Diablo 2: Resurrected
Guides
The Top 5 PvE Warlock Builds
1. Apocalypse Warlock
The top pick goes to the Apocalypse Warlock. Apocalypse Warlocks have a percentage of their damage taken go to their summons which makes them very strong defensively. Their wide area of effect spell attack can rapidly clear full screens of enemies in The Chaos Sanctuary and The Secret Cow Level. They're great at key runs while still being excellent for single target damage.
Recommendation: Apocalypse Warlock
Stats: 156 Strength for equipment, enough Dexterity for equipment, all remaining points in Vitality, no Energy.
Build:
20 Apocalypse
20 Flame Wave
20 Ring of Fire
20 Blood Oath (transfers a percentage of your damage taken to your summons)
10 Demonic Mastery (needs to be at least level 10 with plus skills for another minion)
1 Bind Demon
1 Summon Defiler
1 Consume
1 Hex: Siphon
1 Levitation Mastery
1 Psychic Ward
All remaining points in Demonic Mastery which improves the damage of your minions.
Note: Apocalypse Warlocks have screen wide clear and once fully optimized they completely evaporate screens of enemies. This build becomes the best PvE Warlock build once you have a sunder charm to break fire immunities and very high plus skills.
2. Echoing Strike Warlock
The second place spot goes to Echoing Strike Warlocks. Echoing Strike Warlocks deal the highest single target damage of the Warlock builds and Echoing Strike can also damage enemies in an area of effect cone in front of you for strong AoE damage.
Recommendation: Echoing Strike Warlock
Stats: Enough Strength for your weapon, enough Dexterity for equipment, all remaining points in Vitality, no Energy.
Build:
20 Echoing Strike
20 Mirrored Blades
20 Levitation Mastery
20 Blade Warp
10 Demonic Mastery (needs to be at least level 10 with plus skills for a second minion)
1 Hex: Bane
1 Consume
All remaining points in Blood Oath (makes minions take some of your damage for you and improves your minions' survivability).
3. Abyss Warlock
Abyss Warlocks have high single target damage but they don't have a huge area of effect. Instead, Abyss Warlocks use Sigil: Death to corpse explode enemies in a larger area of effect for more AoE coverage. Abyss Warlocks are great on a budget because you can use your Bind Demon minion to kill magic immune enemies before you can afford a magic sunder grand charm.
Recommendation: Abyss Warlock
Stats: Enough Strength for gear, enough Dexterity for gear, all remaining points in Vitality, 0 Energy.
Build:
20 Abyss
20 Miasma Chains
20 Miasma Bolt
10 Demonic Mastery (needs to be at least level 10 with plus skills for a second minion)
10 Blood Oath (around 10 points where you start seeing diminishing returns for improving minion survivability)
1 Sigil: Death
1 Levitation Mastery
1 Hex: Siphon
1 Bind Demon
All remaining points in Enhanced Entropy to increase the area of effect of your Abyss skill.
​
4. Blood Boil Summoner Warlock
Blood Boil Summoner Warlocks use Blood Boil as their main attack which has a large area of effect that is hidden on the screen. Blood Boil Summoner Warlocks also have Blood Boil synergies that improve your summoned minions with every point spent.
Recommendation: Blood Boil Summoner Warlock
Stats: Enough strength for gear, enough Dexterity for equipment, all remaining points in Vitality, 0 Energy.
Build:
20 Blood Boil
20 Blood Oath
20 Engorge
20 Bind Demon
10 Demonic Mastery (needs to be at least level 10 with plus skills for a second minion)
1 Levitation Mastery
1 Hex: Siphon
All remaining points in Demonic Mastery to improve the damage of your summons.
5. Summoner Mirrored Blades Warlock
The fifth place spot goes to the Summoner Mirrored Blades Warlock which is still a very strong build in Diablo 2. Warlock minions deal very high damage and you can also use a Mist Bow for the Concentration aura as a secondary attack that buffs your minions.
Recommendation: Summoner Mirrored Blades Warlock
Stats: Enough Strength for gear, enough Dexterity for gear, all remaining points in Vitality, 0 Energy.
Build:
20 Demonic Mastery
20 Bind Demon
10+ Blood Oath (enough points until you see diminishing returns on minions' defenses)
10 Levitation Mastery (enough points until you see diminishing returns on weapon critical strike)
1 Sigil: Death
1 Hex: Bane
1 Engorge (enough points until you have diminishing returns from plus skills)
1 Summon Defiler (one or more points if you don't have high plus skills)
1 Consume (one point increased with plus skills until there are diminishing returns)
All remaining points should go in Mirrored Blades for a secondary attack followed by more points in Levitation Mastery.
Gearing Guide
​
Weapons:
1. Apocalypse Warlock
Obsession Runeword Staff (Zod Ist Lem Lum Io Nef) for high plus skill, resistances, and faster cast rate.
​
2. Echoing Strike Warlock
The high end option is an ethereal Breath of the Dying (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth) Thunder Maul for the highest damage.
​
3. Abyss Warlock
Use a Obsession Staff (Zod Ist Lem Lum Io Nef) because it's well rounded while a Void runeword dagger is just for damage.
​
4. Blood Boil Warlock
Obsession Staff (Zod Ist Lem Lum Io Nef) is recommended because it's great for plus skills, resistances, and faster cast rate.
​
5. Summoner Warlock
Mist Bow (Cham Shael Gul Thul Ith) gives +3 to skills and the Concentration aura for you and your summons or use Ethereal Zod'd Ribcracker if you plan on using a melee attack for low requirements, high damage, increased defense, and high Crushing Blow.
Offhands:
1. Apocalypse Warlock
Ars Al'Diabolos should be used for +Skills to Apocalypse along with high increased fire skill damage.
​
2. Echoing Strike Warlock
Phoenix Monarch (Vex Vex Lo Jah) gives up to 400% enhanced damage and a free Redemption aura.
​
3. Abyss Warlock
Use Ars Dul'Mephistos for reduced enemy magic resistances, Spirit Monarch (Tal Thul Ort Amn) for +2 skills, up to 35% faster cast rate, and resistances as a budget option, or a Rhyme (Shael Eth) Warlock Book with a +3 to Abyss base for magic finding.
​
4. Blood Boil Warlock
Ars Tor'Baalos should be used for +2 to Demon Skills, up to +4 to Blood Boil, up to +3 to multiple other helpful skills, up to 10% reduced physical damage taken, and high life per level.
​
5. Summoner Warlock
If you're using a melee attack use Ars Tor'Baalos for +2 to Demon Skills and great defensive modifiers but if you're using the Mist (Cham Shael Gul Thul Ith) runeword bow you'll need to equip arrows in this slot instead.
Amulets:
1. Bow/Melee Warlock Builds
Use the Metalgrid amulet for high attack rating and high all resistances.
​​
2. Caster Builds
A perfect Mara's Kaleidoscope amulet is recommended for +2 Skills, 5 to attributes, and all resistances +30%. You can also look for a +2 to Warlock Skills amulets with high resistances, life, and faster cast rate for Warlock builds that need faster cast rate.
Rings:
1. Caster Warlocks
One Wisp Projector ring for lightning absorb, magic find, and Oak Sage which increases your life with a Stone of Jordan ring for +1 to All Skills and increased mana. You can also optionally use two Stone of Jordan rings which helps a lot with mana.
​
2. Echoing Strike and Summoner Mirrored Blades Warlocks
You should use one duel leech ring and one Raven Frost ring for attack rating and cannot be frozen.
Helms:
1. Harlequin Crest (aka: Shako)
Gives +2 to all skills, physical damage reduction, 50% magic find, and high life and mana per level.
​
2. Warlock Circlet
Look for +2 to Warlock Skills, all resistances, open sockets, and faster cast rate for Warlock builds that need faster cast rate.
​
3. Flickering Flame (Nef Pul Vex) On PvM Apocalypse Warlocks
Gives +3 Fire Skills, -15% enemy fire resistances, and a Resist Fire aura which counters the -70% fire resistance on the Renewed Flame Rift fire sunder charm.
Armors:
​
1. Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo)
Gives 200% enhanced damage, up to all resistances +30%, and a chance to gain Chilling Armor.
​
2. Chains of Honor (Dol Um Ber Ist)
Gives +2 to all skills, 8% physical damage taken reduction, and all resistances +65%.
​
3. Enigma (Jah Ith Ber)
Gives +2 to all skills, very high strength, magic find, and most importantly the Teleport skill.
Belts:
1. String of Ears
This belt can be used on Warlock builds that benefit from life leech.
​
2. Verdungo's Hearty Coil
This belt can be used if you meet its strength requirement when you don't need life leech.
​
3. Gheed's Wager or Arachnid's Mesh
One of these belts should be used on Warlock builds that need more faster cast rate.
​
Gloves:
1. Magefist or Trang-oul's Gloves
These gloves should be used for caster Warlocks and Echoing Strike which has its attack speed increased by faster cast rate.
2. Laying of Hands
You can use these gloves for Warlock builds that benefit from increased attack speed for 20% increased attack speed, 50% fire resistance, and 350% damage to demons.
3. Chance Guards
These gloves can be used for magic finding for 40% increased magic find and 200% increased gold find.
​​​
Boots:
1. Tri-res Rare Boots
These boots are a high end option with 30% faster run walk, 10% faster hit recovery (optional), and three resistances.
2. War Traveler
These boots can be used for magic finding for high magic find and high added damage.
3. Gore Rider/Goblin Toe
These can be used for damage and Crushing Blow which damages enemies for a percentage of their life on hit.
Mercenaries:
An Act 2 Might Mercenary is recommended for Warlocks in Softcore because it increases the damage of your demon minions.
Weapon: Ethereal Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist) for its Conviction aura which lowers the elemental resistances and defenses of enemies.
Armor: Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) for its 200% enhanced damage, high resistances, and Chilling Armor.
Helm: Andariel's Visage (Ral'd or use a fire resistance jewel with 15% increased attack speed) for +2 to all skills and high life leech.​​​​
​
That's all for the Top 5 PvE Warlock Builds Guide. You can check out more guides in the menu at the top of this page. Good luck!
​