Updated Nov 4, 2026
Demonology Warlock
PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5
DPS Rotation & Cooldowns
How to play Demonology Warlock in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.
Rotation style comparison
How Demonology Warlock’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.
- Full rotationBaseline
- Assisted Highlight-12.7%
- One Button-23.8%
The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.
Rotation
Beta13 abilitiesBeta. This view is new. Some specs’ steps still read as long chains of conditions, and we’re working on making them simpler to follow.
- 1Racial ability
- 2Power Siphon
- 3Hand of Gul'dan
- 4Grimoire: Imp LordWhen ready
- 5Grimoire: Fel RavagerWhen ready
- 6Summon DoomguardWhen ready
- 7Call Dreadstalkers
- 8Summon Demonic Tyrant
- 9Implosion
- 10RuinationWhen ready
- 11Infernal BoltWhen ready
- 12Demonbolt
- 13Shadow BoltWhen ready
Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.
Before the pull
Things to do before entering combat.
- 1Summon PetWhen ready
- 2Power SiphonWhen ready
- 3DemonboltPower Siphon not active
- 4Shadow BoltWhen ready
Cooldowns
When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.
Sample opener
One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with the guide’s Single target build, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.
Time
Ability
New
Gone
Up
Pre-pull
0:00.000
0:00.000
Pull
0:00.000
The full priority list
simc@ff0d07fEverything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.
warlock_demonology.simc, 74 lines
# This default action priority list is automatically created based on your character. # It is a attempt to provide you with a action list that is both simple and practicable, # while resulting in a meaningful and good simulation. It may not result in the absolutely highest possible dps. # Feel free to edit, adapt and improve it to your own needs. # SimulationCraft is always looking for updates and improvements to the default action lists. # Executed before combat begins. Accepts non-harmful actions only. actions.precombat=summon_pet actions.precombat+=/snapshot_stats actions.precombat+=/variable,name=in_opener,op=set,value=1 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_buffs,value=trinket.1.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_buffs,value=trinket.2.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_buff_duration,value=trinket.1.proc.any_dps.duration actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_buff_duration,value=trinket.2.proc.any_dps.duration actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_sync,op=setif,value=1,value_else=0.5,condition=variable.trinket_1_buffs&(trinket.1.cooldown.duration%%cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.duration=0|cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.duration%%trinket.1.cooldown.duration=0) actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_sync,op=setif,value=1,value_else=0.5,condition=variable.trinket_2_buffs&(trinket.2.cooldown.duration%%cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.duration=0|cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.duration%%trinket.2.cooldown.duration=0) actions.precombat+=/variable,name=damage_trinket_priority,op=setif,value=2,value_else=1,condition=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&!variable.trinket_2_buffs&trinket.2.ilvl>trinket.1.ilvl actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_priority,op=setif,value=2,value_else=1,condition=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&variable.trinket_2_buffs|variable.trinket_2_buffs&((trinket.2.cooldown.duration%variable.trinket_2_buff_duration)*(1.5+trinket.2.has_buff.intellect)*(variable.trinket_2_sync))>(((trinket.1.cooldown.duration%variable.trinket_1_buff_duration)*(1.5+trinket.1.has_buff.intellect)*(variable.trinket_1_sync))*(1+((trinket.1.ilvl-trinket.2.ilvl)%100))) actions.precombat+=/power_siphon actions.precombat+=/demonbolt,if=!buff.power_siphon.up&(talent.ruination&!talent.grimoire_imp_lord|talent.ruination&!talent.summon_doomguard) actions.precombat+=/shadow_bolt # Executed every time the actor is available. actions=potion,if=pet.demonic_tyrant.active|fight_remains<=30 actions+=/invoke_external_buff,name=power_infusion,if=pet.demonic_tyrant.active actions+=/call_action_list,name=racials,if=pet.demonic_tyrant.active|fight_remains<22,use_off_gcd=1 actions+=/call_action_list,name=items,use_off_gcd=1 actions+=/call_action_list,name=diabolist,if=talent.diabolic_ritual actions+=/call_action_list,name=soulharvest,if=talent.demonic_soul actions.diabolist=power_siphon,if=buff.demonic_core.stack<=1|fight_remains<10 actions.diabolist+=/hand_of_guldan,if=buff.dominion_of_argus.up actions.diabolist+=/grimoire_imp_lord actions.diabolist+=/grimoire_fel_ravager actions.diabolist+=/summon_doomguard actions.diabolist+=/call_dreadstalkers,if=talent.reign_of_tyranny&(cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains>=20+gcd.max|cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains<=12-gcd.max) actions.diabolist+=/call_dreadstalkers,if=!talent.reign_of_tyranny actions.diabolist+=/summon_demonic_tyrant,if=soul_shard=5 actions.diabolist+=/implosion,if=buff.wild_imps.stack>=6&(active_enemies>2|talent.to_hell_and_back.enabled) actions.diabolist+=/ruination actions.diabolist+=/hand_of_guldan,if=soul_shard>=3&cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains>5|soul_shard=5 actions.diabolist+=/infernal_bolt,if=soul_shard<3 actions.diabolist+=/demonbolt,target_if=(!debuff.doom.up),if=soul_shard<4&buff.demonic_core.react&talent.doom actions.diabolist+=/demonbolt,if=soul_shard<4&buff.demonic_core.react actions.diabolist+=/shadow_bolt actions.diabolist+=/infernal_bolt actions.items=use_item,use_off_gcd=1,slot=trinket1,if=variable.trinket_1_buffs&(!pet.demonic_tyrant.active&trinket.1.cast_time>0|!trinket.1.cast_time>0)&(pet.demonic_tyrant.active|trinket.1.cast_time>0&cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains<=4|!talent.summon_demonic_tyrant|variable.trinket_priority=2&cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains>20&!pet.demonic_tyrant.active&trinket.2.cooldown.remains<cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains+5)&(!trinket.2.has_cooldown|trinket.2.cooldown.remains|variable.trinket_priority=1)|variable.trinket_1_buff_duration>=fight_remains actions.items+=/use_item,use_off_gcd=1,slot=trinket2,if=variable.trinket_2_buffs&(!pet.demonic_tyrant.active&trinket.2.cast_time>0|!trinket.2.cast_time>0)&(pet.demonic_tyrant.active|trinket.2.cast_time>0&cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains<=4|!talent.summon_demonic_tyrant|variable.trinket_priority=1&cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains>20&!pet.demonic_tyrant.active&trinket.1.cooldown.remains<cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains+5)&(!trinket.1.has_cooldown|trinket.1.cooldown.remains|variable.trinket_priority=2)|variable.trinket_2_buff_duration>=fight_remains actions.items+=/use_item,use_off_gcd=1,slot=trinket1,if=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&((variable.damage_trinket_priority=1|trinket.2.cooldown.remains)&(trinket.1.cast_time>0&!pet.demonic_tyrant.active|!trinket.1.cast_time>0)|(time<20&variable.trinket_2_buffs)|cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains_expected>20) actions.items+=/use_item,use_off_gcd=1,slot=trinket2,if=!variable.trinket_2_buffs&((variable.damage_trinket_priority=2|trinket.1.cooldown.remains)&(trinket.2.cast_time>0&!pet.demonic_tyrant.active|!trinket.2.cast_time>0)|(time<20&variable.trinket_1_buffs)|cooldown.summon_demonic_tyrant.remains_expected>20) actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket1,if=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&(variable.damage_trinket_priority=1|trinket.2.cooldown.remains) actions.items+=/use_item,slot=trinket2,if=!variable.trinket_2_buffs&(variable.damage_trinket_priority=2|trinket.1.cooldown.remains) actions.items+=/use_item,use_off_gcd=1,slot=main_hand actions.racials=berserking,use_off_gcd=1 actions.racials+=/blood_fury actions.racials+=/fireblood actions.racials+=/ancestral_call actions.soulharvest=power_siphon,if=buff.demonic_core.stack<=1|fight_remains<10 actions.soulharvest+=/hand_of_guldan,if=buff.dominion_of_argus.up actions.soulharvest+=/grimoire_imp_lord actions.soulharvest+=/grimoire_fel_ravager actions.soulharvest+=/summon_doomguard actions.soulharvest+=/call_dreadstalkers actions.soulharvest+=/summon_demonic_tyrant actions.soulharvest+=/implosion,if=buff.wild_imps.stack>=6&(active_enemies>2|talent.to_hell_and_back.enabled) actions.soulharvest+=/hand_of_guldan actions.soulharvest+=/infernal_bolt,if=soul_shard<3 actions.soulharvest+=/demonbolt,target_if=(!debuff.doom.up),if=soul_shard<4&buff.demonic_core.stack>=1&talent.doom actions.soulharvest+=/demonbolt,if=soul_shard<4&buff.demonic_core.stack>=2&!talent.doom actions.soulharvest+=/demonbolt,if=soul_shard<4&buff.demonic_core.react actions.soulharvest+=/shadow_bolt
Is this rotation built for your talents?
The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.