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

Last updated on Oct 29, 2024 at 20:56 by Motoko 60 comments
General Information

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

1.

Mythic+ Introduction for Destruction Warlock

Mythic+ has become a large part of the World of Warcraft endgame, but the The sheer number 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.

Destruction Warlocks offer some of the highest on-demand bursts and 2 target cleave potential across all DPS while having strong and short enough cooldowns that can be used frequently on each pull. The spec still retains all the class baseline toolkits comprised 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.

Destruction 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:

  • While Rain of Fire Icon Rain of Fire is generally strong in terms of numbers, targets moving out of the radius due to kiting or repositioning can affect the overall efficacy of the spell. In situations where it would be hard to leverage heavy Rain of Fire Icon Rain of Fire usage, consider cleaving with Havoc Icon Havoc Chaos Bolt Icon Chaos Bolts instead.
  • Destruction's toolkit is exceptional at bursting targets and funneling priority damage due to the insane shard generation multiple Immolate Icon Immolates can provide, so keep that in mind during weeks when it is more important to focus on key targets over even AoE.
1.2.

Destruction Warlock Utility

While damage is the bigger reason to bring a Destruction 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 Destruction 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 Destruction Warlock

Mythic+ Talents Shadowburn variant Hellcaller variant
4.

Mythic+ Talents for Destruction Warlock

Diabolist setup is centered around the idea of using Fire and Brimstone Icon Fire and Brimstone to generate shard with critical hits and trigger Decimation Icon Decimation procs, as such Immolate Icon Immolate upkeep should cover up to 5 targets. Mayhem Icon Mayhem is in place of Havoc Icon Havoc because does not take gcd to activate and can catch Decimation Icon Decimation procs cast with how frequent both uptimes are.

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

4.

Mythic+ Talents for Destruction Warlock

Setup using Shadowburn Icon Shadowburn to increase shard cycling and have more focused cleave/priority damage. The choice between Cataclysm Icon Cataclysm and Inferno Icon Inferno should be dictated by how big the pulls are, meanwhile Mayhem Icon Mayhem is overall better outside of Siege of Boralus and The Stonevault.

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

4.

Hellcaller Mythic+ Talents for Destruction Warlock

This variant opts for the Hellcaller tree in order to gain more overall damage at higher target count at the expense of single target and priority damage. Due to how important Wither Icon Wither uptime is, Cataclysm Icon Cataclysm is preferred as it helps scale the build at higher target count. Low priority gcd should be spent mostly cycling Conflagrate Icon Conflagrate charges and Shadowburn Icon Shadowburn when not refreshing Wither Icon Wither or casting Rain of Fire Icon Rain of Fire, rather than casting Incinerate Icon Incinerate at all. Decimation Icon Decimation procs still take priority for the amount of damage and shard generated.

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

First setup:

  • Inferno Icon Inferno can be swapped to Cataclysm Icon Cataclysm when doing most pulls above 8 targets;
  • Shadowburn Icon Shadowburn can be swapped with Pyrogenics Icon Pyrogenics;
  • Improved Chaos Bolt Icon Improved Chaos Bolt can be swapped for either Chaos Incarnate Icon Chaos Incarnate or Dimension Ripper Icon Dimension Ripper, but both would be slightly worse numerically.

Second setup:

  • Cataclysm Icon Cataclysm can be swapped for Inferno Icon Inferno when pulling for the most part, 5 or fewer targets at a time;
  • Havoc Icon Havoc can be swapped for Mayhem Icon Mayhem to try and duplicate a higher amount of Shadowburn Icon Shadowburns at the expense of less agency;
  • Fiendish Cruelty Icon Fiendish Cruelty helps mostly in single target during bosses and so that can also be swapped around for Pyrogenics Icon Pyrogenics, or Improved Chaos Bolt Icon Improved Chaos Bolt.
4.

Dungeon Tips and Tricks for Destruction 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 Destruction 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 Destruction 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 Destruction Warlock in The War Within

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

Ascendant Affix Management for Destruction 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 Destruction Warlock

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

6.3.

Oblivion Affix Management for Destruction Warlock

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

6.4.

Devour Affix Management for Destruction 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 Destruction Warlock

    The Felhunter is typically the best choice, as it grants you an interrupt, which is a huge advantage in Mythic+; consider swapping to Imp if you need additional dispel.

    8.

    Trinket Considerations for Destruction 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 for Patch 10.2.5.
    • 03 Jan. 2024: Updated Talents and Stats.
    • 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: Added an Inferno section, and updated the talent recommendation.
    • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated recommended build.
    • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
    • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
    Show more
    Show less