Summary
Warlocks are one ofWorld of Warcraft’s most iconic classes, combining the mystery of shadow magic with the fury of demons. They’re a fan-favorite spellcaster, as they don’t just bring serious damage to the table, but convenience as well. Their Soulstones, portals, and healthstones are literal lifesavers in a tricky bind, and combined with their vicious array of demon pets, there’s not much that warlocks can’t do.
InWorld of Warcraft’s lore, members of this class are looked down upon for their dabbling in the dark arts and casual attitude toward harvesting mortal souls, but this reputation of clandestine power is one they are happy to maintain. The mysteries of the Black Harvest are not for every ear, and warlocks don’t like to share their secrets. Every raid team loves to have at least one of these dark sorcerers, but there are several nuances to the class that only the warlocks themselves know.
Warlocks Don’t Get to Go AFK
Being a warlock has a great number of perks. Their survivability, damage output, and versatility make them great fun to play, and they’ve got several sneaky tricks up their sleeves. Warlocks also seem to consistently get some of thebest-looking tier sets inWoW, which is great since style means a great deal to them. Their spells also have some of the coolest particle effects and appearances of any class in the game, even more so than mages and priests. However, there are some drawbacks to living the warlock high life.
Fellow team members in raids and dungeons expect their resident warlock to pay close attention to what’s happening. They need their summoning and healthstone spells at the ready, and the raid leader will often direct the warlock to place their portals and Soulstones before the fight begins.Warlocks inWorld of Warcraftquickly get used to the fact that their teammates will rely on their quick thinking and preparation, as a clever warlock can save an entire raid from disaster.
Not all Warlock Specializations are Regarded As Equal
As is the case withmany classes inWorld of Warcraft, not every specialization is regarded with the same amount of respect. This is true for warlocks, since while Demonology and Affliction require a lot of planning and skill, the third spec is super easy to play. Thus, Destruction warlocks can be looked down upon by the former specializations.
Destruction locks might be the black sheep of the black sheep class, but only because they can sometimes top the DPS charts with an ounce of the effort it takes to use otherWorld of Warcraftwarlock specializations. However, this is mitigated by the skill ceiling of the other specs, as taking on the challenge they pose can ultimately prove even more rewarding. Each of the class’ specs is wholly unique and has completely separate play styles, thereby making each one a valid choice.
A Warlock’s Favorite Demon In WoW Says a Lot About Them
Mostwarlocks will always have a demonnipping at their heels, bound to serve their master’s will. These demons vary greatly in both function and appearance, so warlocks tend to swap them out as and when they’re needed. Despite this, every warlock has their favorite out of the standard four, and that says a lot about their personality.
Voidwalkers
The Voidwalker is a shadowy, shapeless entity that fills the tank role. Warlocks who love thiscompanion are fond of the Void, and sometimes inherent loners. Those who venture out alone need their Voidwalker friend to occupy their enemies’ attention, after all. These warlocks may also long for the good old days when warlocks could tank and appreciate the snarky comments Voidwalkers make about being summoned against their will.
Felhounds
Felhounds are the most versatile demon pets. Warlocks who love these guys are typically big dungeon-goers, since the hound’s dispel and interrupt abilities are particularly useful. These warlocks imagine that the grotesque alien gnashing at their feet is in fact just a very ugly dog, and they appreciate theFelhound’s loyalty and otherworldly appearance. At some stage, these warlocks have all tried really hard to find the Felhound’s eyes, only to realize it doesn’t have any and become a little weirded out.
Imps
The Imp is the hassle-free, no-buttons-pushed demon. They’re pure single-target DPS, and other than removing the odd debuff on their warlock masters, there’s no real interaction. The imp is the go-to forWoWwarlockswho don’t much care about having a demon companion and are only in it for the extra damage.
The Succubus/Incubus
Last but not least, the Succubus, or its gender-bent version, the Incubus. Both iterations of this seductive being are designed to pull on heartstrings. These demons aren’t particularly useful in combat situations, so the only reason warlocks keep them around is for their looks, and everyone knows it.Warlocks who use the succubus/incubus revel in the fact that they have their very own diabolical seducer at their beck and call, and aren’t afraid to be typecast as both lovers and fighters.
Players whoslay a warlock inWorld of Warcraft’s PvP content aren’t out of the woods yet. Destruction and Demonology warlocks aren’t as powerful in this regard, but Affliction warlocks see death as a mere inconvenience. These spellcasters kill by overwhelming opponents with nasty debuffs that damage them over time, draining their lives away by the second.
If these curse-slinging sorcerers slap another player with enough of these debuffs, even killing said warlock will not prevent an agonizing death. A 1v1 with an Affliction player doesn’t end when thewarlock stops casting, and one has to pray that they have some serious healing available to survive the aftermath. All that is aside from the fact that warlocks can resurrect themselves safe and sound using a Soulstone, once their spells have done the dirty work.
All things considered, warlocks are some of the mostinteresting classes inWorld of Warcraft. They’re typically of a darker disposition than mages, and have no interest in the healing hobbies of shadow priests. The many powers of warlocks are great for any team, be it in raids, dungeons, or PvP. Their potent mix of shadow, fel, and fire magic, coupled with ferocious demonic minions, makes these morally ambiguous spellslingers well worth trying out for any new player.
