DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Destruction 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: Midnight Pre-Patch (12.0.0).

Single Target

Ensure Immolate is applied before combat begins.

• ImmolateView detailsMaintain uptime.
• CataclysmView detailsReapply Immolate when available.
• Summon InfernalView detailsUse on cooldown unless delaying for another use.
• MalevolenceView detailsSpend as many Soul Shards as possible during this.
• ConflagrateView detailsUse to avoid capping stacks or while moving.
• ShadowburnView detailsUse to avoid capping stacks or while moving.
• Chaos BoltView detailsUse with Touch Of Rancora or to avoid Soul Shard overcapping.
• Channel Demonfire
• IncinerateView detailsUse as a filler.

Maintain Immolate and reapply with Cataclysm when possible. Use Summon Infernal on cooldown and spend Soul Shards during Malevolence. Prioritize Chaos Bolt to avoid overcapping and use Conflagrate or Shadowburn while moving.

AoE

• ImmolateView detailsMaintain uptime.
• WitherView detailsDo not let stacks drop.
• CataclysmView detailsReapply Immolate or Wither when available.
• Summon InfernalView detailsUse on cooldown unless delaying for another use.
• MalevolenceView detailsSpend as many Soul Shards as possible during this.
• ConflagrateView detailsUse to avoid capping stacks or while moving.
• ShadowburnView detailsUse to avoid capping stacks or while moving.
• Channel Demonfire
• IncinerateView detailsUse as a filler.

Maintain Immolate and Wither, reapplying with Cataclysm when possible. Use Summon Infernal on cooldown and spend Soul Shards during Malevolence. Prioritize Conflagrate or Shadowburn while moving.

Cooldowns

• Summon InfernalView detailsGenerates Soul Shards and boosts damage; pair with racials and trinkets.
• HavocView detailsReplicates single-target damage to a secondary target; apply to less important targets.
• MalevolenceView detailsMaximize Soul Shard spending during its duration.

Use Summon Infernal for burst and resource generation, Havoc for cleave damage, and Malevolence to amplify Soul Shard spending.

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.