Table of contents

  • WoW Dragonflight
    World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
    Franchise:
    Warcraft
    Platform:
    PC
    Developer:
    Blizzard, Activision
    Publisher:
    Blizzard, Activision
    Genre:
    MMORPG
    Released:
    2022-11-28

While you may see Warlocks top the damage meters in raids and Mythic keys, chances are they won't be a Destruction Warlock. The first season of World of Warcraft: Dragonflight isn't the best time for Destro fans according to our tier list for Dragonflight DPS specs. Still, there are those that enjoy the playstyle of Destro and don't care what a tier list says. This best in slot gear guide is for them to help prove the doubters wrong.

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Destruction Warlock Best in Slot Stat Priority

The most important factor to consider when obtaining new gear is your stat priority. In general, you should follow a rule like this:

  1. Intellect
  2. Haste
  3. Mastery
  4. Critical Strike
  5. Versatility

Mastery and Haste are essentially even, with Crit being a solid third option. Versatility is far and away your worst stat.

Important Notes For BiS Lists

It is important to note that any jump in ilvl by more than 10 points almost always results in the higher ilvl item being better. If you have an upgrade of 5 ilvl or less, compare the stats based on the stat priorities to decide the better item.

When weighing options of other items not listed below, refer to the stat priority of the class and spec. Keep in mind that stats eventually have diminishing returns, so it is not required to have absolutely every slot stack the same 2 stats. For simplicity, we offer the best per slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

The calculations for diminishing returns are as follows:

  • 0 to 30% in a stat - no penalty.
  • 30% to 39% in a stat - 10% penalty.
  • 39% to 47% in a stat - 20% penalty.
  • 47% to 54% in a stat - 30% penalty.
  • 54% to 66% in a stat - 40% penalty.
  • 66% to 126% in a stat - 50% penalty.

In the case where you have reached 30% in a secondary stat, an item that has a secondary stat that is lower on priority may in fact be a better upgrade. This is why it is always important to sim your gear. For simplicity, we offer the best item in that slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

Destruction Warlock BiS Gear

The items appearing in these lists may come from Mythic+, Raids, or The Vault. Their item level will depend on the instance's level of difficulty (Normal, Heroic, Mythic, Mythic+ 1-20). This list does not include Renown or Crafting items as it is meant as a guide on what dungeons or raids to attend to get your best gear from these sources.

Item tooltips will show the Mythic 9 or the Normal Raid difficulty item level version.

Best Head

Tier is slightly the better option from the Raid and if sims say the 4-piece bonus is worth it, that's icing on the cake.

Item

Source

Scalesworn Cultist's Scorn

Vault of the Incarnates

Organized Pontificator's Mask

Algeth'ar Academy

Bonespeaker Cowl

Halls of Valor

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Best Neck

There are a lot of neck options. If you're looking to double up on your best stats (Haste and Mastery), you have two solid choices.

Item

Source

Wolfstride Pendant

Halls of Valor

Ukhel Ancestry Beads

The Nokhud Offensive

Eye of the Vengeful Hurricane

Vault of the Incarnates

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Best Shoulders

Tier shoulders have your worst stat, but it might not matter.

Item

Source

Scalesworn Cultist's Effigy

Vault of the Incarnates

Infernal Mantle of Conquest

Halls of Valor

Amice of the Unfurling Tempest

Court of Stars

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Best Back

You really can't go wrong with any of your cloak options. Keep in mind that these are listed in no particular order.

Item

Source

Acid-Proof Webbing

Vault of the Incarnates

Fireproof Drape

Ruby Life Pools

Goldscar Pelt

Halls of Valor

Cape of the Duskwatch

Court of Stars

Cape of Entanglement

Temple of the Jade Serpent

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Best Chest

There are plenty of options available beyond what is listed below.

Item

Source

Scalesworn Cultist's Frock

Vault of the Incarnates

Arcanist's Resonant Robes

Court of Stars

Bonespeaker Robes

Halls of Valor

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Best Wrist

Mythic+ is going to be your best bet for bracers.

Item

Source

Manawracker Bindings

Court of Stars

Bonespeaker Bracers

Halls of Valor

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Best Hands

Despite your tier hands having your two worst stats, it might be worth picking up.

Item

Source

Scalesworn Cultist's Gloves

Vault of the Incarnates

Eggtender's Safety Mitts

Vault of the Incarnates

Azureblade's Work Gloves

The Azure Vault

Paralyzing Gloves

Temple of the Jade Serpent

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Best Waist

Mythic+ should be better than the raid option.

Item

Source

Sky Saddle Cord

Ruby Life Pools

Girdle of Endemic Anger

The Azure Vault

Cord of Wicked Pyromania

Court of Stars

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Best Legs

Your tier is really, really good.

Item

Source

Scalesworn Cultist's Culottes

Vault of the Incarnates

Leggings of Swirling Runes

Halls of Valor

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Best Feet

Sim to make sure whatever you pick up is the best. The options below rise up over the others on paper.

Item

Source

Cushioned Treads of Glory

Halls of Valor

Sandals of the Wild Sovereign

Vault of the Incarnates

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Best Rings

Seal of Filial Duty looks awesome on paper and I can't wait to see how it looks in practice.

Item

Source

Seal of Filial Duty

Vault of the Incarnates

Woe-Bearer's Band

Halls of Valor

Unstable Arcane Loop

The Azure Vault

Signet of Dancing Jade

Temple of the Jade Serpent

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Best Trinkets

While testing is still being done for season one trinkets, we'll list the best options from the pre-season.

Item

Source

Time-Breaching Talon

Uldaman

Spoils of Neltharus

Neltharus

Furious Ragefeather

The Nokhud Offensive

Irideus Fragment

Halls of Infusion

Ruby Whelp Shell

Ruby Life Pools

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Best Weapons

The general rule of thumb here is that the higher ilvl combination will be your best bet.

Item

Source

Weapon Slot

Final Grade

Algeth'ar Academy

Two-Hand

Stormlash's Last Resort

Vault of the Incarnates

Main Hand

Icewrath's Channeling Conduit

Vault of the Incarnates

Off Hand

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Best Gems for Destruction Warlocks

Here we list the best gems you can socket your gear with for Destro Locks. As always, it is best to sim to ensure you're using the best options available. These gems are chosen given consideration to your best stats.

Best Enchants for Destro Locks

Here are the best enchants available for Destruction Warlocks in Dragonflight.

How To Simulate To Determine Your Best Gear

Raidbots is a tool that World of Warcraft players can use to figure out if the gear they just looted is an upgrade. As mentioned earlier, there are so many nuances and diminishing returns as certain points in the game, that determining an exact set of bis gear is impossible. With the ilvl scaling of Mythic+ loot on higher keys and utility different gear has for different fights, there just isn't a pure "this is the absolute best for the entire Season" list. It's even something that certain classes have come across in Classic Wrath!

Don't worry, because we're still here to help. We highly recommend using raidbots to determine if an item you just acquired is an upgrade. Here's a quick guide to help you run simulations to see if your new item is an upgrade:

  • Make sure you have the Simulationcraft add-on installed.
  • With your new loot in your inventory, open your chatbox and type /simc.
  • A window will open up. Copy the entire text and paste it on the Raidbots Top Gear page. I included my Simulation craft window for my personal character below
simc example
  • This step is important. On the Top Gear page, scroll down and make sure you're selecting the gear you want simmed. If you do not select the gear you're wearing, as well as the gear in your inventory you just acquired, you won't know if you picked up an upgrade.
  • Raidbots will then let you know which items allow you to maximize your DPS!

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