TBC Classic Destruction Warlock Pre-Raid Gear

Last updated on Jun 01, 2021 at 10:39 by Crix 6 comments

On this page, you will find the best pre-raid gear for Destruction Warlock in TBC Classic.

1.

Destruction Warlock Pre-Raid Best in Slot List

This is a list of gear that is considered to be the best in each slot prior to entering Phase 1 / Tier 4 raids. The list is created using the stat priority recommended in this guide, as well as only using gear that drops outside of the first tier of raids. For gemming you have three options: Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone. Use whichever one fits your current Spell Hit situation. Gem for Hit until you have reached Hit cap — 202 Spell Hit rating, 190 if you are Alliance. Once at the Spell Hit cap, use Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby. Only use Glowing Nightseye Icon Glowing Nightseye for Blue Sockets to complete your Meta Socket in the future.

1.1.

Other Destruction Warlock Best in Slot Lists

If your character is ready to jump into Phase 5 / Tier 6 content, then see our current best in slot list. If you wish to go through the content of Tiers 4 or 5 instead, then please see their respective lists below.

2.
Rank Item Gems Source
Best Spellstrike Hood Icon Spellstrike Hood Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Spellstrike Hood IconSpellstrike HoodTailoring
Option Mag'hari Ritualist's Horns Icon Mag'hari Ritualist's Horns Hero of the Mag'har
Option Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight Icon Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight 3 x Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby Teron Gorefiend, I am... / Teron Gorefiend, I am...

Spellstrike Hood Icon Spellstrike Hood is your best helm. However, it is very expensive and you will replace it in Karazhan with Voidheart Crown Icon Voidheart Crown. Mag'hari Ritualist's Horns Icon Mag'hari Ritualist's Horns and Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight Icon Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight are both great options and are fairly easy to obtain.

3.

Necklace

Rank Item Source
Best Brooch of Heightened Potential Icon Brooch of Heightened Potential Blackheart the InciterShadow Labyrinth
Option Amulet of Vek'nilash Icon Amulet of Vek'nilash Emperor Vek'nilashAQ40
Option Hydra-fang Necklace Icon Hydra-fang Necklace Ghaz'an — Heroic The Underbog

If you need Spell Hit use Brooch of Heightened Potential Icon Brooch of Heightened Potential, or Amulet of Vek'nilash Icon Amulet of Vek'nilashif you have it and do not need Spell Hit. Hydra-fang Necklace Icon Hydra-fang Necklace is good for more Spell Hit, but lacks Crit and is from a Heroic.

4.

Shoulder

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders Icon Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders IconFrozen Shadoweave ShouldersTailoring
Option Mantle of Three Terrors Icon Mantle of Three Terrors Chrono Lord DejaThe Black Morass
Option Spaulders of the Torn-heart Icon Spaulders of the Torn-heart The Cipher of Damnation - The Third Fragment Recovered
Option Plagueheart Shoulderpads Icon Plagueheart Shoulderpads Patchwerk, Grobbulus, or GluthNaxxramas

Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders Icon Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders is BiS, unless you are Fire Destruction; then, use Mantle of Three Terrors Icon Mantle of Three Terrors or Spaulders of the Torn-heart Icon Spaulders of the Torn-heart instead, based on your Spell Hit situation. Plagueheart Shoulderpads Icon Plagueheart Shoulderpads are really good as well, if you were able to get them in Classic.

5.

Back

Rank Item Source
Best Sethekk Oracle Cloak Icon Sethekk Oracle Cloak Talon King IkissSethekk Halls
Easy Cloak of Entropy Icon Cloak of Entropy BoE World Drop
Option Cloak of the Necropolis Icon Cloak of the Necropolis SapphironNaxxramas
Option Cloak of the Devoured Icon Cloak of the Devoured C'ThunAQ40

Sethekk Oracle Cloak Icon Sethekk Oracle Cloak is your Best cloak choice for Spell Hit. Cloak of Entropy Icon Cloak of Entropy is a good option that is cheap on the Auction House in the meantime. Cloak of the Necropolis Icon Cloak of the Necropolis and Cloak of the Devoured Icon Cloak of the Devoured are also good if you were able to obtain them in Classic.

6.

Chest

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Frozen Shadoweave Robe Icon Frozen Shadoweave Robe Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Frozen Shadoweave Robe IconFrozen Shadoweave RobeTailoring
Best Spellfire Robe Icon Spellfire Robe Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Spellfire Robe IconSpellfire RobeTailoring
Option Auchenai Anchorite's Robe Icon Auchenai Anchorite's Robe Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Everything Will Be Alright
Option Robe of Oblivion Icon Robe of Oblivion Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone MurmurShadow Labyrinth
Easy Robe of the Crimson Order Icon Robe of the Crimson Order BoE World Drop

Frozen Shadoweave Robe Icon Frozen Shadoweave Robe is your best option. If you are Fire Destruction use Spellfire Robe Icon Spellfire Robe instead. Auchenai Anchorite's Robe Icon Auchenai Anchorite's Robe, Robe of Oblivion Icon Robe of Oblivion, and Robe of the Crimson Order Icon Robe of the Crimson Order are all good options to use while waiting to craft the more powerful Robes.

7.

Wrist

Rank Item Gems Source
Best and Easy Bracers of Havok Icon Bracers of Havok Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Bracers of Havok IconBracers of HavokTailoring

Bracers of Havok Icon Bracers of Havok are the only Bracers you need to worry about. They are on the Auction House and cheap.

8.

Hands

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Anger-Spark Gloves Icon Anger-Spark Gloves Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Doomwalker
Best Spellfire Gloves Icon Spellfire Gloves Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Spellfire Gloves IconSpellfire GlovesTailoring
Best Gloves of Pandemonium Icon Gloves of Pandemonium BoE World Drop
Option Manaspark Gloves Icon Manaspark Gloves Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone HungarfenUnderbog
Option Dark Storm Gauntlets Icon Dark Storm Gauntlets C'ThunAQ40

Anger-Spark Gloves Icon Anger-Spark Gloves are technically BiS, however they drop from a World Boss making them hard to obtain. Gloves of Pandemonium Icon Gloves of Pandemonium are suggested as they are cheap on the AH and supply Spell Power, Spell Hit, and Crit. Manaspark Gloves Icon Manaspark Gloves are a good option for more Spell Hit and Dark Storm Gauntlets Icon Dark Storm Gauntlets are strong if you were able to obtain them in Classic. Spellfire Gloves Icon Spellfire Gloves are the best if you are Fire Destruction.

9.

Waist

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Girdle of Ruination Icon Girdle of Ruination Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Girdle of Ruination IconGirdle of RuinationTailoring
Best Spellfire Belt Icon Spellfire Belt Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Spellfire Belt IconSpellfire BeltTailoring
Option Belt of Depravity Icon Belt of Depravity Harbinger Skyriss — Heroic The Arcatraz
Option Sash of Serpentra Icon Sash of Serpentra Warlord KalithreshThe Steamvault
Option Eyestalk Waist Cord Icon Eyestalk Waist Cord C'ThunAQ40

Girdle of Ruination Icon Girdle of Ruination is your best-in-slot, but may be expensive to craft early on. Sash of Serpentra Icon Sash of Serpentra is a great alternative if you are looking to save some gold. Belt of Depravity Icon Belt of Depravity is great, but drops only in a tough Heroic and Eyestalk Waist Cord Icon Eyestalk Waist Cord is good if you do not need Spell Hit and were able to obtain it in Classic. Spellfire Belt Icon Spellfire Belt is the best if you are Fire Destruction.

10.

Legs

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Spellstrike Pants Icon Spellstrike Pants Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Spellstrike Pants IconSpellstrike PantsTailoring
Option Breeches of the Occultist Icon Breeches of the Occultist Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Aeonus — Heroic The Black Morass
Option Trousers of Oblivion Icon Trousers of Oblivion Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Talon King IkissSethekk Halls
Option Khadgar's Kilt of Abjuration Icon Khadgar's Kilt of Abjuration Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone TemporusBlack Morass

Spellstrike Pants Icon Spellstrike Pants are your best option, offering high Spell Damage and Spell Hit. They are expensive and can take a while to craft. Use any of the other options in the meantime based upon your current Spell Hit.

11.

Feet

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Frozen Shadoweave Boots Icon Frozen Shadoweave Boots Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Frozen Shadoweave Boots IconFrozen Shadoweave BootsTailoring
Easy Sigil-Laced Boots Icon Sigil-Laced Boots Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Harbinger SkyrissThe Arcatraz
Easy Shattrath Jumpers Icon Shattrath Jumpers Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Into the Heart of the Labyrinth

Frozen Shadoweave Boots Icon Frozen Shadoweave Boots are a massive gear piece, remaining your best-in-slot well into T5 and even into T6. Shattrath Jumpers Icon Shattrath Jumpers and Sigil-Laced Boots Icon Sigil-Laced Boots are an easy to get option to use in the meantime.

12.

Finger

Rank Item Source
Best Ashyen's Gift Icon Ashyen's Gift Cenarion ExpeditionExalted
Best Seal of the Exorcist Icon Seal of the Exorcist Terokkar Forest PvP Vendor
Option Ring of the Fallen God Icon Ring of the Fallen God The Savior of Kalimdor
Option Seer's Signet Icon Seer's Signet The ScryersExalted
Option Sparking Arcanite Ring Icon Sparking Arcanite Ring Epoch Hunter — Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills

Rings in Phase 1 are typically used to help with Spell Hit Rating. Ashyen's Gift Icon Ashyen's Gift and Seal of the Exorcist Icon Seal of the Exorcist are fairly easy to obtain and help greatly with your Spell Hit Rating. Sparking Arcanite Ring Icon Sparking Arcanite Ring is great for both Spell Hit and Crit, while Seer's Signet Icon Seer's Signet is great if you do not need anymore Spell Hit. Ring of the Fallen God Icon Ring of the Fallen God is an amazing Ring if you were able to obtain it in Classic.

13.

Trinket

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

Icon of the Silver Crescent Icon Icon of the Silver Crescent and Quagmirran's Eye Icon Quagmirran's Eye will be your ideal Trinkets for their great passive Spell Power and on-use/proc effects. Scryer's Bloodgem Icon Scryer's Bloodgem and Arcanist's Stone Icon Arcanist's Stone are great options to fill in any missing Spell Hit Rating. Mark of the Champion Icon 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.

14.

Main-Hand Weapon

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian Icon Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian Naxxramas
Best Talon of the Tempest Icon Talon of the Tempest Runed Living Ruby Icon Runed Living Ruby, Veiled Noble Topaz Icon Veiled Noble Topaz, or Great Dawnstone Icon Great Dawnstone Doomwalker — World Boss
Best Gladiator's Spellblade Icon Gladiator's Spellblade PvP Arena
Best Blade of Wizardry Icon Blade of Wizardry Eternium Runed Blade IconEternium Runed BladeBlacksmithing
Best Eternium Runed Blade Icon Eternium Runed Blade Eternium Runed Blade IconEternium Runed BladeBlacksmithing
Option Stormcaller Icon Stormcaller / Blade of the Archmage Icon Blade of the Archmage Thrallmar / Honor HoldExalted
Option Greatsword of Horrid Dreams Icon Greatsword of Horrid Dreams MurmurShadow Labyrinth
Easy Continuum Blade Icon Continuum Blade Keepers of TimeRevered

Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian Icon 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 Icon Talon of the Tempest is the best weapon, however it is from a World Boss, making this hard for most to obtain. If you have the 1,850 rating requirement, you can get Gladiator's Spellblade Icon Gladiator's Spellblade. Blade of Wizardry Icon Blade of Wizardry and Eternium Runed Blade Icon Eternium Runed Blade are both good weapons, although very expensive and not worth. Stormcaller Icon Stormcaller / Blade of the Archmage Icon Blade of the Archmage are suggested as they are in your control to get and free, while still being very powerful. You can use Greatsword of Horrid Dreams Icon Greatsword of Horrid Dreams or Continuum Blade Icon Continuum Blade in the meantime.

15.

Off-Hand Weapon

Rank Item Source
Best Flametongue Seal Icon Flametongue Seal 25 x Badge of Justice Icon Badge of Justice
Best Khadgar's Knapsack Icon Khadgar's Knapsack 25 x Badge of Justice Icon Badge of Justice
Best Orb of the Soul-Eater Icon Orb of the Soul-Eater 25 x Badge of Justice Icon Badge of Justice
Option Lamp of Peaceful Radiance Icon Lamp of Peaceful Radiance Harbinger SkyrissThe Arcatraz
Option Sapphiron's Left Eye Icon Sapphiron's Left Eye SapphironNaxxramas

Orb of the Soul-Eater Icon Orb of the Soul-Eater and Khadgar's Knapsack Icon Khadgar's Knapsack are both very strong off-hands for Destruction and are also extremely easy to obtain, making it easily your best option. Flametongue Seal Icon Flametongue Seal is best in slot for Fire Destruction. It is suggested to use Khadgar's Knapsack Icon Khadgar's Knapsack so your Immolate IconImmolate can benefit from it. You can use Lamp of Peaceful Radiance Icon Lamp of Peaceful Radiance in the meantime while farming your 25 Badge of Justice Icon Badge of Justice. Sapphiron's Left Eye Icon Sapphiron's Left Eye is a very good Offhand if you were able to obtain it in Classic.

16.

Wand

Rank Item Source
Best The Black Stalk Icon The Black Stalk The Black Stalker — Heroic Underbog
Best Create Firestone IconCreate Firestone
Option Nether Core's Control Rod Icon Nether Core's Control Rod Dalliah the DoomsayerThe Arcatraz
Option Wand of Fates Icon Wand of Fates PatchwerkNaxxramas
Option Doomfinger Icon Doomfinger KelThuzadNaxxramas

The Black Stalk Icon The Black Stalk is the best Wand you can get if you want to get some Crit. Otherwise use Create Firestone IconCreate Firestone.

17.

Further Enhancements

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

18.

Changelog

  • 01 Jun. 2021: Guide added.
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