PvE Destruction Warlock Best in Slot (BiS) & Pre-Raid Gear

wotlk pve destruction warlock pre bis bis gear
  • Author: Zephan
  • Date: August 30, 2022
  • Updated: January 3, 2024
  • Expansion: WotLK Classic
Item
Source
Engineering
Culling of Stratholme – Heroic
Sunwell
The Oculus – Heroic

Visage Liquification Goggles are technically the best available pre bis hel, however seeing as how quickly you will replace them it doesn’t seem worth the cost.

There are also plenty of helms that dropped in The Sunwell (including converted healer ones) that are still worthwhile options, namely Cowl of Light’s Purity, Helm of Arcane Purity, and Dark Conjuror’s Collar.

For those looking for cheaper options / dungeon drops there is both Forgotten Shadow Hood and Crown of Unbridled Magic.

Item
Source
Naxxramas Trash – BoE
Jewelcrafting – BoE
Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom – Heroic

Chain of Latent Energie is a BoE drop inside 10-man Naxxramas, on par with Encircling Burnished Gold Chains.

Titanium Spellshock Necklace is the strongest necklace if we do not require any additional hit rating. It should be noted however that Titanium Spellshock Necklace doesn’t come cheap.

Item
Source
Sunwell
Utgarde Keep
Sunwell
Sunwell
Halls of Stone

Shoulderpads of Knowledge from Sunwell are the best available shoulders closely followed by Runecasters Mantle and Amice of the Convoker.

Item
Source
Tailoring – BoE
Drak’Tharon Keep – BoE
Sunwell

Deathchill Cloak is another bind-on-equipped crafted piece. It is significantly stronger than most other available cloaks. Reanimator’s Cloak is not too far off in value and might potentially be cheaper.

Item
Source
Tailoring – BoE
Sunwell
Tailoring – BoP

Heroes Plagueheart Robe costs us a lot of emblems but moves us already a step closer to our two and four-piece tier bonus.

Item
Source
The Oculus – Heroic
Violet Hold – Heroic
The Oculus

Cuffs of Winged Levitation and Azure Cloth Bindings are two really good and close wrists options.

Black Duskweave is slightly worse on its own than any of the above-listed braces, but combined with Black Duskweave for the two-piece bonus of +18 spell power is another solid option.

Item
Source
Tailoring – BoE
Sunwell
Tailoring – BoE
Drak’Tharon Keep – Heroic

Plagueheart Gloves should be considered a must have, in combination with Heroes Plagueheart Robe for the two-piece bonus and eventual four-piece bonus.

Item
Source
Utgarde Pinnacle – Heroic
Halls of Lightning – Heroic
Azjol-Nerub – Heroic

Plush Sash of Guzbah and Girdle of Bane is for all intents and purposes nearly equal in value, assuming you can fully make use of the hit rating. All other belts are significantly further behind in value, especially if you need a belt without hit rating.

Item
Source
Sunwell
Sunwell
Sunwell
Halls of Lightning – Heroic
Utgarde Keep – Heroic

All three of the Burning Crusade pants listed above are really close to each other in value. The first Wrath of the Lich King pants that comes close in value is Woven Bracae Leggings.

Black Duskweave is also worth mentioning, this can be combined with Black Duskweave bracers for the two-piece bonus.

Item
Source
The Eye of Eternity – BoE
Naxxramas – BoE
Wyrmrest – Exalted
Sunwell

There is a wide margin between boots gotten from 25 man raid bind on equipped drops and other available boots, but they will come at a significant cost and not be available all the time / early on. The next best option which will be a lot easier to obtain is Sandals of Crimson Fury.

Item
Source
Jewelcrafting – BoE
Jewelcrafting – BoE
8500 Gold
8500 Gold
Drak’Tharon Keep – Heroic

There are a lot of options when it comes to our rings. Most of them can be bought, but one might already be more expansive than the other, looking at you Signet of the Kirin Tor. Ring of Northern Tears, Lost Ring of the Necromancer, and Titanium Spellshock Ring can also be bought for gold.

Band of Guile and Annhylde’s Ring are for all intents and purposes the same ring that drops from another Heroic.

Item
Source
Violet Hold – Heroic
Brewfest
Halls of Stone – Heroic
World Drop – BoE

The Egg of Mortal Essence is not listed above, at the moment of this writing, it seems we can only proc this with Health Funnel, limiting its use as we do not want to be wasting cast time using this in combat.

Sundial of the Exiled and Mithril Pocketwatch are the same trinket for all intents and purposes, one easier to get than the other.

Item
Source
Blacksmithing – BoE
Drak’Tharon Keep – Heroic
Kirin Tor – Revered
Utgarde Pinnacle – Heroic
Utgarde Pinnacle

If Titansteel Spellblade is out from release one-hand plus offhand will be the play. If it is not Cursed Lich Blade or any of the other listed one hands will work as well but Staff of Draconic Combat will be a closer option.

Item
Source
Inscription – BoE
Inscription – BoE
The Nexus – Heroic

Ward of the Violet Citadel really is the best option and at only a cost of 25 Emblem not too hard to get your hands on. That being said any of the others listed will last you until you get it.

Item
Source
The Oculus – Heroic
Utgarde Pinnacle – Heroic
Ahn’kahet: The old Kingdom – Heroic
Sunwell
Stratholme

Staff of Draconic Combat drops from the last boss in The Oculus Heroic. If Titansteel Spellblade is out from release, that combined with Ward of the Violet Citadel will be a tad bit better.

Item
Source
Sunwell
Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom – Heroic
Azjol-Nerub – Heroic
Sunwell
Utgarde Keep – Heroic

Wand of Cleansing Light used to be a healer wand, due to the stat changes it makes it the best available wand in both pre patch and in Wrath of the Lich King before we enter any raids.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Obsidian Sanctum
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

There are a plethora of helms thats are technically better than Valorous Plagueheart Circle, especially Hood of Rationality. However the benefit from both the two-piec and four-piece bonus make (and more than a little) up for this difference. This in turn makes Valorous Plagueheart Circle the best in slot helm, even if it doesn’t have the highest stat points.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Eye of Eternity
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

It is noticable that both of the best necks are rewareded for the quest chain in Eye of Eternity, the 25 man and 10 man version respectively. Both also have a blue socket bonus providing 5 spell power, making it an excelent choice to meet our CSD requirements.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

We want to use Valorous Plagueheart Shoulderpads in order to activate our two and four-piece set bonus. That being said looking purely at the stats the items provide Mantle of the Fatigued Sage, Mantle of the Locusts and Mantle of the Corrupted are roughly equal in value, with Mantle of Dissemination being a tiny bit better.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Obsidian Sanctum
Tailoring – BoE
Naxxramas

Cape of the Unworthy Wizard is a tiny bit better compared to Pennant Cloak for Destruction Warlocks, lucky for us it should also be somewhat easier to obtain as most casters prioritise Pennant Cloak.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

Just as when we went over previous sections we want to utilize the tier 7 piece for our set bonusses, namely Valorous Plagueheart Robe. However unlike previous item slots the difference between the tier piece and the best piece (purely statwise) is small.

Item
Source
Obsidian Sanctum
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

As for all casters is the case Unsullied Cuffs is our best in slot. The alternatives listed are close too and shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you require the hit rating.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Obisidian Sanctum
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

Another slot where we want to get our hands on a tier 7 piece, Valorous Plagueheart Gloves. Also here the alternatives are only slightly better compared to tier 7.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Utgarde Pinnacle – Heroic

Leash of Heedless Magic whilst best in slot, is another caster favorite so it might be hard to lay claim to it. Cincture of Polarity is a relative close alternative if you can utilize the amount of hit on it.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

The o so popular Leggings of the Wanton Spellcaster is also best in slot for us, just as for most casters. Alternatively you could swap your pants for Valorous Plagueheart Leggings instead and use Hood of Rationality as your helm instead. This setups is slightly behind but offers up less loot compitition.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity – BoE
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

Arcanic Tramplers are the boots of choice for our best in slot setup, however Xintor’s Expeditionary Boots are equally as good if we can utilize the hit rating to its fullest extend.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Jewelcrafting – BoE

Thanks to the fact that crit rating is really valuable for Destruction Warlocks becomes our second BIS ring, which should have less loot compitition compared to most other casters. Our best ring in turn is Signet of Manifested Pain.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Obsidian Sanctum
Brewfest
Violet Hold

Most casters will be after Illustration of the Dragon Soul & Dying Curse, they are hands down some of the best available trinkets this phase.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Jewelcrafting – BoE

When it comes to weapon combinations main hand + off hand most often beats out staff alternatives, this phase isn’t any different. The Turning Tide in itself is ahead a lot compared to the other weapon alternatives.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

When it comes to offhands we have some more choices of items all relatively close in value to eachother. Namely Surplus Limb if you need hit rating or Accursed Spine and Matriarch’s Spawn if you don’t. It should also be stated that Ward of the Violet Citadel really isn’t all that far behind and relative easy to get in comparison.

Item
Source
Eye of Eternity
Naxxramas
Obsidian Sanctum
Naxxramas
Naxxramas

As stated before staffs are slightly less DPS overall compared to onehand and mainhaind combinations, that being said Greatstaff of the Nexus is our best available option.

Item
Source
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Naxxramas
Sunwell
Utgarde Keep – Heroic

Wands just as our offhands, offer us a lot of options depending on our needs. Plague Igniter offers us the most pure DPS ignoring hit rating, whilst Gemmed Wand of the Nerubians does give us that valuable hit. Alternatively you can also make use of Wand of the Archlich if you require no hit rating.

T4 4P Information

The bonus from our four pieces of tier four provides an extra 300 Spirit whenever we use life tap for 10 seconds. This translates to an extra 150 amount of spell power through Fel Armor and glyph of life tap. This raises the question if you should be using Life Tap more often to increase our total amount of Spell Power. The answer to this is relatively simple, Life Tap incurs a global cooldown, this means we lose roughly 1.5s of cast time every 10 seconds or approximately 15% (depending on our cast speed) of our DPS, there is no way that the additional 150 spell power results in an overall DPS increase that is bigger than this. Using life tap earlier can be worthwhile if you can make the buff align with other cooldowns, this doesn’t increase the total amount of global cooldowns spent on Life Tap, but instead shifts when we use it.

In short whilst the four-piece bonus of Plagueheart Garb provides us with extra spell power we should not be seeking 100% uptime on the buff, rather we should keep on using life tap as we normally would during our rotation for mana and upkeeping glyph of life tap.

It should be noted that contrary to the other specializations, the technically best-in-slot setup does not make use of the four-piece bonus, but rather opt for other non-tier set pieces. T4 4P is still a strong contender as it is immensely close to the theoretical best gear combination for the phase.

Pre-Raid

Before ever setting foot inside a raid we can already start collecting a bunch of great items to get us going. This includes raid drops from the previous 10-man raids in the form of Heroic+ Dungeons, Items brought through Heroism Emblems (quests and normal heroics), Valor Badges (Heroic+), and even a couple of items through Emblems of Conquest thanks to the daily Heroic Dungeon quest (provides 2 emblems every day). Those with heavy purses can even buy their way up the meters by getting the various raid drop Bind on Equipe items and the latest crafted pieces. On top of that those who do not shun player-versus-player interaction can get a bunch of great items for honor too. As you can see the list of sources for catch-up gear is incredibly long, here we will go in-depth about each and every worthwhile piece and who/ why you should consider it.

Best in Slot

When it comes to our best in slot gear, most of the items will be coming from 25-man Hard Mode bosses. The issue with this is that according to the following blue post, most Hard Mode bosses will only drop 1 additional top item. In other words, it will take a good while until all items drop, and 252 item-level items are highly sought after. As such it is important to keep this in mind when considering gearing options and loot distribution, do not hold out for an item that might take months to even see drop (if you can clear the Hard Modes to begin with). Each slot has a detailed description of the best items to consider and the reasons behind them. For more personal details you will have to simulate your gear setups using wowsims.

Information

Ideally, we want to make use of 2-pieces of Tier 8 for the set bonus that it provides. We can also make use of four pieces until we get our hands on the 25-man Hard Mode items. The best slot to use Tier 8 and loss out the least amount of stats is the chest slot. It is nearly as strong as the best possible alternatives. The next item(s) will depend on the Hard-Mode items you can get. You will be wanting to trade the following items:

So you will likely use 1 or more of these items to get your set bonus or use the tier item until you get the Hard-Mode pieces. The easiest Hard Mode item to get from this list likely is Amice of Inconceivable Horror, as this drops in 10-man content while the rest drops in 25-man content.

Pre-Raid

Enamored Cowl as a whole is the best helm we can use. Alternatively, Heroes’ Plagueheart Circlet isn’t far behind and can help us achieve our tier 7 four-piece bonus. Additionally, we can swap in Heroes’ Plagueheart Circlet if, for example we get upgrades for other slots that are better compared to the tier 7 alternative, the same holds true for all tier 7 pieces (Do not throw them away until you got enough upgrades above tier 7 that you do not need the tier bonus). Note that non of the helms listed have any hit rating on them, making it something you do not need to actively manage when upgrading items.

Various Bosses (H+)
Engineering

Best-In-Slot

It is clear that as far as helmets go, Crown of Luminescence is the best there is, but it will also be highly sought after and rare to get your hands on. This is due to the fact that it only drops from 25-man Hard Mode Mimiron. So what are the most likely alternatives? If we can get other Hard-Mode loot for our Shoulders or Legs we can use Conqueror’s Deathbringer Hood here to complete our two-piece set bonus. If we don’t use our helm slot to complete our two-set bonus we can instead make use of Collar of the Wyrmhunter if we need additional hit rating, and Cowl of Dark Whispers if we do not. All of these drops are from 25-man Ulduar, from 10-mans we can get our hands on Lifespark Visage.

Mimiron (HM) – Ulduar (25)
ThorimUlduar (25)
HodirUlduar (10)
MimironUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

Evokers Charm is a highly recommended option for the neck slot. This item can be obtained for 19 Emblems of Conques (rewarded for the daily heroic dungeon quest). If hit rating is not a priority, players may also consider the Veiled Amulet of Life, which can be obtained through Heroic+ Utgarde Keep (Prince Keleseth) or Naxxramas (Gluth and Gothik).

For those who are looking to increase hit rating, the Chain of Latent Energies is a valuable option that can be obtained through the auction house. Alternatively, the Encircling Burnished Gold Chains, which can be obtained through 25 Emblems of Heroism, and Circle of Arcana Streams, which drops from Heroic+ Stratholme (Epoch) are also viable options.

BOE World Drop

Best-In-Slot

Wyrmrest Necklace of Power stands its ground, it does get trumped but only by Hard Mode specific items. When it comes to upgrading away from Wyrmrest Necklace of Power, the Pendant of Fiery Havoc on paper is the strongest however, be aware that you will need to work around the additional hit rating and shuffle gear. Sapphire Amulet of Renewal, Watchful Eye of Fate, and Pendant of the Shallow Grave are direct upgrades over Wyrmrest Necklace of Power that doesn’t require additional item switching when it comes to hit rating. Note that all of these upgrades drop from Hard Modes, so don’t hold out till you get either, it might take a while to see one drop.

Steelbreaker (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Flame Leviathan (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Steelbreaker (HM) – Ulduar (10)
Thorim (HM) – Ulduar (10)
Trash – Ulduar (25)
KologarnUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

The Heroes Plaguehear Shoulderpads are an excellent choice for the shoulder slot, as they provide a solid amount of hit rating and contribute to achieving the Tier 7 set-bonus for us. Other options, such as the Miasma Mantle and Mantle of the Extensive Mind, which can be obtained from Heroic+ or Naxxramas, do not offer hit rating, but are still worth considering. The Mantle of the Tribunal from Halls of Stone or the Dark Runic Mantle also from Halls of Stone, which is a BOE item, are likewise feasible options.

Various Bosses (H+)
Heroic+ ?

Best-In-Slot

The two most apparent choices regarding our shoulder slot are Amice of Inconceivable Horror and Conqueror’s Deathbringer Shoulderpads. On the other hand, Mantle of Wavering Calm and  Underworld Mantle are both excellent alternatives to consider depending on your needs around tier 8 and what content you clear with your raider buddies.

Yogg-Saron (HM) – Ulduar (10)
ThorimUlduar (10)
AuriayaUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

For the back slot, the Deathchill Cloak is a highly recommended option for players with spare gold. This item can be purchased from the auction house or crafted by a tailor using the required materials. The Disguise of the Kuminho, which can be obtained through 25 Emblems of Valor, is also a great option to consider. Additionally, the Dark Shroud of the Scourge, if available, is a great option for players in need of hit rating.

BOE Tailoring

Best-In-Slot

All upgrades over Pennant Cloak from Sartharion in the previous phase are related to Hard Modes in one form or another. In plain words, it might take you a good while until you can wrap yourself in a new cloak blanket.  Sunglimmer Cloak and  Sunglimmer Drape are rewarded for defeating Algalon (the extra boss unlocked by completing various Hard Mode encounters) through a quest item called  Reply-Code Alpha. Algalon also drops Drape of the Messenger in its 10-man version.  Drape of Mortal Downfall drops from 25-man Hard Mode Steelbreaker.

As you can see Pennant Cloak will last us a long while, for those who do not have it yet you can consider picking up an item such as Asimov’s Drape or Shawl of Haunted Memories.

Steelbreaker (HM) – Ulduar (25)
MimironUlduar (25)
Ulduar Trash

Pre-Raid

To continue expanding the warlock’s set bonus, Heroes’ Plagueheart Robe is a great option for the chest slot. This item can be obtained through 80 Emblems of Heroism, or from Heroic+ or Naxxramas drops. For players with a heavier purse, the Spellweave Robe or Ebonweave Robe are also great options to consider, depending on what is available at the auction house.

Other options include the Gown of the Spell-weaver and the Gown of Blaumeux from Heroic+ dungeons, both gowns provide a solid amount of hit rating.

BOE Tailoring
Heroic+ ?
BOE Tailoring

Best-In-Slot

This is one of the few slots where there are no 251-item-level Hard Mode items that blow normal 25-man mode gear out of the water. Most notable is our tier 8 chest Conqueror’s Deathbringer Robe, it is one of the must-have slot for completing our two or four-piece set bonus. On top of that we can buy our chest for 58 Emblems of Conquest making it one of the more sure items we can get.

On the other hand, say you already got your tier 8 set bonus, and not yet your tier chest. In this case you could consider getting either Robes of the Umbral Brute or Raiments of the Iron Council, both are minor upgrades over Conqueror’s Deathbringer Robe if you only look at attributes (and ignore your two (or four) piece set bonus of tier 8.

HodirUlduar (25)
KologarnUlduar (25)
AuriayaUlduar (10)
Four Horseman, GluthNaxxramas (25)

Pre-Raid

For the wrist slot, the Wraps of the Astral Traveler and Preceptor’s Bindig are good options that provide hit rating. Wraps of the Astral Traveler are bought for 60 emblems of valor whilst the other drops from Heroic+. Other options include Resurgent Phantom Bindings from Heroic+ and Cuffs of Winged Levitation from Heroic Oculus.

The Oculus Heroic

Best-In-Slot

Unsullied Cuffs remains one of the best bracers out there, only Grasps of Reason beats it. Note that these bracers will be an upgrade for every caster in the raid.

Those missing Unsullied Cuffs can also opt for Shackles of the Odalisque, Bracers of Unleashed Magic, or Grips of Chaos (BoE), note that all of these drop in 25-man Ulduar. The last two of these are also great options for additional hit rating.

KologarnUlduar (25)
Trash – Ulduar (25)

Pre-Raid

For the “cheap” price of 28 emblems of conquest you can get your hands on (pun intended) Touch of the Occult. Note that it might take a while to get enough emblems since you are limited to 2 to 3 emblems per day. (unless you are heading out into Ulduar). Another great option in the context of Tier 8 is Heroes.

Other options include the Spellweave Gloves or Ebonweave Gloves if you have the spare gold, and Gloves of Dark Gestures from Heroic+ Halls of Lightning (Bjarngrim).

BOE Tailoring
BOE Tailoring

Best-In-Slot

Both of the best gloves come from Alagon; Pharos Gloves and Pulsar Gloves. Next runner-ups are Handwraps of the Vigilant from Hard Mode Vezax, note that these are the best option out there for Demonology Warlocks and you should pass on them in favor of them. All of these gloves are hard to get and will be rare.

The best non-Hard Mode gloves are Handwraps of Plentiful Recovery and Touch of the Occult. Considering tier 8 we can also make use of Conqueror’s Deathbringer Gloves especially if it will enable your next set bonus.

General Vezax (HM) – Ulduar (25)
KologarnUlduar (25)
MimironUlduar (25)
ThorimUlduar (10)
MimironUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

Sash of Ancient Power is a particularly desirable item, as it is considered the best option available before setting foot in a raid. This item is particularly expensive, as it is crafted using materials and a recipe that drop in Ulduar. However, for those who are looking for a more budget-friendly option, Sash of Potent Incanctations, available for 28 emblems of conquest, might be a more realistic choice. Other options include the Girdle of Bane, which drops in Utgarde Pinnacle on Heroic mode, or the Plush Sash of Guzbah, which also provides hit rating, another option is Agonal Sash from Heroic+.

BOE Tailoring
BOE Tailoring

Best-In-Slot

For those with heavy purses it will be relatively easy (though expensive) to get a good belt. Sash of Ancient Power is crafted with the new crafting ingredient namely runed orb. Starwatcher’s Binding is slightly stronger but will be significantly harder to get due to being an Algalon drop.

For those looking for a normal raid drop you should consider Embrace of the Leviathan from 25-man Flame Leviathan.

BOE Taloring
BOE Taloring

Pre-Raid

Moving on to legs, the best option is likely to be the Heroes Plageuheart Leggings, as it is part of the tier 7 set-bonus. Other options include Leggings of Sapphiron and Leggings of the Instructor, both of which drop in Heroic+ dungeons. For those on a budget, Woven Bracae Leggings, which drop in the “normal” heroic version of the Halls of Lightning, will be a more affordable option.

Various Heroic+

Best-In-Slot

When it comes to our pants, the choice is fairly obvious. You use Conqueror’s Deathbringer Leggings, if your lucky you will eventually replace them with Leggings of the Enslaved Idol from 25-man Hard Mode Freya. You can also make use of Leggings of Profound Darkness, note that this is also a Hard Mode drop, and you lose out on the benefit from tier pants enabling your set-bonuses. Note that there are also plenty of alternatives until you get either of the pants.

Freya (HM) – Ulduar (25)
General Vezax (HM) – Ulduar (10)
FreyaUlduar (25)
ThorimUlduar (25)
HodirUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

Spellslinger’s Slippers, another item crafted in Ulduar, are a step up compared to the alternatives. However, for those on a budget, Xintor Expeditionary Boots (or Slipper of the Holy Light if you do not need additional hit rating), both available for 40 emblems of valor, can be more feasible options. Additionally, the Saltarello Shoes, which drop in heroic+ dungeons, provide yet another option.

BOE Tailoring
Tailoring BOE
Heroic+?

Best-In-Slot

The best available boots not locked behind Hard Modes are Boots of the Servant from 25-man Freya. Followed closely by Spellslinger’s Slippers which might be easier to get depending on how willing you are willing to part with your hard-earned gold.

Surprise, surprise both best feet come from 25-man Hard Modes. Namely Boots of Fiery Resolution from the Flame Leviathan and Treads of the False Oracle from Yogg-Saron, best of luck getting either. The added benefit though is that both don’t have any hit rating on them making it easy to gear around once you get them.

Flame Leviathan (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Yogg-Saron (HM) – Ulduar (25)
FreyaUlduar (25)
Ulduar – Tailoring
Ulduar – Tailoring
AuriayaUlduar (25)

Pre-Raid

Inscribed Signet of the Kirin Tor is an upgraded version of Signet of the Kirin Tor. It will set you back a few thousand gold, but is a great option when it comes to pre-bis, this ring also has been affected by the item level increase.

Signet of the Malevolent drops from Heroic+ and is a great source of hit rating, as well as all-around great stats. Band of Channeled Magic is a great non-hit option for 25 emblems of valor. Other alternatives are The Horseman’s Seal from Halloween, although that event is a long whilst to go at the time of writing this guide. Other options are Ring of Holy Cleansing from Heroic+, Band of Guile from Stratholme Heroic, or Annhyldes Ring from Utgarde Keep Heroic.

Halloween – Headless Horseman

Best-In-Slot

Pyrelight Circle and Inscribed Signet of the Kirin Tor upgraded version of Phase 1 Kirin Tor Ring for an extra 1000g on top of the 8000g cost) are very similar compared to the best ring of the previous phase namely Signet of Manifested Pain. Frozen Loop is another great ring if you are in any need of hit rating.

Conductive Seal, Nebula Band, and in case you are in need of hit rating Shimmering Seal all are superb rings. However they all drop from Hard Mode encounters making them rather rare. Fire Orchid Signet also drops from a Hard Mode encounter namely Freya 10-man but doesn’t outperforms Signet of Manifested Pain.

Mimiron (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Flame Leviathan (HM) – Ulduar (10)
HodirUlduar (25)
Freya (HM) – Ulduar (10)

Pre-Raid

The two best trinket options by a long shot are Embrace of the Spider from Heroic+ and Sundial of the Exiled for 40 emblems of heroism.

Best-In-Slot

Illustration of the Dragon Soul fully stacked up to 200 spell power performs similarly enough to Flare of the Heavens which drops from General Vezax 25-man Hard Mode. It should also be easier to get now that Phase 1 25-man loot drops in the 10-man versions of raids.

Flare of the Heavens has the benefit of being proc based which if it lines up well enough can have tremendous results, plus you don’t have to worry about keeping Illustration of the Dragon Soul stacks up do note that it will be hard to get your hands on due to being locked behind a Hard Mode encounter.

Scale of Fates is the second strongest trinket, but due to the share amount of haste rating it can under certain circumstances make us soft-haste capped in combination with Backdraft and other haste effects.

General Vezax (HM) – Ulduar (25)
ThorimUlduar (25)
MimironUlduar (25)
AuriayaUlduar (10)

Pre-Raid

Greatstaff of the Nexus is an incredibly strong staff option that drops from Heroic+, do not forget to get the stronger staff-only enchant variant for the additional spell power that it provides.

BOE Blacksmithing
Heroic+ ?
Kirin Tor Revered
BOE Inscription

Best-In-Slot

It is always a little debate about whether one should use two-handers or mainhand + offhand combinations. This phase staffs can present a lot of opportunities in general, they are still a bit weaker compared to the best MH+ OH combination but it should have less loot competition making it easier to get your weapon upgrades. If you can get your hands on a 252 or 245 item level weapon it shouldn’t matter which slot it fits in (as long as you keep being hit capped).

Algalon the Observer (HM), Mimiron (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Mimiron (HM) – Ulduar (10)
AuriayaUlduar (25)
Trash – Naxxramas (10)
KologarnUlduar (25)
Hodir (HM) – Ulduar (25)
Hodir (HM) – Ulduar (10)
FreyaUlduar (25)
FreyaUlduar (10)
The Slave Pens Event
Trash – Ulduar (10)

Pre-Raid

When it comes to wands, we got a lot of options. If you are in need of hit rating Wand of the San’layn from Utgarde Keep Heroic or even Wand of Blinding Light a simple quest reward are great options. Otherwise, Wand of the Archlich will be the go-to option if you can get it to drop in Heroic+.

Dragonblight Quest

Best-In-Slot

If you are in need of hit rating then Quartz Crystal Wand from 25-man XT-002 Deconstrucor will be a great choice. Otherwise Scepter of Lost Souls will be preferred, closely followed b Scepter of Creation.

Note that if you get lucky, Petrified Ivy Sprig is the best overall wand available. As with all good things it drops in Hard Modes only (though 10-man Freya so there might be less loot competition when it does inevitably drops).

Freya (HM) – Ulduar (10)
AuriayaUlduar (10)
Trash – Sunwell Plateau
Trash – Sunwell Plateau

In conclusion, when it comes to outfitting your character, there are many options available. It’s important to consider both cost and performance to make the best decision for your character.

Pre-Raid

Before ever setting foot inside a raid we can already start collecting a bunch of great items to get us going. This includes raid drops from the previous 10-man raids in the form of Heroic++ Dungeons, Items brought through Heroism Emblems (quests and normal heroics), Valor Badges (Heroic+), Emblems of Conquest (Heroic++) and even a couple of items through Emblems of Triumph thanks to the daily Heroic Dungeon quest (provides 2 emblems every day). You can also get Ulduar 10-man Hardmode loot from the Animated Constellation. This vendor will exchange items from Ulduar 10-player Hard Mode for the new Sidereal Essence currency. Those with heavy purses can even buy their way up the meters by getting the various raid drop Bind on Equipe items and the latest crafted pieces. On top of that those who do not shun player-versus-player interaction can get a bunch of great items for honor too. As you can see the list of sources for catch-up gear is incredibly long, here we will go in-depth about each and every worthwhile piece and who/ why you should consider it.

Best in Slot

When it comes to our best in slot gear, most of the items will be coming from 25-man Heroic and Hard Mode bosses. Expect most of these high item-level items to be highly sought after. As such it is important to keep this in mind when considering gearing options and loot distribution, do not hold out for an item that might take months to even see drop (if you can clear the Hard Modes and Heroics to begin with). Each slot has a detailed description of the best items to consider and the reasons behind them. For more personal details you will have to simulate your gear setups using Wowsims.

Information

We can also make use of only the two-piece bonus combined with stronger off-pieces until we eventually can get the full bonus of the four-piece set. Ideally we want to make use of the head, the alternatives are the biggest set back compared to tier 9. The best possible alternatives are Pants of the Soothing Touch for the leg slot and Skyweaver Vestments for the chest slot. The following are each slot best alternatives (context dependent on your hit rating, etc). As you can see plenty of the Ulduar Hard mode items keep being top performers for the slots (ignoring set bonus), expect this to be a theme throughout the guide.

Helm
Shoulder
Chest
Gloves
Legs

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Mimiron (33%)

Best-In-Slot

This phase we can choose which pieces of tier gear we get first, we can buy them with either of the Grand Conqueror or Trophy of the Crusade combined with Emblem of Triumph. Depending on the gear that you already have coming into Trail of the Crusader and the first drops that you see, we are most likely to first replace your helm or legs for the tier equivalent instead of any other slot. The reason for this being that these on their own benefit from providing the best stats for these slots as well.

Those already heading out with Crown of Luminescence from phase 2 can expect to hold on to them for a little longer. You can first replace other slots and postpone updating this one until you need to meet your four-piece bonus. As always this will highly be dependent on the rest of your gear and the drops that you see in raid, ideally you simulate your situation to come to a more personalized answer.

Mimiron (HM)
Ulduar (25)

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Yogg-Saron (Hard) (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Thorim (33%)
Ulduar (10)
Auriaya (10%)
Ulduar (10)
Zone Drop (0.5%)

Best-in-Slot

There are not a lot of exciting choices when it comes to choosing shoulders. Similar too those rocking the best helm in phase 2, those that have Amice of Inconceivable Horror can postpone upgrading their shoulders but will eventually have too in order to achieve the four-piece bonus. Whilst there are also other shoulders available for Emblem of Triumph, they cost well… Emblem of Triumph. Ideally, we want to spend these on our tier gear instead of on non-tier shoulder pieces. Especially considering that we eventually want to upgrade to a version of tier 9.

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Zone Drop (0.5%)
Ulduar (25)
Zone Drop (0.5%)

Best-In-Slot

Completing Heroic Trail of the Crusader rewards you with additional items based on the number of attempts that it took you to clear the content. The more attempts left the bigger the number of items and the better. If you complete the challenge with zero wipes (in other words 50 out of 50 attempts left) extra cloaks drop along with other goodies. It should come as no surprise that these cloaks in turn end up being the best available there are for the back slot. These include Aethas’ Intensity and Lady Liadrin’s Conviction and their Alliance equivalents for the 25-man version of Trail of the Crusader. The 10-man versions namely. Drape of the Sunreavers and Shawl of Fervent Crusader closely follow these in terms of overall value.

Faction Champions
Trial of the Crusader (25) (Heroic)

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Auriaya (10%)
Ulduar (10)
Yogg-Saron (33%)
Naxxramas (10)
Gluth (4%)

Best-In-Slot

The chest slot is another place where we got to choose between going for tier 9, our set bonus or using an alternative off piece which ideally is high in terms of attributes that it provides. As Destruction Warlocks want ideally to make use of at least the two-piece set bonus, increasing the throughput of our machine gun Imp along with our chance to deal big hits thanks to Empowered Imp. For our personal performance the four-piece bonus is also beneficial though the gain isn’t quite as big. Whilst we can choose any slot to reach our desired amount of set items some slots have better alternatives available that outperform tier 9 when we only look at the stats that it provides (or at least are very close) the chest slot is one of the better options (along with pants where we would opt for Leggings of the Soothing Touch). This thanks to Skyweaver Vestments, this piece is the best alternative we can use out of all the slots (if you can get your hands on it of course). Note that other slots also have good alternative options or you could also make use of Flowing Robes of Ascent as an alternative item. If you make use of an alternative item in another slot it should go without saying that you want to make use of Gul’dan’s Robe of Triumph to reach your four-piece bonus.

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (25)
Zone Drop (0.5%)
60 Emblems of Valor

Best-In-Slot

As is the case with most 25-man Hard mode items from Ulduar, Grasps of Reason stays being a relative top performer. It is only beaten by the new Bindings of the Ashen Saint which in turn comes from Heroic 25 man Trail of the Crusader. Alternatively if you don’t have Grasps of Reason and aren’t going to be able to your hands on a raid drop anytime soon but have a heavy purse you could consider getting Bejeweled Wizard’s Bracers. It performs equal, does not depend on RNG for you too get it (aside from someone seeing the recipe drop on your server) though it will cost a fair penny as it requires Crusader Orb, the new raid related material to craft.

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Mimiron (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Freya (33%)
28 Emblems of Conquest
Ulduar (10)
Thorim (20%)

Best-In-Slot

This is one of the slots where we got to choose whether we go for tier 9 or if we favor an off-piece item. The Heroic version of tier 9 will provide us with the most bang for our Trophy of the Crusade buck. This frees up another slot to make use of an alternative item (for example the chest slot to make use of Skyweaver Vestments, or use Leggings of the Soothing Touch for our pants). Alternatively Pharos Gloves also keeps performing well similar to the new Handwraps of the Lifeless Touch. Do note that this is assuming you meet your four-piece tier 9 set bonus.

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
General Vezax (Hard) (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Thorim (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Hodir (33%)
39 Emblems of Conquest

Best-In-Slot

We can spend our Trophy of the Crusade to get our Tier 9 pants for our set-bonus. On the other hand if you could opt for either Pants of the Soothing Touch or Pants of the Deepening Void depending on your hit rating requirements

Freya (HM)
Ulduar (25)

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Flame Leviathan (Hard) (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Kologarn (10%)

Best-In-Slot

Conductive Seal stays the best available ring and should be slightly easier to obtain as it now also drops from 10-man Ulduar instead of only dropping from 10-man. Another phase 2 ring that holds up great and is easier to obtain is Nebula Band, seeing as it now can also be bought for 19 Sidereal Essence rewarded from the new Heroic++ modes.

From all the new rings Lurid Manifestation from Heroic Anub’arak is the best of the bunch. With the second being Circle of the Darkmender though ideally you leave these up for healers, seeing as how the easier to get Ulduar rings listed before perform better.

Bought from Harold Winston
Discount with Kirin Tor Reputation

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

As Destruction Warlocks we tend to cast plenty non-periodic damage spells which can crit, and it so happens that we crit all the time. What are the odds there is a trinket specificly our there that perfectly synergizes with this? Well this phase we are in luck with Reign of the Dead. Other Warlock Specialization on average aren’t out for the trinket (though mages might be) making it a tad bit easier to set higher on your wish list.

Flare of the Heavens from 25-man Hard Mode General Vezax is the second best trinket, loot competition for this will be a tad bigger but you might have already gotten it in the previous phase.

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Mimiron (Hard) (20%)
25 Emblems of Heroism
Ulduar (10)
Freya (20%)
Ulduar (10)
Hodir (Hard) (20%)

Best-In-Slot

The staves here are listed for completionism and especially for Kralnor, but sadly overall they underperform in comparison to mainhand and off hand combinations.

Argent Crusade Tribute Chest
Trial of the Crusader (25) (Heroic)
Hodir (HM)
Ulduar (25)
4250 Arena Points
2200 rating
4250 Arena Points
2200 rating

Where Hard modes from Ulduar are top performers for a lot of the slots such as for our wand and trinkets, the Starshard Edge does get beaten out. Both Barb of Tarasque and Mortalis are superb choices. If you can get your hands on either you should, you can play around enough in other slots with hit rating to make either work. Both perform equal if you match for the hit rating.

Starshard Edge from Hard mode Algalon in Ulduar will outperform any of the normal 25-man Trail of the Crusader items and the 10-man heroic versions, such as Spellharvest and Barb of Tarasque.

Argent Crusade Tribute Chest
Trial of the Crusader (25) (Heroic)
3585 Arena Points
2200 rating
3585 Arena Points
2200 rating
Champions’ Cache
Trial of the Crusader (10) (Heroic)
Argent Crusade Tribute Chest
Trial of the Crusader (10) (Heroic)

Most of the new off hands perform really well and even outperform Cosmos though it also holds its own. The best two options are Lightbane Focus and Talisman of Heedless Sins. Depending on how much hit rating you already have in other slots Mystifying Charm is also a good option to keep in mind to use.

Pre-Raid

Before ever setting foot inside a raid we can already start collecting a bunch of great items to get us going. This includes raid drops from the previous raids in the form of Heroic++ Dungeons, Items brought through Heroism Emblems (quests and normal heroics), Valor Badges (Heroic+), Emblems of Conquest (Heroic++), and even a couple of items through Emblems of Triumph thanks to the daily Heroic Dungeon quest. You also receive Sidereal Essence and Scourge Stone from Heroic++ which can be used to buy various strong items. Those with heavy purses can even buy their way up the meters by getting the various raid drop Bind on Equipe items and the latest crafted pieces. On top of that those who do not shun player-versus-player interaction can get a bunch of great items for honor too. As you can see the list of sources for catch-up gear is incredibly long, here we will go in-depth about every worthwhile piece and who/ why you should consider it.

Best in Slot

When it comes to our best in slot gear, most of the items will be coming from 25-man Heroic and Hard Mode bosses. Expect most of these high-item-level items to be highly sought after. As such it is important to keep this in mind when considering gearing options and loot distribution, do not hold out for an item that might take months to even see drop (if you can clear the Hard Modes and Heroics to begin with). Each slot has a detailed description of the best items to consider and the reasons behind them. For more personal details you will have to simulate your gear setups using Wowsims.

Information

Ideally, we want to make use of 4-pieces of Tier 10 for the set bonus that it provides. We can also make use of only the two-piece bonus combined with stronger off-pieces until we eventually can get the full bonus of the four-piece set. Ideally, we want to make use of the head, the alternatives are the biggest setback compared to Tier 10. On the other hand, the best possible alternatives are Sanguine Silk Robes for the chest, Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants for the legs, and Gunship Captain’s Mittens for the gloves. You can get a lot more information about the relative performance of setups compared to the absolute Best in Slot setup over at the Warlock Simulation Competition.

Due to how Tier 10 works you need to buy it first with Emblem of Frost (which is locked behind Heroics, Raid and Weekly quests) after which they are upgraded with Conqueror’s Mark of Sanctification (and the Heroic version) which drops in raids you will be limited in how fast you can get the full four-piece.

Pre-Raid

Pit of Saron (H)
Ick (17%)

Best-In-Slot

The chest slot is another place where we got to choose between going for Tier 10, our set bonus, or using an alternative off piece which ideally is high in terms of attributes that it provides. If you opt to use Sanctified Dark Coven Robe you will be able to make use of an off-piece for your pants, namely Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants. The other option is to make use of Sanguine Silk Robes and go for Sanctified Dark Coven Leggings for pants. What you want to do will depend on loot availability in your raid and the overall upgrade path, I recommend using Wowsims to make your decision.

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

This is one of the slots where we got to choose whether we go for Tier 10 or if we favor an off-piece item. The Heroic version of tier 10 will provide us with the most bang for our Conqueror’s Mark of Sanctification buck. This frees up another slot to use an alternative item (for example, the chest slot to use Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants or Sanguine Silk Robes). Alternatively, you can use San’layn Ritualist Gloves, but this means you will need to make use of both Tier 10 for your chest and legs.

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

Our Tier 10 legs are really strong and a good option to achieve our four-piece bonus. Alternatively, if you can get Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants whilst maintaining your four-piece bonus that is an equally good option. You will need to simulate or check out the Warlock Simulation Competition to determine for you specifically and your raid what the best way forward is regarding Tier 10 and off pieces.

Freya (HM)
Ulduar (25)

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Mimiron (Hard)
Ulduar (25)

Best-In-Slot

The staves here are listed for completionism and especially for Kralnor, but sadly overall they underperform in comparison to the main-hand and off-hand combinations. Heroic Archus, Greatstaff of Antonidas is an exception to this due to how it is one of the few items with an item level above 277. It performs on par with the best Main-Hand and Off-hand combinations while only taking up a single item instead of two.

4670 Arena Points
2200 rating
4670 Arena Points
2200 rating

Similarly, to the staves section Bloodsurge, Kel’Thuzad’s Blade of Agony takes the top spot by a mile. This is because it is a drop from Heroic The Lich King which has a lot more item-levels to it compared to other weapons this phase.

3950 Arena Points
2200 rating
3950 Arena Points
2200 rating

Most of the new off hands perform well. The best two options are Shadow Silk Spindle and Sundial of Eternal Dusk. Depending on how much hit rating you already have in other slots Scourgelord’s Baton is also a good option to keep in mind to use.

Pre-Raid

Before ever setting foot inside a raid we can already start collecting a bunch of great items to get us going. This includes raid drops from the previous raids in the form of Heroic++ Dungeons, Items brought through Heroism Emblems (quests and normal heroics), Valor Badges (Heroic+), Emblems of Conquest (Heroic++), and even a couple of items through Emblems of Triumph thanks to the daily Heroic Dungeon quest. You also receive Sidereal Essence and Scourge Stone from Heroic++ which can be used to buy various strong items. Those with heavy purses can even buy their way up the meters by getting the various raid drop Bind on Equipe items and the latest crafted pieces. On top of that those who do not shun player-versus-player interaction can get a bunch of great items for honor too. As you can see the list of sources for catch-up gear is incredibly long, here we will go in-depth about every worthwhile piece and who/ why you should consider it.

Best in Slot

When it comes to our best in slot gear, most of the items will be coming from 25-man Heroic and Hard Mode bosses. Expect most of these high-item-level items to be highly sought after. As such it is important to keep this in mind when considering gearing options and loot distribution, do not hold out for an item that might take months to even see drop (if you can clear the Hard Modes and Heroics to begin with). Each slot has a detailed description of the best items to consider and the reasons behind them. For more personal details you will have to simulate your gear setups using Wowsims.

Information

Ideally, we want to make use of 4-pieces of Tier 10 for the set bonus that it provides. We can also make use of only the two-piece bonus combined with stronger off-pieces until we eventually can get the full bonus of the four-piece set. Ideally, we want to make use of the head, the alternatives are the biggest setback compared to Tier 10. On the other hand, the best possible alternatives are Sanguine Silk Robes for the chest, Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants for the legs, and Gunship Captain’s Mittens for the gloves. You can get a lot more information about the relative performance of setups compared to the absolute Best in Slot setup over at the Warlock Simulation Competition.

Due to how Tier 10 works you need to buy it first with Emblem of Frost (which is locked behind Heroics, Raid and Weekly quests) after which they are upgraded with Conqueror’s Mark of Sanctification (and the Heroic version) which drops in raids you will be limited in how fast you can get the full four-piece.

Pre-Raid

Pit of Saron (H)
Ick (17%)

Best-In-Slot

The chest slot is another place where we got to choose between going for Tier 10, our set bonus, or using an alternative off piece which ideally is high in terms of attributes that it provides. If you opt to use Sanctified Dark Coven Robe you will be able to make use of an off-piece for your pants, namely Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants. The other option is to make use of Sanguine Silk Robes and go for Sanctified Dark Coven Leggings for pants. What you want to do will depend on loot availability in your raid and the overall upgrade path, I recommend using Wowsims to make your decision.

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

There are three great Wrist options in this phase. The Lady’s Brittle Bracers is the best from a pure raw stat perspective if you do not need hit rating, on the other end we have Death Surgeon’s Sleeves and Ether-Soaked Bracers for those that do need hit rating. Ether-Soaked Bracers has a tad bit less hit rating but most likely will be easier to get around your wrist seeing as it drop from 10-man Heroic Rotface instead of the 25-man version.

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

This is one of the slots where we got to choose whether we go for Tier 10 or if we favor an off-piece item. The Heroic version of tier 10 will provide us with the most bang for our Conqueror’s Mark of Sanctification buck. This frees up another slot to use an alternative item (for example, the chest slot to use Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants or Sanguine Silk Robes). Alternatively, you can use San’layn Ritualist Gloves, but this means you will need to make use of both Tier 10 for your chest and legs.

Pre-Raid

Best-In-Slot

Our Tier 10 legs are really strong and a good option to achieve our four-piece bonus. Alternatively, if you can get Plaguebringer’s Stained Pants whilst maintaining your four-piece bonus that is an equally good option. You will need to simulate or check out the Warlock Simulation Competition to determine for you specifically and your raid what the best way forward is regarding Tier 10 and off pieces.

Freya (HM)
Ulduar (25)

Pre-Raid

Ulduar (10)
Mimiron (Hard)
Ulduar (25)

Best-In-Slot

The staves here are listed for completionism and especially for Kralnor, but sadly overall they underperform in comparison to the main-hand and off-hand combinations. Heroic Archus, Greatstaff of Antonidas is an exception to this due to how it is one of the few items with an item level above 277. It performs on par with the best Main-Hand and Off-hand combinations while only taking up a single item instead of two.

4670 Arena Points
2200 rating
4670 Arena Points
2200 rating

Similarly, to the staves section Bloodsurge, Kel’Thuzad’s Blade of Agony takes the top spot by a mile. This is because it is a drop from Heroic The Lich King which has a lot more item-levels to it compared to other weapons this phase.

3950 Arena Points
2200 rating
3950 Arena Points
2200 rating

Most of the new off hands perform well. The best two options are Shadow Silk Spindle and Sundial of Eternal Dusk. Depending on how much hit rating you already have in other slots Scourgelord’s Baton is also a good option to keep in mind to use.

 

About the Author

Zephan

I am a Classic Warlock enthusiast and in general like theorycrafting. I am the owner and admin of the best community in the whole wide world, being the Classic Warlock Discord. This is the home of some of the best Warlocks in this game and the basis for theorycrafting and figuring out the optimal plays for us warlocks. My aim is to make sure this up-to-date information is out there everywhere to be found and to give back to the community.
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Brian
Brian
1 year ago

You forgot weapons…lol

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