WoW Forever · Spell damage and recovery

Affliction Warlock

Affliction uses periodic effects and drains to manage an enemy’s remaining life. Apply enough pressure to be useful, then choose whether another effect, a drain or a direct cast is worth its mana. Loading every effect onto a nearly defeated enemy can be slower than simply finishing it.

Current beta play is capped at level 30. Level 60 reference models and deeper talents are identified as later planning. Client descriptions and server updates can differ.

In this guide

What this build asks you to do

Nightfall can turn qualifying damage events into a prepared instant Shadow Bolt. The conditional proc is not a guarantee that every drain produces one. Siphon Life adds another recovery shape, while later Wrack changes the interaction with other Shadow periodic effects. Life Tap remains a health-to-mana decision; combining recovery tools does not remove the need to watch your own health and the demon’s condition.

Periodic pressure can continue while you choose recovery or another cast.
Target lifetime, drain exposure and health spent for mana can constrain the sequence.

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

Choose the next action

Choose enough periodic pressure for this enemy’s remaining life. Applying every damage-over-time effect to a nearly defeated target can waste both mana and casting time.
Use a learned drain or direct finish when that action solves the remaining fight. Movement, interruption and the demon’s condition can change the useful choice.
Notice Nightfall’s qualifying event and spend the prepared Shadow Trance on a useful Shadow Bolt. The proc is conditional, and its consumption does not erase an existing Corruption.
Use Life Tap with an actual health reserve and a plan to recover. Health converted to mana cannot also absorb the next dangerous enemy hit.
Later Wrack has its own interaction with Shadow periodic effects. Do not copy a future effect combination into an early character who has not learned it.

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

A periodic event can prepare an instant Shadow Bolt

Click through an illustrative sequence. Conditional effects require the named spells and talents; this is not a damage, resource, threat or timing simulation.

Apply Corruption: Use the learned periodic effect on a target that will live long enough for it to matter.
Nightfall triggers conditionally: With Nightfall learned, this example shows an eligible event preparing Shadow Trance.
Use Shadow Bolt: Use the prepared instant-cast condition on the learned direct spell; it is not a permanent cast-time reduction.
Keep the periodic effect separate: Corruption still has its own duration. Choose a drain, another cast or recovery based on the actual situation.

Inspect the interaction

The scene explains this named mechanic. The saved level 60 priority reference, where present, is separate.

A periodic event can prepare an instant Shadow Bolt Current beta · use the spells and talents you know

A periodic event can prepare an instant Shadow Bolt

Click through an illustrative sequence. Conditional effects require the named spells and talents; this is not a damage, resource, threat or timing simulation.

This scene illustrates a named interaction. Playback does not simulate combat timing, damage, resource costs or enemy behaviour.

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

Build the toolkit

Train the demon and drain/damage ranks you actively use before buying every possible pet option. Keep a practical wand and useful utility. Nightfall, Siphon Life and deeper Wrack are separate learned choices, not guaranteed additions to an early pull.

Build the toolkit
Level	Decision or milestone	Scope
4	Check Corruption in the early spellbook.	Current beta
25	Nightfall is an ordinary talent-row option.	Current beta
30	Siphon Life becomes a talent-row option.	Current beta
40	Wrack is deeper planning.	Later planning

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

Understand the upgrade

Periodic damage is useful only while the target remains alive; compare the spells rather than counting every full tooltip duration.

Life Tap and drains trade different resources. More mana is not automatically safe when health is the limiting resource.

These examples describe the pinned client baseline. Learned talents, buffs, attack type and actual encounter change the useful result; they are not universal stat weights. Spirit’s value must be compared through the full and casting regeneration your character reports, rather than a fixed Spirit-to-MP5 rule.

Understand the upgrade
Comparison	Meaning
+10 Intellect	+150 mana if existing effective Intellect is at least 20, before further modifiers; about +0.355 percentage points of spell crit at level 30.
+7 Intellect from 19	The first-20 breakpoint gives +91 mana, not +105.
Spell/healing power	Compare the affected spell or heal and learned rank; the coefficient and useful outcome differ.

Sources for this section

Forever class attribute coefficients Client data · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Class baseline attack-power coefficients; form-specific branches and modifiers are separate.
Matching Forever character-stat display Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Client display basis: 14 AP per nominal ordinary weapon DPS, 2 Armor per Agility, and Cat-specific Agility branch. Not a special-attack or shapeshifted damage model.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

Questing and group play

Affliction solo play often asks whether continued pressure and recovery can finish the pull without adding unnecessary casts. Watch the demon and your own health before using another Life Tap. In groups, avoid fear or uncontrolled target changes that bring more enemies, and do not assume self-recovery frees the healer from every emergency.

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.

Choose useful equipment

Compare the affected Shadow spells and useful recovery with Intellect and health. A wand can finish a small remaining deficit but does not gain spell-power scaling after the September change. Damage-over-time equipment must be judged against how long the target actually survives, not only a full-duration tooltip.

Sources for this section

TalentsForever: current beta talents and spell tooltips Forever beta report · 1.60.1.70170 · 2026-10-04
CC-BY-4.0 author-client export generated October 4. Build 70170 with dated research/hotfix annotations; client descriptions do not establish every current server effect or trainer offer.
Method: Warlock levelling advice Forever author guide · 2026-10-04
Original creator playstyle and spending advice. Exact unlocks are cross-checked against beta data; dated Blizzard changes override stale details.
Blizzard beta update: October 1 Official beta notes · 2026-10-04
Dated announced changes and level 30 beta cap; no exact numerical build supplied.
Matching Forever attribute breakpoints Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
First 20 effective Intellect and Stamina breakpoints; Intellect above 20 has 15 mana per point in the client display. HP above the Stamina breakpoint uses a runtime getter.
Forever client regeneration evidence Client interface source · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Reported rate display and accepted class/retention evidence. No universal Spirit-to-MP5 conversion or invented server tick formula.
Forever item reference: build 70205 Client data · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Item names and requirements; client presence does not establish a drop source or current access.

Level 60 reference priorities

Gnome; saved 33/0/18 talent split; level 60; 10,000 iterations; one level 63 target; nominal 120 seconds with ±15 seconds variation.

These are the visible core spell decisions in this saved model’s effective rotation, in source priority order. Check the first usable higher-priority action; later entries can be skipped. Item, racial and other auxiliary management remains in the full report, and execute-phase percentages are encounter settings rather than proc chances.

Level 60 reference priorities
Action	Condition in this saved model
Eureka!	(periodic effect active: Bane of Agony AND periodic effect active: Corruption AND periodic effect active: Immolate AND fight time elapsed ≥ 10s)
Searing Pain	fight time remaining ≤ 3.5
Life Tap	Mana % < 10%
Curse of the Elements	NOT (active effect: Curse of the Elements on target)
Amplify Curse	No additional priority test
Bane of Agony	remaining periodic time: Bane of Agony ≤ model cast time: Bane of Agony
Corruption	remaining periodic time: Corruption ≤ model cast time: Corruption
Immolate	remaining periodic time: Immolate ≤ model cast time: Immolate
Shadow Bolt	No additional priority test

Sources for this section

MythicSim: Affliction Warlock Model documentation · 2026-10-05
Saved level 60 reference, inspected October 5, 2026. Engine forever-f43215d07e51fc228c2e32366d7563b03d76fec8. Its priorities and events describe this model, not tested live gameplay.

Inspect the saved opening

These timestamps show selected events from one recorded model opening. A row can be a triggered event; it is not automatically another button press. Negative times are preparation before the encounter.

Saved endgame model · later planning

Saved level 60 reference

Inspect events from this saved setup.

Level 60 single-target damage reference · later planning

Inspect the saved opening

These rows are events from one model timeline. A triggered hit or effect is not automatically an extra player cast.

Saved model event · -5 sAmplify Curse

Inspect the original setup and full report →

Sources for this section

MythicSim: Affliction Warlock Model documentation · 2026-10-05
Saved level 60 reference, inspected October 5, 2026. Engine forever-f43215d07e51fc228c2e32366d7563b03d76fec8. Its priorities and events describe this model, not tested live gameplay.

Equipment in this reference

The publisher describes these sets as primarily dungeon and crafted equipment, rather than optimized BiS. The Survival and Holy / Protection references have beta-gear exceptions. This is an item sample without inferred inventory slots.

Equipment in this reference
Reference item	How to use this comparison
Stormcloth Shoulders	Fixed reference item; verify your level, source and current access.
Robe of the Void	Fixed reference item; verify your level, source and current access.

Sources for this section

MythicSim: Affliction Warlock Model documentation · 2026-10-05
Saved level 60 reference, inspected October 5, 2026. Engine forever-f43215d07e51fc228c2e32366d7563b03d76fec8. Its priorities and events describe this model, not tested live gameplay.
Forever item reference: build 70205 Client data · 1.60.1.70205 · 2026-10-04
Item names and requirements; client presence does not establish a drop source or current access.
MythicSim: reference-model methodology Model documentation · 2026-10-04
Dated level 60 damage-model references; selected profiles are not gameplay or healer-performance evidence.