World of Warcraft’s Succubus Returns as Demonology Warlock Meta Shifts

World of Warcraft’s Curse of Ula’tek class changes have produced an unusual result: Demonology Warlocks are increasingly leaving the Felguard behind. A large boost to the Succubus and Felhunter has made both pets more attractive than the demon traditionally associated with the specialization, giving players new reasons to reconsider established builds.

What happened to Demonology Warlocks

The patch changed the numbers behind Warlock demon pets. The Succubus and Felhunter received roughly 350% more damage, while the Felguard gained only about 20%. That gap has altered the practical value of each choice for Demonology players.

The Succubus is now being considered for its damage output, while the Felhunter offers faster interrupts and broader utility. According to the source data, the Felguard’s damage can sit around 0.6% to 2% below the alternatives. That difference may sound modest, but it becomes meaningful when combined with the talent choices available elsewhere in the tree.

By skipping the Felguard node, players can reach Practiced Rituals, which increases Mastery by 2%, and Dreadlash, which improves Dreadstalkers. Those benefits can produce a stronger overall setup than simply selecting the pet that has historically defined Demonology.

Why the Felguard shift matters

The Felguard has been a defining part of Demonology since its introduction in The Burning Crusade. Even when the specialization changed substantially, including its transformation into a major summoner playstyle in Legion, the demon remained central to the identity of the class. Season of Discovery also retained the Felguard as an important part of the specialization despite bringing back Metamorphosis.

That history makes the current change more significant than a routine balance adjustment. The issue is not only that another pet can deal more damage. Choosing the Felguard may also mean giving up talent value and utility, making it a less efficient path for players focused on high-end performance.

The source suggests this is the first point in World of Warcraft’s history when selecting Felguard could potentially hurt a player’s prospects in demanding content. That does not make the pet unusable, but it does show how sharply the balance pass has changed the specialization’s priorities.

What to watch next

Players should expect the Demonology discussion to continue through the remainder of the current patch and into future updates. The source indicates that the Felguard may remain outside the preferred build for this patch, or potentially longer, including until The Last Titan.

The wider World of Warcraft environment is also changing. WoW: Forever has attracted enough attention that Blizzard improved its servers to support players attempting to log in, while future updates are planned without raising the level cap or revisiting existing expansions. At BlizzCon, Blizzard revealed Midnight Eclipse and The Last Titan, placing the current class changes within a broader period of transition.

For now, the clearest competitive question is whether Blizzard adjusts the pet numbers or talent interactions. Until that happens, Succubus damage and Felhunter utility are likely to remain central to Demonology build discussions.

Key takeaways for Warlock players

• Succubus is now a serious damage-focused alternative to Felguard.
• Felhunter offers faster interrupts and useful general utility.
• Skipping the Felguard node can unlock Practiced Rituals and Dreadlash.
• The Felguard remains iconic, but it may no longer be the optimal high-end choice.

How the pet changes compare

Expert View

Blizzard has unintentionally challenged one of Demonology Warlock’s longest-standing assumptions. The Felguard’s identity is stronger than its current numbers, but competitive players build around performance rather than tradition. Unless a follow-up balance pass restores its damage or improves its talent value, the Succubus and Felhunter will define the specialization’s current reality.