Affliction Warlock BIS Gear Phase 1 Cataclysm Classic

Stat And Cap Priority

Your Stat Priority for Affliction Warlock BiS in Cataclysm Classic should be like this (left to right):

Intellect, Spell Power, and Hit Rating are the top three stats for maximizing damage as a Warlock. These stats provide the most value per point. Haste is the fourth most valuable stat. Mastery Rating and Critical Strike Rating are less valuable and often get reforged to improve other stats. This is a general guideline, and using a simulation tool can help you find the best gear setup.

When choosing gear, prioritize items with higher total stats rather than specific ones. This is particularly useful now that you can reforge less desirable stats into more beneficial ones. Reforging allows you to partially convert one stat into another that is not currently on the item.

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A straightforward way to compare items is to determine the equivalent amount of spell power for one point of each stat. While this method is not exact, as the value of each stat can change based on various factors, it is usually good enough to identify the best item. Each stat impacts your damage, and we assign each a value that indicates how much spell power would increase your damage for one point of that stat. These values are derived from advanced simulation tools specifically for Warlocks.

Hit Rating has an important cap. If you exceed this cap, any extra Hit Rating will not benefit your character.

Gear

Main Hand for Affliction Warlock (2-Handed)

The Staff of Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan is our top choice for Phase 1, although one-handed weapons are generally better. You will likely need to reforge some of its critical strike chance into hit rating or mastery, depending on your needs. To obtain this staff, you’ll need to conduct many Archaeology surveys to collect Dwarf Archaeology Fragments.

There are many other possible weapon alternatives, such as one-handed weapons paired with offhand items, which can significantly outperform staves.

Best Enchant: Enchant Weapon – Power Torrent.

Main Hand for Affliction Warlock (1-Handed)

Stormwake, the Tempest’s Reach drops from Al’Akir in the Throne of the Four Winds and can have the “of the Wildfire” suffix, which adds intellect, hit rating, and critical strike rating. Stormwake, Incineratus, and Blade of the Witching Hour all have equal intellect and spell power, and similar amounts of mastery, with the main difference being their other secondary stat.

With reforging, these weapons are nearly equal in value, so it’s best to use the first one you can obtain. Upgrading from item level 359 to 372 is significant for weapons due to the large increase in spell power.

Best Enchant: Enchant Weapon – Power Torrent.

Offhand for Affliction Warlock

Most off-hand items are straightforward choices. The Book of Binding Will is our best in slot, with its normal version being the second-best option. While some might consider using the Scepter of Ice and reforging the spirit, it’s generally better to leave this item to classes and specializations that benefit more directly from spirit.

Best Enchant: Enchant Off-Hand – Superior Intellect.

Wand for Affliction Warlock

There aren’t many wand options available. Theresa’s Booklight is our new best-in-slot and can be purchased from the Auction House if available, though it will likely be very expensive as it drops from Blackwing Descent trash. The only raid alternative is Pip’s Solution Agitator, but it has spirit on it. It’s better to let specializations that benefit more from spirit take this item, rather than wasting 60% of its potential on us by reforging. The overall stat contribution of wands is minor, so if you’re using Corla’s Baton or another wand, it won’t make a significant difference.

Body Armor

Shoulders for Affliction Warlock

The heroic version of Shadowflame Mantle is just as strong as the Mantle of Roaring Flames in terms of stats. However, Shadowflame Mantle contributes to your Shadowflame Regalia set. Keep in mind that the four-piece set bonus is relatively weak. Therefore, if another class benefits more from their set bonus, opting for the Mantle of Roaring Flames instead would be a good alternative.

Best Enchant: Felfire Inscription (Inscription only).

Chest for Affliction Warlock

Shadowflame Robes are the best option in terms of stats and are also part of our Shadowflame Regalia set. The Heroic Shadowblaze Robes, although equal in item level, come with mastery, which is less important for us. This makes the Shadowblaze Robes slightly weaker since we would need to reforge part of the mastery.

Best Enchant: Enchant Chest – Peerless Stats.

Back for Affliction Warlock

The Shroud of Endless Grief, which drops from Sinestra after defeating Cho’gall in heroic mode in The Bastion of Twilight, has the highest item level and the most stats, making it the best cloak available. The Planetary Drape, dropped by Al’Akir in the Throne of the Four Winds, varies in quality depending on its suffix.

The heroic version of Shadow of Dread is also an excellent option. Other alternatives include Ritssyn’s Ruminous Drape, which can be bought from the Auction House, the normal version of Shadow of Dread, or using Valor Points to purchase Haunt of Flies. However, spending Valor Points on Haunt of Flies is generally not recommended as there are more valuable options available.

Best Enchant: Lightweave Embroidery (Tailoring only) / Enchant Cloak – Greater Intellect.

Head for Affliction Warlock

The Crown of the Twilight Queen drops from Sinestra, available only after defeating Cho’gall in heroic mode in The Bastion of Twilight. It boasts the highest item level and the most stats, making it the best head item. The heroic versions of the Power Generator Hood and Shadowflame Hood are close in overall stats. Additionally, the Shadowflame Hood contributes to your Shadowflame Regalia set, adding further value.

Best Enchant: Arcanum of Hyjal.

Waist for Affliction Warlock

The Soul Breath Belt drops from various bosses in the Throne of the Four Winds and can have a random suffix that provides intellect and a combination of haste, critical strike, or mastery rating. Along with the Belt of Arcane Storms, these are our best belt options.

Alternatively, the Dreamless Belt is a good choice, though you will need to reforge the mastery. This belt can be crafted by a Tailor and bought from the Auction House, making it easier to obtain. Overall, there aren’t many great belt options in this phase, but the accessibility of the Dreamless Belt mitigates this issue.

Best Enchant: Ebonsteel Belt Buckle + Grounded Plasma Shield (Engineering only).

Legs for Affliction Warlock

For this slot, we use a part of our Shadowflame Regalia. The Shadowflame Leggings and Flame Pillar Leggings are fairly equal, with one offering crit rating instead of haste, but both providing hit rating.

As alternatives, you can craft or buy either the Flame-Ascended Pantaloons or Breeches of Mended Nightmares. However, both of these lack hit rating, so keep that in mind if you are below the hit cap.

Best Enchant: Powerful Enchanted Spellthread.

Feet for Affliction Warlock

Quickstep Galoshes have a high amount of mastery (which we will likely want to reforge) and haste rating, making them the only 372-item level boots worth pursuing. The Desert Walker Sandals provide a solid amount of hit rating and can be obtained by reaching exalted with Ramkahen. The normal version of Quickstep Galoshes is roughly equal to Desert Walker Sandals, depending on your overall stat needs.

Best Enchant: Enchant Boots – Lavawalker > Enchant Boots – Precision|Enchant Boots – Haste.

Wrist for Affliction Warlock

The Bracers of the Bronze Flight from Halfus Wyrmbreaker in The Bastion of Twilight are one of our best options. Alternatively, the Bracers of the Dark Mother are quite close due to their higher item level but require reforging the spirit on them. Note that these bracers are best in slot for healers and shadow priests, so they should have priority. Another good alternative is the Bracers of the Dark Pool, which can be bought from the Auction House.

Best Enchant: Draconic Embossment – Intellect (Leatherworking only) > Enchant Bracer – Mighty Intellect.

Hands for Affliction Warlock DPS

Hands of the Twilight Council outperform Shadowflame Handwraps because they have haste instead of hit rating. However, Shadowflame Handwraps are part of our Shadowflame Regalia set. Both options are valid and depend on which you can obtain first. Another good option is Flamebloom Gloves, but they require you to be exalted with The Earthen Ring and may need some mastery reforged into hit rating.

Best Enchant: Synapse Springs (Engineer only) + Enchant Gloves – Haste or Enchant Gloves – Greater Mastery.

Jewelry

Trinkets for Affliction Warlock

Darkmoon Card: Volcano is technically our best-in-slot trinket this phase. It provides a high amount of mastery and has a great proc effect that deals damage to the target and increases our intellect by 1600 for 12 seconds. However, this card will be expensive to obtain as it requires collecting Darkmoon cards to complete the Darkmoon Volcanic Deck.
Another great option is the Bell of Enraging Resonance, which offers a massive spell power proc and a significant amount of critical strike rating.

Rings for Affliction Warlock

The Planetary Band drops from the first three bosses in the Throne of the Four Winds and can have the “of the Wildfire” suffix, which provides intellect, hit rating, and critical strike rating. The Signet of the Fifth Circle is another great ring, offering a lot of stats, including mastery (which can be reforged) and haste rating.
Two excellent alternatives are the Band of Secret Names, which can be obtained outside of raids by spending Valor Points or gold. Both versions of the Band of Secret Names are solid choices for your ring slot.

Best Enchant: Enchant Ring – Intellect (Enchanting only).

Neck for Affliction Warlock

The Planetary Amulet drops from Al’Akir in the Throne of the Four Winds and can have the “of the Wildfire” suffix, providing intellect, hit rating, and critical strike rating. The Yellow Smoke Pendant, which can drop from either Theralion or Valiona in The Bastion of Twilight, offers haste rating and mastery, which we will want to reforge.
The normal version of Valiona’s Medallion, along with the Yellow Smoke Pendant and Dorian’s Lost Necklace, all provide hit rating and are equally good options.

F.A.Q.

What are the best Races for Affliction Warlock?

Alliance – Worgen, Horde – Orcs.

Are Affliction Warlocks good?

Affliction Warlock is the top choice for drain damage in World of Warcraft. If you enjoy gradually depleting your enemies’ health with a mix of damage over time abilities and debuffs, this spec is perfect for you.

What tier is Affliction Warlock in?

He’s in S tier in Cataclysm Classic, along with Shadow Priest, Demonology Warlock, Survival Hunter, Arms Warrior and Unholy Death Knight.

What are the best professions for Affliction Warlock?

It’s Engineering and Tailoring.

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