!A troll warlock casting dark curses with purple shadow magic

WoW Forever Beta Affliction Warlock DoT DPS Guide

Affliction Warlock is the DoT-heavy DPS spec in WoW Forever beta, with Corruption, Agony, Siphon Life, Unstable Affliction, and Fear CC. This guide covers talent build, rotation, gear, and best races.

For broader Warlock info, see our Warlock Guide, Demonology Warlock, Destruction Warlock, and Best Race for Each Class articles.

Quick summary: Best Affliction Warlock race: Troll (Berserking) or Undead (Will of the Forsaken). Talent priority: Improved Corruption → Improved Curse of Agony → Fel Concentration. Rotation: Corruption + Agony + Siphon Life + Drain Soul. Stat priority: Spell Power > Hit > Stamina > Crit.

Why Affliction Warlock is strong

Strengths

• Strong DoT pressure (Corruption, Agony, Siphon Life)
• Fear (20 sec CC at level 20)
• Drain Life (sustain)
• Soulstone (self-rez utility)
• Healthstone (party utility)
• Mobility (Life Tap + sustained casting)

Weaknesses

• Slow ramp-up (DoTs need time)
• Mana-intensive (multiple DoTs)
• Less burst than Demo / Destro

Best races for Affliction Warlock

S tier

Race	Faction	Why
Troll	Horde	Berserking + cast time
Undead	Horde	Will of the Forsaken + Touch of the Grave

A tier

Race	Faction	Why
Skyborne	Both	Wind Blessed + Elemental Insight
Gnome	Alliance	Expansive Mind + Escape Artist

B tier

Race	Faction	Why
Orc	Horde	Blood Fury + Hardiness
Human	Alliance	Spirit scaling

Verdict: Troll for max Berserking scaling, Undead for PvP (Will of the Forsaken + self-heal).

Talent build (level 10-30)

Tier 1: Core Affliction talents

1. Improved Corruption (5/5) — +25% Corruption damage
2. Improved Curse of Agony (2/2) — +damage
3. Improved Drain Soul (2/2) — +drain damage

Tier 2: Damage boosts

1. Improved Life Tap (2/2) — +Life Tap effectiveness
2. Fel Concentration (5/5) — 30% chance to keep casting through pushback
3. Improved Drain Life (2/2) — +Drain Life damage
4. Dark Pact (1/1) — mana → HP conversion

Tier 3: Advanced talents

1. Improved Fear (2/2) — +Fear duration
2. Siphon Life (1/1) — DoT + self-heal
3. Curse of Exhaustion (1/1) — slow curse
4. Agony (1/1) — DoT (fastest)
5. Nightfall (2/2) — instant Shadow Bolt proc

Endgame (level 30+)

1. Unstable Affliction (1/1) — dispel damage spell
2. Contagion (5/5) — +DoT crit
3. Haunt (1/1) — amplify spell damage (level 60+)
4. Malediction (3/3) — +DoT damage
5. Eradication (3/3) — Corruption crit chance
6. Soul Siphon (3/3) — +Siphon Life

Rotation (level 20)

Standard Affliction rotation

1. Demon Armor (always active)
2. Corruption (DoT, 18 sec)
3. Agony (DoT, 12 sec)
4. Siphon Life (DoT, 30 sec)
5. Curse of Agony (DoT, 24 sec) — alternative to Siphon Life
6. Life Tap (mana → HP)
7. Drain Soul (execute + Soul Shard)
8. Fear (CC, level 20+)

Opener (raid)

1. Demon Armor (active)
2. Corruption (highest priority DoT)
3. Agony (fast DoT)
4. Siphon Life (long DoT)
5. Life Tap (sustain casting)
6. Drain Soul filler

DoT maintenance priority

1. Agony (refresh first, longest uptime)
2. Corruption (refresh second)
3. Siphon Life (refresh third)
4. Curse of Agony (refresh fourth)

Stat priority

Raid DPS

1. Spell Power (primary)
2. Hit (until 16% cap)
3. Stamina (sustain)
4. Crit (15-20% ideal)
5. Intellect (mana pool)

PvP

1. Stamina (survivability)
2. Spell Power
3. Hit (16% cap)
4. Resilience (when available)

Pre-bis gear checklist (level 20)

Slot	Best in slot	Source
Head	Necromancer’s Cap	Quest reward
Shoulders	Necromancer’s Mantle	Quest reward
Chest	Necromancer’s Robes	Quest reward
Legs	Necromancer’s Pants	Quest reward
Boots	Necromancer’s Boots	Quest reward
Weapon	Staff of Shadows / Cold Iron Wand	Quest reward
Trinket	Excavator’s Trowel	Brogdul rare drop

PvP strategy

Offense

• Fear (20 sec CC at level 20+)
• Corruption (DoT)
• Drain Life (sustain)
• Death Coil (silence + emergency heal)
• Curse of Exhaustion (slow)

Defense

• Soulstone (self-rez)
• Death Coil (emergency heal)
• Drain Life (sustain)
• Soul Link (50% damage split, with pet)
• Healthstone (party utility)

Crowd control

• Fear (20 sec CC)
• Death Coil (silence)
• Howl of Terror (level 30+, AoE fear)
• Banish (vs Demons)

Common Affliction Warlock questions

Is Affliction Warlock viable at level 20?

Yes — solid DPS, decent utility.

Which race is best for Affliction Warlock?

Troll (Berserking) or Undead (PvP).

When does Haunt unlock?

Level 60+ (Phase 3+).

Is Affliction Warlock good for leveling?

Solid — DoTs make kills consistent.

How much Spell Power at level 20?

~200 spell power is competitive.

Common Affliction Warlock mistakes

Mistake	Cost	Fix
Forgetting Life Tap	OOM in long fights	Use between fights
Wasting Soul Shards	Lost summons	Save for emergencies
Not maintaining DoTs	Lost DPS	Refresh before expire
Standing in melee	Death	Use Fear + Drain Life

Phase 2 Affliction Warlock preview

At level 30, Unstable Affliction unlocks (dispel damage). Contagion (+DoT crit) is core. Malediction boosts DoT damage. Nightfall procs instant Shadow Bolt.

Final verdict

Best Affliction Warlock race: Troll or Undead

Best Affliction Warlock talents:

• Improved Corruption + Fel Concentration + Siphon Life
• Agony + Nightfall + Malediction

Best rotation: Corruption + Agony + Siphon Life + Drain Soul

Whatever your race, Affliction Warlock is a strong DoT DPS in WoW Forever. DoT pressure + Fear + self-heal = solid caster.

For more Warlock info, see our Warlock Guide, Demonology Warlock, Destruction Warlock, and Best Race for Each Class articles.