by Gordon D Easingwood

Created on: April 06, 2010   Last Updated: May 18, 2010

Warlocks are unique amongst the mana using classes in World of Warcraft.  Warlocks are the only class that can convert health into mana.  Warlocks also have access to the greatest number of damage over time spells or DOT’s, as they are known.  Warlocks also have access to several summon able pets each with their own advantages.

Usable weapons and armour

Warlocks may only use cloth armour.  Warlocks may use the following weapon types, some skills will have to learnt from weapon trainers found in the major cities.  Warlocks may use one handed swords, daggers, staves, off hands and wands.  However Warlocks do lack in melee combat especially at higher levels.

Leveling

Warlocks are one of the easiest classes to level.  At level 10, the warlock may complete a quest to gain access to the summon void walker spell.  This summons a powerful tank pet that makes levelling a whole lot easier.  At higher levels demonology Warlocks gain access to the Felguard pet, which is similar in role to the void walker but inflicts more damage.  Warlocks DOT’s may be active on several mobs effectively killing them all at the same time.  Also the ability to life tap and convert health into mana allows them greater flexibility then other classes.

Group role

Warlocks are purely a damage class with some added utility in the form of health stones (think free healing potions,) soul stone resurrection and pet buffs.  The most commonly used pet is the imp giving the group a stamina and therefore hit point increase.  They have some crowd control in the form of fear and terror effects, however these must be used with care to prevent the feared mob pulling more mobs.

Warlock damage can rival that of mages when suitable equipped, however there area of effect spells do not quite compete damage wise but are still effective nevertheless.

Specialisations

Like all classes, Warlocks have three areas they may specialise into:

Affliction:  This specialisation increases the number and power of the warlock’s DOT spells.  This specialisation also increases the Warlock’s ability to leech health and mana from mobs.

Demonology:  Increases the power of summoned pets and stones created from this tree.  Also allows access to the powerful Felguard pet.

Destruction:  This increases the Warlocks direct damage spells and provides some burst damage.

Main Stats

The main stats for Warlocks are stamina, spell hit (to max), spell power, spell haste and spell crit.  More stamina in fact gives the Warlock access to more mana via the life tap ability.

Soul shards

Some Warlock spells including those to all summon pets except the imp require soul shards as a reagent.  These are gained from using the drain soul spell.  The downside of this is the bag space these shards take up and the need to carry several around.  In future patches, Blizzard is looking at changing this however.

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