Corruption can be cast with your target behind you, and since it is instant cast it can also be cast while running. As such, this ability is excellent for kiting enemies. Since walking backward is much slower than running forward or strafe-running, it is always best to do one of the latter two things while attempting to kite something.
Trivia[]
Corruption is a basic Warlock spell in Hearthstone. The flavor text reads: "It starts with stealing a pen from work, and before you know it, BOOM! Corrupted!"
Hotfix (2023-04-06):Resolved an issue causing Corruption with [Absolute Corruption] to not be properly reflected back to the Warlock when using [Soul Swap] Exhale into a spell reflection effect.
Hotfix (2023-03-23):Fixed an issue where Corruption was dealing an extra damage tick on application.
Patch 10.0.7 (2023-03-21): Damage increased by 10% in PvP combat.
Patch 7.1.0 (2016-10-25): Damage increased by 10%.
Hotfix (2016-09-23):Corruption damage increased by 10%.
Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now only available to Affliction. Damage per tick reduced by 11%, but lasts now for 14 seconds (down from 18 seconds), effectively increasing damage by 14.47%. Base tick rate is now 2 seconds, down from 3 seconds.
Patch 6.2.2 (2015-09-01): Now deals 10% less damage in PvP combat.
Patch 6.2.0 (2015-06-23): Now deals 12% more damage.
Hotfix (2014-10-17):Corruption's damage has been reduced by 10%.
Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Now learned at level 3 (was 4).
Patch 5.4.0 (2013-09-10): Damage has been increased by 10%.
Hotfix (2013-03-12):Corruption now deals 25% less damage.
Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Now replaced by [Immolate] at level 12 for Destruction warlocks.
Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Damage has been reduced by approximately 12%.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Now costs 6% of base mana, down from 9%. Range now 40 yards, up from 30. Now deals damage over 18 sec, up from 12.
Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): Will now gain the correct damage modifiers for the creature type of the target.