Warlock or mage for shadowlands?

Classes Warlock
1

I’ve recently decided to main a caster DPS in Shadowlands alongside my MW monk, but I can’t seem to decide between warlock or mages.

I have both at around 440ilvl in BFA and right now I’m really liking both classes just through gameplay. Frost is fun, fire is close too, while arcane seems quite boring to me. For warlock, I like destro and afflic. While I really like frost mages for the amount of AoE they provide as well as their mobility, I like the single target damage/boss damage they do with all the dots and chaos bolt spam for destro.

I’m a semi-casual player, I aim to do weekly M+ and push for heroic raiding (not hardcore push) in SL. I saw some threads about how it can sometimes be difficult to get into a M+/raid group as a warlock, supposedly due to their lack of baseline interrupts and AoE, while for mages it can be hard to get into a group since there’s so many - i’m not sure if this is true, but if someone could clarify it would help.

I know this is mainly subjective and as both classes look like they’re in a great spot going into SL, I just wanted some opinions, I don’t mind biased responses, just would like some opinions on why some people would prefer one class over another. (I also know I posted this in the warlock section, but it just seems like the more active forum)

2 Likes
2

I was in your boat up until about a week ago, even liking the same specs within each class. Both have strengths and weaknesses. What pushed me over the edge was the rework to affliction and the new inferno destro build. Both feel incredible to me on the ptr and make me super excited to play my lock.

2 Likes
3

Agree with this 100%. Same boat as well, Warlock is just way more involved and has more lasting enjoyment for me personally.

Frost is solid in all aspects of the game for sure, but I see myself getting bored with it later on.

4

Thanks, I saw that too but I haven’t been able to test beta yet so I don’t know how it’d feel. I also have the problem with AoE with Affliction, where it’s just so hard to do much in M+ aside from the boss fights.

5

I don’t have beta either. You can test all the class changes on the ptr without beta access. Also aff is getting tools that will help their kit a good bit with aoe in Shadowlands.

6

For me it’s big blue that makes the difference. The Fairly tanky pet makes questing much more enjoyable. Especially in the areas where mobs respawn quickly.

7

For me Demonology is still the most fun ive had with a caster class.

That feeling when you get a good Demonbolt streak going and you assemble a massive army of imps, it just can’t be topped.