Warlock Pets

Pets are the bread and button of the warlock class. Without one out, a warlock’s power (and, often times, survivability) is cut in half. Pets are perhaps one of the main reasons that warlocks are considered a complicated class. Of course, knowing how to use them and to what situations each is best suited are the keys to success as a warlock. Here is a brief guide to each of the warlock pets as told by someone who has used them all in a variety of scenarios.

Imp

This is the warlock’s first pet, and the only one that doesn’t require any components to summon. Much like the demonic equivalent of a mage, the imp is intended for ranged damage through its Firebolt ability. Later in a warlock’s career, the imp learns a few useful buffs, including Fire Shield and the ever-popular Blood Pact, as well as the self-protective Phase Shift.

Below 10th level, the imp is your only pet and should be out at all times. After that, it will rarely be useful except in raid situations. The damage it does is mediocre at best, and it can’t stand up to any sort of punishment without dying. Summon it only when you’re out of soul shards or when you’re in a raid that will benefit more from the imp’s Blood Pact than it will from another pet.

Voidwalker

Obtained at level 10, the voidwalker is the warlock’s tank. Many warlocks use their voidwalkers almost exclusively all the way to level 60, and for good reason. Thanks to its good hit points, high armor rating, and taunting abilities, the voidwalker does its job quite well in most situations. Used correctly, it can even stand in as a substitute party tank in some dungeons.

The only downside is that the voidwalker’s damage is abyssmal compared to every other pet. It can provoke mobs and take hits, but that’s about it. PvE with a voidwalker is slow but safe, whereas the voidwalker is practically useless in PvP unless you’re heavily specced for Demonology. Summon it when your primary concern is safety, but switch to another pet when you want to go on the offensive.

Succubus

Obtained at 20th level, the succubus is a warlock’s damage engine. Much like a rogue, she dishes out good DPS while maintaining a low profile. Thanks to this and her ability to Seduce opponents, temporarily paralyzing them, the succubus is one of the best warlock pets for PvP.

Unfortunately, the succubus is not intended to take as much damage as she does. Prior to gaining Soothing Kiss at level 22, she will often die every fight from the aggro she creates. The succubus should be your first choice for general situations in which you intend to take the offensive.

Felhunter

Obtained a level 30, the felhunter is a caster’s worst enemy. With it’s ability to Devour Magic and Spell Lock, combined with a fast attack speed, it can easily ruin any spellcasting opponent’s day. The felhunter also has some capacity to tank thanks to decent armor, decent hit points, and its Tainted Blood ability. Combine this with a fairly good DPS and the felhunter presents itself as a very well-balanced pet.

Its balance is often its weakness, however, as the felhunter is not as well-suited to specific roles as other pets. It can’t match the DPS of the succubus or the tanking ability of the voidwalker, and its party buff, Paranoia, isn’t nearly as useful as the imp’s Blood Pact. Use the felhunter when you’re facing off with stealthed or spellcasting opponents, or just in general if you prefer balance to specialization.

Felsteed

Obtained at level 40, the felsteed is the warlock’s first mount. Unlike other classes, a warlock doesn’t have to pay a copper or perform a single quest to get the felsteed, making it a great perk of the class. As with any mount, its only uses are for distance travel and showing off your status.

Infernal

Obtained at level 50, the infernal is the warlock’s first end-game summon. It is a bruiser, able to take and dish out massive amounts of damage in melee. Easily one of the most powerful pets available to anyone, the infernal is ideal for emergency situations and breaking camps.

Unfortunately, as with both of the end-game summons, the infernal does not remain under your control for long and requires a costly material component in order to summon. Thus, using one is dangerous and can become expensive if you do so with enough frequency. Pull out your infernal when you need to the extra muscle to get the job done.

It’s worth noting that the safest way to rid yourself of an infernal is to use the Stay command and simply walk away. Once you are out of your normal range of control, it will break free but won’t run after you. It is generally considered courteous not to do this in an area where it might aggro to other players.

Doomguard

Obtained at level 60, the doomguard is the warlock’s most powerful summon. It is a ferocious combatant, able to deal with almost any opponent. Like the infernal, its use is best reserved for particularly hazardous situations that require an extra oomph.

Unlike the infernal, however, the Doomguard requires special measures to summon and does not come into being under your control. Either Curse of Doom or Ritual of Doom must be used to conjure one, each of which poses its own risks. As soon as it appears, the Doomguard must immediately be enslaved or it will attack you and your party. Because of the high risks associated with its use, the Doomguard should be reserved for only the most difficult situations.

Dreadsteed

Also obtained at level 60, the dreadsteed is the warlock’s epic mount. Unlike the felsteed, obtaining a dreadsteed requires a great deal of time, effort, and money. It is generally considered well worth the hassle, though, due to its wicked appearance and the status of owning one. As with the felsteed, its only uses are for travel and showing off, although it excels at both.