Cataclysm Destruction 85 Warlock Leveling Build Guide

Welcome to the level 1-85 Cataclysm Destruction Warlock leveling build guide updated for patch 4.0.6.  This talent tree spec guide will take you from level 1 through 85 and features a build order and glyph recommendations.

As with any “best” build there is no actual perfect build order.  The perfect builds, glyphs, etc are the ones that cater to your playstyle.  If you see a glyph or talent that will make the way YOU PLAY better, go ahead and choose it!  These are only recommendations.

The following are the best 1-85 talent points to go along with the best leveling route guide: Zygor’s Leveling Guide.

Level 85 Warlock (7/3/31)

Destruction (31 Points)

Bane – Rank 3/3
Reduces the casting time of your Shadow Bolt, Chaos Bolt and Immolate spells by 0.5 sec.

Shadow and Flame – Rank 3/3
Increases the damage done by your Shadow Bolt and Incinerate spells by 12%, and your Shadow Bolt has a 100% chance to cause the Improved Shadow Bolt effect to the target.

The Improved Shadow Bolt effect causes the target to be vulnerable to spell damage, increasing spell critical strike chance against that target by 5% for lasts 30 sec.

Improved Immolate – Rank 2/2
Increases the damage done by your Immolate spell by 20%.

Improved Soul Fire – Rank 2/2
You increase your spell haste by 15% for 15 sec after you deal damage with Soul Fire. This effect has a 15 sec cooldown.

Emberstorm – Rank 2/2
Reduces the cast time of your Soul Fire by 1 sec and your Incinerate by 0.25 sec.

Aftermath – Rank 2/2
Your Rain of Fire has a 12% chance to Stun targets for 2 sec., and your Conflagrate has a 100% chance to daze the target for 5 sec.

Backdraft – Rank 3/3
When you cast Conflagrate, the cast time for your next three Shadow Bolt, Incinerate and Chaos Bolt spells is reduced by 30%. Lasts 15 sec.

Shadowburn – Rank 1/1
Instantly blasts the target for 650 to 724 Shadow damage. If the target dies within 5 sec of Shadowburn, and yields experience or honor, the caster gains 3 Soul Shards. Only usable on enemies that have less than 20% health.

Burning Embers – Rank 2/2
Your Soulfire and your Imp’s Firebolt cause a Burning Ember damage-over-time effect on the target equal to 30% of the damage done lasting 7 sec.

The Burning Ember effect deals up to (($SP * 1.0 + 167) / 7) fire damage every 1 sec for 7 sec.

Soul Leech – Rank 2/2
Your Shadowburn, Soul Fire and Chaos Bolt instantly restore 4% of your total health and mana when they deal damage and also grant Replenishment.

Replenishment – Grants up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 1% of their maximum mana per 10 sec. Lasts for 15 sec.

Nether Ward – Rank 1/1
Transforms your Shadow Ward into Nether Ward. You must be within Demon Armor or Fel Armor in order for the transformation effect to occur.

Nether Ward
Absorbs (3551 + ($SP * 0.807)) spell damage. Lasts 30 sec. 30 sec cooldown.

Fire and Brimstone – Rank 3/3
Increases the damage done by your Incinerate and Chaos Bolt spells to targets afflicted by your Immolate by 6%, and the critical strike chance of your Conflagrate spell is increased by 15%.

Shadowfury – Rank 1/1
Shadowfury is unleashed, causing 688 to 818 Shadow damage and stunning all enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec.

Empowered Imp – Rank 2/2
Your Imp’s Firebolt has a 4% chance to cause your next Soulfire spell to be instant cast within 8 sec.

Bane of Havoc – Rank 1/1
Banes the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the baned target.

Only one target can have Bane of Havoc at a time, and only one Bane per Warlock can be active on any one target.

Chaos Bolt – Rank 1/1
Sends a bolt of chaotic fire at the enemy, dealing 1311 to 1665 Fire damage. Chaos Bolt cannot be resisted, and pierces through all absorption effects.

Affliction (7 Points)

Doom and Gloom – Rank 2/2
Increases the critical strike chance of your Bane of Agony and Bane of Doom by 8%.

Improved Corruption – Rank 3/3
Increases the damage done by your Corruption by 12%.

Jinx – Rank 2/2
Your Curse of the Elements also effects up to 15 nearby enemy targets within 40 yards of the cursed target.

Also, your Curse of Weakness reduces the targets energy, rage, focus or runic power generation by 10% while active.

Demonology (3 Points)

Dark Arts – Rank 3/3
Reduces the cast time of your Imp’s Firebolt spell by 0.75 sec, increases the damage done by your Felguard’s Legion Strike by 15%, and increases the damage done by your Felhunter’s Shadow Bite by 15%.

Glyphs

Glyph of Conflagrate (Prime Glyph)
Reduces the cooldown of your Conflagrate by 2 sec.

Glyph of Immolate (Prime Glyph)
Increases the periodic damage of your Immolate by 10%.

Glyph of Incinerate (Prime Glyph)
Increases the damage done by Incinerate by 5%.

Glyph of Life Tap (Major Glyph)
Reduces the global cooldown of your Life Tap by .5 sec.

Glyph of Soul Link (Major Glyph)
Increases the percentage of damage shared via your Soul Link by an additional 5%.

Glyph of Shadowflame (Major Glyph)
Your Shadowflame also applies a 70% movement speed slow to its victims.

Glyph of Drain Soul (Minor Glyph)
Your Drain Soul restores 10% of your total mana after you kill a target that yields experience or honor.

Glyph of Unending Breath (Minor Glyph)
Increases the swim speed of targets affected by your Unending Breath spell by 20%.

Glyph of Ritual of Souls (Minor Glyph)
Reduces the mana cost of your Ritual of Souls spell by 70%.

Do You Want To Level Faster Like The Pros?

If you are having trouble leveling or need to level faster in WoW Cataclysm I highly suggest you check out Zygor’s Leveling Guide. It has the perfect leveling path that gets you to 85 faster and easier than any other way. No matter what level you are, you load the guide and it points with an arrow to the direction of each monster, quest giver, trainer etc. Its pretty crazy. It also has an in game box that tells you exactly what to do, like kill 5 boars, run west 10 miles, etc. If you dont have this in game add on guide, honestly, you are missing out. You can find out more here or check out the Zygor Cataclysm Leveling Guide Review.