Demonology Warlock 10.0 Guide
Introduction
Welcome to our Warlock's Demonology Specialization Guide for WoW Dragonflight patch 10.0! You will learn everything you need about the Demonology spec, such as how to level, gear, prepare, and min-max your Demo Warlock for World of Warcraft's most challenging PvE content.
First, we'll check out the specialization's particularities and see why the Demo Warlock is one of the best specs in Dragonflight Season 1. Then you'll learn how to gear the Demonology Warlock, what stats to prioritize, and the best leveling spec, talents, and rotation that will get you to max level in no time.
Finally, we'll go deep into min-maxing your character for the end-game content and teach you what gear to use for Mythic Raiding and Mythic Plus dungeons. By the end of the guide, you will become a master of the Demonology Warlock specialization! Sounds good, right? Let's get started!
Table of Contents
- Demonology Warlocks: Strengths and Weaknesses
- How to gear a Demonology Warlock
- How to level a Demonology Warlock. Demo Warlock leveling tips
- Best Demonology Warlock talents for end-game content
- Demonology Warlock in Dragonflight - FAQ
Demonology Warlocks in Dragonflight: Strengths and Weaknesses
In World of Warcraft, the Warlock class comes with three DPS specializations: Demonology, Destruction, and Affliction. The warlock's spending resource is called Mana. All three warlock specs focus on ranged-combat fights and require wise mana resource management.
The Demonology Warlock playstyle revolves around using Demons as pets, making it the tankiest spec of the class, providing consistent single-target damage and decent AoE. Overall, the Demo warlock is one of the strongest specs in the game.
In terms of weapons, the Demonology Warlock uses a wide selection of weapons such as daggers, one-handed swords, staves, and wands. As for raid gear, the Warlock shares the Conqueror Tier Token with Demon Hunters, Paladins, and Priests for legacy content. In the Dragonflight expansion, the Vault of the Incarnates raid, warlocks share the Dreadful Tier Token with Demon Hunters and Death Knights.
In the table below, we present the Demonology spec's strengths and weaknesses:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| + Increased survivability | - Lack of immunity |
| + Increased tankiness due to the pets | - Low burst damage outside of cooldowns |
| + Decent self-healing | |
| + Instance skips features like Soulstone and Demonic Gateway |
How to gear a Demonology Warlock
In World of Warcraft, gearing is one of the most important aspects that enhances your character's overall performance by providing massive amounts of stats, armor, procs, and set bonuses. This guide will teach you how to properly gear up for the most challenging content in WoW Dragonflight, Mythic Raiding, and Mythic+ Dungeons.
We'll start with the basics and cover the Demonology Warlock's stats priority, check out the tier set bonuses, and finally, the best in slot gear you can get from mythic raids and dungeons.
Demonology Warlock stat priority
Regardless of the class and spec you roll into in World of Warcraft, the stats are a key component when gearing up and min-maxing your character for the end-game content. Demonology Warlocks wear Cloth gear with Intellect as the main stat.
As a warlock, the Intellect stat increases the power of your spells and abilities, in other words - the damage you are dealing to the enemies. Also, please note that a higher and adequate item level will better impact your character's performance than a perfect stat distribution, so always keep an eye on the gear's item level!
The Demonology Warlock stats priority looks like this:
- 1. Intellect
- 2. Haste
- 3. Mastery
- 4. Critical Strike
- 5. Versatility
So as a Demonology Warlock, you will primarily value item level for Intellect as the primary stat, then Haste, followed by Mastery, Critical Strike, and Versatility as secondary stats.
In other words: Intellect > Haste > Mastery ~= Critical Strike > Versatility. And here's why:
Intellect: Increases your spell power and, therefore, all the damage you are dealing to your enemies
Critical Strike: Increases the chance for extra effectiveness on your attacks
Haste: Increases your attack speed and your spell casting speed
Mastery: Increases the damage dealt by your demons (pets)
Versatility: Increases damage dealt and reduces damage taken by half
Demonology Warlock Tier Set Bonus
To start with, what is a tier set in World of Warcraft?
In WoW, a tier set is a unique class armor set with powerful 2-set and 4-set specific bonuses for each specialization of that particular class. Tier set bonuses change based on the character's active talent specialization, ensuring that the bonus is appropriate and useful to that spec. As previously stated, in Dragonflight, the Warlocks share the Dreadful Tier Token with Demon Hunters and Death Knights.
So to recap, tier sets are unique pieces of armor that, when equipped simultaneously, provide you with a bonus, different for each spec of the chosen class. This bonus is based on the number of pieces from the set you have equipped, with most tier sets providing bonuses when equipping 2 or 4 pieces.
How to get the Demonology Warlock Tier Set in Dragonflight Patch 10.0
There are three ways you can get tier set items in WoW in the Dragonflight expansion:
- Vault of the Incarnates Raid: You can get tier set items from specific bosses in the Vault of the Incarnates raid.
- Revival Catalyst: You can craft Tier armor from non-set pieces of the same item level using the Revival Catalyst crafting system.
- Great Vault: You can obtain tier set items from all activities that normally give Great Vault rewards, such as raiding, Mythic+ dungeons, and PvP
The fastest way to obtain tier set items is to take advantage of these three sources that can reward you with the Demo Warlock Tier Set items. The best advice is to complete the Vault of the Incarnates raid weekly - this is probably the fastest way to get your hands on the desired tier armor. In case you don't have a team to raid with, complete some Mythic+ Dungeons or some PvP matches.
Mythic dungeons and PvP are highly beneficial because even if you can't drop the set items while participating in these activities, you increase the chances of getting your set items at the Great Vault or the Revival Catalyst console in Thaldraszus. At the revival catalyst console, you can convert the non-set pieces obtained in dungeons or PvP into tier set items.
Let's have a closer look at the Great Vault feature:
And this is what the Revival Catalyst looks like:
Back to our Demonology Warlock Tier Set. Now that you learned how to obtain the tier set, let's see some set bonuses and particularities, shall we?
The Demonology Warlock Tier set is called Scalesworn Cultist's Habit. It comes with the following bonuses for two pieces and four pieces equipped:
- 2-Set: Warlock demonology class set 2pc - Demonbolt and Felstorm damage increased by 20%.
- 4-Set: Warlock demonology class set 4pc - Demonbolt has a chance to make your next Hand of Gul'dan instant and deal 150% increased damage.
In the table below, we present you the sources for Demonology Warlock Tier Set items:
| Slot | Tier Piece | Source |
| Helm | Scalesowrn Cultists Scorn | Raszageth |
| Shoulders | Scalesworn Cultist's Effigy | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Chest | Scalesworn Cultist's Frock | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Gloves | Scalesworn Cultist's Gloves | Dathea, Ascended |
| Legs | Scalesworn Cultist's Culottes | Sennarth |
The remaining tier set items (Cloak, Wrists, Waist, and Boots) can be obtained by using the Revival Catalyst in Thaldraszus.
As previously stated, you unlock the tier set bonuses for your Demonology Warlock when you equip any two or four pieces of the Scalesworn Cultist's Habit set. Your four pieces of tier set as a Demo Warlock will be the Helm, Shoulders, Chest, and Legs for itemization and build optimization.
Raid Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Demonology Warlocks
In the table below, you can find the best item to use in each slot from the raid as a Demonology Warlock:
| Slot | Item Name | Encounter |
| Helm | Scalesowrn Cultists Scorn | Raszageth |
| Neck | Eye of the Vengeful Hurricane | Dathea, Ascended |
| Shoulders | Scalesworn Cultist's Effigy | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Cloak | Acid-Proof Webbing | Sennarth |
| Chest | Scalesworn Cultist's Frock | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Wrists | Chilled Silken Restraints | Sennarth |
| Gloves | Eggtender's Safety Mitts | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Waist | Magatha's Spiritual Sash | Kurog Grimtotem |
| Legs | Scalesworn Cultist's Culottes | Sennarth |
| Boots | Sandals of the Wild Sovereign | Raszageth |
| Ring #1 | Seal of Filial Duty | Broodkeeper Diurna |
| Ring #2 | Seal of Diurna's Chosen | Eranog |
| Trinket #1 | Whispering Incarnate Icon | Primal Council |
| Trinket #2 | Desperate Invoker's Codex | Raszageth |
| Staff | Quake-Detecting Seismostaff | Terros |
| Main-Hand | Stormlash's Last Resort | Raszageth |
| Off-Hand | Scripture of Primal Devotion | Kurog Grimtotem |
Mythic+ Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Demonology Warlocks
In the table below, you can find the best item to use in each slot from the Mythic+ Dungeons as a Demonology Warlock:
| Slot | Item Name | Location |
| Helm | Hood of Uncanny Perspectives | Shadowmoon Burial Grounds |
| Neck | Wolfstride Pendant | Halls of Valor |
| Shoulders | Infernal Mantle of Conquest | Halls of Valor |
| Cloak | Fireproof Drape | Ruby Life Pools |
| Chest | Arcanist's Resonant Robes | Court of Stars |
| Wrists | Bracers of Arcane Mystery | Shadowmoon Burial Grounds |
| Gloves | Azureblade's Work Gloves | The Azure Vault |
| Waist | Sky Saddle Cord | Ruby Life Pools |
| Legs | Leggings of Swirling Runes | Halls of Valor |
| Boots | Cushioned Treads of Glory | Halls of Valor |
| Ring #1 | Unstable Arcane Loop | The Azure Vault |
| Ring #2 | Signet of Dancing Jade | Temple of the Jade Serpent |
| Trinket | Eye of Skovald | Halls of Valor |
| Trinket | Horn of Valor | Halls of Valor |
| Staff | Final Grade | Algeth'ar Academy |
| Main-Hand | Spellboon Saber | Algeth'ar Academy |
| Off-Hand | Sadana's Grisly Visage | Shadowmoon Burial Grounds |
Best in Slot (BiS) Trinkets for Demonology Warlocks
The best Demonology Warlock trinkets for end-game content are:
| Tier | Item Name | Location |
| S | Horn of Valor | Halls of Valor |
| S | Whispering Incarnate Icon | Vault of the Incarnates |
| A | Desperate Invoker's Codex | Vault of the Incarnates |
| A | Eye of Skovald | Halls of Valor |
| B | Infernal Writ | Court of Stars |
| B | Furious Ragefeather | The Nokhud Offensive |
| C | Ruby Whelp Shell | Ruby Life Pools |
| C | Tome of Unstable Power | The Azure Vault |
| C | Iceblood Deathsnare | Vault of the Incarnates |
This wraps up everything you should know about gearing your Demonology Warlock: the stats priority, how to obtain the tier set, and what items to use in the end-game activities. Moving on to the next section of our guide, we'll teach you how to level your Demo Warlock in Dragonflight patch 10.0. Sounds good, right? Let's dive in!
How to level a Demonology Warlock. Demonology Warlock leveling tips
Before leveling your Demonology Warlock, you must first create and customize the character. That brings us to the first question: what race should you go for when creating the character? Let's find out, shall we?
Best Demonology Warlock Races
When it comes to racials, with so many options to choose from, you are probably wondering what would be the best race for your Demo Warlock. In World of Warcraft, each race has different racial abilities and spells, but no races offer an immediate advantage compared to others regarding the Demonology spec. I highly recommend choosing the race you like the most, aesthetically speaking.
However, in the table below, you can see the top 10 best races for Demonology Warlocks based on performance gain:
| Race | Performance Gain |
| Troll | +1.82% |
| Orc | +1.69% |
| Human | +1.23% |
| Mechagnome | +1.20% |
| Blood Elf | +0.85% |
| Dwarf | +0.68% |
| Gnome | +0.63% |
| Worgen | +0.60% |
| Dark Iron Dwarf | +0.60% |
| Goblin | +0.59% |
Now, if you want to make an idea of what race players generally choose for their Demonology Warlocks:
- For Alliance: Human, Void Elf, Dwarf, Gnome
- For Horde: Orc, Undead, Troll
Pet choice for Demonology Warlock Leveling
So as a Warlock, once you reach level 10, you get to pick one of the three class specializations: Destruction, Demonology, or Affliction. In our case, we'll focus on Demonology. Now let's check out what options you get to choose from for your pet while leveling:
- Summon Imp - Summons an Imp that casts Firebolts from a distance.
- Summon Voidwalker - Summons a Voidwalker that can tank the mobs and take high damage.
- Summon Succubus - Summons a Succubus that deals moderate damage and can seduce targets to prevent them from attacking you.
- Summon Felhunter - Summons a Felhunter that deals decent damage and disrupts your enemies' spells.
- Summon Felguard - Summons a Felguard that deals heavy melee damage and cleaves multiple targets.
Best Demonology Warlock Leveling Talents and Rotation in Dragonflight 10.0
The best talents to use while leveling as a Demonology Warlock are:
Now let's check out how you should prioritize your abilities. Here is what most people consider to be the best leveling rotation for a Demonology Warlock:
- 1. Use Guillotine with 3-6 Wild Imps (or more if carrying over from a previous pack)
- 2. Cast Implosion whenever possible
- 3. Cast Summon Demonic Tyrant to extend the duration of Wild Imps
- 4. Use Demonic Strenght as often as possible, remember you cannot use this ability at the same time as Felstorm
- 5. Cast Call Dreadstalkers after grouping all the mobs you want to kill to spread From the Shadowsto as many targets as possible
- 6. Use instant casts of Demonbolt to pull mobs if needed, don't worry about overcapping Soul Shards
Follow the rotation, and you'll get to max level in no time! Now that we've covered the leveling part, it's time to move on to the end-game.
In the next section of our Demonology Warlock Guide, we'll present the best talents to use for PvE end-game content, such as raiding and Mythic+ dungeons. In the end game, it's crucial to use the right talents and prioritize the skills you use depending on the activity. Choosing the best talents will significantly impact your performance as a DPS!
Best Demonology Warlock End-game Talents
From the PvE perspective, there are two main end-game activities we'll take into consideration: Mythic raiding and Mythic+ Dungeons. We'll treat them separately to keep things clear and avoid confusion.
Best Talents for Mythic Raiding in Season 1 (patch 10.0)
In the picture below, you can see the best talents for mythic raiding as a Demonology Warlock:
Best Talents for Mythic+ Dungeons in Season 1 (patch 10.0)
As a Demonology Warlock, these are the talents you must use to maximize your damage in M+ Dungeons:
Demonology Warlock in Dragonflight - FAQ
1. Are Demonology Warlocks good in Dragonflight 10.0?
Yes, Demonology Warlock represents one of the strongest specs in WoW Dragonflight for both PvE and PvP end-game activities.
2. Is Demonology Warlock easy to play?
Not really. The Demo Warlock specialization qualifies as a medium-to-hard spec to play in WoW.
3. What is the stats priority for Demonology Warlocks?
The stats priority for Warlock's Demonology specialization looks like this: Intellect > Haste > Mastery ~= Critical Strike > Versatility.
4. Which warlock spec is best for leveling in patch 10.0?
Overall, the Demonology Specialization is the best spec for warlock leveling.
5. What is the best race for Demonology Warlocks in Dragonflight?
- Alliance's best Demonology Warlock races are Human, Void Elf, Dwarf, and Gnome.
- For Horde, the best Demonology Warlock races are Orc, Undead, and Troll.
Final thoughts
This wraps up everything you should know regarding the Warlock's Demonology specialization in World of Warcraft Dragonflight for Season 1, patch 10.0. By reading this guide, you should now better understand the Demonology Warlocks' spec and particularities and how they perform in certain circumstances and different end-game activities. It's one of the game's strongest specs in Dragonflight, so I encourage you to try it!