Warlock at character selection
In the original v0.91.0 (0d319264) selector, Warlock starts with Shadow Bolt and displays 165 health. The selected race was Undead, equipment was empty and the talent counter showed 0/51. This is a UI observation, not a combat benchmark.
The selector presents the class around curses and damage over time. Treat that as the game’s description of its intended style, not proof of comparative strength. See the full nine-class starting reference for context.
Character-selection UI, v0.91.0 (0d319264), inspected October 15, 2026. All nine class tiles, displayed health, starting spells and selected races were read directly. No full combat test was completed.
What players reported
A launch-thread player says that Mage and Warlock required kiting to avoid dying. That supports a positioning concern for that player’s runs. It does not establish that Warlock is weak, slow, or lower tier than another class.
The report comes from the original launch discussion ↗. It is not controlled playtesting and does not establish a current best build. Our tier list evidence page keeps all three class reports in the same context.
Original selector observed at v0.91.0 (0d319264); community reports do not specify their builds. We do not have a tested Warlock upgrade order, damage benchmark or optimal talent allocation.
The useful question for your next run
How much does staying in motion change your survival, and can you reproduce the result?
Use the prompts below to investigate your own setup. They are editorial guidance for gathering evidence, not verified properties of the class.
- Compare movement patterns on the same map and with similar progression. Record where a route stops giving you enough room.
- Write down the actual upgrade choices instead of reconstructing them from memory after a loss. Random offers can explain differences between otherwise similar runs.
- Record survival and boss results independently. Avoid treating one frustrating opening as evidence of the class’s overall ceiling.
How to approach a Warlock build
Start with the effects and numbers displayed by your current client. If a setup fails before it develops, test a change that addresses the specific cause of the loss. We have not verified a current original-game spell order or an optimal Warlock build.
Read every offered card in your current client. Record the permanent items and Talent XP investment you started with, since the progression described at launch can affect later attempts. If the client changes, re-check the build instead of assuming an older sequence still applies.
Compare a result, not a reputation
Keep map, mode and starting progression similar across attempts. Save both successful and failed runs, and record the choices that differ. Use the run notebook to capture survival, boss outcomes and the cause of a loss. A result is most useful when another player can understand its conditions.
Neither a positive community comment nor the class’s role in World of Warcraft is enough to determine its ranking in Azeroth Survivors. The alpha’s current implementation matters.
Source & version scope
Primary source for browser play, progression and the community reports cited here. Community comments do not identify their build numbers. Original selector observed separately at v0.91.0 (0d319264).
Community reconstruction README ↗ — used only to identify the separate project, not to rank the original.