Probably the most feared class to end up against in a 1v1 PvP fight is a Warlock. If you forget about chain fear, their high damage over time spells, and potential to get an insane amount of hit points you are still left with their Felguard (against level 50 plus warlocks). The Felguard is the most dangerous pet in the game. It’s basically like a mini-warrior, it will intercept stun, cleave, put out a lot of DPS, and is able to tank extremely difficult mobs. Demonology is probably the best leveling build for the warlock but I will cover all of the sections.

Afflliction

Ever start a fight with a Warlock, end up running away, and think you’re safe when you’re out of sight? Then you notice you have 2-4 more icons added to your buff window and your health is falling fast. You try to bandage in between ticks, use potions, and even eat food when you leave combat, but none of it seems to be working. This was the working of a warlock heavily talented in Affliction. Even on my rogue I’ve beaten these Warlocks down easily only to have me die from DoTs shortly after they do and then they soulstone back in and mock me. Here is what I’d use to level.

10-14: Improved Corruption 5/5
15-16: Improved Life Tap 2/2
17-18: Soul Siphon 2/2
19: Improved Drain Soul 1/2
20-21: Improved Curse of Agony 2/2
22: Improved Drain Soul 2/2
23-24: Fel Concentration 2/5
25-26: Grim Reach 2/2
27-29: Empowered Corruption 3/3
30: Siphon Life

You will know where to place your talents in the Affliction tree at this level and what’s working for you and what’s not. Contagion and Unstable Affliction are some of the warlock talents you want to make sure you get.

Destruction

The Destruction talent tree focuses mostly on increasing your single target damage spells. I’ve seen Warlocks crit really hard with Shadowbolt so there are definitely benefits to using this ability in PvP. In PvE, the mobs you are fighting will be taken down so fast that you won’t have to fear kite as much. Here is what I’d do.

10-14: Improved Shadow Bolt 5/5
14-19: Bane 5/5
20: Shadowburn 1/1
21-24: Devastation 4/5
25-26: Destructive Reach 2/2
27-28: Intensity 2/2
29: Devastation 5/5
30: Ruin 1/1

Continue increasing your ability to cause high damage with your single target spells and adding in any of the talents that could help you land those spells on the way. Conflagrate and Shadowfury are important talents to get.

Demonology

Enhancing your Warlock’s pet is considered to generally be the best way to level. The Demonology tree gives you the option to increase the health, damage, and abilities of your pets. Instead of relying on just yourself completely, upgrading through this tree will allow you to balance the total DPS output so that enemies won’t just be able to ignore your pet.

10-11: Improved Healthstone 2/2
12-14: Demonic Embrace 3/5
15-16: Improved Health Funnel 2/2
17-19: Improved Voidwalker 3/5
20: Fel Domination 1/1
21-23: Fel Stamina 3/3
24: Improved Voidwalker 4/5
25-26: Master Summoner 2/2
27-29: Unholy Power 3/5
30: Demonic Sacrifice 1/1

Keep increasing your pets abilities and work your way toward Summon Felguard, I promise you won’t be upset when you make it to the end result. With Felguard your warlock will be deadly in PvP and PvE, unless you just plain suck.

Warlock Summary

When you think of Warlock, think Felguard. After it was added in the Burning Crusade talent patch, there’s no longer any need to do anything else. I’m sure you can make some awesome warlock talent builds not using Demonology, but why? Who wouldn’t want a cool pet that runs around killing stuff for you? I’d rather be lazy then creative.