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[Rogmasha-argent-dawn (Rogmasha)]

Dark Intent: A Guide to Warlock Role-Play by Arlemont

“Let them hate us, so long as they fear us.”

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my guide to role-playing a warlock. In this guide I hope to cover the basics of warlocks and their magic as well as some of the finer (Yet important) details involved. In my opinion, other guides that I have seen have relied too much on either non-canon RPG sources or on outdated lore. I’ve nothing against people who use the RPG source books to spice up their role-play but I think it is important that a guide should stick to what is canon and clearly define speculation. I’d rather people understand the canon lore first before making a choice to use RPG lore afterwards.

For this guide I have made use of Wowpedia (Checking the sources of course), Wowhead, some novels, Twitter and various in-game sources. I haven’t cited everything because this guide assumes the reader has a general understanding of the WarCraft setting and the fundamental lore basics of various races. If I’ve not cited something, try Googling it first or ask me for sources. There will be parts of the guide that features speculation or opinions from myself or others, but I have tried to be clear on that. In some circumstances I cannot provide sources due to them coming from a book and not appearing anywhere reliable on the web (This is mainly down to copyright law). I’ve listed the books in the last section. So obviously there’s a level of trust needed in me as you read this, but understand my intentions are to provide a logical view of warlock role-play.

You do not have to follow this guide or listen to what I have to say. I only write this to provide advice and insight for people looking to get into warlock role-play. My guide is less do’s and don’ts and more of an interpretation (With an attempt at accuracy) of what warlocks are. By presenting the various facets of warlock lore and role-playing I hope to leave it to the reader on how they wish to make use of the information presented. Feel free to make a comment if you have any criticism - I’m happy to make changes if it makes sense.

What is a Warlock?

Surprisingly this has become an increasingly difficult question to answer these days as the WarCraft universe is added to and shaped by the Blizzard development team. In the old days the answer was simple: “A sorcerer who dabbles in Fel magic and communicates with demons”, but the class has received more depth and complexity than over the years. The term warlock is both broad and specific.

I think it is more apt these days to define a warlock as a spellcaster who deals with destructive magic gained from sources of power that are typically frowned upon by mainstream society, often accompanied by demonic minions. I will get into both demons and sources of power later on in the guide. They are typically former mages or shaman (Although this is not necessary) who have decided to take risks and grasp what they view as far greater powers.

Warlocks have been around for a long time in the WarCraft setting. The earliest known warlocks credited to be the Man’ari eredar. Since then many mortal servants of the Burning Legion have made themselves useful as warlocks, with the promise of great power. Sadly, the demonic masters of the Legion see their warlocks as puppets and tools that are to be used then discarded when they are no longer of value to them.

You should consider role-playing a warlock if you:

• Want to play as either a villain or an anti-hero.
• Want to play as someone who dabbles in dark, twisted magic.
• Want to play as someone who is outcasted, reviled, mistrusted, misunderstood and often mistreated by their so-called allies.
• Want to play a class that makes use of minions. Your demons can have their own personalities and character depth.

Here is Blizzard’s description of warlocks:

In the face of demonic power, most heroes see death. Warlocks see only opportunity. Dominance is their aim, and they have found a path to it in the dark arts. These voracious spellcasters summon demonic minions to fight beside them. At first, they command only the service of imps, but as a warlock’s knowledge grows, seductive succubi, loyal voidwalkers, and horrific felhunters join the dark sorcerer’s ranks to wreak havoc on anyone who stands in their master’s way.

Warlocks can ignite distant enemies in searing flame, send them fleeing in terror and pain, or afflict them with corrupting diseases and curses that steal the victim’s vitality.

These practitioners of the profane are feared across Azeroth, and many who have felt their wrath now prefer to fight alongside a warlock than against one.

- Warlock Class page

Ethos & Morality

Contrary to popular, prejudiced belief not all warlocks are the same. Aside from their magic, warlocks can differ with their personalities, creeds, backgrounds and moral outlook. A warlock in an evil cult is likely going to have a different opinion on how to use demons than a warlock of the Horde or the Alliance might do, for example. This gets even more complex on a racial level.

In general, the warlocks in the Alliance and the Horde use their powers for the good of their respective factions. Whether this is out of genuine loyalty and commitment or because of more self-serving purposes depends on the individual in question.

In the Horde, orc warlocks are generally former shaman who turned to fel magic and demon worship, perhaps joining the Shadow Council. They can also be the younger students of these Shadow Council renegades. Blood elf warlocks see their powers as just another facet of magic to be studied and used against their enemies. A Forsaken warlock may feel obliged to use their magic in the name of the Banshee Queen and they could often care less about the damage their magic does to the world around them. For a goblin you’re more than likely to see them use their powers as means to access more wealth. Warlocks make good mercenaries and are definitely good at killing, thus are likely to be paid well.

Witchdoctors and Hexxers in Troll society are very broad terms themselves but troll warlocks often go by these titles as well. According to troll warlock trainers, troll warlocks may or may not hear voices in their heads that teach them what they know (See Unjari Feltongue & Voldreka) though we can only speculate what the source of those voices are (Personally I suspect they might be some kind of loa). None-the-less it’s a curious and potentially fun angle to have with troll warlock role-play. UPDATE: It would seem other races may get fel voices in their heads, likely demonic entities. The various Cataclysm starting area quest givers mention this.

Unlike the Horde, the Alliance warlocks are typically a little more unified and are a bit more cosmopolitan. While we don’t know the name of it, it is implied the warlocks in the Slaughtered Lamb belong to an organisation that is pro-Alliance though perhaps for self-serving means. This collective appears to be known about only to select people such as warlocks, King Varian, some nobles and the guards (Here’s one such source). When one looks at the warlock quest givers from vanilla there’s an implication that this organisation might extend to other warlocks outside of Stormwind, even as far as the Barrens and even has connections with warlocks in the Horde - (Check both versions). It would seem that while warlocks can be loyal to their leaders, factions or even only themselves, warlocks are prepared to work together to further their powers no matter their background. This is further supported by the existence of the Council of the Black Harvest.

The warlocks in these factions are anti-heroes. They may have either good intentions or selfish attitudes but in the end their powers are being used for the possible benefit of the Horde, Alliance and even Azeroth itself while being incredibly dangerous, chaotic and destructive. Many such warlocks do what they do for the greater good or for the survival of Azeroth. Others might align with these factions out of self-preservation. After all, these factions are responsible for bringing down foes like the Scourge and the Illidari - What chance do they have as an enemy of these superpowers?

There are those, however, who believe serving the forces of evil is the only chance of survival they can ever hope to have. The Burning Legion allegedly numbers in the millions and the Old Gods’ power is immense. These warlocks have already risked much to gain the powers they have, but that means little if they’re going to face destruction at the hands of evil anyway. Evil warlocks align themselves as such because they typically believe the bad guys are going to win anyway. So why not serve them, survive and gain more power along the way? It’s either that or simple madness has rotted their brains.

Social Status & Legality

These are big topics that are often in much dispute so while I’ll provide my own insight, I will be sure to stick to the canon. Buckle down as this is going to be a long section!

It’s no secret that most of Azeroth dislikes warlocks. It’s not without reason, too. Warlocks dabble in dark powers, consort with demons and many of them are responsible for the murder of innocents and the destruction of nature. However, the leaders of the Alliance and the Horde have (often begrudgingly) accepted that not all warlocks are evil in heart and that many are willing to use their powers to defend their people and Azeroth. This means they’re tolerated but most people still bear no love for them. Warlocks, despite the official acceptance, remain on the fringes of society as social pariahs. They gather in dark places such as the basements of taverns, caves or on the outskirts of towns (- They have a tower here).

Both the Blood Elves and the Forsaken make open use of warlocks however recent events (Relatively speaking) might have shaken the views of people from their respective societies. The renewal of the Sunwell has potentially made many sin’dorei more devoted to the Light and as such it would come as no surprise if elven warlocks become a bit more marginalised as a result. The Battle for the Undercity, on the other hand, saw an attempted demon-backed coup d’etat by Putress and Varimathras. It might have led to some partial ostracization from some corners of Forsaken society as a result, potentially out of mistrust for individuals who consort with demons. It’s important to know that what I speak of here is not strictly canon but I see no reason why some people might consider these events to have changed their view on the warlocks in their community.

Orc warlocks have had a particularly bad time under now overthrown leadership of Garrosh Hellscream. The warlocks were first rounded up and were under strict guard by the Kor’kron. By the time of the siege they were killed off and hung up on hooks, but not before Grol’dar summoned a Doomlord as a final act of defiance. Since then some orc warlocks might feel particularly angry towards any remaining Garrosh sympathizers and may distrust non-warlocks. Vol’jin’s stance on warlocks is yet to be seen but I suspect he tolerates them if the existence of troll warlocks is anything to go by. Before Garrosh went crazy, orcish society typically had disdain for warlocks as one would expect, yet the Horde never seemed to shy away from using them. They’re frequently found in settlements openly practicing their craft, sometimes with their demons out, but are typically doing so for the purpose of serving the Horde.

Warlocks in troll and goblin society are a bit of a tricky one. Troll culture is steeped in mysticism and sacrifice but the Darkspear have always been a bit different to most other tribes. The Darkspears also have respect for nature and the elements too. This might see troll warlocks put on the fringes of society, but perhaps more openly tolerated when compared to other races. We have little to go on with goblin warlocks but we can only assume a rich and powerful goblin warlock can easily earn the respect of other goblins, especially those seeking to earn coin from him/her. A poorer warlock might struggle to gain that respect, but I’ve no doubt other goblins won’t be too hasty to cross a warlock. There are also some more conscientious goblins who will probably have disdain for them, too.

In human cities, being a warlock typically makes you a target for abuse and hate. While warlocks can obtain military ranks and perhaps even excel as a soldier, it’s harder to maintain a decent civilian life. As a noble or the owner of a business where reputation is everything, it’s probably a good idea to keep your dealings as a warlock behind closed doors and possibly even a secret. Other humans may not need to rely on their reputation so much and can perhaps afford to be more open to the public. It depends on how they measure the risk versus the bother of maintaining false appearances. To a human warlock who cares only for his craft and his goals, he’s probably not going to care about what Johnny the Farmer thinks of him. This all holds true for worgen warlocks who have a preference to stay in human settlements and cities. Worgen warlocks in Elven lands will likely be extra careful in making sure they are not caught practicing their stuff.

The dwarves distrust anything that is mysterious and unnatural. That is to say, most dwarves do. The exception is found in Dark Iron warlocks (Yes, non-Dark Iron dwarves may be warlocks too, but it is rarer) as they have no qualms with dabbling in profane powers. They are actively used in the Dark Iron forces and Dark Irons have made use of warlock magic for a long time. This may or may not hint to there being warlocks on Azeroth before the First War, but this may be an oversight on Blizzard’s behalf.

There’s not a great deal of lore regarding how gnomes view warlocks. We can typically assume their magic is not held in the highest esteem, yet in gnomes are not the sort to hold it against one of their own so long as they use their powers for good. It seems gnomes hold a similar view to blood elves in that the dark arts are just another facet of magic to be studied and used against their enemies. It is said that the warlock masters of Gnomeregan had once taught all of Khaz Modan’s warlocks. The examples of gnome warlocks we see appear to be just as eccentric and enthusiastic. Combined with the chaotic nature of warlock magic this enthusiasm may lead to gnome warlocks being forcibly exiled from cities.

To speak of the legality of warlocks is a tricky thing to do. This is where most of the debate lies regarding warlocks these days. Exactly how legal are warlocks in the Horde and the Alliance? The truth we don’t really know all too well. Seriously, the lore is either vague or nonexistent. I can however tell you of the things we do know about the legality of warlocks. We know that warlocks are legal and we know that their powers can be used so long as they’re doing good. We see faction leaders such as Varian Wrynn and Jaina Proudmoore openly using warlocks and their demons during the battle Garrosh’s trial and the defence of Theramore (See War Crimes and Tides of War). It was even Varian Wrynn that commissioned the staff for the warlock in the level 20 class quest for Alliance warlocks.

According to Chris Metzen at Blizzcon and a Blizzard post we know that demons are typically not allowed in the major cities. There does, however, appear to be some exceptions. Looking to Orgrimmar, the Undercity and Silvermoon we can see examples of demonic minions out in the open, often in plain sight. It also seems to be an exception in the case of the Slaughtered Lamb basement and the warlock hall in Ironforge, though I would still say it’s not a good idea to bring the demons out onto the streets. The guards will likely either slay the demon or ask the warlock to dismiss it. What we don’t know, however, is how the warlock is treated thereafter. Are they also slain? Are they arrested? Are they given a slap on the wrist and let go? We simply don’t know. I think the best advice I can give for guard role-players is to take the option that creates more enjoyable role-play for both parties involved. Don’t be zealous and punish the player behind the character.

Lastly we also know Fel magic is illegal in Night Elf territory. There does appear to be grounds for exceptions when it comes to requiring aid in times of war, perhaps, but idle practice of fel magic is probably going to end up in tears. Again what we don’t know is what happens to the warlock. Are they executed, thrown in a barrow, exiled? We don’t know. Once more both parties should look to a resolution that is enjoyable and sensible for both sides. Role-playing is collaborative, not competitive.

That’s it really. Anything else you might hear is either from the non-canon RPG books (Such as warlocks being illegal in Ironforge, which is blatantly contradictory with the warlocks in Ironforge) or from the imaginations of other role-players. The idea of a warlock license or papers is completely fabricated by players. It’s my advice you don’t give this any credit at all as this can have a negative impact on the warlock community. The moment someone isn’t aware of this fan-made law and admit they don’t have a license, they’re typically assaulted by authority role-players. If given enough ground this can drive a warlock community into the ground. I base this on my experiences on the Earthen Ring server about three years ago, where I migrated from. The warlock community barely existed there, at least on Alliance side, thanks to the license nonsense. Some people will argue it makes sense, but if it is to make sense then anyone with magic should also be given a license. At the end of the day if you’re being irresponsible with any kind of magic, the guards are not going to like you.

Sources of Power and Warlock Specializations.

It’s a common misconception that warlocks only dabble in fel magic and little else. Truth is that warlocks have a pretty varied selection of different sources of powers and this makes warlocks differ from one another. Most warlocks dabble in everything, typically favouring one of them more than the others. That’s how we have the three specializations, gameplay-wise. Here I’m going to list the variety of magic that is applied by warlocks.

- Fel Magic - I’ll start with the well known one first. Fel is a form a magic and power that is gained from the destruction of things, such as a sacrifice of life. It manifests itself as a bright chaotic green flame (Sometimes and rarely purple as well) that can destroy or even corrupt anything that it touches. It is its own form of magic and is not arcane at all, contrary to RPG sources. It can corrupt life, either making it sickly or monstrous. It can also corrupt objects like weapons, armour, metals and other objects, sometimes making them cursed. To some, corruption can be seen as a blessing. Being saturated in the power of fel can turn one into a demon, growing visible deformities yet their powers and strength grow substantially. Like other forms of magic, it can be euphoric and highly addictive. The power of fel can be contained in crystals and can be siphoned from demons who are typically beings of fel. Fel does not originate from demons, though demons do make for a good source. Drinking the blood of a powerful demon will often turn you into a demon too. A lot of Blood elves once tapped into demons and fel-crystals to sate their magic addiction. This connection to fel turned their eyes green. Fel is also responsible for the green skinned orcs. Whether or not an orc drank the blood of Mannoroth simply being near fel for extended periods of time can affect one’s physical appearance as fel radiates. These effects take a long time to wear off and it is unlikely that once you become a demon you will never be yourself again. The only instance of a person becoming normal again after turning into a demon in the lore is Avrus Illwhisper a satyr who was redeemed by Elune herself. Fel magic is particularly held in high regard by Demonologists.

- The Void & the Shadow - At the dawn of time the Light and the Void clashed together to form the universe. Everything is made up of either one of them or potentially both of them. The Void is both a form of dark energy as well as a place. It is a place where Void creatures reside, such as Voidwalkers and where the souls of the damned are trapped and tormented. The power of the Void can be used to raise the dead into undeath or it can be used to destroy and bring misery to the world. It is the antithesis of the Light. The Shadow is one such product of the Void. Shadow magic is not arcane at all and some people even consider it divine, such as the Cult of the Forgotten Shadow. To be struck with shadow magic is to feel intense pain, either physically, emotionally or mentally. Souls are a source of shadow magic and they can be contained in objects like soul shards and various kinds of stones of different purposes (Soulstones, Healthstones and some people may recall Spellstones and Firestones!). The shadowy power of souls can fuel rituals of summoning, create soulwells and can expedite the process of summoning a demon. Shadow magic, while used by almost all warlocks to varying degrees, is typically the primary source of power for Affliction-based warlocks. The power of souls and shadow can be used to create various curses, diseases and afflictions.

- The Twisting Nether - On the face of things, there’s not much difference between a warlock’s fire magic and a mage’s fire magic. They both call on the arcane power of the Twisting Nether and form into into magical fire. So what is different exactly? Well the differences can be found in how they call on that power and how it is used afterwards. A mage exerts his will upon the Nether and the ley-lines around them to cast arcane spells (As well as elemental forms of arcane spells) but a destruction warlock makes themselves a living conduit of the Twisting Nether itself. This is dangerous and highly risky. It makes their fire magic more chaotic and unruly. A mage’s fire magic is typically controlled into various shapes and feels a little restrained in contrast to a warlock’s fire that twists and turns, blows up wildly and reduces people into ash within seconds. Warlock fire magic appears to be defined by hateful emotions if we take the names of various fire spells into account (Incinerate is a very direct and blunt choice of word, as is Immolate). As a warlock uses this kind of power they begin to become unstable and as such they are set on fire themselves. Whether or not this hurts the warlock or not is presently unknown. These warlocks typically use this instability to fuel other more powerful spells (See Burning Embers, Chaos Bolts, Ember Tap, Flames of Xoroth).

- Blood Magic - When WoW started there was little lore on blood magic. Since then however, almost every expansion has added more lore to it and it is used by warlocks to a tiny degree. One should not confuse the blood elf pyromancer Blood Mages with the bloodmages who use actual blood as a form of power. It might be the case that blood magic involves fel magic, shadow magic or arcane magic but this is speculation at this point. Kasim Sharim, Bloodmage Drazial, Bloodmage Lynnore, some Defias bloodmages and various troll witchdoctors are all examples of genuine practitioners of blood magic. On Draenor we see the Bleeding Hollow and Shattered Hand Clans make extensive use of it. Blood magic is a sacrificial form of magic, like fel, yet appears to lack the corruptive element. It can be used to resurrect people, turn them into monstrosities (See Ariok in Warlords of Draenor), heal wounds of others, used in a form of teleportation magic involving crystals, create shields, enrage people and can make a caster more powerful. Blood Death Knights also make use blood magic through their runic power, able to manipulate blood and lifeforce for defensive or offensive magic. Blood Magic role-play is a potentially exciting facet of warlock role-playing, as it is dark and mysterious, steeped in superstitions and vile rituals of sacrifce. It was Kilrogg Deadeye who performed such a twisted ritual to sacrifice one of his eyes to see a vision of his own death. Examples of warlock blood spells include Health Funnel, Life Tap, Sacrificial Pact, Blood Fear and Dark Bargain.

It’s also necessary to know that there can be some blurred lines between a warlock and a mage. There is little to stop a mage-turned-warlock from using his old mage spells. A warlock likely wouldn’t forget every spell from his previous calling. As for a former shaman it is different. A warlock cannot call upon the elements for aid as they reject such ‘evil’. However it’s worth noting that the Dark Shaman don’t just force the elements to do their bidding, in some cases they make use of the Void (This is seen in Nagrand quests in Warlords of Draenor).

When it comes to the warlock specializations we know that they’re a thing in lore thanks to the Council of the Black Harvest. However I think it’s totally fine to role-play as hybrids of these specs as we’ve been able to play as such before the major talent overhauls. That said I think one should be careful not to get too carried away. Some spells are iconic to a certain specialization and you would really be pushing it too far if you were to mix the most powerful spells of each spec. For example, metamorphosis is goal of many demonologists and something that they strive for. Just the same, the Chaos Bolt spell is an immensely powerful that is hard to master for a destruction warlock. To play as a warlock that has mastered both of these spells will seem rather contrived if we take into account these spells should take a long time to learn, let alone master.

Also don’t be afraid to play an old school warlock, back like they were in the vanilla/TBC days when specializations weren’t so clear cut as they are today. Quite a few people like to harken back to those days so you won’t be alone, for sure. It’s also cool to make use of removed spells as they haven’t gone anywhere in lore. Drain Mana, Fire Shield, Curse of Shadows and Searing Pain are some examples of removed spells.

As long as you recognize what spells are supposed to be strong and which ones are more bread & butter spells, you shouldn’t go wrong. Feel free to interpret how spells would work in lore, so long as they don’t contradict it. Read the descriptions of spells, since they sometimes give a little detail about their nature. Fair warning though, some spells that are clearly Fel magic often gets slapped as “Shadowflame” damage. This is because there’s no Fel school in the game mechanics and thus in lore these spells are not shadowflame spells. The Fel-Flame spell is an example of this.

Demons

Most, if not all, warlocks are capable of summoning demonic minions into their service. There are many kinds of demons out there and some aren’t even demons at all! It’s worth noting that the ability to summon a particular demon does not equate having the ability to control it. In fact, this is typically one of many ways a warlock faces their doom. Wilfred Fizzlebang is probably the most known example when he attempted to summon a doomguard but ended up summoning the man’ari eredar Lord Jaraxxus instead and was subsequently put down. So as you can see, summoning demons is risky business and is one reason why warlocks are held in contempt by most.

You should also note that while various breeds of demon may be more powerful than one another generally, many of these demonic species have their own ranks of power. Two demons of the same kind may vary in power greatly. A good example of this is the warlock summoned Void Lord and the Void Lord Dimensius the All-Devouring. Both the same variety of their species yet one is drastically more powerful.

Knowing a demon’s true name gives a degree of power over that demon, though it is not required for summoning and binding - It likely just increases your chances of success. Of course, the more powerful demons are probably good at keeping secrets. There is a unique book however that lists all the demon names in existence. It’s also worth noting some demons may have an ability to know your name too.

Here’s a list of demons that can be summoned by the warlock. Not every demon is listed here and those demons can possibly be summoned too yet that’s likely to end in tears anyway.

- Imps/Fel Imps - One of my favourite demons, in honesty. Imps can be described as small, fiendish, mischievous, and cunning. They are known to be wisecracking annoyances but take it from me they do have their uses too! They have a good grasp of magic, particularly fire magic and can prove to be reliable familiar. Fel Imps are a more powerful variety and typically only Demonologists or Imp-enthusiastic warlocks have them in their service. These imps should not be treated the same as a normal imp and must be shown respect. A lesser warlock might easily lose their control over a Fel Imp if it was sufficiently angered. However, the ritual to summon a Fel Imp is said to be trivial. Oh, and imps are terrified of rainbows (Seriously).

- Voidwalkers/Void Lords - Firstly these guys are not demons at all and reside in the Void, not the Twisting Nether. So what are they exactly? Well, they are the ‘living’ embodiment of the Void. Their power can range from petty to god-like. When touched or struck by one of these creatures the victims are tormented painfully, just like being struck by a shadowbolt. Voidwalkers make for loyal guardians. A Void Lord is a powerful form of Void creature that can be difficult to summon and control. Both creatures are not ones for talking much and perhaps even find it strange when a warlock decides to engage it in conversation. They also cannot read as “Words are not the way of the void”. It is implied in quests that there are various glyphs/runes/items that are involved in the summoning and binding of a voidwalker. Allegedly the first human(Or Forsaken) to summon a Voidwalker was Egalin. Void Lords are rare to come by but they are usually glad to give away the names of rival Lords. This may imply disunity within the Void.

- Succubi - The succubus is a member of the Sayaad race. There’s not a great deal of lore on these and even their male counterparts, the incubi, are nowhere to be seen. What we do know is that they are seductive maidens of death and torture. They make for good spies and agents as they can cast powerful illusions upon themselves and can charm victims magically. They are not to be toyed with and warlocks can easily fall prey to their own succubus’ charms. They are both proud and facetious. They don’t like their time being wasted with things they deem as trivial. While dangerous, they are a popular choice of minion thanks to their skill at murder, deceit and their sultry appearance. Summoning a succubus requires a stimulus - A symbol of love. This is typically some physical item that represents the ideals of love (An example).

- Felhunters - Also known as felhounds. These ugly dog like creatures are simple yet vicious creatures that hunger for both flesh and magical energy. They cannot see by conventional means and instead they ‘sniff’ out magic and hunt their prey while following their ‘scent’ (Speaking metaphorically here). They can grow bigger when then manage to feed. Because of this innate ability to detect magic and their hunger to feed upon it, they make adequate allies when fighting mages or other warlocks. A copy of the ‘Tome of the Cabal’ has the necessary incantation for summoning a felhunter for the first time, but you also need three Rods of Channelling and the aid of three other warlocks as well. This of course isn’t necessary after the first summoning.

- Felguards - The felguards are members of the mo’arg species, sharing kinship with the mo’arg engineers and the shorter gan’arg. They are the soldiers of the Burning Legion and serve as powerful shocktroopers. They respect strength and are hard to control, thus only gifted demonologists could ever hope to bind one into service. They should be used with respect and one should stand well away from them when they are engrossed in combat - You don’t want to ‘accidentally’ get hit by their weapons! A Felguard is famous for saving the life of Varian Wrynn when fending off a tauren pirate, though against its will as evidenced when it told Varian “Your fate will be the same” before running off to kill more pirates (War Crimes).

- Observers - A very powerful yet mysterious demon that is not a common pet to have. For one, they are hard to summon and bind. It is nearly impossible to perform a binding ritual if the observer is not willing. Thus, it is advised that a powerful warlock offer an observer a source of magic for it to devour. This is what observers life for - To bear witness to new forms of magic and then devour them. They are remarkably intelligent, potentially more so than most warlocks, thus often have a unique relationship with their masters. They seem willing to help so long as they are fed delicious sources of magic and their time is not wasted.

- Shivarra - These tall demonic maidens have six arms and are devout followers of the Burning Legion. They usually serve as priestesses within the Legion. No matter your skill, power and achievements a shivarra in your services will still hate your guts. Every moment they serve you is a moment they despise you. They are hard to summon, bind and control. They are however very skilled with swords, can turn invisible and mesmerize their foes. They are also adept with shadow and fel magic. This demon is beyond the capabilities of most warlocks, being a high ranking member of the Legion and is even likely to break free of a binding.

- Wrathguard - These are one of the most powerful demons a warlock can summon and only the most powerful and capable of demonologists can hope to achieve such. This is because they are no simple demon but deformed man’ari eredar. The wrathguard are the personal guardians and soldiers of high ranking members of the Burning Legion. They respect only strength and cannot be truly bound conventionally and one must reduce the number of runic symbols in the circle. This is because Wrathguards are highly resistant to charms and compulsions. A demonologist must remain visibly strong and powerful in order to keep the wrathguard in service. Strangely enough, if we take their quotes into account, once they believe their new master is worthy of their service they seem oddly enthusiastic about being commanded and are always eager for battle. Seriously, they really do seem to enjoy being told what to do. This does not, however, appear to hold true for the higher ranking and more powerful wrathguards. Or perhaps it is true, only that they find the leaders of the Burning Legion worthy enough to command them.

- Infernal/Abyssal - These are not strictly demons but are mindless constructs made from special stone and infused with dark magic such as fel. They can then later be summoned as a crashing meteoric rock from the sky. They burn and bash everything in their destructive wake. They are obedient, but thanks to their destructive nature they can be difficult to control. Imagine a bull in a china shop but on fire. Because of this chaotic nature, however, they are often favoured by warlocks with a similar attitude.

- Doomguard/Terrorguard - The Doomguard are members of the Ered’ruin species. They were once Titan in origin and served Sargeras as his servants before falling to corruption. They can fly and are powerful masters of shadow magic. These demons typically require an entire ritual involving several warlocks to summon and bind into service, often requiring the sacrifice of a random participant’s life. The Terrorguard may or may not be Ered’ruin. They are physically similar and assume the same roles in the Legion but are typically more powerful.

A warlock role-player must understand there is a time and place for each and every one of these demons. I’m not just talking about summoning them in places like the streets of cities. I mean these demons have specific strengths and uses, and all must be used with caution. One shouldn’t summon a powerful demon, like a wrathguard, to take care of easy prey or relegated to simple guard duties. It’s also worth noting that demons have uses outside of combat, especially the more sentient and intelligent demons. They can help with research, solve riddles, dispel magic and many other things.

As for the demonic horses these are a special duo. Felsteeds are a breed of Azeroth-native horses that were corrupted and twisted by the Shadow Council. This seems to have been done in Desolace only but there is one rare example in Searing Gorge. Whether or not the secret to corrupting horses remains only in the hands of the Shadow Council is unknown. It is not known if other warlocks in lore are capable of making their own or they must travel to Desolace then capture and enslave one of the existing felsteeds. We’re simply unsure. While it seems likely that warlocks can create their own felsteeds, it’s worth considering the enslavement option as it creates a good deal of role-play!

A Dreadsteed of Xoroth is a true status symbol in the warlock community. Not just any warlock has one of these. It is simply rare (Or at least should be). These horses are not native to Azeroth and come from the planet of Xoroth, rumoured to be the homeworld of the Nathrezim. They are used by the Dreadlords as their steeds. The process is both difficult and dangerous, testing the warlock to their limits. There is in all likelihood the hopeful warlock may end up a dead warlock. You should check out the now removed questline to summon and bind one at Wowpedia or Wowhead to see what is required and involved with summoning one. These items are largely rare and typically expensive in lore. They may also be illegal contraband in some places. So what is the benefit, exactly? While most warlocks are content with normal horses or felsteeds, a Dreadsteed is much faster and its demonic and scaly hide make for decent armour. Its appearance strikes fear into the hearts of warriors and commoners alike. You do not want to get in the way of a warlock who rides one of these badboys.

Notable or Interesting Warlocks

Here are some examples of warlocks with varying levels of fame and power:

Gul’dan
Wilfred Fizzlebang
Kanrethad Ebonlocke
Jubeka Shadowbreaker
Zardeth of the Black Claw
Hex Lord Malacrass
Teron’gor
Niby the Almighty
Vitus Darkwalker
Neeru Fireblade
Fel-Caller Guloto
Cersei Dusksinger
Strahad Farsan
Summoner Nolric

Useful Links and Sources

To round up the guide, here is a list of some relevant and useful links (Mostly Wowpedia but always check the sources!):

Warlock
Fel
Demon
The Void
Blizzard lore posts - Very useful but slightly misleading at times, check the sources for context.
Soul Shard
Warlock Quests
An Unusual Tome - Worth reading on the entire Green Fire quest chain, too.
Jubeka’s Journal

It’s worth reading the following books too, as they all contain snippets of relevant lore that isn’t typically found on sites like Wowpedia, sadly:

Rise of the Horde
The Last Guardian
War of the Ancients Trilogy
Arthas
Tides of War
War Crimes

Thanks for reading!