The Honor Codex

Class PvP guides for WoW Forever

Pick your class below. Learn how it wins, the buttons that matter, and how to beat every class you meet.

Warrior Paladin Hunter Rogue Priest Shaman Mage Warlock Druid

Each guide: talents, key buttons, your opener, every matchup, and your job in each battleground.

Warlock

Hard to kill and harder to escape.

Warlocks put damage over time on enemies, fear the biggest threat and drain health back. In Forever, Curse of Agony is now Bane of Agony. Banes and Curses are separate, so you can keep one of each on a target. Corruption has a 2 sec cast unless you take Improved Corruption. Your pet matters: the Felhunter's Spell Lock shuts down casters.

PvP roles

Ranged damageControl

Newcomer friendlyTakes practice

PvP gearOne set for all specs.

Warlock basics

What powers you

Mana powers your spells, and Life Tap turns your health into mana. Soul Shards are a second resource: many summons and stones need one.

Cloth armor. Shoot lets you attack with a wand. The PvP sets are caster sets with Stamina, Intellect and spell power.

Demons

You always fight with a pet. Imp at 1, Voidwalker at 10, Succubus or Incubus at 20 and Felhunter at 30. Summons take 10 sec to cast, so summon before the gates open. The Felhunter's Spell Lock and Devour Magic are the strongest PvP tools against casters.

Curses and Banes

Bane of Agony was Curse of Agony. Banes and Curses are separate now, so you can keep one Bane and one Curse on each target. Curse of Tongues makes casts 50% slower. Curse of Exhaustion (a talent) slows by 30%.

Damage over time and Fear

Corruption, Immolate and Bane of Agony tick while you do other things. Fear sends one enemy running, but any damage can break it, your own damage over time too.

Soul Shards

Drain Soul gives a Soul Shard when the target dies, and sometimes while it ticks. Shards pay for the Voidwalker, Succubus, Incubus and Felhunter, plus Healthstones, Soulstones, Shadowburn and Soul Fire. Farm a stack before you queue.

Abilities you unlock, by level

8Fear
Sends one enemy running for up to 10 sec, longer at higher ranks.
8Bane of Agony
Instant damage over time you can cast on the move.
10Summon Voidwalker
Tough pet. Sacrifice gives you a shield that stops pushback.
20Summon Succubus
Opens up Seduction at 26 to lock down a humanoid.
25Curse of Exhaustion
(talent) 30% slow on flag carriers and melee.
26Curse of Tongues
Makes a caster's spells 50% slower.
30Summon Felhunter
Devour Magic strips buffs from enemies and debuffs from friends.
36Spell Lock
Felhunter silence that counters a cast.
40Howl of Terror
Fears up to 5 enemies near you.
42Death Coil
Instant 3 sec horror that heals you.

PvP while you level

10-19

Warsong Gulch only. Put Corruption, Bane of Agony and Immolate on a target, Fear anyone in melee and let the Voidwalker hold them. Drain Life arrives at 14 and Voidwalker Sacrifice at 16.

20-29

Arathi Basin opens. Succubus or Incubus at 20 and Seduction at 26. Curse of Tongues at 26 slows casters. Affliction builds get Curse of Exhaustion at 25, Destruction builds Shadowburn at 20 and Conflagrate at 25.

30-39

Darkspear Islands opens. The Felhunter comes at 30 and Spell Lock at 36. Fear lasts up to 15 sec from 32. Shadow Ward at 32 soaks Shadow damage. Most Warlocks switch to the Felhunter here.

40-49

Howl of Terror at 40 and Death Coil at 42 give you two more ways to break away from melee. Wrack and Incinerate come at 40 from talents.

50-59

Alterac Valley opens at 51. Fear reaches up to 20 sec at 56. At 55 you can buy the rare PvP set with Honor and Marks.

Train every max rank. Bane of Doom cannot be cast on players, so Bane of Agony stays your PvP Bane. Keep your pet alive and Soul Shards stocked.

Set up your bars

`Keys 1-4`	Shadow Bolt, Corruption, Bane of Agony and Immolate.
`Q and E`	Fear and your Curse for the fight: Tongues on casters, Exhaustion or Weakness on melee.
`R and F`	Death Coil and Howl of Terror. Keep a Healthstone close by.
`Pet keys`	Bind the pet bar in Keybinds so Spell Lock, Seduction and Devour Magic are one press. Never click them.
`Shift + keys`	Drain Life, Life Tap, Siphon Life and Shadow Ward. Keep summons, stones and Demon Armor on a side bar.
`Controller`	Gamepad mode has a Warlock pet flyout, so put all your summons in one slot. Put Fear, your Curse and Death Coil on the left trigger layer, damage on the right.

New Warlock questions

Which demon should I use in battlegrounds?

The Felhunter from 30. Spell Lock silences casters and Devour Magic strips buffs. Before 30 use the Voidwalker, or the Succubus for Seduction from 26.

Where do Soul Shards come from?

Drain Soul. A target that dies while you drain it always gives a shard, and the drain can also give one before that.

Why did my Fear break so fast?

Damage can break Fear, including your own damage over time. Fear a target without dots, or one your team is not hitting.

What is the difference between a Bane and a Curse?

They are two groups. You can keep one Bane and one Curse from you on the same target. Bane of Agony does damage, Curses add a slow, a cast slow or a weaker attack.

Why can't I Fear my target?

Curse of Recklessness makes the target ignore Fear. Do not use it on someone you plan to Fear.

When should I use Life Tap?

When you are safe. It costs health, so do not tap while enemies are hitting you.

Talents and PvP builds

New to talents?

You get your first talent point at level 10 and one more each level. That is 51 points at level 60.
Every class has three trees. Each row opens once you spend 5 points per row above it in that tree.
A line between two talents means the lower one needs the upper one maxed first.
Changed your mind? Your class trainer resets your talents for a fee.
Pick a PvP build below. Lit icons show where its points go. Hover or tap any talent to read what it does.

Soul Link Tank

Your demon takes the hits so you don't.

8Affliction33Demonology10Destruction

Your pet takes part of every hit, and you heal it with your own damage. In Forever, Demonic Pact lets you keep a Sacrifice buff and still fight with a different demon.

Best for: Battlegrounds, base defense and duels

Leveling? Set your level60

Level 60: the full build, all 51 points.

Affliction8 pts

Demonology33 pts

Destruction10 pts

Gold = fully rankedGreen = some ranksGlow = key talentBlue dot = new in Forever

Full leveling order, level 10 to 60

Levels 10–11Improved Health Funnel 2/2 Demonology
Levels 12–16Demonic Embrace 5/5 Demonology
Levels 17–18Demonic Energies 2/2 Demonology
Levels 19–20Unholy Power 2/5 Demonology
Levels 21–22Demonic Aegis 2/2 Demonology
Levels 23–25Fel Vitality 3/3 Demonology
Level 26Demonic Sacrifice 1/1 Demonology
Levels 27–28Master Summoner 2/2 Demonology
Level 29Fel Domination 1/1 Demonology
Levels 30–32Improved Felhunter 3/3 Demonology
Level 33Soul Link 1/1 Demonology
Levels 34–36Demonic Knowledge 3/3 Demonology
Levels 37–41Master Demonologist 5/5 Demonology
Level 42Demonic Pact 1/1 Demonology
Levels 43–47Bane 5/5 Destruction
Levels 48–52Molten Skin 5/5 Destruction
Levels 53–57Improved Corruption 5/5 Affliction
Levels 58–60Suppression 3/5 Affliction

Key talents in this build

Soul Link
30% of the damage you take goes to your demon instead.

Demonic Pact
New in Forever: sacrifice one demon for its buff, then summon another and keep the buff.

Demonic Energies
New: your spell damage heals your pet, which keeps Soul Link going.

Master Demonologist
With the Felhunter out, you both take 10% less magic damage.

Improved Felhunter
Spell Lock comes back 6 seconds sooner to shut down healers.

Molten Skin
New in Forever: 10% less damage taken from everything, only 10 points into Destruction.

Improved Corruption
Makes Corruption instant so you can cast it while moving.

Strengths

Very hard to kill
Fast pet resummon with Fel Domination
Spell Lock on a short cooldown

Weaknesses

Low burst
Weak if the pet dies
No Curse of Exhaustion

Open this build in the talent calculator

Your action bar

Put these on keys you can reach without looking. Buttons marked Talent only exist if your build takes that talent.

Fear

Sends one enemy running for up to 20 sec. Damage can break it.

Death Coil

Instant. Target runs in horror for 3 sec and you heal.

Howl of Terror

Fears up to 5 enemies near you. 2 sec cast.

Spell Lock

Felhunter pet: silences a caster and locks the spell school.

Bane of Agony

Instant damage over time. It was Curse of Agony.

Corruption

Damage over time. Instant with Improved Corruption.

The opener, in order

Bane of Agony, Corruption and a Curse on your target.
Fear the biggest threat.
Felhunter Spell Lock on the healer's big heal.
Shadow Bolt while they cannot hit you.
Death Coil anyone who gets close.

Know your enemy

How a Warlock usually fares one on one. Pick the class you are fighting.

WarlockRogue

Favored

Keep dots on them so they cannot go back into stealth.

FirstKeep the Felhunter out, since its Paranoia helps you spot stealth. When they open, Death Coil as soon as the stun ends.
ThenKeep Corruption and Bane of Agony on them so they cannot stealth again. Fear them and dot while they run.
Watch forVanish lets them reset, but your dots pull them back out. Blind and Kidney Shot lock you down, so Death Coil or Fear right after.
If it goes wrongHowl of Terror if they are next to you, then run toward your team. If your build has Soul Link, keep the pet healed.

Their buttons to watch

Cheap Shot
Kidney Shot
Gouge
Blind

Your answers

Fear: Sends one enemy running for up to 20 sec. Damage can break it.
Death Coil: Instant. Target runs in horror for 3 sec and you heal.
Howl of Terror: Fears up to 5 enemies near you. 2 sec cast.
Spell Lock: Felhunter pet: silences a caster and locks the spell school.

Your job in each battleground

Warsong Gulch

Levels 10–60 · 10 vs 10

Fear the carrier's healer. Affliction builds slow the carrier with Curse of Exhaustion.

Arathi Basin

Levels 20–60 · 15 vs 15

Dot the defenders, then Howl of Terror them off the flag.

Darkspear Islands

Levels 30–60 · 15 vs 15 · new

Fear players off capture points.

Alterac Valley

Levels 51–60 · 40 vs 40

Dot whole groups at choke points.

Gear

Your PvP gear path

One set for all specs. Honor and Marks buy the gear; your rank unlocks the upgrades.

Blue PvP setLevel 55. Buy each piece with Honor plus Marks from battlegrounds. No rank needed.
PvP trinketRank 2. Removes slows and loss-of-control effects, 5 min cooldown. Get it first: it wins more fights than any armor.
Faction cloakRank 3.
Epic upgradesTurn a blue piece in with an Emboldened Seal. Wrist and waist at Rank 8, feet 9, hands 10, legs and shoulders 12, chest and head 13.
Rank 14 weaponGrand Marshal or High Warlord. Earliest in week 10 of a season.

Don’t sit on Honor: you can hold 25,000 at most, and anything past that is lost. Beta prices and ranks may change.

Stats to look for

Stamina first, then spell power and Intellect. Based on the set stats.1 2

Forever has no Resilience. Developers said they are not adding it. Stamina gives 10 health per point, like Classic. Hit and crit are one stat each now, for spells and attacks alike. Hit cap against players of your level: 5% melee and ranged, 4% spells, 24% dual wield (beta client). A beta bug halved crit damage in PvP. Blizzard called it a bug and fixed it in the Oct 8 notes. Most damage and healing over time can crit now. Expertise is new. It lowers the target's dodge and parry chance. Every PvP set piece is Stamina-heavy. The sets are the clearest guide to what each spec should stack.

Honor and Marks, in plain words

Rare pieces need level 55 and no rank. You pay Honor plus Marks of Honor.
Each slot needs Marks from one battleground: WSG for hands, legs, wrists; AB for shoulders, chest, waist, cloaks; AV for head and two-handers; Darkspear for feet, necklace, one-handers, ranged, shields, off-hands.
A win gives 3 Marks, a loss 1. You can carry up to 30 of each.
Full rare set of 8 pieces (6 set + wrist + waist): 59,200 Honor plus Marks (35 WSG, 35 AB, 15 AV, 10 Darkspear).
Epic seals for 8 pieces: 14,000 Honor plus the head seal (price unknown).
Honor cap is 25,000, so you will visit the vendor several times.
Vendors: Champions' Hall in Stormwind (Captain Dirgehammer armor, Captain O'Neal weapons, Master Sergeant Biggins accessories) and Hall of Legends in Orgrimmar (Lady Palanseer, Sergeant Thunderhorn, Brave Stonehide).

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Your PvP sets

Lieutenant Commander's Threads (Alliance) / Champion's Threads (Horde)All specs (caster)Rare (blue), item level 60, needs level 55

2 pieces: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 23.
4 pieces: Reduces the casting time of your Immolate spell by 0.2 sec.
6 pieces: +20 Stamina.

6 pieces · 6 pieces together: 48,700 Honor + 75 Marks of Honor

Head: Premier Dreadweave Cowl (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Cowl (Horde). +26 Sta, +13 Int, +11 spell power. 9,000 Honor + 15 AV Marks.
Shoulders: Premier Dreadweave Mantle (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Shoulders (Horde). +19 Sta, +12 Int, +9 spell power. 6,350 Honor + 10 AB Marks.
Chest: Premier Dreadweave Robe (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Robe (Horde). +25 Sta, +9 Int, +18 spell power. 9,350 Honor + 15 AB Marks.
Hands: Premier Dreadweave Gloves (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Gloves (Horde). +19 Sta, +13 Int, +7 spell power. 7,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks.
Legs: Premier Dreadweave Legguards (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Legguards (Horde). +25 Sta, +14 Int, +12 spell power. 9,000 Honor + 15 WSG Marks.
Feet: Premier Dreadweave Boots (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Boots (Horde). +19 Sta, +7 Int, +14 spell power. 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks.

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Field Marshal's Threads (Alliance) / Warlord's Threads (Horde)All specs (caster)Epic, item level 65, needs level 60

2 pieces: +20 Stamina.
3 pieces: Reduces the casting time of your Immolate spell by 0.2 sec.
6 pieces: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 23.

6 pieces · Seals for 6 pieces: 11,300 Honor + the head seal (price not known yet)

Head: Premier Field Marshal's Dreadweave Coronal (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Felweave Hood (Horde). +34 Sta, +20 Int, +40 bonus armor, +16 spell power. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9.
Shoulders: Premier Marshal's Dreadweave Shoulders (Alliance) / Premier General's Felweave Mantle (Horde). +26 Sta, +12 Int, +0.5% crit, +14 spell power. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,250 Honor.
Chest: Premier Field Marshal's Dreadweave Robe (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Felweave Robe (Horde). +34 Sta, +12 Int, +0.5% crit, +23 spell power. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9, 2,650 Honor.
Hands: Premier Lieutenant Commander's Dreadweave Gloves (Alliance) / Premier Champion's Felweave Gloves (Horde). +26 Sta, +17 Int, +12 spell power. Seal at rank 10, earliest week 7, 2,250 Honor.
Legs: Premier Marshal's Dreadweave Leggings (Alliance) / Premier General's Felweave Pants (Horde). +34 Sta, +20 Int, +18 spell power. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,650 Honor.
Feet: Premier Knight-Champion's Dreadweave Boots (Alliance) / Premier Centurion's Felweave Boots (Horde). +26 Sta, +12 Int, +18 spell power. Seal at rank 9, earliest week 6, 1,500 Honor.

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Items worth chasing

Greater Insignia of the Alliance / Greater Insignia of the HordeRank 2, 5,250 Honor

PvP trinket. Removes all movement impairing and loss of control effects. 5 min cooldown. Same trinket for every class.15 1 3

Premier Sergeant's CapeRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+16 Sta, +67 bonus armor. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Sergeant's CloakRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+8 to Str, Agi, Sta, Int and Spi. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Master Sergeant's Insignia (Alliance) / Premier Senior Sergeant's Insignia (Horde)Rank 4, 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Necklace, +16 Sta, +7 Spi.1

Premier Grand Marshal's Stave (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's War Staff (Horde)Rank 14, 22,500 Honor + 20 AV Marks

Staff. +36 Sta, +20 Int, +94 spell power, +5 spell penetration. Caster staff, +94 spell power.1 2

Premier Grand Marshal's Mageblade (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Spellblade (Horde)Rank 14, 12,000 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Main hand dagger. +8 Sta, +7 Int, +94 spell power, +1% crit. Main hand dagger, +94 spell power.1 2

Premier Grand Marshal's Tome of Power (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Tome of Destruction (Horde)Rank 14, 10,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Held in off-hand. +15 Sta, +14 Int, +18 spell power. Caster off-hand.1 2

Sentinel's Silk Leggings (Alliance) / Outrider's Silk Leggings (Horde)Exalted with Silverwing Sentinels or Warsong Outriders, level 60 version

Level 60 legs from Warsong Gulch. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Highlander's Epaulets (Alliance) / Defiler's Epaulets (Horde)Exalted with The League of Arathor or The Defilers, level 60

Level 60 shoulders from Arathi Basin. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Tome of Arcane Domination, Tome of Fiery Arcana, Tome of Shadow Force, Tome of the Ice LordExalted with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

AV caster off-hands. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Darkspear Insurgent's Spellblade (Horde) / Clever Expeditionary's Spellblade (Alliance)Revered with Darkspear Raiders or Theramore Expeditionary Force

Caster weapon from the new battleground. Stats not checked.5

Tome of the Darkspear Prophecy (Horde) / Insurgent's Manifesto (Alliance)Revered with Darkspear Raiders or Theramore Expeditionary Force

Off-hand from the new battleground. Stats not checked.5

Stormpike Sage's Pendant and Cloak (Alliance) / Frostwolf Advisor's Pendant and Cloak (Horde)Honored with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

Caster neck and back from AV. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Premier Dreadweave Belt (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Belt (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare waist. 6,000 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+19 Sta, +13 Int, +7 spell power. Not part of the set bonus.1 2

Premier Knight-Captain's Dreadweave Sash (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Felweave Belt (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic waist. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,500 Honor

+26 Sta, +17 Int, +12 spell power. Not part of the set bonus.1 2

Premier Dreadweave Bracers (Alliance) / Premier Felweave Bracers (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare wrists. 4,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks

+15 Sta, +6 Int, +7 spell power. Not part of the set bonus.1 2

Premier Knight-Captain's Dreadweave Cuffs (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Felweave Bracers (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic wrists. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,200 Honor

+20 Sta, +10 Int, +12 spell power. Not part of the set bonus.1 2

Gear tips

The set cuts Immolate cast time by 0.2 sec (4 rare or 3 epic pieces).
A Warlock won the Forever Open level 30 duel tournament (Warlock vs Warlock final).

Enchants

All Classic Era enchants remain, so Crusader is still the melee weapon pick. Spell Power and Healing Power for casters and healers.
New 2H weapon: Strength (+25 Str), Mighty Spell Power (+55), Mighty Healing Power (+100 healing).
New 1H weapon: Recovery (heal 5% max health on parry or dodge), Revelation (next spell +100% crit, diminishing), Insight (Spirit proc).
New chest: Absorption (25% chance to absorb 50 damage per hit).
New necklace enchants: +5 Str, +5 Agi, spell power, healing power, +5 defense.
New bracer and cloak options include Superior Agility (+9), Superior Intellect (+9) and cloak Agility (+5).

Consumables

Rank 5 reward: Combat Potions (contents not detailed by Blizzard).
BG quartermasters sell Superior and Major Healing and Mana Draughts, bandages and rations from Friendly or Honored.
Minor, Lesser and plain Healing Potions moved to First Aid.
Alchemists get Mixology: their own elixirs and flasks last twice as long and are stronger.
Draught of Predatory Senses is now a potion on the shared combat potion cooldown.

Professions

Engineering is the most common PvP pick. Bombs and gadgets give burst and control.
SAF-T and EZ-Thro explosives can be used by non-engineers, so you can buy them.
Mining at 300 is reported to give +5% max health. Good for PvP, check on live.
Gnome racial no longer gives +15 Engineering. It makes devices more reliable.
Alchemy's Mixology helps if your battleground allows your elixirs.

Not published yet: Price of the Emboldened Head Seal (rank 13) is not published. All set stats and prices are beta data. Check the vendor on live realms. No tested PvP stat priority at level 60 yet. The beta stopped at level 30. Stats of the battleground reputation rewards in Forever are not checked here.

Racials and mistakes

Racials

Horde: Orc (Blood Fury, pets deal 5% more damage, Shatter Curse), Undead (Will of the Forsaken breaks Fear) or Troll, new for Warlocks (Berserking). Alliance: Human (Will to Survive breaks stuns) or Gnome (Escape Artist, Eureka!).

Common mistakes

Letting your pet sit idle.
Fearing a target into its own team.
Using Life Tap while enemies are hitting you.

Veteran tip

Your pet is half your power. Learn to control it.

How ranks work

Battlegrounds and weekly PvP quests give Rank Points. Everyone needs the same points, and nothing takes them away.

Fourteen ranks

From Private or Scout up to Grand Marshal or High Warlord. Rank 2 gives the PvP trinket; Rank 14 gives the epic weapons.

Weekly cap

The highest rank you can reach rises each week. Rank 14 opens in week 10 of a season at the earliest.

Read the full rank guide