For most classes there is usually a consensus on which build is best for leveling. I’ve not found this to be the case for Warlocks, a class with two “leveling” trees that both have adherants: Affliction and Demonology. Although I’ve spent a great deal of time playing both trees and have nothing negative to say about either one, when my newest Warlock hit level ten and it was time to spend that first point, I did not hesitate. I put the point in Improved Corruption and started my Warlock’s journey down the Affliction tree.
Why? What makes Affliction so much better for leveling, in my mind?
There is one simple, good reason, and several other lesser reasons. The best reason to level as Affliction is that it has more spells that return more mana and health as you kill than any of the other trees. This means less down time as you are grinding mobs and questing.
Granted, at early levels the Warlock’s +Spell Power is so low, not much mana and health is returned by spells such as Life Tap (even when specced for Improved Life Tap) and Drain Life. Even at level 40, my Orc Warlock found it difficult to drain tank with an Imp because the amount of health and mana generated via spells wasn’t enough to keep him topped off. Life Tap and bandage/eat was still often necessary.
However, play as Demonology for awhile and you will appreciate Affliction’s benefits. Even at 80, Demonology is particularly a huge mana drain.
Another reason to level Affliction is that from the very first point spent, you are buffing your damage. Improved Corruption is as valuable a spell today as it was back when it had a cast time and you specced Imp Corruption in order to remove that cast time. Even for a Demonology Warlock, Corruption is a primary damage ability. You can’t go around spamming Shadow Bolts without eating and drinking after every kill–Life Tap and Bandage simply can’t keep you going that long.
A typical rotation for my sub-level 20 Warlock is Immolate, Corruption, and then wand. Yes, wand. As with drain tanking, the goal is to finish with high health and mana. Life Tap after the mob dies, and then bandage. Until I get Nightfall at 15 points, I never use Shadowbolt. It just isn’t necessary and isn’t mana efficient at this level.
In the next tier after you fill out Imp Corruption, with Improved Life Tap and the buffs to your Drain spells you will start to see your down time decrease even more. At level 15, my new Undead Warlock was returning 66 mana as opposed to 53 the previous level, all because I put my sixth talent point into Imp Life Tap. It will only get better. Fel Concentration, Siphon Life…all these spells combined with earlier talents make you unstoppable against ordinary mobs, and usually even elites.
Of course, Affliction really shines post level 60, when your bonus to spell damage begins to pick up. Only then can you really appreciate how powerful it is to take on four or more mobs at once, dotting and drain tanking until they all fall at your feet dead. But even at earlier levels, the tree is designed to make you an efficient killer.
That’s not to say Demonology isn’t good, or that Destruction for that matter has no value to a leveler. I know some people swear by each of the other two trees. Demonology buffs your survivability by boosting yours and your pet’s stamina, and if you spec for it, your Voidwalker will never lose aggro. At lvel 50, you get the all-powerful Felguard, and then your fun really begins.
Destruction at 80 is spectacular. When doing dailies, there is no faster way to cut through mobs, particularly if you spec for Replenishment. It is a truly mana efficient tree, especially compared to Demonology at 80. I joked in guild chat the other day that it’s always kind of funny when I kill a Vrykul so fast that they are still speaking their flavor text when they hit the ground.
But for me, I will probably always spec Affliction for my new Warlocks. I don’t like to eat and drink. I like to keep moving after a kill, and Affliction is best, if that is your attitude as well.
