Demon Warlock Build Guide

The Demon Warlock is a summoner build that controls powerful Demons to overwhelm enemies. Unlike the Necromancer or Druid, the Warlock fields fewer summons but each one hits harder, and he has far more tools to direct them in combat. Death Mark teleports your demons onto a target, Blood Boil erupts them for massive AoE damage, and Engorge keeps them alive through it all. This is the most hands-on summoner playstyle in D2R.

The build starts slow with just one summon, but scales hard once Demonic Mastery adds more demons and Blood Boil comes online. In endgame with Enigma, the loop is teleport in, Death Mark a pack, Blood Boil, and move on.

Skill Build

Since the Warlock is new, optimal allocations are still being worked out. Below are the core skills for a Demon-focused build.

Demon Summons

Summon Goatman

Melee tank with high damage output. Keeps enemies away from you and serves as the frontline for your army.

Summon Tainted

Ranged fire caster that launches Fireballs from behind your tanks. Best paired with a Goatman wall in front.

Summon Defiler

Does not attack directly. Instead binds demon souls together, linking damage taken across enemies. Useful in summoner and non-summoner builds alike.

Bind Demon

Bind any demon in the game to your service. The bound demon persists between games, so you can capture powerful targets like Lister the Tormentor.

Support Skills

Demonic Mastery (Max)

Increases number of demons, damage, attack rating, attack speed, and run/walk speed. Max this first in any summoner build.

Blood Oath

Improves defenses for both your summons and yourself.

Death Mark

Teleports all your demons to focus on a specific target. Core positioning and burst tool.

Blood Boil

Ruptures your demons, dealing damage to them and all enemies around them. The main AoE damage skill — this is when the build takes off.

Engorge

Heals your demons and increases their defenses. Keeps the army alive through Blood Boil self-damage and tough encounters.

Stat Allocation

Strength

Enough for Gear

Dexterity

Enough for Gear

Vitality

Everything Else

Energy

None

Gear

The Warlock can use 2-handed weapons with a shield. Below are strong options for each slot.

Slot	Recommended Items
Weapon	Beast (for Goatmen), Mang Song's Lesson, Obsession
Swap	Call to Arms + Spirit
Shield	35% FCR Spirit Monarch
Body Armor	Enigma
Helm	Harlequin Crest
Gloves	Trang-Oul's Claws or Magefist
Boots	Marrowwalk, Sandstorm Trek
Belt	Arachnid Mesh, String of Ears
Ring 1	Stone of Jordan or Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band
Ring 2	Stone of Jordan or Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band
Amulet	Mara's Kaleidoscope, Seraph's Hymn, or +3 Warlock Demon Skills rare
Charms	Hellfire Torch, Annihilus, 9x Demon Skiller GCs (Life or FHR), 10x SCs (Life / Res / Mana / FHR)

Breakpoints

Faster Hit Recovery

Frames	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5
FHR Required	0%	5%	10%	16%	26%	39%	56%	86%	152%

Faster Cast Rate

Frames	15	14	13	12	11	10	9
FCR Required	0%	9%	18%	30%	48%	75%	125%

Faster Block Rate

Frames	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4
FBR Required	0%	6%	13%	20%	32%	52%	86%	174%

Mercenary

An Offensive (Might) Act 2 Desert Guard is best for Goatman builds, as the Might Aura boosts all physical summon damage. If using caster demons like Tainteds, a Defensive (Holy Freeze) merc slows enemies for better survivability.

Slot	Recommended Items
Weapon	Ethereal Insight or The Reaper's Toll
Body Armor	Ethereal Fortitude
Helm	Andariel's Visage socketed with a Ral rune