Cataclysm Classic Affliction Warlock Guide (2024)

Last updated on May 19, 2024 at 00:00by Crix

Welcome to our Affliction Warlock guide for Cataclysm Classic, tailoredfor PvE content. Here, you will learn how all you need to know to playAffliction Warlock proficiently. Click the links below to navigate the guideor read this page for a short introduction.

This page contains all relevant information needed for Affliction Warlocksin Cataclysm Classic. We will be updating this with all the latest informationas 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 highestmulti-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.

For Horde, every Race besides Tauren can be played as Warlock. Orc is the superior option due to thepowerful Blood Fury, increasing your Spell Power for 15 seconds on a 2 minute cooldown andused 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'twant to play as an Orc. Goblin has the infamous Rocket Jump, which propels you the way you'refacing roughly 15-20 yards. Goblin also has a passive racial called Time is Money that givesthem 1% Haste. Troll offers Berserking, a 3 minute cooldown that gives you 20% hastefor 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, whichacts like a Sprint, allowing you to quickly get to and from. Gnome, Human and Dwarf don't bring muchto the table.

You really can't go wrong with your profession choice, as all of them beisdes Herbalism, Skinningand Mining bring roughly the same amount Intellect. The only one that stands out more than the restis Tailoring, as it provides the most Intellect with it's bonus. What you choose for your secondprofession is completely up to you and will all bring roughly the same 80 Intellect until the laterphases 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 isan enchant that you put on your gloves that also stacks with your normal glove enchant. This is an on usethat 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 youdeal 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 andwill 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 andbracers. You would put a Brilliant Inferno Ruby in both of those sockets, for a total gain of80 Intellect. Once Epic Gems are introduced in the game later, those gems will become 50 Intellect gemseach, for a total gain of 100 Intellect.
• Jewelcrafting — This allows you to craft three Brilliant Chimera's Eye, whichare 67 Intellect, instead of the normal 40 Intellect Brilliant Inferno Ruby gems. This equatesto 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 is80 more Intellect than the normal bracer enchant.
• Herbalism — This gives you Lifeblood, which gives you 480 Haste for 20 secondsand 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 comesto DPS'ing as a Warlock. Make sure to check out our Macros and Addons pageslinked below to help maximize your damage.