your profession choice, as all of them beisdes Herbalism, Skinning and Mining bring roughly the same amount Intellect. The only one that stands out more than the rest is Tailoring, as it provides the most Intellect with it's bonus. What you choose for your second profession is completely up to you and will all bring roughly the same 80 Intellect until the later phases when we get Epic Gems, then Blacksmithing will be the best second option to pick.

• Engineering — This allows you to have the powerful Synapse Springs, which is an enchant that you put on your gloves that also stacks with your normal glove enchant. This is an on use that gives you 480 Intellect for 10seconds and is only on a one minute cooldown. Engineering also provides Nitro Boosts and Flexweave Underlay, along with the plethora of explosives to help you deal a little bit more damage.
• Tailoring — This allows you to enchant your cloak with Lightweave Embroidery, which is a proc that gives you 580 Intellect for 15 seconds. This averages to about 135 Intellect and will replace your normal 50 Intellect enchant, for a total gain of 85 Intellect.
• Blacksmithing — This allows you to gain two extra sockets, one in your gloves and bracers. You would put a Brilliant Inferno Ruby in both of those sockets, for a total gain of 80 Intellect. Once Epic Gems are introduced in the game later, those gems will become 50 Intellect gems each, for a total gain of 100 Intellect.
• Jewelcrafting — This allows you to craft three Brilliant Chimera's Eye, which are 67 Intellect, instead of the normal 40 Intellect Brilliant Inferno Ruby gems. This equates to 81 Intellect total.
• Alchemy — Thanks to Mixology, this will add 80 Intellect to your Flask of the Draconic Mind.
• Enchanting — This allows you to enchant your rings with 40 Intellect on each one, for a total gain of 80 Intellect.
• Inscription — This allows you to enchant your shoulder with 135 Intellect and 25 Haste, for a total gain of 80 Intellect.
• Leatherworking — This allows you to enchant your bracers with 130 Intellect, which is 80 more Intellect than the normal bracer enchant.
• Herbalism — This gives you Lifeblood, which gives you 480 Haste for 20 seconds and is on a two minute cooldown and averages to 80 Haste.
• Mining — This just provides Stamina.
• Skinning — This gives you 80 Critical Strike Rating.

Addons and Macros can drastically improved your gameplay when it comes to DPS'ing as a Warlock. Make sure to check out our Macros and Addons pages linked below to help maximize your damage.