TBC Classic Destruction Warlock Phase 1 / Tier 4 Gear and Best in Slot

If you would like to better understand the stat priority that helped decide the items used in this list, please consult our page about them below.

While it is quite powerful and will easily carry you through leveling and even T4 if you wanted to, it is not suggested to simply continue using your previous BiS from Classic. While the stats and Spell Power on most of it is great, it is still not as good as many of the actual T4 Pre BiS options and, most importantly, it all lacks the hugely important gem sockets. If you were lucky enough to get the Trinkets, Rings, Off-hand, or Cloak, it is easily justifiable to wear them and they will be included in the lists.

If you are starting out as a freshly-leveled Destruction Warlock, our pre-raid best in slot list is meant to give you an idea of non-raid items you can chase as a solo / pug player in preparation for raids.

Do note that items from Heroic dungeons or that require Primal Nethers (which are obtained from Heroics) can be harder to get than raid items due to their daily lockout. Some Heroic dungeons are also harder than most of Karazhan.

If, however, your character is ready to take on the content of Tiers 5 and 6, then please utilize our updated lists instead.

Tier 4 is the first Tier set that you can obtain in TBC and with it comes with amazing looks, but most importantly, one of the strongest set bonuses in the game. The Warlock T4 2-piece bonus has a chance to proc based on if you are casting Shadow or Fire Spells. The proc gives you 135 Shadow damage (Fire damage if a fire spell triggers it). This is so good that you can expect to use this well into T5 and even in T6, if you are unable to get the slight upgrade from T5. The 4-piece bonus can be used as Destruction, allowing you to keep Corruption up full time, however it is yet to be known if it is worth sacrificing the stronger pieces in that slot. You share this token with Hunter and Mage, however both do not get much use out of the T4 tokens so you can expect to be on top of the priority list.

• Helm — From Prince Malchezaar in Karazhan
• Robe — From Magtheridon in Magtheridon's Lair
• Pants — From Gruul The Dragonkiller in Gruul's Lair
• Shoulders — From High King Maulgar in Gruul's Lair
• Gloves — From The Curator in Karazhan

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Voidheart Crown	Chaotic Skyfire Diamond, Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Option	Spellstrike Hood	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Spellstrike Hood — Tailoring
Option	Uni-Mind Headdress	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Netherspite — Karazhan

Voidheart Crown is Best in slot for all of Phase 1 due to the Meta socket and Chaotic Skyfire Diamond. This is from Karazhan and are typically given to the Warlocks first. Spellstrike Hood is still a very strong option while you wait to obtain your T4 token. Uni-Mind Headdress is a good alternative if you are unable to acquire either of the two mentioned.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Ritssyn's Lost Pendant	Trash drop — Karazhan
Option	Brooch of Unquenchable Fury	Moroes — Karazhan
Option	Adornment of Stolen Souls	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan

Ritssyn's Lost Pendant is the best for Shadow Destruction, due to the pure Shadow damage. Meanwhile, both Brooch of Unquenchable Fury and Adornment of Stolen Souls are best for Fire Destruction as well as alternatives for Shadow if you are looking for more Spell Hit or Crit.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Voidheart Mantle	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair
Option	Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders — Tailoring

Voidheart Mantle is the best you can get. Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders is a very powerful alternative for Shadow Destruction while you await your T4 token.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Ruby Drape of the Mysticant	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Best	Brute Cloak of the Ogre-Magi	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair
Option	Ancient Spellcloak of the Highborne	Doom-Lord Kazzak — World Boss

Ruby Drape of the Mysticant is the best if you need Spell Hit. Brute Cloak of the Ogre-Magi is the best if you do not need Spell Hit. Ancient Spellcloak of the Highborne is a good option, however it comes from a World Boss, making this hard to obtain for most.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Voidheart Robe	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Magtheridon — Magtheridon's Lair
Best	Frozen Shadoweave Robe	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Frozen Shadoweave Robe — Tailoring
Best	Spellfire Robe	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Spellfire Robe — Tailoring
Option	Robe of the Elder Scribes	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Nightbane — Karazhan

Voidheart Robe is the best Robe you can get. Frozen Shadoweave Robe is a very strong alternative while you await your Tier token. Spellfire Robe is best in slot if you are Fire Destruction. Robe of the Elder Scribes is a good alternative if you were never able to craft Frozen Shadoweave Robe or Spellfire Robe and are still awaiting your T4 token.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best and Easy	Bracers of Havok	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Bracers of Havok — Tailoring
Option	Bands of Nefarious Deeds	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan

Bracers of Havok are still Best in slot. Bands of Nefarious Deeds are a decent alternative, however.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Voidheart Gloves	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Curator — Karazhan
Best	Anger-Spark Gloves	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Doomwalker
Best	Spellfire Gloves	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Spellfire Gloves — Tailoring
Option	Soul-Eater's Handwraps		BoE World Drop
Option	Handwraps of Flowing Thought		BoE World Drop

Voidheart Gloves are Best in this slot and will complete your 4-piece T4, allowing you to now get the 4-piece set bonus. Anger-Spark Gloves are still extremely good, however they are from a World Boss, making them hard to obtain by most. Spellfire Gloves is best in slot if you are Fire Destruction. Soul-Eater's Handwraps and Handwraps of Flowing Thought are both amazing Gloves that you can use if you decide not to use your Glove slot as a T4 slot or are still waiting to craft your Spellfire Gloves

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Girdle of Ruination	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Girdle of Ruination — Tailoring
Best	Spellfire Belt	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Spellfire Belt — Tailoring
Option	Belt of Divine Inspiration	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair

Girdle of Ruination is still your best in slot if you are Shadow Destruction. If you are Fire Destruction then Spellfire Belt is your best in slot. You should aim to have this before Phase 2. Belt of Divine Inspiration is a good alternative in the meantime.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Spellstrike Pants	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Spellstrike Pants — Tailoring
Best	Voidheart Leggings	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Option	Leggings of the Seventh Circle	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Doom-Lord Kazzak — World Boss

The Legs slot is a more versatile slot. In any matter, you should only be using either Voidheart Leggings or Spellstrike Pants in this slot. Both are strong and it will depend on your T4 set up for your 4-piece bonus. Leggings of the Seventh Circle are an extremely strong option for leg, however they are from a World Boss, making them hard to obtain by most.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Frozen Shadoweave Boots	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Frozen Shadoweave Boots — Tailoring
Option	Boots of Foretelling	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan
Option	Ruby Slippers	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Opera Event — Karazhan

Frozen Shadoweave Boots are best in slot going into Phase 2 for Shadow Destruction, meanwhile Boots of Foretelling are best in slot for Fire Destruction, so make sure you obtain them beforehand. Ruby Slippers are a good alternatives you can wear in the meantime.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Ashyen's Gift	Cenarion Expedition — Exalted
Best	Band of Crimson Fury	Magtheridon — Magtheridon's Lair
Option	Seal of the Exorcist	Terokkar Forest PvP Vendor
Option	Ring of the Fallen God	The Savior of Kalimdor
Option	Ring of Recurrence	Chess Event — Karazhan
Option	Sparking Arcanite Ring	Epoch Hunter — Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills

Rings in Tier 4 are typically used to help with Spell Hit Rating. Band of Crimson Fury is a very nice Ring out of T4 that you want. Ashyen's Gift and Seal of the Exorcist will help greatly with your Spell Hit Rating. Sparking Arcanite Ring is great for both Spell Hit and Crit, while Seer's Signet and Ring of Recurrence are great if you do not need any more Spell Hit. Ring of the Fallen God is an amazing Ring if you were able to obtain it in Classic.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Icon of the Silver Crescent	41 x Badge of Justice
Best	Quagmirran's Eye	Quagmirran — Heroic The Slave Pens
Option	Scryer's Bloodgem	The Scryers — Revered
Option	Arcanist's Stone	Epoch Hunter — Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills
Option	Mark of the Champion	The Fall of Kel'Thuzad

Just as with the Pre-BiS, Icon of the Silver Crescent and Quagmirran's Eye will be your ideal trinkets for their great passive Spell Power and on-use/proc effects. Scryer's Bloodgem and Arcanist's Stone are great options to fill in any missing Spell Hit rating. Mark of the Champion is an insanely good Trinket whenever you are fighting Undead or Demons if you were able to get it in Classic.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian		Naxxramas
Best	Talon of the Tempest	Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone	Doomwalker — World Boss
Best	Bloodmaw Magus-Blade		Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Best	Nathrezim Mindblade		Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Option	Gladiator's Spellblade		PvP Arena
Option	Blade of Wizardry		Eternium Runed Blade — Blacksmithing
Option	Eternium Runed Blade		Eternium Runed Blade — Blacksmithing
Option	Stormcaller / Blade of the Archmage		Thrallmar / Honor Hold — Exalted

Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian, while a personal DPS loss, is a very powerful weapon in TBC, as it buff your party members. You should expect to wear this for that reason until T6. Talon of the Tempest is still the best weapon, however it is from a World Boss, making this hard for most to obtain. Both Bloodmaw Magus-Blade and Nathrezim Mindblade are Phase 1 Best in slot otherwise. If you have the 1,850 rating requirement, you can get Gladiator's Spellblade as an alternative. Blade of Wizardry and Eternium Runed Blade are both good weapons, although very expensive and not worth. Stormcaller / Blade of the Archmage are still great weapons to use while you wait for your T4 Weapon.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Flametongue Seal	25 x Badge of Justice
Best	Orb of the Soul-Eater	25 x Badge of Justice
Option	Khadgar's Knapsack	Harbinger Skyriss — The Arcatraz
Option	Jewel of Infinite Possibilities	Netherspite — Karazhan

Orb of the Soul-Eater is a very strong off-hand for Shadow Destruction and extremely easy to obtain, making it easily your best option. Flametongue Seal is best in slot for Fire Destruction and just as easy to get. Khadgar's Knapsack is a good alternative and Jewel of Infinite Possibilities is a good alternative if you are lacking Spell Hit.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Tirisfal Wand of Ascendancy	Shade of Aran — Karazhan
Best	The Black Stalk	The Black Stalker — Heroic Underbog
Option	Eredar Wand of Obliteration	Magtheridon — Magtheridon's Lair

Use this as a Spell Hit slot. Tirisfal Wand of Ascendancy if you need Spell Hit, otherwise use either The Black Stalk or Eredar Wand of Obliteration.

If you have further questions about gemming and enchanting these items, our Destruction Warlock Enchants and Gems page below provides more information.