On this page, we explain what the best statistics are for DestructionWarlocks in World of Warcraft MoP 5.4, how the class benefits fromeach of them, andwhat your reforging strategy should be. We also detail what the various capsare (if any) and why they should be attained.

The statistics priority is important as itinfluences reforging strategies as well as itemisation choices(gear, enchants, and gems).

Make sure to check our GearOptimisation Guide, which serves as a support guide for thisarticle.

The other pages of our Destruction Warlock guide can be accessedfrom the table of contents on the right.

1. Basics↑top

The stat priority for a Destruction Warlock is:

1. Intellect;
2. Hit Rating (until 15%);
3. Mastery Rating;
4. Critical Strike Rating and Haste Rating.

In single-target situations, secondary stats are extremely close. Mastery Ratingis slightly better when using Grimoire of Sacrifice, and slightly worse whennot. Haste Rating and Critical Strike Rating are always roughly equal.

Mastery Rating scales up extremely quickly in multiple-target situations, andgets increasingly better than Haste Rating and Critical Strike Rating, as thenumber of targets increases.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

2.1. Statistics Explanations

Intellect is your primary stat. You should look for this stat in allof your upgrades. It provides you with Spell Power, which increases the damageof your spells, and increases your critical strike chance.

Hit Rating decreases the chance that your spells will misstheir target (15% against a raid boss). Therefore, your goal is to reach the15% hit cap (see section below), which will ensure that your attacks nevermiss.

Mastery Rating increases the damage of your Burning Ember consumingspells by a large amount, through Mastery: Emberstorm. For fights withmultiple targets, you get a high amount of Burning Embers through Rain of Fire, so the benefits of Mastery Rating are increased, whichis why you will want to prioritise Mastery Rating over Haste Rating.This also applies to fights with phases of important burst damage.

Critical Strike Rating increases your chance to critically hit withall spells and abilities.

Haste Rating influences the cast speed of your spells and increasesthe number of ticks from your DoTs. In turn, this increases the speed atwhich you build Burning Embers, which is generally good for single-targetfights.

2.2. Hit Cap

At level 90, most races require 5,100 Hit Rating to reachthe spell hit cap. Some races, in some cases, only need 4,760 HitRating, thanks to passive racial skills:

• Gnomes when using a Dagger or a Sword ( Shortblade Specialization);
• Humans when using a Sword ( Sword Specialization).

Note that, in Mists of Pandaria, 1% expertise counts as 1% hit towards the spell hit cap.

3. Changelog↑top

• 20 Nov. 2013: Critical Strike Rating and Haste Rating are always roughly equal.
• 28 Oct. 2013: Improved explanations to justify the stat priority.
• 13 Sep. 2013: More testing from Gahddo: Mastery > Crit > Haste is the new stat priority.
• 11 Sep. 2013: Patch 5.4: nothing to change. We will do another round of testing in the next few days to see if the stat priority really remains the same.
• 19 May 2013: Evrelia's review and Patch 5.3 update: improved stat priority and explanations.
• 07 Mar. 2013: Slightly updated stat priority.

Buffs, Debuffs, and Useful Abilities

Gems, Enchants, and Professions