World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Destruction Warlock: Talents

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated 2026-10-16

Every Destruction build and leveling order, on all three Warlock trees from the Forever beta client (build 1.60.1.70425). Pick a build and move the level slider to see where its points are at that level.

You get one talent point per level from 10. A tier opens after 5 points in the tiers above it in the same tree, and a talent joined by a line to one above it needs that one maxed first.

Build Your level60 Talented perk (+5 points)

51 points spent

Shown: Destruction leveling order at level 60.

Affliction 12

2/2
Improved Life TapRank 2/2
Affliction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Moved Moved from tier 2 to tier 1. At 2/2 it adds 20% to the mana Life Tap gives, and the levelling order takes it for the mana.
3/5
SuppressionRank 3/5
Affliction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Reworked: +5% hit and −20% threat at 5/5. The Affliction answer to DoTs pulling mobs off the Voidwalker.
5/5
Improved CorruptionRank 5/5
Affliction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed The client lists this as changed. At 5/5 Corruption is instant (2 seconds off its cast) and does 10% more damage; the damage part is the addition. Every Affliction build and the levelling order take it.
0/2
Grim ReachRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 2, level 15+
Moved At 2/2 it adds 20% range to your Affliction spells (10/20%). Affliction has no +5% periodic damage talent now; the five points that took went into Soul Harvest, Improved Life Tap and Grim Reach (levelling) and Improved Bane of Agony, Amplify Curse and Improved Drains elsewhere in the tree.
2/2
Soul HarvestRank 2/2
Requires 5 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 2, level 15+
New Renamed from Soul Harvesting, and its mana regeneration now works. It only fires for 10 seconds after a Drain Soul kill.
0/3
Improved DrainsRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New: +20% to Drain Life, Drain Soul and Wrack.
0/2
Improved Bane of AgonyRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Renamed from Improved Curse of Agony, since Agony is now a Bane, and down to 2 ranks (Classic 3). At 2/2 it adds 10% damage to Bane of Agony. Both Affliction level-30 builds take it.
0/3
Fel ConcentrationRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now 3 ranks, and covers Wrack and casts as well as channels.
0/1
Amplify CurseRank 0/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 10 points in Affliction Talents
Increases the effect of your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or your next Curse of Exhaustion by 0%. Lasts 30 sec.
Affliction talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The client lists this as changed. It raises your next Curse of Weakness or Bane of Agony by 50%, or Curse of Exhaustion by 20%, for 30 seconds. Curse of Exhaustion needs it, and Affliction 60 takes it.
0/3
PandemicRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New: +33/67/100% crit damage bonus on Corruption, the Banes, the drains, Siphon Life and Wrack. DoTs can crit in Forever, so this is the tree's biggest damage talent.
0/5
MalevolenceRank 0/5
Requires 15 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New: +5% Shadow crit. Worth more than in Classic because Pandemic doubles crit damage.
0/2
NightfallRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed The client lists this as changed. Corruption, Drain Soul, Drain Life and Wrack can all trigger Shadow Trance, 4% at 2/2, making your next Shadow Bolt instant. The trigger list is wider than Classic's.
0/1
Curse of ExhaustionRank 0/1
8% of base mana30 yd range
Instant
Requires 15 points in Affliction Talents
Requires 1 point in Amplify Curse
Reduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 12 sec. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target.
Affliction talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Needs Amplify Curse (client talent data).
0/1
Siphon LifeRank 0/1
365 Mana30 yd range
Instant
Requires 20 points in Affliction Talents
Transfers 41 health from the target to the caster every 3 sec. Lasts 30 sec.
Affliction talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed The 21-point gold talent and the prerequisite for Wrack.
0/3
Soul SiphonRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Reworked from Improved Drain Life: up to +36% drain and Wrack damage with three of your other Affliction effects on the target.
0/5
Shadow MasteryRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Affliction Talents
Affliction talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Moved from column 2 to column 3 and no longer needs Siphon Life. At 5/5 it adds 10% Shadow damage (2/4/6/8/10%, so it matches Classic). Affliction 60 and the levelling order take it.
0/1
WrackRank 0/1
200 Mana30 yd range
Channeled
Requires 30 points in Affliction Talents
Requires 1 point in Siphon Life
Tears the target apart from within, inflicting 36 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing the damage they take from your other Shadow damage over time effects by 10% for 6 sec.
Affliction talent, tier 7, level 40+
New Requires Siphon Life. A 6-second channel, not an instant (client data).

Demonology 18

0/2
Improved Health FunnelRank 0/2
Demonology talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
0/3
Improved ImpRank 0/3
Demonology talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
0/5
Demonic EmbraceRank 0/5
Demonology talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed The client lists this as changed. At 5/5 it gives +15% Stamina; it has no Spirit penalty now. Affliction, Destruction and the levelling order take it, and Demonology 60 takes only 2 ranks.
5/5
Unholy PowerRank 5/5
Demonology talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved from tier 4 to tier 1, so it is available at once. At 5/5 it adds 10% to all damage done by your pets. Both Demonology builds take all five ranks.
2/2
Demonic AegisRank 2/2
Requires 5 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New in Forever. At 2/2 it makes Demon Skin and Demon Armor 30% stronger. Affliction 60 and Destruction 60 take it as a cheap defensive boost.
0/3
Improved VoidwalkerRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 2, level 15+
3/3
Fel VitalityRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Renamed from Fel Intellect and down to 3 ranks (Classic 5). At 3/3 your pet's health and Mana and your own Mana are all 15% higher. Most builds take it.
2/2
Demonic EnergiesRank 2/2
Requires 5 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New: heals your demon for 15% of your spell damage, and gives it all the mana your Life Tap gives you. Blizzard said the mana half once let the Imp out-damage a Demonology Warlock, hence the Imp nerf.
3/3
Improved SayaadRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/1
Demonic SacrificeRank 0/1
100 yd range
Instant
Requires 10 points in Demonology Talents
When activated, sacrifices your summoned Demon to enhance the opposing aspect of your power, granting you an effect that lasts 2 hrs. The effect is canceled if any Demon is summoned.

Imp: Increases your Shadow damage by 15%.

Voidwalker: Restores 2% of your total Mana every 4 sec.

Succubus/Incubus: Increases your Fire damage by 15%.

Felhunter: Restores 3% of your total Health every 4 sec.
Demonology talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Moved from tier 5 to tier 3. It trades your demon for an effect lasting 2 hours, for example +15% Shadow damage from an Imp or 2% of your Mana every 4 seconds from a Voidwalker. Every build with Demonology points takes it.
0/2
Master SummonerRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Moved from tier 4 to tier 3 and no longer needs Fel Domination. At 2/2 it cuts pet summon cast time by 4 seconds and mana cost by 40%. Demonology and Destruction 60 builds take it.
0/2
DecimationRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New. The client says "they deal 6% increased damage" without saying who; probably the target takes more.
0/1
Fel DominationRank 0/1
Instant5 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Demonology Talents
Requires 2 points in Master Summoner
Your next Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Summon spell has its casting time reduced by 5.5 sec and its Mana cost reduced by 50%.
Demonology talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Needs Master Summoner 2/2.
3/3
Demonic BrandRank 3/3
Requires 15 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New. The branded attacks also deal extra Fire or Shadow damage (about 1.5 x (level - 26) + 14-17, plus 7.8% of Shadow spell power); the threat part is the point. "If Shadow damage is dealt, it has high threat." So the Voidwalker gets the threat and the Imp does not.
0/3
Improved FelhunterRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 5, level 30+
New
0/1
Soul LinkRank 0/1
20% of base mana100 yd range
Instant
Requires 20 points in Demonology Talents
Requires 1 point in Demonic Sacrifice
When active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus, or Felhunter Demon instead. In addition, both the Demon and the master will inflict 3% more damage. Lasts as long as the Demon is active.
Demonology talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Needs Demonic Sacrifice.
0/3
Demonic KnowledgeRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 5, level 30+
New New: you and your demon gain spell damage equal to up to 100% of your level while a demon is out.
0/5
Master DemonologistRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Demonology Talents
Demonology talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Reworked: each demon gives you and itself a bonus while it is out (Imp +10% Fire, Voidwalker −10% physical taken, Sayaad +10% Shadow, Felhunter −10% Magic taken). No longer needs Unholy Power.
0/1
Demonic PactRank 0/1
Requires 30 points in Demonology Talents
Requires 1 point in Soul Link
Your Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.
Demonology talent, tier 7, level 40+
New New capstone. Blizzard built Master Demonologist's bonuses to be the opposite of Demonic Sacrifice's, so with Demonic Pact you sacrifice one demon and summon another to stack both. Resummoning the sacrificed demon still cancels it.

Destruction 21

0/2
Destructive ReachRank 0/2
Destruction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Moved Moved from tier 4 to tier 1. At 2/2 it adds 20% range to your Destruction spells (10/20%), so Fear gains nothing. Destruction 30 takes it.
0/5
Improved Shadow BoltRank 0/5
Destruction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Personal in Forever: the debuff boosts only your own Shadow damage, not the raid's.
5/5
BaneRank 5/5
Destruction talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved from tier 2 to tier 1. At 5/5 it cuts 0.5 seconds off Shadow Bolt, Immolate and Incinerate casts and 2 seconds off Soul Fire. Every Destruction build takes it, as does Demonology 60.
0/5
Molten SkinRank 0/5
Requires 5 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New: −10% damage taken at 5/5.
3/3
CataclysmRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved from tier 1 to tier 2 and down to 3 ranks (Classic 5). At 3/3 it cuts Destruction spell mana cost by 10%. Destruction 30 takes all three ranks; Destruction 60 takes one.
2/5
AftermathRank 2/5
Requires 5 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed The client lists this as changed. At 5/5 Immolate's initial damage is +50%, and Conflagrate has a 100% chance to Daze the target, slowing it by 50% for 5 seconds. Destruction 60 takes it.
5/5
RuinRank 5/5
Requires 10 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now 5 ranks of +20% crit damage: 5/5 is still +100%, as Classic's single rank was.
1/1
ShadowburnRank 1/1
365 Mana30 yd range
Instant15 sec cooldown
Requires 10 points in Destruction Talents
Instantly blasts the target for 259 to 288 Shadow damage. If the target dies within 8 sec of Shadowburn, and yields experience or honor, the caster gains a Soul Shard.
Destruction talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Moved from column 4 to column 3. It is an instant 65 to 74 Shadow damage hit that gives a Soul Shard if the target dies within 8 seconds. Both Destruction builds take it as a gold talent.
0/3
IntensityRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed
3/3
Agonizing FlamesRank 3/3
Requires 15 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Renamed from Improved Searing Pain, down to 3 ranks (Classic 5) and moved from column 4 to column 2. At 3/3 it adds 10% crit chance to Searing Pain and 10% damage to all Destruction spells.
1/1
ConflagrateRank 1/1
255 Mana30 yd range
Instant10 sec cooldown
Requires 15 points in Destruction Talents
Ignites a target that is already afflicted by your Immolate spell, dealing 251 to 313 Fire damage and consuming your Immolate effect.
Destruction talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Moved from tier 7 to tier 4 and no longer needs Improved Immolate. It does 88 to 111 Fire damage to a target with your Immolate and consumes the Immolate. Both Destruction builds take it as a gold talent.
0/2
PyroclasmRank 0/2
Requires 20 points in Destruction Talents
Requires 3 points in Intensity
Destruction talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Needs Intensity 3/3.
1/1
Bane of HavocRank 1/1
5% of base mana30 yd range
Instant
Requires 20 points in Destruction Talents
Afflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. Bane of Havoc is limited to 1 target, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.
Destruction talent, tier 5, level 30+
New New in Forever. A Bane lasting 5 minutes that sends 15% of the damage you deal to other targets to the cursed target too, one target at a time. The Destruction builds take it for cleave damage.
0/3
Fire and BrimstoneRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Destruction Talents
Requires 1 point in Conflagrate
Destruction talent, tier 5, level 30+
New Needs Conflagrate.
0/5
Shadow and FlameRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Destruction Talents
Destruction talent, tier 6, level 35+
New New. At 5/5 Conflagrate stops consuming Immolate and Shadowburn always refunds its shard, which makes it the Destruction shard engine.
0/1
IncinerateRank 0/1
325 Mana30 yd range
2.5 sec cast
Requires 30 points in Destruction Talents
Requires 1 point in Bane of Havoc
Deals 201 to 233 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate.
Destruction talent, tier 7, level 40+
New Needs Bane of Havoc.

Destruction builds and leveling order

Destruction leveling order 12/18/21 Guide's pick, untested

Affliction: Improved Life Tap 2, Suppression 3, Improved Corruption 5, Soul Harvest 2

Demonology: Unholy Power 5, Demonic Aegis 2, Fel Vitality 3, Demonic Energies 2, Improved Sayaad 3, Demonic Brand 3

Destruction: Bane 5, Cataclysm 3, Aftermath 2, Ruin 5, Shadowburn 1, Agonizing Flames 3, Conflagrate 1, Bane of Havoc 1

With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner.

Destruction, level 30 0/0/21 Tested in beta

Destruction: Destructive Reach 2, Bane 5, Cataclysm 3, Ruin 5, Shadowburn 1, Agonizing Flames 3, Conflagrate 1, Bane of Havoc 1

Level-30 Destruction build: Ruin, Shadowburn, Conflagrate and Bane of Havoc. Alternatively, take Improved Shadow Bolt 5 instead of Destructive Reach and Cataclysm. Order: the Destruction levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Destructive Reach, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

Destruction, level 60 (projected) 3/17/31 Guide's pick, untested

Affliction: Suppression 3

Demonology: Demonic Embrace 5, Demonic Aegis 2, Fel Vitality 3, Demonic Energies 2, Demonic Sacrifice 1, Master Summoner 2, Decimation 2

Destruction: Bane 5, Cataclysm 1, Aftermath 5, Ruin 5, Shadowburn 1, Agonizing Flames 3, Conflagrate 1, Bane of Havoc 1, Fire and Brimstone 3, Shadow and Flame 5, Incinerate 1

The "Incinerate" 3/17/31 build: Shadow and Flame 5/5 so Conflagrate keeps Immolate and Shadowburn refunds its shard, and Decimation for shard-free Soul Fire. Its "Shadowbolt" variant (4/17/30) swaps Aftermath for Improved Shadow Bolt. Alternatively, a 0/17/34 build also runs Aftermath 5, Shadow and Flame 5 and Incinerate but takes Improved Imp 3 and Intensity 3, Fire and Brimstone 2 and no Suppression. Beta theorycraft. Order: the Destruction levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Aftermath, Demonic Embrace, Demonic Sacrifice, Master Summoner, Decimation, Fire and Brimstone, Shadow and Flame and Incinerate, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

How the trees work

Tier 1: 0 points in the tree, level 10
Tier 2: 5 points in the tree, level 15
Tier 3: 10 points in the tree, level 20
Tier 4: 15 points in the tree, level 25
Tier 5: 20 points in the tree, level 30
Tier 6: 25 points in the tree, level 35
Tier 7: 30 points in the tree, level 40