WoW Forever · Spell damage

Destruction Warlock

Destruction combines direct casts with Fire and Shadow interactions. Immolate has an initial hit and an ongoing effect; Conflagrate requires that setup. Decide whether to consume the periodic effect for an immediate action or preserve it when a later learned talent changes the rule.

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

Shadow and Flame connects Conflagrate to a Shadow-damage benefit and Shadowburn to a Fire-damage benefit. Its learned ranks also affect whether those spells consume Immolate and a Soul Shard. That is why a baseline sequence and a deep-tree sequence should not be treated as identical. Later Incinerate has its own Immolate condition. Watch the actual rank and effect before copying a future damage preset.

Setting up a target can enable a strong immediate follow-up.
Consumption rules and later talents change the cost of that follow-up; burst can interrupt useful periodic pressure.

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.
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 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.

Choose the next action

Choose a safe cast and establish Immolate when its direct and periodic damage will be useful. A nearly defeated enemy may need an immediate finish instead.
Baseline Conflagrate requires and consumes the Immolate setup. After using it, the ongoing effect is absent; inspecting the state does not cast another spell.
With deeper Shadow and Flame learned, read the changed consumption rules and cross-school benefits. Do not use those later rules to explain a baseline level 25 example.
Use Shadowburn with its actual learned requirements and Soul Shard situation. A future talent interaction that changes consumption does not create free supplies for an early character.
Balance direct bursts against health and mana recovery. A large stationary hit can still be inefficient if it prevents the next pull or abandons useful pet support.

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.
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 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.

Baseline Conflagrate consumes its Immolate setup

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

Apply Immolate: Use the learned effect and keep its periodic state visible.
Choose Conflagrate: With Conflagrate learned, the baseline description requires and consumes Immolate.
Read the empty setup: In this baseline example the periodic effect is gone; a later non-consumption talent is not silently included.
Reapply when useful: Rebuild the learned setup if the enemy will live long enough, rather than assuming it remained for free.

Inspect the interaction

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

Baseline Conflagrate consumes its Immolate setup Current beta · use the spells and talents you know

Baseline Conflagrate consumes its Immolate setup

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.
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 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.

Build the toolkit

Train the direct spells, demon abilities and utility you use. Conflagrate is a talent milestone, while deeper Shadow and Flame and Incinerate are later planning. Learn the baseline consumption rule before testing the changed deep-tree sequence.

Build the toolkit
Level	Decision or milestone	Scope
1	Check Immolate as an initial learned spell.	Current beta
20	Shadowburn is an ordinary talent-row option.	Current beta
25	Conflagrate becomes a talent-row option.	Current beta
35	Shadow and Flame is later planning.	Later planning
40	Incinerate 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.
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 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.

Understand the upgrade

Evaluate which portions of Immolate you actually use before consuming it; full-duration tooltip damage is not always realised.

A Shadow or Fire benefit applies through its named spell/talent condition; no universal mixed-school multiplier is assumed.

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

Solo Destruction needs enough casting space and a demon plan for enemies that reach you. In a group, let the tank establish control before a burst and avoid changing to an uncontrolled target solely because a damage action is ready. Fire and Shadow effects can support different sequences; the useful choice depends on what is already active.

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.
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 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.

Choose useful equipment

Compare Fire/Shadow or general spell damage against the actual cast mixture, mana reserve and learned consumption rules. A school-specific upgrade can improve one branch while leaving the other unchanged. Keep a wand as an optional low-cost finish, evaluated separately from spell power.

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.
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 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.
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

Undead; saved 11/11/29 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
Shadowburn	fight time remaining ≤ 1.5
Searing Pain	fight time remaining ≤ 3.5
Life Tap	Mana % < 10%
Curse of the Elements	NOT (active effect: Curse of the Elements on target)
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
Conflagrate	(periodic effect active: Immolate AND (remaining periodic time: Immolate < 4s OR (known model effect: Shadow AND NOT (active effect: Shadow))))
Shadowburn	No additional priority test
Shadow Bolt	No additional priority test

Sources for this section

MythicSim: Destruction 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 · -1.5 sLife Tap

Inspect the original setup and full report →

Sources for this section

MythicSim: Destruction 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: Destruction 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.