DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Affliction Warlock abilities, along with key cooldowns at the bottom. It's based on a standard build and is here to help while we work on a smarter, build-aware system. If you are very new to the game or this class, we added info on the new assisted rotation features at the bottom of this guide. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.2).

Single Target

Ensure Agony, Unstable Affliction, and Corruption are active before engaging.

• AgonyView detailsMaintain at all times.
• Unstable AfflictionView detailsMaintain at all times.
• CorruptionView detailsMaintain at all times.
• Shadow EmbraceView detailsMaintain 2 stacks.
• OblivionView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Malefic RaptureView detailsUse at max Soul Shards.
• HauntView detailsUse whenever available.
• Vile TaintView detailsUse whenever available.
• Phantom SingularityView detailsUse whenever available.
• Soul RotView detailsUse with Phantom Singularity or Vile Taint.
• Malefic RaptureView detailsUse during Phantom Singularity or Vile Taint windows.
• Drain SoulView detailsUse as filler.

Maintain your DoTs (Agony, Unstable Affliction, Corruption) and Shadow Embrace. Use Malefic Rapture at max shards or during cooldown windows. Fill with Drain Soul.

AoE

• Vile TaintView detailsUse to apply AoE DoTs.
• AgonyView detailsMaintain on all targets.
• CorruptionView detailsMaintain on all targets. Use Seed Of Corruption for 3+ stacked targets.
• Unstable AfflictionView detailsMaintain on primary target.
• Malefic RaptureView detailsUse at 5 Soul Shards or during cooldown windows.
• Phantom SingularityView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Soul RotView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Drain SoulView detailsUse as filler.

Apply Vile Taint for AoE DoTs, maintain Agony and Corruption on all targets, and Unstable Affliction on the primary target. Use Malefic Rapture during cooldown windows or to avoid capping shards.

Cooldowns

• Summon DarkglareView detailsUse after applying all DoTs to extend their duration.
• Phantom SingularityView detailsPair with Soul Rot for burst damage.
• Soul RotView detailsUse with Phantom Singularity or Vile Taint.

Use Summon Darkglare after applying all DoTs, Phantom Singularity with Soul Rot for burst, and Soul Rot during cooldown windows.

New to Class? Try Assisted Rotation

Patch 11.1.7 introduced new features that make it eaiser to pick and play new characters. These new settings can be enabled from settings » gameplay enhancements:

• Single-Button Assistant
• Assisted Highlight
• Cooldown Manager

If you are new to World of Warcraft or a certain class, enabling Assisted Highlight and Cooldown Manager can help you learn which abilities to prioritize and use.

While the Single-Button Assistant can be a much easier and more accessible way to play the game, it does come with a slight performance hit due to a small GCD penalty, as you will have to wait 25% longer in between spells and abilities.

To see which specs are best with the Single-Button Assistant feature, you can check out our DPS Rankings which uses SimC to sim every class using this feature.