Demonology Warlock DPS Mythic+ Tips — The War Within (11.0.5)

Last updated on Oct 29, 2024 at 20:56 by Motoko 44 comments
General Information

In this guide, you will find tips and advice to tackle Mythic+ dungeons with your Demonology Warlock in World of Warcraft — The War Within (11.0.5).

1.

Mythic+ Introduction for Demonology Warlock

Mythic+ has become a large part of the World of Warcraft endgame, but the sheer amount of different variables has left many players feeling overwhelmed. The group composition, weekly affixes, the item level of the group, the keystone level and the experience and comfort level of the group are just several of the factors that will influence how you approach each dungeon. The purpose of this page is to prepare you for the key differences that set Mythic+, apart from the typical World of Warcraft endgame experience, including talents and rotational anomalies that may not be obvious at first glance.

Demonology Warlocks have the potential to deal extremely high burst AoE damage after a proper setup while also offering multiple short cooldowns that suit well the average dungeon pull cadence. With multiple abilities having some form of cleave effect, Demonology's damage profile is well-suited for dungeons, with the only negative of being limited by specific setup periods, and a slightly longer interrupt that shares a stun. The spec still retains all the class baseline toolkit comprised of Healthstones, Soulstones, skip-enabling Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway, AoE crowd control abilities such as Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury and Howl of Terror Icon Howl of Terror, and uncapped AoE spells.

1.1.

Demonology Warlock Mythic+ Rotation

While both single- and multi-target rotations do not differ substantially from the standard priority outlined in Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities page there are few points worth noting:

  • Starting a new pull without resources means a relatively long period of a time when the damage will be low due to Shadow Bolt Icon Shadow Bolt being the only resource generator outside of procs. This makes transitioning between pulls with Soul Shards/Demonic Cores/Wild Imps are extremely important to maintaining a higher DPS profile across the dungeon.
  • While it may look tempting, it is generally better not to implode at the end of a dungeon pack, trying to spend all the Shards on additional Wild Imps, in order to regenerate 3 shards out of combat and being able to cast a massive Implosion Icon Implosion or Tyrant at the next pack.
1.2.

Demonology Warlock Utility

While damage is the bigger reason to bring a Demonology Warlock, the class itself offers a noticeable amount of crowd control and various supporting abilities:

  • Recently reintroduced, the Curses can offer some advantage against specific dangerous enemies: Curse of Tongues Icon Curse of Tongues can reduce the number of interrupts required by the group, while Curse of Weakness Icon Curse of Weakness alleviates the incoming damage on the tank from auto attacks. Last but not least, Curse of Exhaustion Icon Curse of Exhaustion can be used to slow targets in situations where kiting is required. While these effects can be noticeable, it is better to use curses on a few key targets, as the time spent to apply these effects is time not spent doing damage.
  • Healthstone Icon Healthstones have a 1-minute cooldown and heal for 25% of max health, allowing for an emergency heal for each player.
  • Soulstone Icon Soulstones offer a combat resurrection that can be used both reactively and preemptively in the case of a death run.
  • Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway offers the unique ability to skip certain parts of the map, depending on the dungeon in question, avoiding specific pulls.
  • Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury helps alleviate pressure on the tank during big pulls as it is a 3-second AoE stun.
  • Fear Icon Fear and Banish Icon Banish are both spammable crowd control abilities that can be used to interrupt a cast in a pinch or to temporarily remove a target from combat.
2.

Mythic+ Talents for Demonology Warlock

Below are the recommended talents for Mythic+. There is a certain degree of flexibility when progressing down the path, to accommodate for preferences or to meet specific requirements, as discussed further.

3.

Dungeon Builds for Demonology Warlock

Mythic+ Talents Soul Harvester variant
4.

Mythic+ Talents for Demonology Warlock

The Diabolist setup offers more priority damage with Pact of the Ered'ruin Icon Pact of the Ered'ruin and burst opportunities through both Ruination Icon Ruination and Cloven Souls Icon Cloven Souls.

To import the build directly ingame, click on the export button at the bottom of the calculator

4.

Soul Harvester Mythic+ Talents for Demonology Warlock

The Soul Harvester variant is centered around the idea of augmenting AoE and damage spikes frequency of Implosion Icon Implosion while simultaneously offering on-death damage effects. It does sacrifice some 1-2 gcds burst opportunities, but more frequent and bigger Implosion Icon Implosions can offset that. Antoran Armaments Icon Antoran Armaments offer higher output above 5 targets compared to Pact of the Ered'ruin Icon Pact of the Ered'ruin.

To import the build directly ingame, click on the export button at the bottom of the calculator

3.1.

Flexible Talents

3.1.1.

Utility / Defensive Flexible Talents

  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle, Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury, Banish Icon Banish and Amplify Curse Icon Amplify Curse should be considered flex slots in order to accommodate individual dungeon or affix mechanics;
  • Ichor of Devils Icon Ichor of Devils can be swapped with Frequent Donor Icon Frequent Donor if higher uptime on Dark Pact Icon Dark Pact is desirable;
  • Similarly, Dark Accord Icon Dark Accord can be considered instead of Strength of Will Icon Strength of Will
  • Howl of Terror Icon Howl of Terror is another AoE crowd control that can be considered but is capped at 5 targets thus Mortal Coil Icon Mortal Coil is generally more beneficial
3.1.1.

DPS Flexible Talents

  • Pact of the Ered'ruin Icon Pact of the Ered'ruin and Antoran Armaments Icon Antoran Armaments are interchangeable depending on where the dps is needed most;
  • Imp-erator Icon Imp-erator over Annihilan Training Icon Annihilan Training can offer slightly better single target, but the opportunity cost is quite steep otherwise.
4.

Dungeon Tips and Tricks for Demonology Warlock in The War Within

The following section contains Warlock-specific tips and tricks to help in specific dungeons' bosses and trash. Check out our dedicated page below for general guides regarding Dungeons or Mythic+ in general.

Mythic+ Tips for Demonology Warlock in The War Within Season 1

Ara-Kara City of Threads Dawnbreaker Grim Batol Mists of Tirna Scithe Necrotic Wake Siege of Boralus Stonevault
4.1.

Bosses

  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle and Soulburn Icon Soulburn: Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can both be used to dodge Anub'zekt Burrow Charge or the spikes afterwards.
  • Crowd control effects such as Mortal Coil Icon Mortal Coil, Fear Icon Fear, Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury and Howl of Terror Icon Howl of Terror can break the root from Grasping Blood Icon Grasping Blood.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Imp Singe Magic can dispel Orator Krix'vizk Shadows of Doubt Icon Shadows of Doubt.
  • Soulburn Icon Soulburn: Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle can break Izo, the Grand Splicer Umbral Weave root.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Imp Singe Magic can dispel Speaker Shadowcrown Burning Shadows Icon Burning Shadows.
  • Consider using a defensive during Anub'ikkaj Shadowy Decay Icon Shadowy Decay.
  • Set up Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway in phase 1 of Rasha'nan in order to help the group reach bombs behind, while in phase 2 set it perpendicularly to help solving both the poison wave and the ground effect mechanics.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can help move across the lanes during General Umbriss encounter.
  • Pre-place Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle to nullify Drahga Shadowburner Twilight Buffet Icon Twilight Buffet knockback.
  • Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can be used again during Erudax encounter to facilitate group movements.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Maintain Curse of Tongues Icon Curse of Tongues on Ingra Maloch.
  • A single Fear Icon Fear cast is enough to render Illusionary Vulpin harmless, but other crowd controls can also work.
  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle can break instantly the tether during Tred'ova encounter.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle let you avoid Amarth Necrotic Breath Icon Necrotic Breath.
  • Maintain Curse of Tongues Icon Curse of Tongues on Amarth
  • Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway towards Surgeon Stitchflesh can help repositioning in a pinch if starting from the back of the room when targeted by Meat Hook Icon Meat Hook.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle and Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can help kite Chopper Redhook towards bombs when affected by Iron Gaze Icon Iron Gaze.
  • Imp Singe Magic can dispel Viq'Goth Putrid Waters Icon Putrid Waters, but be mindful of the aoe knockback associated.
4.1.

Trash

  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle should be placed on every pull as it negates the pull-in frequently cast.
  • Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can be used to quickly close the gap with the Ashvane firing lines before their reload, shaving off seconds before and after the second boss.
4.1.

Bosses

  • Consider using a defensive during E.D.N.A Refracting Beam Icon Refracting Beam.
  • Demonic Circle Icon Demonic Circle and Demonic Gateway Icon Demonic Gateway can be useful during Void Speaker Eirich encounter due to the heavy movement involved with each of its mechanics.
4.1.

Trash

  • No Warlock specific tips.
5.

Affix Tips, Tricks and Management for Demonology Warlock in The War Within

The following section contains Warlock-specific tips for dealing with the various affixes of Mythic+. For general guides for each of our Dungeons or Mythic+ in general, check out our dedicated page below.

6.

Affix Guide for Demonology Warlock in The War Within

Affix: Ascendant Affix: Voidbound Affix: Oblivion Affix: Devour
6.1.

Ascendant Affix Management for Demonology Warlock

Any crowd-control or interrupt spell will work:

  • Shadowfury Icon Shadowfury;
  • Howl of Terror Icon Howl of Terror (capped to 5);
  • Fear Icon Fear;
  • Mortal Coil Icon Mortal Coil;
  • Pet interrupts.
6.2.

Voidbound Affix Management for Demonology Warlock

Target that has to be prioritised so no specific guidance required.

6.3.

Oblivion Affix Management for Demonology Warlock

Be sure to pay attention to these orbs and intercept them before they reach mobs.

6.4.

Devour Affix Management for Demonology Warlock

Healing abilities such as Mortal Coil Icon Mortal Coil and Healthstone Icon Healthstone can help removing the shields if no other means to dispel them are available.

  • Summon Imp Icon Summon Imp Singe Magic Icon Singe Magic can dispel a single shield.
  • 7.

    Pet Choice for Demonology Warlock

    You should be using your Felguard at all times as a Demonology Warlock.

    8.

    Trinket Considerations for Demonology Warlock in Mythic+

    When choosing your trinkets, we recommend simulating yourself on Raidbots using the Patchwerk option for raids and single-target, and Patchwerk with 4-5 targets or Hectic Add Cleave for an educated guess on multi-target performance in Dungeons. Usually, trinkets that proc stats are more versatile and better performers than single-target spell damage procs unless they are overtuned.

    You can also get a quick overview of good Mythic+ Trinkets on our Gearing page, specifically the Simulation chart for multi-target scenarios.

    9.

    Changelog

    • 21 Oct. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
    • 19 Sep. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.5 and added a dungeon tooltip section.
    • 09 Sep. 2024: Updated talent selection for Season 1 launch.
    • 19 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within pre-patch.
    • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
    • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4.
    • 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.6.
    • 15 Jan. 2024: Updated Talents and Stats.
    • 07 Nov. 2023: Updated Tyrannical Talents.
    • 06 Nov. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.2 and Season 3.
    • 04 Sep. 2023: Restructured Talent section.
    • 10 Jul. 2023: Talents updated for Patch 10.1.5.
    • 01 May 2023: Talents updated for Patch 10.1.
    • 20 Mar. 2023: Talents updated for Patch 10.0.7.
    • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
    • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated recommended build.
    • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
    • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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