Last updated on May 17, 2024 at 00:00by Crix
On this page, you will learn how to optimize the rotation of yourDestruction Warlock in both single-target and multi-target PvEsituations in Cataclysm Classic. We also have advanced sections about cooldowns, procs, etc.in order to minmax your DPS.
1.
Warlock Rotations
This page contains all relevant information needed for Destruction Warlocksbefore the release of Cataclysm Classic. We will be updating this with all thelatest information as soon as more is discovered, so make sure to check back.
Destruction Warlocks bring decently high single-target and some solid multi target and cleave damage thanks to Bane of Havoc. Destruction comes With a strong Demon, The Imp and a plethora of hard hitting fire spellsto nuke your enemies. Destruction is based largely around hard casting spells, while keeping up a couple DoT's andplaying around your
Empowered Imp procs and
Improved Soul Fire uptime.
A massive change coming into Cataclysm is how DoT's work. In the past you used to want to let them run theirentire duration to get full value of it. This is no longer an issue in Cataclysm. Now you can clip your lasttick of the DoT and the remainder will carry over into the new refreshed DoT, giving you an extra tick of thatDoT, which can be further improved depending on your Haste rating. Check out the Stats page for more in depthinformation about Haste breakpoints for each DoT. This also ensures that you can have 100% uptime on most encounters.
1.1.
Single-Target Rotation
The job of an Destruction Warlock is very simple. You want to keep your main DoT's up with Immolate and
Corruption and
Bane of Doom, use
Conflagrate and
Chaos Bolt on cooldown whilefilling with
Incinerate. A new and fun part of the Destruction rotation is now you actually get to
Soul Fire far more often than in Wrath thanks to two talents.
Improved Soul Fire, provides an 8%damage increase for 20 seconds after you cast
Soul Fire, so you'll be casting it frequently to keepthe buff up.
Empowered Imp makes all your Imps
Firebolt have a chance to give you an instantcast
Soul Fire. This adds much more fun to the rotation and the ability to keep up on the damage.
- Make sure your
Summon Felguard is out.
- Make sure both
Fel Armor and
Soul Link is on.
- Don't be max range due to wanting to run in and
Shadowflame. If the boss allows, 10-15 yards is preferable.
- Precast
Soul Fire — Have this hit the boss right when the pull timer hits zero This ensure you haveyour
Improved Soul Fire buff up for the 8% damage increase.
- Make sure your Imp is attacking.
- Cast
Curse of the Elements if no other member is putting up the debuff. Assassination Rogue, Balance Druidand Unholy Death Knight may also apply this debuff.
- Pop your cooldowns like;
Blood Fury, Trinkets and whatever else you have.
- Cast
Summon Doomguard — He cannot be lusted, but snaps your spell power, so pop this when you haveas much spell power as possible. Hold this until you have your Spell Power procs up. It will attack whatever has your
Bane of Doom or
Bane of Agony on it.
- Cast
Bane of Doom — Only
Bane of Agony if the boss won't live for 30 seconds.
- Cast
Immolate — Keep this up at all times.
- Cast
Conflagrate — Keep this on cooldown as often as you can. You get a 30% cast time reductionfrom the talent
Backdraft, for your next three
Incinerate and
Chaos Bolt, this last 15seconds.
- Cast
Corruption — Keep this up at all times. Even as a Destruction Warlock,
Corruptiondoes great damage, especially when paired with
Improved Corruption
- Cast
Soulburn and then
Soul Fire — This is your
Soul Fire instant cast.
- Cast
Chaos Bolt — and keep this on cooldown as much as you can.
- Cast
Shadowflame — If being in melee range allows, you should use this on cooldown. This does great single targetdamage. If you are worried about dying in melee, then do not worry about using
Shadowflame.
- Fill with
Incinerate — You will be using this as often as you can, so long as all of your DoT's are up.
- Make sure to track your
Improved Soul Fire buff. This is vital to playing a Destruction Warlock. This buff gives you8% damage increase for 20 seconds everytime you
Soul Fire. Make sure you're casting
Soul Fire every 20 secondsto ensure that you have this buff up as often as you can.
- Make sure to track your
Empowered Imp procs. This is vital to playing a Destruction Warlock. You have a 4% chanceeverytime your Imp casts
Firebolt.
- Once the boss is below 20%, cast
Shadowburn on cooldown. This does great damage and gives you three Soul Shards.
- If there is multiple targets, cast
Bane of Havoc on an add and continue your rotation into your main target.
1.2.
AoE Rotation
AoE as a Destruction Warlock is just running into melee, casting Shadowflame and then spam
Rain of Fire whilewaiting for
Shadowflame to come off cooldown.
- Cast
Soul Fire to put up the 8% damage buff.
- Cast
Shadowflame when you get into melee.
- Cast
Rain of Fire while waiting to reapply your
Soul Fire buff or to
Shadowflame.