Blood Pact: Leveling a warlock, 60 to 80
by Dominic Hobbs 
Mar 22nd 2010 at 5:00PM
Whether you're racing towards the endgame or pootling along enjoying the ride, everyone likes to make that leveling experience a little smoother. Blood Pact caps off this series of guides with a look at the final (for now) twenty levels. We'll look at the talents you can play with, the spells you can learn and some of the quests you don't want to miss. We'll be covering the Outland and Northrend experience from the warlock's point of view.
Maybe you have been leveling for a while and are looking for some insight into this final push or have had a lock 'parked' at 60 or 70 for some time; hopefully this guide will help you push that demon-loving toon to the final malefic leveling milestone.
Talents
We've looked at various builds as we progress through the levels and also discussed how all three trees can be very effective for leveling. They each have their own play-styles so it's purely a matter of choice -- which one do you like the look of? At level 60 you have the opportunity to reach right the way down to the last talent in one of the trees, opening a new spell to use.
Affliction - Haunt
Nicely in touch with the affliction play-style this spell does damage as well as increasing the damage done by your DoTs, refreshing Corruption (with Everlasting Affliction) and healing you. This is ideal for the 'never stop' method of grinding that affliction is so good at.
Demonology - Metamorphosis
Never mind summoning a demon, become one! Much like Illidan, you become infused by a demon and take on their form. This doesn't stop you doing all the normal things you can do but it gives you many extras:
- Huge armor bonus - handy if you suddenly have a load of mobs beating on you. Might be just me but that seems to happen a lot when leveling.
- Damage done increased - pure damage boost, great for a quick clean-up of a sticky situation.
- Less chance of being crit by melee - sure, you would rather not be getting hit by things, but if you do then this is great.
- Reduces the effect of CC on you - dazed or pinned? Not for so long when you let out the demon-within.
- Immolation Aura - An AoE spell centered on you that burns those around you. Sounds similar to Hellfire but this does not need channeling and doesn't even have a GCD!
- Demon Charge - Want to get to a mob or group of mobs quickly so you can use that aura? Now you can!
- Challenging Howl - Not the most useful trick up your sleeve to be honest, but if you're leveling with a healer then this might come in handy.
- Shadow Cleave - erm... No idea why this is here. I guess at some point it was thought that 'demon form' would be 'melee form' but well, no. Use it if you do charge in but don't go out of your way.
As you might expect for demo, this is a nuke. There's not a lot to distinguish it from other direct cast spells; it has a cast time, it has a cool-down, it does fire damage (though it is green). The big difference with Chaos Bolt is that it will ignore certain effects on the target, namely absorption and resistances. The finer details of the spell are of great interest in PvP but for PvE leveling it just has a better chance of doing its full damage on stuff.
Spells
- Level 62 - Fel Armor - A triple-whammy of awesomeness.
- Spell power boost of 50 to 180 (depending on rank).
- Any spirit you have on gear suddenly becomes useful.
- 2% of your health regenerates every 5 seconds.
Level 64 - Incinerate - Not only is this going to be you're main nuke as destro, it's also crept into the demo rotation as well thanks to Molten Core.- Level 66 - Soulshatter - If you play solo then this will help you keep any aggro on your minion. If you play in groups then it keeps it on the tank. Many a lock's life saved by sacrificing someone's soul.
- Level 68 - Ritual of Souls - Normally it's one shard per Healthstone but if you have this and two other party members then you can have 25 for the same price. Everyone loves a bargain.
- Level 70 - Seed of Corruption - If you have found Hellfire too limiting and Rain of Fire too slow then you're gonna love this. The only thing I found that dulled the edge of this spell's greatness was spamming it for months in Mount Hyjal. Be careful though, if you were to design a spell specifically aimed to annoy the hell out of tanks, this is probably what you would end up with.
- Level 75 - Shadowflame - On paper this is a fairly nice spell but I just can't get excited about it. Best use to my mind is for a quick finish if something almost dead is about to bite you.
- Level 80 - Demonic Circle:Summon/Teleport - The limitations on this spell are somewhat frustrating but the sheer number of uses it can be put to is immense. One problem, you typically realize what they were a few seconds after you should have used them. Nice spell though.
Key Quests
Outlands
Ring of Bood - Battle Mage's Baton
This is a group-5 quest but you can probably do it with less (or tap a friendly 80 to help). The quest line will net you a ton of experience as well as a decent haul of gold and potions. Don't be put off by the name of the staff, it doesn't matter whose it was, it's yours now. Requires level 65 to complete.
Baron Sablemane's line - Tourmaline Crown
Fun little line with an Ackbar reference part way through. Again, this calls for a group but if you are over-level you can probably do without. Grab an 80 guildie for quick completion. Requires level 65 to complete.
Teron Gorefiend - Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight
This line was intended to gear players up for entering the level 70 endgame so it's very easy to skip it and move right on into Northrend. Nothing wrong with doing that but the three sockets in this head item make it very nice and probably worth the side trip. Once again, with group quests you are going to find it easier to have a group. Requires level 67 to complete.
Northrend
Wrathgate
Never mind the quest reward here, the quest is its own reward (that, and all the XP). Awesome quest-line with cinematic that means so much more having seen the rest of the Icecrown Citadel story progress.
Ring of Anguish - Chilly Slobberknocker
As with the Nagrand ring this is a 5 man XP-fest with a nice (if stupidly named) staff as a reward. Requires level 75 to complete.
That's it!
You've made it past the leveling game and into the gearing game. Time to get yourself a nice new purple outfit.
Blood Pact is a weekly column detailing DoTs, demons, and all the dastardly deeds done by Warlocks. If you're curious about what's new with Locks since the last patch, check out WoW.com's guide to patch 3.3 or find out what's upcoming in Cataclysm from the BlizzCon 2009: Class Discussion Panel.Filed under: Warlock, (Warlock) Blood Pact
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ToyChristopher Mar 22nd 2010 5:20PM
me too! That picture really shows the evolution of warlocks in the game from least to greatest!
JoJa Mar 22nd 2010 5:27PM
As a proud member of the Forsaken, can I just say that the last five words of that Putress quote should be in all caps. That is all.
Eyhk Mar 22nd 2010 5:28PM
Leveling as Affliction is awesome for non-stop killing.
SB, dot, dot, dot, fear, tab-target, repeat infinitely for non-stop XP till 80.
Still *sigh* when I see hunters rolling warlocks in 5 mans though.
"I use my blueberry in 5 mans because it makes me feel safe."
You know what would make a great warlock post?
Warlock 101: You're doing it wrong
That with the bush picture. Or any of them for that matter.
Please?
jorge_av Mar 22nd 2010 6:00PM
Know what would have been helpful? Providing a link to the first quest in each quest chain you mentioned. To be honest, I skipped several of those chains on my own lock years ago. Kind of sad that I had to go digging around in links and WoWHead comments to find out how to start the quests, when I read about them in a guide.
I saw the title and I thought this would be prefect for my roommate who is sitting on a lvl 62 lock. But after what I found, this post would have just confused her more.
anonymous coward Mar 22nd 2010 6:59PM
@jorge_av: "Know what would have been helpful? Providing a link to the first quest in each quest chain you mentioned."
i agree that quest links would have been good. the rest of jorge's whining we could've done without
jorge_av Mar 22nd 2010 8:19PM
Really what whining was that? I simply pointed out, that for a new person to the game this is really not much of a guide. Even for veterans that have not done every single quest under the sun, you have to do your own research.
Dominic Hobbs Mar 22nd 2010 8:26PM
My apologies, I decided to leave out the disclaimer in this edition. If you were to look at the other installments you will see that I do not intend these articles to be "leveling guides" they are guides for playing a warlock through these levels.
If you want a leveling guide there are generic tools that are much more suited to the job. I linked to a couple in the 10-40 installment:
http://www.wow.com/2009/11/30/blood-pact-leveling-a-warlock-10-to -40/
Tour guide, Carbonite, QuestHelper, these are all great leveling tools and google will get you 100 guides.
The links I provided take you somewhere you can find out about the series, they won't tell you who to go to (faction specific) what level you should go (depends on play style, solo/group, etc...) or what quests you should do at the same time. That's what a leveling guide does.
jorge_av Mar 23rd 2010 10:31AM
Dominic, where in my posting does it say I was looking for a lvling guide? This guide was supposed to help locks through Outland and Northrend. You have a section entitled Key Quests, which you do not link to said quest for most of them. Instead you link to items, NPCs or achievements.
Don't you think it would be helpful to you know, actually link to the quest? Otherwise, don't call the section "Key Quests" call it "Key Quest Rewards" or "Key Achievements."
Oni Stardust Mar 22nd 2010 6:03PM
"me too! That picture really shows the evolution of warlocks in the game from least to greatest!"
Only if you read from right to left.
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Mar 22nd 2010 6:42PM
Unfortunately editors cropped off the mage on the far right.
^_^
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Mar 22nd 2010 6:43PM
... after Oni's comment that could be taken incorrectly...
Dominic Hobbs Mar 22nd 2010 6:47PM
For those that missed the earlier images in the series:
http://www.wow.com/2009/10/26/blood-pact-the-birth-of-a-warlock-page-1/
http://www.wow.com/2009/11/02/blood-pact-meet-the-minions-part-1/
This one was an homage to the first but showing gear of appropriate level. There actually isn't more than one of the same item on the image, I selected a load of different Northrend Blues but some of the skins were the same, unfortunately.
anonymous coward Mar 22nd 2010 6:53PM
...or correctly ;)
Joel Mar 22nd 2010 7:09PM
This build and playstyle deserve a nod. Extremely sustainable, extremely powerful pre end game, this is what got my lock thru northrend! http://www.stratfu.com/classes/warlock/leveling-warlock-wrath-slfg
Zhadruun Mar 22nd 2010 7:27PM
"The big difference with Chaos Bolt is that it will ignore certain effects on the target, namely absorption and resistances."
No... The big difference is its colour.
Fel Fire for Warlocks!
SaintStryfe Mar 22nd 2010 8:10PM
Bah gawd King, I think the Chilly Slobberknocker is a fine name for a weapon!
Ahoni Mar 22nd 2010 8:21PM
Can't believe you didn't discuss SL/Felguard. Simply the easiest leveling spec for a warlock once you hit 71. You get Siphon Life and a Felguard. You heal yourself and have a tank. You kill 4-5 mobs as quickly as you can kill one. You kill stuff non-stop and don't have to stop to drink and eat. You can solo almost every group quest in Northrend. Completely out-strips pure Affliction, Demo or Destruction for leveling speed. World first to 80? SL/Felguard.
CDave Mar 22nd 2010 9:58PM
Great article.
I had a pretty fun and successful time levelling at destruction from the mid 40s all the way to 80. The deeper into the tree I got, the more efficient it became. I got to the point in the mid 60s where it was faster and more health efficient than affliction.
Not to say that each tree isn't viable, but I know a lot of people like to read levelling guides that don't mention or dismiss destruction as mana inefficient with more downtime.
RavenJet Mar 23rd 2010 4:37AM
I just hit 72 with my little lock, having (stupidly) stuck in OutLand just until I could make to NR. I miss flying but the idea of being able to fly in NR at 77 is a big motivator to keep leveling.
I have to say that Affliction is a killer leveling spec though - I do most group quests by myself and I have twin-rotations (using mods) on my main spam-button. Haunt, Corruption for single-baddy (also keeps from agroing things that walk past) or Haunt, SoC for mobs. Followed by the usual standard affliction rotation. I mostly level solo but this setup is really powerful and you can quest very efficiently with it. I got the "Nothing boring about borean" achievement in just two days (without trying to) as I worked my way from 68 to 72.
Wanted to give a personal note of thanks though - I just got to Dragonblight having postponed "The lost Courier" until I hit 72, done the start of that questline and then headed off to other quests in the area. This pointed out the Wrathgate achievement... read up on it - and decided that I'm chasing that from here on in. I'd have missed it else !
Celess Mar 23rd 2010 6:10AM
It just shows that the Sin'dorei are ahead of the competition.