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TBC Warlock Arena Mastery

Complete Guide from Beginner to Duelist (2200+)

🔮 TBC Warlock Identity

Warlocks are the attrition kings of TBC. You don't burst people down - you slowly crush them with DoTs while being nearly impossible to kill. Master the art of pressure over time and you'll dominate arena.

Soul Link

Tankiest Caster

Soul Link + Siphon Life + high stamina = you can face-tank most melee

Unstable Affliction

DoT Pressure

Your damage is constant and undispellable (UA punishes dispels)

Fear

CC Machine

Fear, Death Coil, Howl of Terror - chain CC better than anyone

Felhunter

Pet Utility

Felhunter interrupt + dispel makes you a two-person team

🧠 Hidden Mechanics

Fear Diminishing Returns

10s → 5s → 2.5s → Immune (resets after 15s of no Fear). Howl of Terror shares DR with Fear!

Death Coil is Horror, Not Fear

Death Coil does NOT share DR with Fear. Use it to extend CC chains or as an emergency heal.

Life Tap Rank 1 Trick

Rank 1 Life Tap costs minimal health but still procs effects. Use it to stay in 5SR or proc trinkets.

Soul Link Math

20% damage to pet = you effectively have 25% damage reduction as long as pet lives.

Spell Lock Range

Felhunter's Spell Lock has 30 yard range - same as most spells. Position pet near enemy casters for instant interrupts.

Curse Stacking

Only ONE curse per Warlock per target. Curse of Tongues on healer, Curse of Agony on kill target.

💀 Pro Tips & Tricks

1

Pre-DoT Before CC

Apply DoTs BEFORE your partner CCs the healer. DoTs keep ticking during CC = free damage.

2

Healthstone + Pot Don't Share CD

You can use Healthstone AND Health Potion in the same fight. That's 4000+ emergency healing.

3

LoS After DoTs

Apply full DoTs → run behind pillar → Drain Life in safety. Your damage continues while you're safe.

4

Devour Magic Yourself

Felhunter can dispel YOU. Macro Devour Magic to self-cast for instant debuff removal.

5

Fel Armor > Demon Armor

In TBC, Fel Armor gives spell damage AND 20% healing received. Always use Fel Armor in PvP.

6

Pet Passive Mode

Keep pet on Passive in arena. Manual Spell Lock and attack commands prevent wasted interrupts.

🐾 Pet Knowledge

Felhunter

Felhunter

99% of Arena
  • Spell Lock: 6s silence/interrupt
  • Devour Magic: Purge + self-dispel
  • Paranoia: Stealth detection aura
  • High HP pool for Soul Link
Succubus

Succubus

Niche / 2v2
  • Seduction: 15s CC (channeled)
  • Doesn't share DR with Fear
  • Very squishy - protect her
  • Use vs teams with no dispel
Voidwalker

Voidwalker

Never in Arena
  • Sacrifice: Shield absorb
  • Tanky but no utility
  • Good for PvE / leveling
  • Losing Soul Link not worth it

⚡ Spell Priorities

Curses (Pick ONE per target)

Tongues (vs casters) > Exhaustion (vs melee) > Agony (for damage)

DoT Application Order

Corruption → Curse → Siphon Life → UA/Immolate

CC Chain Order

Fear → Fear (half) → Death Coil → Howl

🎯 Common Mistakes

❌

Letting Pet Die

Without pet = no Soul Link = you're squishy. Sacrifice pressure to reposition your pet to safety.

❌

Fear Spamming

Don't chain Fears instantly - you burn through DR. Space them out, use Death Coil between.

❌

Forgetting CoT

Curse of Tongues on healers is MASSIVE. 50% slower casts = way more time to kill.

❌

Not Multi-DoTting

DoT BOTH targets. Each Siphon Life heals you. 2 targets = 2x healing + 2x pressure.

❌

Standing Still

You're tanky, not immortal. Use pillars, kite melee, maintain distance from casters.

❌

Wasting Spell Lock

Save Spell Lock for healer casts, not random damage spells. One good interrupt wins games.

Win Conditions

✓

DoT Rot Victory

Full DoTs on both targets = they can't keep up. Healers OOM trying to heal through the pressure.

✓

Fear + Burst Setup

Fear healer > partner pops cooldowns. 8 seconds without heals = dead target.

✓

Spell Lock Kill Window

Felhunter interrupt on healer during burst = 3s silence. Time your team's damage around it.

✓

Drain Tank Forever

Siphon Life + Drain Life = infinite sustain. Outlast enemy damage while your DoTs tick.

📈 Rating Progression Roadmap

What to focus on at each rating bracket to keep climbing. Master each tier before moving on.

BRONZE 1200-1500 Gladiator's Primer

Focus: Survival & Basics

  • Don't die. Seriously. If you're alive, you can win.
  • Keep DoTs on ALL targets at ALL times
  • Use Healthstone before you think you need it
  • Pet on Passive - manual Spell Lock only
  • Learn to use Death Coil as an "oh shit" button
Goal: End games with your pet alive and DoTs rolling
SILVER 1500-1700 Rival Path

Focus: Comp Synergy & Basic CC

  • Learn your comp's win condition - how do YOU win games?
  • Start tracking Fear DR - don't overlap Fears
  • Curse of Tongues on healers EVERY game
  • Communicate with partner: "Fear in 3... 2... 1..."
  • Start using Focus macros for CC on healer
Goal: Coordinate 2-spell CC chains with partner
GOLD 1700-1900 Challenger Push

Focus: Cooldown Trading & Positioning

  • Track enemy trinkets - punish when down
  • Trade defensives efficiently (don't Healthstone + pot same burst)
  • Master pillar play - LoS to avoid CC, peek to DoT
  • Pre-position for Fear casts based on enemy movement
  • Call out enemy cooldowns to partner
Goal: Win through cooldown advantage, not just pressure
DUELIST 1900-2200+ Duelist Mastery

Focus: Matchup Mastery & Micro-Optimization

  • Know every matchup's danger windows and punish windows
  • Adjust strategy based on enemy comp before gates open
  • Bait kicks/interrupts with fake casts
  • Time DoT refreshes to maximize uptime during CC
  • Predict enemy plays 2-3 globals ahead
Goal: Outplay through knowledge, not just execution

🗺️ Positioning & Pillar Play

The DoT & Run Pattern

1 Peek from pillar
→
2 Apply DoTs (instant)
→
3 Return to LoS
→
4 Drain Life safely

Your DoTs do damage while you're safe. Only expose yourself to refresh them.

🎯
vs Melee

Keep pillar between you. Kite in circles. CoEx + Fear when they commit.

🎯
vs Casters

Stay at max range. Use pillar to LoS their casts, not yours (instant DoTs).

🎯
Pet Position

Keep Felhunter near enemy caster for instant Spell Lock. Don't let it chase.

🎯
Fear Position

Fear INTO open space, not toward pillars. Feared targets that LoS you = wasted CC.

⚔️ Cooldown Trading Framework

Arena is won by making better trades. Your cooldowns vs their cooldowns. Here's when to use what.

Defensive Cooldowns

Healthstone
Healthstone Use at 50% HP during sustained damage, or pre-emptively vs burst comps
Death Coil
Death Coil Peel for yourself when trained, or extend CC on kill target. Heals you!
Howl of Terror
Howl of Terror Emergency peel when trained by 2+, or extend CC chain after Fear DRs
Trinket
PvP Trinket Only use to survive kills or when you'll die without it. Never trinket early CC.

Offensive Windows

Enemy trinket down → Full Fear on them = free damage
Healer in CC → ALL damage on kill target, save Spell Lock for trinket
Enemy defensive used → Call "no block/bubble/PS" - next CC = kill
Double DPS low → Multi-DoT + Drain one = they can't pressure you

👥 Best 2v2 Comps (Casual Friendly) - Click for Guide

S
Warlock + Druid DoT pressure, CC chains, highest win rate
▼

🎯 Win Condition

Outlast opponents through superior mana efficiency and constant pressure. Force defensive CDs, then set up kill windows.

📋 Opening Strategy

  1. Druid opens with Feral Charge/Bash if possible
  2. You apply CoT on healer immediately (C key)
  3. Full DoTs on kill target (1-2-3-4)
  4. Druid Cyclone healer → you Fear (sQ) when Cyclone ends

⚔️ Kill Setup

  • CC Chain: Cyclone → Fear → Cyclone (DR) → Death Coil
  • When healer in CC: Drain Life + let DoTs tick
  • Save Spell Lock for when healer trinkets
  • Druid can HoT you while you pressure

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • Druid can drink in Travel Form while you LoS
  • Coordinate: "Cyclone in 3..." so you're ready to Fear
  • Your Felhunter can eat Druid HoTs with Devour
  • Games go long - that's fine, you win on mana
  • If trained, Druid peels → you Howl → reset
A
Warlock + Priest (Disc) Mana burn, fear chains, very durable
▼

🎯 Win Condition

Drain enemy healer OOM with Mana Burn + DoT pressure. Double Fear makes this comp extremely oppressive.

📋 Opening Strategy

  1. Priest SW:Pain + Mana Burn on enemy healer
  2. You CoT healer + full DoTs on DPS
  3. Priest Fears DPS → You Fear healer (no DR!)
  4. Pressure while both CCed

⚔️ CC Chain

  • Double Fear: Priest fears one, you fear other
  • Psychic Scream (Priest AoE) + your Howl don't share DR!
  • Death Coil to extend CC on kill target
  • Spell Lock the healer when they trinket your Fear

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • Priest Mana Burn is your secret weapon vs healers
  • Mass Dispel removes Paladin bubble!
  • Pain Suppression + Soul Link = unkillable
  • Communicate Fear DRs - don't overlap!
  • You both have Fear - coordinate targets
A
Warlock + Rogue High kill pressure, CC combo
▼

🎯 Win Condition

Burst kills with coordinated CC. Rogue controls healer while you nuke. Fast games - win or lose in 1-2 minutes.

📋 Opening Strategy

  1. Rogue Saps healer from stealth
  2. You pre-DoT DPS (1-2-3 before Sap ends)
  3. Rogue opens healer: Cheap Shot → Kidney Shot
  4. You Fear healer after Kidney (chain CC)
  5. Rogue swaps to DPS for kill

⚔️ Kill Setup

  • Healer CC: Sap → CS → KS → Fear → Blind
  • During CC: Full DoTs + UA + Rogue burst
  • Use Death Coil as execute when target is low
  • Shadowburn for kill (doesn't give soul shard in arena)

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • Rogue Cloak removes your DoTs - reapply after it fades!
  • Your job: DoT + Fear, Rogue does setup
  • If opener fails, reset with Vanish + Drink
  • Curse of Exhaustion stops kiting from Rogue
  • Blind doesn't DR with Fear - abuse this!
B
Warlock + Shaman Purge support, bloodlust burst
▼

🎯 Win Condition

Shaman purges defensive buffs while you pressure. Bloodlust + DoTs for burst windows. Earth Shield keeps you healthy.

📋 Opening Strategy

  1. Shaman drops totems (Tremor for Fear, Grounding)
  2. CoT on healer + DoTs on both targets
  3. Shaman Purges buffs (Renew, Shield, etc.)
  4. Hex healer (if Enhancement) → you Fear DPS

⚔️ Bloodlust Window

  • Call "Lust!" when healer is CCed
  • Full DoTs + Shadow Bolt spam during Lust
  • Shaman burst + your pressure = huge damage
  • Save Death Coil + Shadowburn for execute

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • Tremor Totem breaks your Fears - place away!
  • Grounding Totem eats enemy CC - huge value
  • Wind Shear (Shaman interrupt) has 6s CD!
  • Earth Shield + Soul Link = very tanky
  • Purge is MVP - removes Pain Suppression, BoP, etc.

🎮 Core Arena Abilities

Fear Primary CC - 1.5s cast, 10s in PvP
Death Coil Instant horror + heal - 3s, 2min CD
Howl of Terror AoE fear - instant, 40s CD
Spell Lock Felhunter interrupt - 6s silence
Devour Magic Felhunter dispel - purge buffs
Curse of Tongues 50% cast slow on casters
Curse of Exhaustion 30% movement slow (affliction)
Shadowburn Execute/burst finisher (destro)

🏆 Arena Points Calculator

Weekly Points 261
Base Points (5v5) 297
Weeks for S1 Weapon (3150) -
Weeks for S1 Shoulders (2000) -
Weeks for Full S1 Set (8575) -

Rating Breakpoints

1500~261 pts (3v3)
1700~323 pts (3v3)
1850~369 pts (3v3)
2000~411 pts (3v3)
2200~466 pts + S1 Shoulders

📋 Arena Checklist

  • Felhunter out (99% of games)
  • Healthstone ready
  • Soul Shard bags filled
  • Spellstone equipped
  • Fel Armor active
  • Curse of Tongues on healers
  • Keep DoTs on all targets
  • Save Death Coil for emergency
  • LoS pillars aggressively
  • Don't overlap fears (DR)

⚔️ Quick Win Conditions

vs Double DPS

Survive opener → DoT both → Drain Tank → They OOM/die to attrition

vs Healer/DPS

Fear healer → Full DoTs on DPS → Swap to healer → Mana drain through pressure

vs Melee Train

Port early → Fear → Kite with CoEx → Let partner peel → DoT and drain

📊 Matchup Knowledge

Understanding each class's win conditions and vulnerabilities is what separates Gladiators from the rest. Master these matchups and you'll know exactly what to do in every situation.

Favorable - Lock Advantage
Even - Skill Dependent
Hard - Requires Outplay
Warrior

vs Warrior

Even

🎯 Win Condition

Kite with Curse of Exhaustion, keep DoTs rolling, and drain tank through their damage. They cannot catch you if played correctly.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Intercept: 3-second stun, save trinket for kill attempts
  • Mortal Strike: 50% healing reduction - communicate to healer
  • Spell Reflect: 5-second window, use instant DoTs or wait
  • Berserker Rage: Fear immune for 10s - don't waste CDs

💡 Pro Tips

  • Port BEFORE Intercept if possible (watch their rage/stance)
  • CoEx is your lifeline - keep it up 100%
  • Felhunter > Succubus (they trinket Seduce for MS)
  • Fear into Hamstring means you escape for free
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Rogue

vs Rogue

Hard

🎯 Win Condition

Survive the opener, get DoTs up, and outlast their cooldowns. Once Cloak/Evasion are down, the fight swings heavily in your favor.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Opener: Cheap Shot → Kidney Shot can 100-0 you
  • Cloak of Shadows: Full magic immunity 5s - no DoTs stick
  • Blind: 10s CC, often used to reset fight
  • Kick: 5s lockout on school - never get locked on Shadow

💡 Pro Tips

  • Use Detect Invisibility or Paranoia (Felhunter) to see stealth
  • Pre-port before they get re-stealth for 2nd opener
  • Fake cast to bait Kick - Drain Life is a good choice
  • CoEx IMMEDIATELY when they're visible
  • Healthstone in stuns (not locked out)
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Mage

vs Mage

Even

🎯 Win Condition

Felhunter is mandatory. Use Devour Magic on Polymorph, pressure with DoTs, and drain their mana pool. They will run OOM before you do.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Polymorph: Long CC chain potential - have Felhunter ready
  • Ice Block: Full immunity reset - DoTs fall off
  • Counterspell: 10s lockout - NEVER get CS'd on Shadow
  • Shatter Combo: Frost Nova + instants = huge burst

💡 Pro Tips

  • Spell Lock their Polymorph if Devour is on CD
  • Fake cast to bait CS - use Drain Mana as bait
  • Stay spread from partner to avoid double Poly
  • Portal out of Frost Nova range
  • CoT slows Poly/Frostbolt casts - huge value vs Mage
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Priest

vs Priest

Favorable

🎯 Win Condition

Drain their mana aggressively. Shadow Priests run OOM fast; Disc Priests take longer but still lose the mana war. UA prevents efficient dispels.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Psychic Scream: 8s Fear - can be used aggressively on you
  • Mana Burn: They can drain you too if left unchecked
  • Mass Dispel: Removes Soul Link (1.5s cast, watch for it)
  • Pain Suppression (Disc): 40% damage reduction 8s

💡 Pro Tips

  • UA first, then other DoTs - makes dispels hurt
  • Drain Mana is your primary spell vs Disc Priest
  • Fear them when they try to Mana Burn you
  • Watch for Fade - no aggro to Felhunter for 10s
  • Devour Magic their shields before big damage
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Hunter

vs Hunter

Hard

🎯 Win Condition

Get into their dead zone (5-8 yards) and Fear. Kill their pet early if BM. Force Deterrence then land full damage after.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Viper Sting: Drains your mana - Felhunter Devour it
  • Scatter Shot: 4s disorient, sets up traps
  • Freeze Trap: 10s CC, usually follows Scatter
  • Bestial Wrath: Pet immune to CC, massive damage

💡 Pro Tips

  • Banish or Fear their pet constantly
  • Devour Viper Sting IMMEDIATELY
  • Stay in dead zone when possible (melee range to 5 yards)
  • Port out of traps if you can't avoid them
  • CoEx is useless - use CoT for melee or CoA for damage
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Druid

vs Druid

Favorable

🎯 Win Condition

They can't remove Unstable Affliction. Keep UA and full DoTs up, drain mana when in caster form. Feral druids melt to Fear and DoTs.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Cyclone: 6s CC, no DR with Fear, used in chains
  • Feral Charge: Interrupt + 4s root in caster form
  • Bear Stun (Bash): 5s stun, sets up burst
  • HoTs + Lifebloom: Powerful healing, dispel if possible

💡 Pro Tips

  • UA cannot be dispelled - always lead with it
  • Fear them out of Cyclone casts
  • Devour HoTs when Felhunter isn't on interrupt duty
  • Curse of Tongues makes their heals too slow
  • They shift out of roots - save Death Coil for kill windows
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Shaman

vs Shaman

Even

🎯 Win Condition

Kill totems (especially Grounding and Tremor), pressure with DoTs, and force them to heal reactively. Elemental shamans are squishy; Resto shamans go OOM.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Grounding Totem: Absorbs your Fear - kill it first
  • Tremor Totem: Pulses every 3s, removes Fear
  • Earth Shock: Interrupt + 2s lockout
  • Windfury: Random burst, can global you with crits

💡 Pro Tips

  • Tab-target and Searing Pain totems (instant kills them)
  • Fear BETWEEN Tremor pulses (3s window)
  • Pet attack Grounding before you cast Fear
  • Fake cast to bait Earth Shock
  • Stay at range vs Enhancement - they hurt up close
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Paladin

vs Paladin

Favorable

🎯 Win Condition

Fear them out of position (they have no Fear break), DoT constantly, and drain mana. They will eventually run OOM trying to cleanse and heal.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Blessing of Freedom: Immune to snares - still can Fear
  • Hammer of Justice: 6s stun, 10 yard range
  • Divine Shield (Bubble): 12s full immunity
  • Cleanse: Instant dispel - but UA punishes this

💡 Pro Tips

  • Fear is your best spell - Paladins cannot break it
  • UA first, make Cleanse hurt them
  • When Bubble is up, swap to their partner or Drain Mana
  • Kite with CoEx, they have no gap closers
  • Spell Lock their big heals (Holy Light)
Skill Floor:
Reward:
Warlock

vs Warlock (Mirror)

Even

🎯 Win Condition

Whoever gets their partner CC'd while landing a full Fear chain wins. It's all about Felhunter management and landing your CC first.

⚠️ Danger Points

  • Their Spell Lock: Same as yours - fake cast
  • Their Devour Magic: Can eat your Fear/DoTs
  • Death Coil: Both have it - save yours for counter
  • DoT Pressure: Both of you rot - who has better healer?

💡 Pro Tips

  • Target their Felhunter to reduce pressure
  • Whoever controls the Fear DR wins
  • Fake cast more than usual - they know your tricks
  • Coordinate with partner to CC chain their healer
  • Don't tunnel - watch for their setup on YOUR healer
Skill Floor:
Reward:

👥 Common 2v2 Team Matchups

vs Warrior/Druid Hard

Strategy: Fear Druid → Full DoTs on Warrior → Drain Tank. Warrior will train you. Use portal to reset. Win by OOMing the Druid.

Key: Don't overlap Fear DR between targets. Time Fears with partner CC.

vs Rogue/Mage Hard

Strategy: Survive opener. Trinket ONLY if dead otherwise. Once both enemies are visible, DoT both and Fear. They have no sustain.

Key: Pre-port before Rogue re-stealths. Felhunter on Mage.

vs Priest/Rogue Even

Strategy: Survive opener, then pressure Priest. UA prevents efficient dispels. Long game favors you - Priest goes OOM.

Key: Communicate Blind usage. Fear Priest when Rogue opens.

vs Double Healer Favorable

Strategy: Full DoTs on both. Drain Mana aggressively. They can't kill you; you just need to OOM them both.

Key: Patience. This is a 15-20 minute game. Don't overextend.

⚡ Quick Matchup Reference

Class Lead Spell Pet Priority Target
Warrior CoEx Felhunter Their healer
Rogue CoEx Felhunter Rogue (after CDs)
Mage UA Felhunter Mage
Priest UA Felhunter Priest
Hunter CoA Felhunter Pet (BM) / Hunter
Druid UA Felhunter Druid
Shaman UA Felhunter Totems → Shaman
Paladin UA Felhunter Paladin
Warlock UA Felhunter Their healer
Score 0
Combo 0x
Time 0:00
Best 0
Enemy DPS Warrior
100%
Enemy Healer Priest
100%
Casting...
0.0s
You 70 Warlock
HP: 100%
Mana: 100%
Felhunter
100%
100%
Pet
`

Spell Lock

Instant | 24s CD

Silences for 3s (6s if interrupting).

Mouse4 recommended - instant reaction!

sF

Focus Spell Lock

OFF-GCD | 24s CD

Interrupt focus target without switching!

CRITICAL for interrupting healer

~

Devour Magic

Instant | 8s CD

Self-dispel 1 magic effect.

Mouse5 recommended

1
1

Corruption

Instant | Mouseover

900 Shadow dmg over 18s.

Core DoT - mouseover multi-dot!

2

Curse of Agony

Instant

1356 Shadow dmg over 24s (ramps up).

Kill target only - curse limit!

3

Siphon Life

Instant | Mouseover

630 healing over 30s.

Multi-dot for max sustain!

4

Unstable Affliction

1.5s CAST | Triggers GCD

Dispel = 1575 dmg + 5s silence!

Cast bar shows - position safely!

5

Immolate

2s Cast

Fire DoT - dispellable.

Skip vs heavy dispel

R

Drain Life

5s CHANNEL - Don't move!

Heals you every tick. Moving cancels it!

Main sustain - use when safe

F

Life Tap

Instant

HP → Mana. Soul Link splits cost!

Tap during Fear windows

T

Shadow Bolt

2.5s Cast

Filler nuke.

Use when all DoTs applied

2
Q

Fear

1.5s CAST | Triggers GCD

DR: Full 8s → 4s → 2s → immune

Position safely before casting!

sQ

Focus Fear

1.5s CAST | Triggers GCD

Fear focus target without switching!

MOST IMPORTANT MACRO - CC healer!

E

Death Coil

INSTANT OFF-GCD | 2min CD

3s Horror + heal. No DR with Fear!

Use during GCD for extra CC!

G

Howl of Terror

Instant | 40s CD

AoE Fear - panic button!

Use when melee train you

C

Curse of Tongues

Instant | Focus

50% slower casting!

ALWAYS on healers first!

V

Curse of Exhaustion

Instant

30% slow for kiting.

Use on warriors/rogues

X

Amplify Curse

OFF-GCD | 3min CD

+50% curse effect.

Amplify + CoEx = 45% slow!

B

Shadowburn

OFF-GCD | 15s CD

Execute finisher!

Finish low HP targets

3
s1

Healthstone

Instant | 2min CD

2080 HP heal.

Don't overlap with pot!

s2

Health Potion

Instant | 2min CD

1500-2500 HP.

Shares CD with mana pot

s3

Spellstone

Instant | 3min CD

Remove all magic debuffs.

Save for Blind/Sheep

📊 Current Goal

Press Start Training to begin!

🎯 WASD-Friendly Keybinds

DoTs (1-5)

1 Corruption
2 CoA
3 Siphon
4 UA (cast)
5 Immolate

CC (Q-G)

Q Fear (cast)
E Death Coil
R Drain (channel)
F Life Tap
G Howl

Focus (Shift+)

sQ Focus Fear
sE Focus Coil
sF Focus Lock

Thumb (C-B)

C CoT (healers!)
V CoEx (kite)
X Amplify
B Shadowburn

Esc = Cancel cast/channel

📈 Session Stats

Correct Presses 0
Wrong Presses 0
Accuracy 0%
Best Combo 0

💡 Tips

Use keyboard shortcuts to practice your muscle memory. Watch the debuff bars to track DoT durations!

🎖️ Arena Gear Priority

Stat Priority (SL/SL)

Stamina > Resilience > Spell Damage > Intellect

Target: 300+ Resilience, 10k+ HP

Gearing Path

Week 1-2 Buy S1 off-pieces with honor (boots, belt, bracers)
Week 3-4 Arena points → S1 Gloves (good set bonus)
Week 5+ Save for S1 Weapon (biggest upgrade)

🏃 Quick Pre-70 Gear

Weapon Terokk's Shadowstaff Sethekk Halls Quest
Chest Robe of the Crimson Order BoE / AH
Head Spellstrike Hood Tailoring BoE
Legs Spellstrike Pants Tailoring BoE
Trinket Icon of the Silver Crescent 41 Badge of Justice

🔑 Rep Gear Worth Getting

Lower City - Honored Lower City Prayerbook (Trinket)
Sha'tar - Revered Gavel of Unearthed Secrets (Mace)
Keepers of Time - Revered Continuum Blade (Sword)
Scryers - Exalted Scryer's Bloodgem (Trinket)

💎 Quick Gem Guide

Red Runed Living Ruby +9 Spell Damage
Yellow Great Dawnstone +8 Resilience
Blue Solid Star of Elune +12 Stamina
Meta Powerful Earthstorm +18 Stam, 5% Stun Resist

For arena: Prioritize Stamina gems. Socket bonuses rarely worth it.

TBC Warlock Talent Builds

Click on a build to see the full talent breakdown and explanations

Soul Link / Siphon Life (SL/SL)

40/21/0 - The Unkillable Warlock

Difficulty: Easy Playstyle: Tanky DoT Pressure Best For: 2v2/3v3 Arena

Why This Build?

SL/SL is the most forgiving and consistent arena spec in TBC. You sacrifice burst damage for extreme survivability. Soul Link splits 20% of damage to your pet, and Siphon Life provides constant healing. You win games by outlasting opponents while maintaining DoT pressure.

Affliction

40 Points
Suppression 5/5
Improved Corruption 5/5
Improved Curse of Agony 2/2
Fel Concentration 3/3
Amplify Curse 1/1
Curse of Exhaustion 1/1
Siphon Life 1/1
Shadow Mastery 5/5
Contagion 5/5
Dark Pact 1/1
Improved Howl of Terror 2/2
Malediction 3/3

Demonology

21 Points
Demonic Embrace 5/5
Fel Vitality 3/3
Fel Stamina 3/3
Demonic Aegis 3/3
Master Summoner 2/2
Soul Link 1/1 KEY
Demonic Knowledge 3/3

Destruction

0 Points

No points in Destruction

SL/SL focuses on survivability over burst damage

Key Talent Explanations

Soul Link

The cornerstone of SL/SL. Splits 20% of all damage to your pet. Combined with Felhunter's high HP, you become extremely hard to kill. Never let your pet die!

Siphon Life

Heals you every tick. Multi-DoT both targets for 2x healing. Combined with Soul Link, you're constantly regenerating HP while your DoTs pressure enemies.

Curse of Exhaustion

30% slow is essential for kiting melee. With Amplify Curse, becomes 45% slow. Warriors and Rogues hate this curse.

Fel Concentration

70% resistance to pushback on Drain spells. Essential for channeling Drain Life through damage.

Demonic Embrace

15% more Stamina. Stacks multiplicatively with other bonuses. Essential for the tanky playstyle.

Demonic Aegis

30% more effect from Fel Armor = more spell damage AND more healing received. Core synergy talent.

How to Play SL/SL

1
Keep Pet Alive

Your Felhunter IS your survival. If pet dies, you lose 20% damage reduction. Sacrifice games to save your pet if needed.

2
Multi-DoT Everything

Apply Siphon Life and Corruption to ALL targets. Each Siphon Life tick heals you. 2 targets = 2x healing.

3
Drain Tank

Once DoTs are up, channel Drain Life. You're healing from Siphon + Drain while DoTs do damage. You win on attrition.

4
Fear Strategically

Don't spam Fear. Use it to create windows for Drain Life. Fear healer → Drain DPS. Track Fear DR carefully.

Unstable Affliction (Deep Affliction)

41/0/20 - Maximum DoT Damage

Difficulty: Medium Playstyle: Aggressive DoT Pressure Best For: 3v3/5v5, BGs

Why This Build?

UA Lock trades survivability for significantly higher damage. Unstable Affliction punishes dispels with 1575 damage + 5 second silence. You apply relentless DoT pressure and force enemies to either take massive damage or suffer dispel penalties. Best with a dedicated healer.

Affliction

41 Points
Suppression 5/5
Improved Corruption 5/5
Imp. Curse of Agony 2/2
Fel Concentration 3/3
Amplify Curse 1/1
Grim Reach 2/2
Nightfall 2/2
Empowered Corruption 3/3
Shadow Embrace 5/5
Siphon Life 1/1 KEY
Curse of Exhaustion 1/1
Shadow Mastery 5/5
Contagion 5/5
Unstable Affliction 1/1 KEY

Demonology

0 Points

No points in Demonology

UA trades Soul Link survivability for maximum DoT damage

Destruction

20 Points
Improved Shadow Bolt 5/5
Bane 5/5
Devastation 5/5
Ruin 1/1 KEY
Intensity 4/5

SL/SL vs UA Comparison

SL/SL UA Lock
Survivability ★★★★★ ★★★☆☆
DoT Damage ★★★☆☆ ★★★★★
Burst Potential ★★☆☆☆ ★★★☆☆
Dispel Protection ★☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★
Solo Viability ★★★★☆ ★★★☆☆

Key UA Talents

Unstable Affliction

The build's namesake. 1050 damage over 18s. If dispelled: 1575 shadow damage + 5s silence. Always keep on kill target. Forces healers to choose between taking DoT damage or silence.

Ruin

Doubles critical strike damage for Destruction spells. When Nightfall procs an instant Shadow Bolt crit, it hits HARD. Essential burst talent.

Nightfall

4% chance on Corruption tick to get instant Shadow Bolt. Free burst damage while DoTs tick. Combined with Ruin = massive crits.

How to Play UA

1
UA on Kill Target

Always keep UA on your team's kill target. The dispel penalty forces healers into lose-lose situations.

2
Multi-DoT Aggressively

Spread Corruption to all targets for Nightfall procs. More DoTs = more chances for instant Shadow Bolts.

3
Save Nightfall Procs

Don't waste instant Shadow Bolts. Save them for burst windows or when target is stunned.

4
Play with Healer

You lack Soul Link. Stay near your healer, use Fear to peel, and let them keep you alive through damage.

Shadowfury Destruction

7/21/33 - AoE Stun Burst

Difficulty: Hard Playstyle: Setup Burst Best For: Organized PvP, BGs

Why This Build?

Shadowfury is a high-skill burst spec. You still get Soul Link for survival, but add Shadowfury (AoE 2s stun) and Conflagrate for burst. Harder to play than SL/SL but more fun when it works. Best with coordinated teams who can capitalize on your stuns.

Affliction

7 Points
Suppression 5/5
Improved Corruption 2/5

Demonology

21 Points
Demonic Embrace 5/5
Fel Vitality 3/3
Fel Stamina 3/3
Demonic Aegis 3/3
Master Summoner 2/2
Soul Link 1/1 KEY
Demonic Knowledge 3/3

Destruction

33 Points
Improved Shadow Bolt 5/5
Bane 5/5
Aftermath 2/2
Devastation 5/5
Shadowburn 1/1
Intensity 2/2
Ruin 1/1
Nether Protection 3/3
Backlash 3/3
Conflagrate 1/1 KEY
Shadow and Flame 3/3
Shadowfury 1/1 KEY

Key Destruction Talents

Shadowfury

AoE 2 second stun on 20s cooldown. Sets up kills, interrupts casts, peels for teammates. The reason to play this spec.

Conflagrate

Instant nuke that consumes Immolate. Shadowfury stun → Conflagrate = huge burst. 10 second cooldown.

Shadow and Flame

Shadow Bolt and Incinerate crits increase Fire damage by 20%. Synergy between shadow and fire spells.

Burst Combo

1
Setup Immolate

Apply Immolate before your burst window. It's required for Conflagrate.

2
Shadowfury Stun

Land the AoE stun on kill target (and healer if possible). 2 seconds of free damage.

3
Conflagrate

Instant burst damage. Use during the stun for guaranteed hit.

4
Death Coil

Chain into Death Coil for extended CC and more burst. Target should be very low or dead.

⌨️ Essential Macros

Focus Fear

/cast [@focus] Fear

Fear your focus target without switching

Spell Lock (Felhunter)

/cast [@focus,exists][@target] Spell Lock

Interrupts focus if exists, else target

Devour Magic (Felhunter)

/cast [@player] Devour Magic

Self-dispel instantly

Pet Attack + DoT

#showtooltip Corruption /petattack /cast Corruption

Send pet when applying DoTs

Mouseover DoTs

#showtooltip Corruption /cast [@mouseover,harm,nodead][] Corruption

DoT mouseover or current target

Death Coil + Cancel Cast

/stopcasting /cast Death Coil

Emergency button - stops everything

Demonic Circle: Teleport

/stopcasting /cast Demonic Circle: Teleport

Instant escape (Wrath addition)

🎯 Keybind Suggestions

Damage (1-5)

1 Shadow Bolt
2 Corruption
3 Curse of Agony
4 Siphon Life / UA
5 Immolate

CC/Utility (Q,E,R,F)

Q Fear
E Death Coil
R Howl of Terror
F Focus Fear

Survival (Shift+)

Shift+Q Healthstone
Shift+E Health Pot
Shift+R Drain Life
Shift+F Life Tap

Pet (Alt+ or Mouse)

Mouse4 Spell Lock
Mouse5 Devour Magic
Alt+1 Pet Follow
Alt+2 Pet Stay

📦 Must-Have Addons

Gladius Arena enemy frames with DR tracking
OmniCC Cooldown numbers on abilities
Quartz Cast bar with latency indicator
DoTimer / ClassicAuraDurations Track your DoTs on enemies
BigDebuffs Shows CC on nameplates
WeakAuras Custom tracking for everything
Questie Quest helper for leveling

🧠 Quick Tips Cheatsheet

Fear DR: 10s → 5s → 2.5s → immune (resets after 15s)
Soul Link: 20% damage split with pet - ALWAYS have pet alive
Life Tap: Rank 1 for mana, max rank if health spare
Healthstone: 2 min CD - don't overlap with pot
Curse Priority: Tongues on casters > Exhaustion on melee > Agony
Pet Passive: Put pet on passive in arena, manual attack
LoS Abuse: Cast DoTs → run behind pillar → repeat
Spell Lock: Save for healer casts, not random damage

Top Arena Videos

Learn from legendary TBC Warlocks. These videos showcase high-level arena gameplay, DoT management, fear rotations, and drain tanking mastery.

DrakeDog 8 - TBC Level 70 Destruction Warlock PvP

Drakedog's legendary TBC destruction warlock gameplay with devastating burst and perfect soul shard management.

HASHASH 7 - TBC Classic Destruction Warlock PvP

High-level Destruction Warlock gameplay showcasing burst windows, fear timing, and Felhunter management.

Arena Priest/Warlock TBC - Double Fear Comp

Classic Priest/Warlock double fear team showing DoT pressure, mana burn synergy, and coordinated CC chains.