Destruction Warlock PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Rotation

Destruction Warlocks are similar to how they were in Wrath of the Lich King, but they gain an important new buff they need to maintain with
Improved Soul Fire
. This will require casting
Soul Fire
every 20 seconds. The talent
Empowered Imp
gives you a very small chance to gain an instant
Soul Fire
cast. Destruction Warlocks also gain a damage increase in 2 target situations thanks to
Bane of Havoc
. All Warlocks gain a new cooldown
Demon Soul
as well as a new buff
Dark Intent
.

Opener

1. Whenever all or most of your procs align in your opener, cast
   Summon Doomguard
   for single target fights, or
   Summon Infernal
   for aoe fights.
2. Pre-pot
   Volcanic Potion
   .
3. Pre-cast
   Soul Fire
   .
4. Cast
   Curse of the Elements
   if assigned while running at boss.
5. Cast
   Incinerate
   to apply
   Shadow and Flame
   if assigned.
6. Cast
   Demon Soul
   .
7. Cast
   Immolate
   .
8. Cast
   Corruption
   while running at boss.
9. Cast
   Bane of Doom
   while running at boss.
10. Cast
    Conflagrate
    while running at boss.
11. Cast
    Shadowflame
    .
12. Cast
    Chaos Bolt
    .
13. Proceed with single target rotation.

Single Target

1. Use
   Summon Imp
   .
2. Maintain
   Shadow and Flame
   debuff if assigned.
3. Maintain
   Curse of the Elements
   if assigned.
4. Cast
   Summon Doomguard
   (single) or
   Summon Infernal
   (aoe). Try your best to snapshot it with your Spellpower/Intellect trinket procs.
5. Cast
   Demon Soul
   .
6. Maintain
   Improved Soul Fire
   . Cast
   Soulburn: Soul Fire
   if available, otherwise just cast
   Soul Fire
   .
7. Maintain
   Immolate
   . Refresh in between the second to last and last tick.
8. Maintain
   Corruption
   . Refresh in between the second to last and last tick.
9. Maintain
   Bane of Doom
   . Refresh in between the second to last and last tick.
10. Cast
    Conflagrate
    .
11. Cast
    Shadowflame
    if you are in melee range.
12. Cast
    Soul Fire
    with
    Empowered Imp
    proc.
13. Cast
    Chaos Bolt
    .
14. Cast
    Shadowburn
    on targets below 20% HP.
15. Cast
    Incinerate
    .
16. Cast
    Fel Flame
    while moving.

AoE

2 - 4 targets:

• Maintain
  Improved Soul Fire
  . Cast
  Soulburn: Soul Fire
  if available, otherwise just cast
  Soul Fire
  .
• Maintain
  Immolate
  and
  Corruption
  on all of them.
• Maintain
  Bane of Havoc
  on the target that will live the longest, and
  Bane of Doom
  on one of the other enemies.
• Proceed with single target rotation. Alternate
  Incinerate
  casts between each target to maintain
  Shadow and Flame
  debuff if assigned.

For large pulls:

• Maintain
  Improved Soul Fire
  . Cast
  Soulburn: Soul Fire
  if available, otherwise just cast
  Soul Fire
  .
• Cast
  Shadowflame
  if you are in melee range.
• Cast
  Rain of Fire
  .

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Glyphs

Prime:
Immolate
,
Imp
,
Conflagrate
Major:
Life Tap
,
Soulstone
Minor:
Drain Soul

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of the Draconic Mind

Food

Best:
• Seafood Magnifique Feast
  ,
• Severed Sagefish Head
  ,
• Fortune Cookie

Alternatives:
• Broiled Dragon Feast
  ,
• Pickled Guppy

Potions

Best:
• Volcanic Potion

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Best Races

Alliance

1. Worgen:
   Viciousness
   and
   Darkflight
2. Gnome:
   Expansive Mind

Horde

1. Orc:
   Blood Fury
   and
   Command
2. Goblin:
   Time is Money
   ,
   Rocket Barrage
   , and
   Rocket Jump
3. Troll:
   Berserking
4. Blood Elf:
   Arcane Torrent

Cataclysm Classic Destruction Warlock Best Professions

1. Engineering:
   Synapse Springs
   .
2. Tailoring:
   Lightweave Embroidery
   .
3. Blacksmithing:
   Socket Bracer
   and
   Socket Gloves
   . Becomes 2nd best in T13.
4. The rest of the Crafting Professions provide nearly identical benefits.