TBC Classic Guide
Warlock class icon

Demonology Warlock

Ranged DPS medium demand

A pet-empowering spec centered on the Felguard demon, providing solid damage and excellent utility.

How It Feels to Play

Demonology in TBC gives you the Felguard, a big, angry demon with a two-handed axe that charges into battle alongside you. It's the closest Warlock gets to the Hunter's pet fantasy. The Felguard does significant damage on its own, and talents like Demonic Knowledge give you bonus spell power based on your pet's stamina and intellect.

The playstyle is a mix of Shadow Bolt spam and pet management. You cast Shadow Bolt as your primary nuke, keep your Felguard alive and on target, and use your utility spells as needed. Soul Link splits damage between you and your demon, making you tankier than other Warlock specs. This survivability is valuable in progression content where staying alive matters more than squeezing out extra DPS.

Demonology is the 'safe' Warlock spec. It doesn't have the highest DPS ceiling (Destruction usually wins there), but it's consistent, survivable, and brings good utility. Many Warlocks start as Demonology while learning encounters and respec to Destruction once they're comfortable.

Complexity

Strengths

  • Felguard provides strong, reliable pet damage
  • Soul Link makes you very durable
  • Good stepping-stone spec for learning raid encounters

Pain Points

  • Lower DPS ceiling than Destruction
  • Felguard dying is a major DPS loss
  • Less raid utility than Affliction's Malediction

Demand & Supply

medium demand

Solid all-around spec with good survivability. Fine for raiding but usually respecced to Destruction once comfortable. Some raids value the durability for progression.

Talent Build

Standard Demonology DPS

0/43/18
Summon Felguard
Summons a Felguard demon that deals strong melee damage and has Intercept for mobility
Demonic Knowledge
Increases your spell damage by 12% of your active demon's total Stamina plus Intellect
Soul Link
20% of all damage taken by the Warlock is taken by the demon instead, providing massive survivability
Demonic Sacrifice
Sacrifice your demon to gain a powerful buff (not used with Felguard; keep your pet alive)

43 into Demonology for Felguard, 18 into Destruction for Ruin. Keep your Felguard alive and on the boss. Shadow Bolt spam is your primary damage. Demonic Knowledge gives you bonus spell power from your pet's stats, so gear with Stamina on your pet benefits you too. Soul Link makes you very tanky for progression.

Stat Priority

Spell Hit Rating (16% cap / 202 rating)
100
Spell Damage
90
Stamina
70
Spell Critical Strike Rating
65
Spell Haste Rating
60
Intellect
50

Spell hit at 16% cap. Spell Damage increases Shadow Bolt damage and also benefits from Demonic Knowledge. Stamina is more valuable for Demonology because it increases your health AND your Felguard's through Soul Link. Crit benefits Shadow Bolt spam.

Pre-Raid Best in Slot

Slot Item Source
head Spellstrike Hood Spellstrike Hood Crafted - Tailoring Crafted - Tailoring
neck Brooch of Heightened Potential Brooch of Heightened Potential Harbinger Skyriss - The Arcatraz Harbinger Skyriss - The Arcatraz
shoulders Mana-Etched Spaulders Mana-Etched Spaulders Nethermancer Sepethrea - The Mechanar Nethermancer Sepethrea - The Mechanar
back Sethekk Oracle Cloak Sethekk Oracle Cloak Darkweaver Syth - Sethekk Halls Darkweaver Syth - Sethekk Halls
chest Frozen Shadoweave Robe Frozen Shadoweave Robe Crafted - Tailoring Crafted - Tailoring
wrists Bracers of Havok Bracers of Havok Crafted - Tailoring Crafted - Tailoring
hands Gloves of the Deadwatcher Gloves of the Deadwatcher Exarch Maladaar - Auchenai Crypts (Heroic) Exarch Maladaar - Auchenai Crypts (Heroic)
waist Belt of Depravity Belt of Depravity Keli'dan the Breaker - The Blood Furnace (Heroic) Keli'dan the Breaker - The Blood Furnace (Heroic)
legs Spellstrike Pants Spellstrike Pants Crafted - Tailoring Crafted - Tailoring
feet Frozen Shadoweave Boots Frozen Shadoweave Boots Crafted - Tailoring Crafted - Tailoring
ring Cobalt Band of Tyrigosa Cobalt Band of Tyrigosa Aeonus - The Black Morass (Heroic) Aeonus - The Black Morass (Heroic)
ring Ashyen's Gift Ashyen's Gift Exalted - Cenarion Expedition Exalted - Cenarion Expedition
trinket Icon of the Silver Crescent Icon of the Silver Crescent 41 Badges - G'eras (Shattrath) 41 Badges - G'eras (Shattrath)
trinket Quagmirran's Eye Quagmirran's Eye Quagmirran - The Slave Pens Quagmirran - The Slave Pens
main hand Shockwave Truncheon Shockwave Truncheon Murmur - Shadow Labyrinth (Heroic) Murmur - Shadow Labyrinth (Heroic)
off hand Khadgar's Knapsack Khadgar's Knapsack The Mechanar (Heroic) The Mechanar (Heroic)
ranged Wand of the Netherwing Wand of the Netherwing Quest - Zuluhed the Whacked (Shadowmoon Valley) Quest - Zuluhed the Whacked (Shadowmoon Valley)

Rotation & Priority

43 into Demonology for Felguard, 18 into Destruction for Ruin. Keep your Felguard alive and on the boss. Shadow Bolt spam is your primary damage. Demonic Knowledge gives you bonus spell power from your pet's stats, so gear with Stamina on your pet benefits you too. Soul Link makes you very tanky for progression.

Progression Path

1
Level to 70

Quest through Outland, run dungeons for gear along the way.

2
Normal Dungeons

Farm reputation to Revered for Heroic keys. Replace leveling greens.

3
Heroic Dungeons

Collect your Pre-Raid BiS gear and Badge of Justice items.

4
Karazhan & T4

Enter your first raid. Collect Tier 4 tokens and epic drops.

5
T5 & Beyond

Progress into SSC, Tempest Keep, Black Temple, and Sunwell.

View the full dungeon progression guide →

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