Why this build
How the build works
This Demonology Warlock build makes your demon the main damage source and keeps it alive. Unholy Power adds 10% to your Imp, Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus and Felhunter damage. Fel Vitality gives the demon 15% more health and mana and gives you 15% more mana. Demonic Energies heals your pet for 15% of your spell damage and passes all the mana from Life Tap to your demon as well.
Demonic Brand is the talent that defines how you play. Searing Pain generates 50% less threat and brands the target for 10 seconds, and your pet’s next six attacks against it deal 65 to 68 extra Fire or Shadow damage. So your filler is Searing Pain, not Shadow Bolt. Improved Sayaad adds 30% to Lash of Pain if you use the Succubus or Incubus.
For the 21st point we chose Soul Link rather than Decimation. You already pay for Demonic Sacrifice to reach it. Soul Link sends 30% of the damage you take to your demon and gives both of you 3% more damage, which is a big safety gain when soloing. The most common talentsforever order takes Decimation instead. That is a fine choice if you use Soul Fire often. Fel Domination and Master Summoner make resummoning fast when a pet dies.
Leveling tips
Levels 10 to 14 go into Unholy Power. Through the teens, put in Demonic Energies and Fel Vitality; your pet’s survival is what makes this spec work. Demonic Brand comes online around 26 to 29, and that is when Searing Pain spam starts to feel strong.
Before that, Demonology plays like a generic pet Warlock. Some guides suggest spending the first points in Affliction for that reason. Always send your pet before you cast, use Health Funnel instead of letting it die, and Fear the second mob when you pull two. Voidwalker is safest for new pulls; Succubus or Incubus kills faster once you are comfortable.
Changes in WoW Forever
Most of this build is new. Demonic Brand, Demonic Energies, Decimation and Demonic Knowledge at row 5 are not in Classic, and Incubus now appears alongside Succubus. Felguard is not in the current talent tree data.
Toward level 60
Provisional. The most planned level 60 Demonology build is roughly 5/33/13, with Soul Link, Demonic Knowledge 3, Master Demonologist and Demonic Pact, plus Improved Corruption and Destruction points. Exact point counts differ between plans, and nobody has tested them at 60.