Warlock Basics
Published 5 years, 9 months ago by
Chimera
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. (source)
I greet you. There's a lot to learn when jumping in to Hearthstone, and the goal of this guide is to help you get a clearer understand of this class's basic cards. You'll also find the levels at which you unlock cards & their golden versions.
The Warlock class can be unlocked by defeating an opponent playing the class. It's identity involves demons, sacrifices, drawing cards, discarding cards, and self harm. As you level your Warlock you will unlock the remainder of the class cards, many of which are quite powerful.
Basic Class Cards
You begin with 5 of your class cards available, while the other 5 must be earned through playing that class. An overview of these cards can be found below:
Golden Copies - Levels 36 & 38
Voidwalker is a core early game card for Warlocks. - This is something you will want to find in your opening hand.
- It has good stats for trading with small minions as well as the capability to absorb some damage with Taunt.
This card is best used: - Early in the match.
- In a 'Zoo' deck, which involves playing many smaller minions.
- With Demon synergy cards.
Golden Copies - Levels 40 & 42
Felstalker is not a good card in most cases. - Discarding your cards is not worth it unless you are playing specific cards with effects that are triggered by discards.
- You do not get to choose which card is discarded; it is selected randomly.
This card is best used: - When playing a deck that has synergy with discarding your cards.
- With Demon synergies.
Golden Copies - Levels 47 & 48
Drain Life damages an enemy and heals you. - You may combine this with Spell Damage, however it will have no effect on the amount of Health it restores.
This card is best used: - For the dual purpose of removal and sustain.
- In combination with Spell Damage.
Golden Copies - Levels 47 & 48
Shadow Bolt is a removal spell that deals a decent amount of damage. This card is best used: - To destroy enemy minions.
- In combination with Spell Damage.
Golden Copies - Levels 49 & 50
Hellfire is a strong but sacrificial board clear. This card deals damage to everything. - Use this in situations that are more favourable for you.
- You have the advantage of being able to attack with your minions before playing this and play minions afterwards on the same turn.
- You have the option to use this for lethal damage as well if the opportunity arises.
This card is best used: - To clear multiple enemy minions strategically.
- For clutch lethal damage.
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Cards Unlocked Through Class Level
Additional cards are earned ever 2 levels, up to 10. Levels are earned through individual class experience, and that is a product of playing the game!
We will give an overview of these locked class cards, and at which level you can access them:
Unlocked - Level 2 Golden Copies - Levels 32 & 34
Corruption is a spell with a delayed effect. - After you target a minion to be destroyed, your opponent gets one more turn to utilize it before it is destroyed on your turn.
- Your opponent will typically trade this minion into yours or use it in some other way which may or may not destroy it early.
- Although your opponent still gets to use their minion it is doomed on the next turn so it's an improvement from allowing the minion to survive and continue to get value.
This card is best unused, save for some limited circumstances and PvE content.
Unlocked - Level 4 Golden Copies - Levels 43 & 44
Mortal Coil is a staple for Warlock and an excellent tool. - Look for an opportunity to destroy a minion with this to trigger the card draw effect. Spell damage can make the effect much easier to trigger.
- A copy or two of this in your deck will help cycle your cards more consistently without taking as much damage using your hero power.
This card is best used: - To destroy a low-Health minion and draw a card.
Unlocked - Level 6 Golden Copies - Levels 28 & 30
Soulfire is very similar to Shadow Bolt, however this spell can target the enemy hero. - It costs only 1 Mana however you must discard a random card. For this reason it is usually best as a win condition at the end of a match.
- If you have two of these in your hand and hope to play them both, you'll have to hope it's not the card to be discarded.
- Another reason you might consider playing this is if you plan on utilizing cards with effects that are trigger by discards.
This card is best used: - As quick lethal damage to minimize the downside of losing a card.
- In combination with effects triggered by discards.
Unlocked - Level 8 Golden Copies - Levels 15 & 20
Sacrificial Pact does just what it implies - sacrifice demons to restore your hero. - Most often if you use this it will be to destroy low-cost demons to re-gain Health.
- If you are playing against another Warlock it may be very convenient to destroy enemy demons rather than your own.
- If cast on an opponent after they have played Lord Jaraxxus, it will destroy their hero instantly because the game now considers them a 'demon'.
This card is best used: - To restore you Health by sacrificing small imps.
- To destroy enemy minions in a mirror match.
- To destroy Lord Jaraxxus
Unlocked - Level 10 Golden Copies - Levels 23 & 26
Dread Infernal is a good mid-game minion to gain some board presence while damaging dealing a small amount of damage to everything around it. - If you have any minions that will be destroyed by taking 1 damage be sure to utilize them before playing this.
- The card text specifies 'other' characters, so this does not damage itself when played.
This card is best used: - To contest board presence.
- To clear many low-Health minions.
- In combination with Demon synergies.
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Comments
This is another one of those classes that just has impeccably awesome Basic and Classic cards. They are continually found in both Standard meta decks and Wild.
Think we are missing a bit on Nemsy Necrofizzle & Mecha-Jaraxxus here :)
Greetings fellow Warlocks, dark art adepts and imminent demonologist
Best class, hands down! Everyone starts with mage, but for real fun, Warlock and Rogue for me.