Affliction Warlock DPS Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources
  • 3. Basic Abilities
    • 3.1. Damage Over Time Spells (DoTs)
    • 3.2. Direct Damage Spells
    • 3.3. Demonic Summons
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
      • 2.1.1. Single Target
      • 2.1.2. 2 Targets
      • 2.1.3. 3 Targets
    • 2.2. Mythic+
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Third Golden Trait
    • 1.4. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path
  • 3. Relic Choice
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Playstyle
    • 1.1. Single Target Rotation
    • 1.2. 2-Target Priority List
      • 1.2.1. 3-Target Priority List
    • 1.3. Mythic+
  • 2. Important Notes
    • 2.1. DoT Usage (7.2.5)
    • 2.2. Reap Usage
    • 2.3. Unstable Affliction Usage
      • 2.3.1. 2-3 Targets
    • 2.4. Soul Shard Sniping
    • 2.5. Pet Choice
    • 2.6. Agony
    • 2.7. "Nightfall" — Shard Generation Explained
    • 2.8. "Pandemic" — Learning to Efficiently Refresh DoTs
    • 2.9. Defensive Utility
    • 2.10. Doomguard and Infernal
  • 3. Core Concepts
    • 3.1. DoT Uptimes & Shard Expenditure
    • 3.2. Movement Management
      • 3.2.1. Quiet Movement
  • 4. Opening Sequence
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Stat Weights
    • 2.1. Why is Mastery Good?
  • 3. Statistics Explanations
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons
    • 1.1. Generic Addons for Warlocks
    • 1.2. ElvUI
    • 1.3. Weak Auras
    • 1.4. Boss Mods
      • 1.4.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.4.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.5. Name Plates
      • 1.5.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.5.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.6. Damage Meters
      • 1.6.1. Skada
      • 1.6.2. Details
    • 1.7. Extra AddOns
      • 1.7.1. AffDots
      • 1.7.2. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.7.3. DeathNote
      • 1.7.4. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.7.5. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros
    • 2.1. Warlock Macros
      • 2.1.1. Pet Macros
      • 2.1.2. Soulstone Mouseover
      • 2.1.3. Demonic Circle
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 2. Trinket Discussion
  • 3. Best in Slot List
  • 4. Evaluating Upgrades Using Stat Weights
  • 5. Legendaries
    • 5.1. Legendary Quick Reference
  • 6. Loot Competition
  • 7. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Affliction Warlocks. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Affliction Warlock guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Preciousyipz, one of the top parsers as Affliction Warlock. You can watch his videos on Youtube.

1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points

1.1. Early Point Investment

After acquiring the starting trait, Crystalline Shadows, swing right and pick up Inherently Unstable. Head down into Sweet Souls for some extra defensive punch from Healthstones, and continue into Perdition. Grab your first Golden Trait, Wrath of Consumption, which is a good all around damage increase and a strong bonus in most situations.

1.2. Second Golden Trait

Head upwards into Hideous Corruption for additional Corruption damage. Shadowy Incantations is a good overall increase. Acquire your second Golden Trait, Soul Flame, which is exceptional in farming Mythic+ and allows for some bonkers AoE if the situation is right.

1.3. Third Golden Trait

Backtrack to Inherently Unstable and head upwards, investing into Inimitable Agony, which is a very strong trait in all situations. Continue down the upper spine into Shadows of the Flesh for some more defensive utility. Acquire your final Golden Trait, Harvester of Souls, which is a nice way to round out your primary path.

1.4. Final Point Investment

Final point investment is straightforward. Pick up Drained to a Husk, which allows you to access Fatal Echoes. After this, follow the top spine towards the left, starting with Seeds of Doom. Talent into Compounding Horror before completing your Artifact traits with your final node, Long Dark Night of the Soul.

2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path

Patch 7.2 has replaced the 35-54 Paragon system with several additional new traits becoming available upon acquisition of the 35th point. All of the previous Relic traits will also unlock a 4th rank, along with a new Paragon system becoming available after all traits have been filled (via Concordance of the Legionfall) which all additional Artifact Power will be spent on.

Detailed below is our suggested maxing order after 35 traits:

1. Degradation of the Black Harvest
2. Winnowing
3. Sinister Seeds
4. Rend Soul
5. Fourth rank of Perdition
6. Fourth rank of Shadowy Incantations
7. Fourth rank of Inherently Unstable
8. Fourth rank of Inimitable Agony
9. Fourth rank of Hideous Corruption
10. Fourth rank of Drained to a Husk
11. Fourth rank of Seeds of Doom
12. Fourth rank of Long Dark Night of the Soul
13. Fourth rank of Shadows of the Flesh
14. Concordance of the Legionfall

3. Relic Choice

All relics are very close in value for Affliction, and item level should generally be the indicator for value. No trait is worth more than 2 weapon item levels.

1. Perdition;
2. Shadowy Incantations;
3. Winnowing;
4. Inherently Unstable;
5. Inimitable Agony;
6. Hideous Corruption;
7. Drained to a Husk;
8. Seeds of Doom.

4. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 13 Jun. 2017: Added further context for artifact relic item levels.
• 17 May 2017: Updated Relic priority.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Added path for new 7.2 traits.
• 13 Jan. 2017: Updated Relic priority slightly.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 12 Dec. 2016: Updated Artifact path and images.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.