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[WoW] [Death Knights] I wish I could Death Grip my ottoman
Walt
Waller Arcane EnchantedFrozen ElectrifiedRegistered User regular
Waller Arcane EnchantedFrozen ElectrifiedRegistered User regular
[Stolen from Zerokku sexcellent post with updates by Projectmayhem - updated for Cataclysm 11.07.10 and continually updated thereafter because I am awesome and I love you]
Death Knight
Last updated 01/03/10 - Updated some old glyphs and stuff
Death Knight Basics
Cataclysm Changes and New Abilities
Outbreak - Instantly applies Blood Plague and Frost Fever to the target enemy. / 30 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Necrotic Strike - A vicious strike that deals 100% weapon damage and absorbs the next [ 75% of AP ] healing received by the target. For 15 sec, or until the full amount of healing is absorbed, the target's casting time is increased by 30%. / 1 Unholy, 5 yd range, Instant
Dark Simulacrum - Places a dark ward on an enemy that persists for 8 sec, triggering when the enemy next spends mana on a single-target spell, and allowing the Death Knight to unleash an exact duplicate of that spell. Against nonplayers, only absorbs some harmful spells. / 20 Runic Power, 40 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldown
Runic Empowerment - When you use your Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike ability, you have a 45% chance to activate a random fully depleted rune. / Passive
Festering Strike - An instant attack that deals 150% weapon damage plus 840.54 and increases the duration of your Blood Plague, Frost Fever, and Chains of Ice effects on the target by up to 6 sec. / 1 Blood 1 Frost, 5 yd range, Instant
Common Specs
Taken from EJ. Note that these are min/max specs for PvE. These are guideline specs only - they often ignore survivability talents for the sake of an extra 0.1% DPS. Don't be afraid to experiment! Many of these specs have extra points left over to use.
These specs are all current as of 4.0.6, but may be outdated in future patches.
How can I maximize my DPS?
Common Abbreviations
Excellent Death Knight resources
Elitist Jerks DK subforum - http://elitistjerks.com/f72/ - Go here for up to date information about Specs, Gemming, Gearing, Priorities, anything and everything related to PvE
Arena Junkies DK subforum - http://www.arenajunkies.com/forumdisplay.php?f=111 - PvPer funfest. Read the stickies to l2p.
Death Knight
Last updated 01/03/10 - Updated some old glyphs and stuff
Death Knight Basics
Overview
The Death Knight is WoW's very first hero class. Players can create one death knight per realm, the player must have a Wrath of the Lich King account and a character of at least level 55 on their account in order to create a death knight. They start off with an epic quest chain from levels 55-58 and even get a free epic mount in the process. The term "Hero Class" refers to their unique lore and elevated starting level.
Many of their abilties revolve around diseases and damage over time abilties as well as "strikes", instant melee attacks that use up a rune and are strengthed by the death knight's own diseases on the target. Think of them as the love child of a warlock and warrior, encased in plate-mail.
Resources
The death knight uses a very unique resource system to govern his spells and abilities known as Runes (bottom bar with six icons). Three rune types exist: blood, frost, and unholy; each with their own specific color and symbol. A death knight has 2 of each rune available to him/her, and only one rune of each type can recharge at a time. Think of the first rune as the "main" rune and the second rune as the "extra tank". There are also abilities that will turn specific runes into what are called "Death Runes" that are essentially a wild card and can act as any of the three rune types. Runes are the death knight's primary resource.
The death knight has a secondary resource to manage, known as Runic Power (blue bar below health), a sort of cross between energy and rage. Runic Power starts at 0 and is gained by using runes and through some talents. While only a few abilties use this resource, It is important to manage it none-the-less. Abilities like Death Coil or Frost Strike are often referred to as "Runic Dumps" abilities that do plenty of damage and use up some of the accumulated runic power.
Class Roles and Specs
The death knight is a dps/tanking hybrid. They can perform both tasks extremely well and provide many useful buffs to the party/raid they are in. They are able to dual-wield and use most two-handed weapons . Like druids, they tank without shields, but with their face. Their tanking mechanics involve high armor and a high chance to parry, as well as self healing strikes and many defensive cooldowns.
Like other classes they have three unique talents trees:
The Blood tree enhances the death knight's tanking abilities and vastly improves the ability to heal itself and mitigate damage. Blood death knights are not as disease-dependent as Frost and Unholy. Blood also provides some healing utility and has a useful 10% Attack Power buff that applies to others in their party or raid: Abomination's Might.
Frost enhances melee abilities and is the only tree designed for Dual Weild or 2H DPS. It's special abilities focus on the use of Frost Runes (Whoda thunk it?). Frost provides a more crowd control options with Chillblains and Hungering Cold, and some anti-crowd control abilities with Pillar of Frost and Lichborne. Frost also provides some very powerful damage abilities like Frost Strike and Howling Blast. One of the most notable buffs this tree provides is Icy Talons, a 10% melee and ranged haste buff for the party or raid.
Unholy gives the death knight a permanent ghoul pet and enhances its damage done by diseases. It's special abilities focus on the use of wait for it... Unholy runes. It also provides the death knight with a number of magic mitigation bonuses, a gargoyle pet he or she can summon for a brief period of time, and an extra disease. The most notable buff the unholy death knight brings is Ebon Plague, a solid +8% damage for spellcasters.
The Death Knight is WoW's very first hero class. Players can create one death knight per realm, the player must have a Wrath of the Lich King account and a character of at least level 55 on their account in order to create a death knight. They start off with an epic quest chain from levels 55-58 and even get a free epic mount in the process. The term "Hero Class" refers to their unique lore and elevated starting level.
Many of their abilties revolve around diseases and damage over time abilties as well as "strikes", instant melee attacks that use up a rune and are strengthed by the death knight's own diseases on the target. Think of them as the love child of a warlock and warrior, encased in plate-mail.
Resources
The death knight uses a very unique resource system to govern his spells and abilities known as Runes (bottom bar with six icons). Three rune types exist: blood, frost, and unholy; each with their own specific color and symbol. A death knight has 2 of each rune available to him/her, and only one rune of each type can recharge at a time. Think of the first rune as the "main" rune and the second rune as the "extra tank". There are also abilities that will turn specific runes into what are called "Death Runes" that are essentially a wild card and can act as any of the three rune types. Runes are the death knight's primary resource.
The death knight has a secondary resource to manage, known as Runic Power (blue bar below health), a sort of cross between energy and rage. Runic Power starts at 0 and is gained by using runes and through some talents. While only a few abilties use this resource, It is important to manage it none-the-less. Abilities like Death Coil or Frost Strike are often referred to as "Runic Dumps" abilities that do plenty of damage and use up some of the accumulated runic power.
Class Roles and Specs
The death knight is a dps/tanking hybrid. They can perform both tasks extremely well and provide many useful buffs to the party/raid they are in. They are able to dual-wield and use most two-handed weapons . Like druids, they tank without shields, but with their face. Their tanking mechanics involve high armor and a high chance to parry, as well as self healing strikes and many defensive cooldowns.
Like other classes they have three unique talents trees:
The Blood tree enhances the death knight's tanking abilities and vastly improves the ability to heal itself and mitigate damage. Blood death knights are not as disease-dependent as Frost and Unholy. Blood also provides some healing utility and has a useful 10% Attack Power buff that applies to others in their party or raid: Abomination's Might. Frost enhances melee abilities and is the only tree designed for Dual Weild or 2H DPS. It's special abilities focus on the use of Frost Runes (Whoda thunk it?). Frost provides a more crowd control options with Chillblains and Hungering Cold, and some anti-crowd control abilities with Pillar of Frost and Lichborne. Frost also provides some very powerful damage abilities like Frost Strike and Howling Blast. One of the most notable buffs this tree provides is Icy Talons, a 10% melee and ranged haste buff for the party or raid. Unholy gives the death knight a permanent ghoul pet and enhances its damage done by diseases. It's special abilities focus on the use of wait for it... Unholy runes. It also provides the death knight with a number of magic mitigation bonuses, a gargoyle pet he or she can summon for a brief period of time, and an extra disease. The most notable buff the unholy death knight brings is Ebon Plague, a solid +8% damage for spellcasters.Cataclysm Changes and New Abilities
Outbreak - Instantly applies Blood Plague and Frost Fever to the target enemy. / 30 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldownNecrotic Strike - A vicious strike that deals 100% weapon damage and absorbs the next [ 75% of AP ] healing received by the target. For 15 sec, or until the full amount of healing is absorbed, the target's casting time is increased by 30%. / 1 Unholy, 5 yd range, InstantDark Simulacrum - Places a dark ward on an enemy that persists for 8 sec, triggering when the enemy next spends mana on a single-target spell, and allowing the Death Knight to unleash an exact duplicate of that spell. Against nonplayers, only absorbs some harmful spells. / 20 Runic Power, 40 yd range, Instant, 1 min cooldownRunic Empowerment - When you use your Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike ability, you have a 45% chance to activate a random fully depleted rune. / PassiveFestering Strike - An instant attack that deals 150% weapon damage plus 840.54 and increases the duration of your Blood Plague, Frost Fever, and Chains of Ice effects on the target by up to 6 sec. / 1 Blood 1 Frost, 5 yd range, InstantCommon Specs
Taken from EJ. Note that these are min/max specs for PvE. These are guideline specs only - they often ignore survivability talents for the sake of an extra 0.1% DPS. Don't be afraid to experiment! Many of these specs have extra points left over to use.
These specs are all current as of 4.0.6, but may be outdated in future patches.
Blood specs
Blood Tank (Raider)
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jcGr0sMruszG0oZ0b:Ro0zakzcm
Frost specs
2H Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZGcMMfuRzbu0h:MammVqcM0
DW Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZMIMMfuRzfz0h:amMqVmc0M
PvP Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbh0bZGcorfuRd0ub:MmaV0qmcz
Unholy specs
2H Unholy
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZZcucdfsodfo:Vksm0VczM
PvP Unholy
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#j0bZG0obZbGfdcfkoRk:skVMmVzm0
Blood Tank (Raider)
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jcGr0sMruszG0oZ0b:Ro0zakzcm
Frost specs
2H Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZGcMMfuRzbu0h:MammVqcM0
DW Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZMIMMfuRzfz0h:amMqVmc0M
PvP Frost
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbh0bZGcorfuRd0ub:MmaV0qmcz
Unholy specs
2H Unholy
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#jbGZZcucdfsodfo:Vksm0VczM
PvP Unholy
http://www.wowhead.com/talent#j0bZG0obZbGfdcfkoRk:skVMmVzm0
How can I maximize my DPS?
Death Knights DPS using a Priority System (say goodbye to pre-4.x Rotations!). These are your priority lists, taken from Elitist Jerks:
Frost
Single Target
Diseases > OB if FFUU or DD or KM > BS if BB > Frost Strike at RP cap > Rime > Obliterate > Blood Strike > Frost Strike > Horn of Winter
AOE
HB if both Frost runes and/or both Death runes are up > DnD/PS if both Unholy Runes are up > FS > HB > BS > DnD/PS HoW.
Unholy
Single Target
Diseases > Dark Transformation > SS if both Unholy and/or all Death runes are up > FeS if both pairs of Blood and Frost runes are up > DC if SD, 100 RP, will overcap RP with anything else or if RC isn’t up > SS > FeS > DC > HoW.
AOE
Diseases > Dark Transformation > Death and Decay > SS if both Unholy and/or all Death runes are up > BB + IT if both pairs of Blood and Frost runes are up > DC if SD, 100 RP, will overcap RP with anything else or if RC isn’t up > SS > BB + IT > DC > HoW.
Frost
Single Target
Diseases > OB if FFUU or DD or KM > BS if BB > Frost Strike at RP cap > Rime > Obliterate > Blood Strike > Frost Strike > Horn of Winter
AOE
HB if both Frost runes and/or both Death runes are up > DnD/PS if both Unholy Runes are up > FS > HB > BS > DnD/PS HoW.
Unholy
Single Target
Diseases > Dark Transformation > SS if both Unholy and/or all Death runes are up > FeS if both pairs of Blood and Frost runes are up > DC if SD, 100 RP, will overcap RP with anything else or if RC isn’t up > SS > FeS > DC > HoW.
AOE
Diseases > Dark Transformation > Death and Decay > SS if both Unholy and/or all Death runes are up > BB + IT if both pairs of Blood and Frost runes are up > DC if SD, 100 RP, will overcap RP with anything else or if RC isn’t up > SS > BB + IT > DC > HoW.
Common Abbreviations
BBFFUU - Rune Resources (ie: BB = 2 blood runes active)
AM - Abomination's Might
AMS - Anti-Magic Shell
AMZ - Anti-Magic Zone
AotD - Army of the Dead
BA - Bladed Armor
BB - Blood Boil
BP - Blood Plague
BS - Blood Strike
BT - Blood Tap
DC - Death Coil
DG - Death Grip
DK - Death Knight
DnD - Death and Decay
DRW - Dancing Rune Weapon
DT - Dark Transformation
DS - Death Strike
DSim - Dark Simulacrum
EP - Ebon Plague
ERW - Empower Rune Weapon
FeS - Festering Strike
FF - Frost Fever
FP - Frost Presence
HS - Heart Strike
HB - Howling Blast
HC - Hungering Cold
HoW - Horn of Winter
IBF - Icebound Fortitude
IT - Icy Touch
IUP - Improved Unholy Presence
MF - Mind Freeze
MotFW - Might of the Frozen Wastes
NS - Necrotic Strike
OB - Obliterate
PoF - Pillar of Frost
PS - Plague Strike
RC - Runic Corruption
RE - Runic Empowerment
RI - Resilient Infection
RP - Runic Power
RPM - Runic Power Mastery
SD - Sudden Doom
SF - Scarlet Fever
SI - Shadow Infusion
SS - Scourge Strike
UB - Unholy Blight
UF - Unholy Frenzy
UP - Unholy Presence
AM - Abomination's Might
AMS - Anti-Magic Shell
AMZ - Anti-Magic Zone
AotD - Army of the Dead
BA - Bladed Armor
BB - Blood Boil
BP - Blood Plague
BS - Blood Strike
BT - Blood Tap
DC - Death Coil
DG - Death Grip
DK - Death Knight
DnD - Death and Decay
DRW - Dancing Rune Weapon
DT - Dark Transformation
DS - Death Strike
DSim - Dark Simulacrum
EP - Ebon Plague
ERW - Empower Rune Weapon
FeS - Festering Strike
FF - Frost Fever
FP - Frost Presence
HS - Heart Strike
HB - Howling Blast
HC - Hungering Cold
HoW - Horn of Winter
IBF - Icebound Fortitude
IT - Icy Touch
IUP - Improved Unholy Presence
MF - Mind Freeze
MotFW - Might of the Frozen Wastes
NS - Necrotic Strike
OB - Obliterate
PoF - Pillar of Frost
PS - Plague Strike
RC - Runic Corruption
RE - Runic Empowerment
RI - Resilient Infection
RP - Runic Power
RPM - Runic Power Mastery
SD - Sudden Doom
SF - Scarlet Fever
SI - Shadow Infusion
SS - Scourge Strike
UB - Unholy Blight
UF - Unholy Frenzy
UP - Unholy Presence
Excellent Death Knight resources
Elitist Jerks DK subforum - http://elitistjerks.com/f72/ - Go here for up to date information about Specs, Gemming, Gearing, Priorities, anything and everything related to PvE
Arena Junkies DK subforum - http://www.arenajunkies.com/forumdisplay.php?f=111 - PvPer funfest. Read the stickies to l2p.
Walt on
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfZiEzvA7UY&feature=player_embedded
Unholy gets Festering strike, which you use to turn Death Runes and refresh diseases. Death Coil is your #1 priority. Not only can it trigger your 100% rune regen, but it increases ghoul damage and triggers the transform. Followed by Festering if disease timers are low, or if no UH or Death runes are up. Scourge strike for any UH or Death runes. Blood strike will be used once at the beginning of your rotation. Pop gargoyle with personal buffs and BL, if possible. (Frenzy ALWAYS before garg, plus racial and trinkets.)
Frost is mainly watching your procs. Again diseases up, you have to refresh manually, but HB for FF, which is nice. Use Frost strike to turn runes, keep an eye on KM procs for OBLITERATE or HB in AoE situations Frost strike if oblit isnt available. Use rime when its up. easy.
Unholy is currently better DPS for equal gear level. Gem for str, and then str, maybe some str. on the side, str. Unless you need hit.
Everything I've just written is with raiding in mind, and written quickly, but that's the basic gist of it. DPS on a DK isn't quite so mechanical, which i really like.
I already posted something about how to make threat in the old thread, I have very good gear, but I hold threat off 2 psycho 18-20k DPS mages and a similar Fury warrior. So that advice will hold true to whatever gear level you have. Obviously, if someone far outgears you, holding threat will be an issue. If threat is your problem, Get to hitcap, get expertise capped, make sure your avoidance isnt in the gutter. YES, you'll go through rune starved moments. that's why you glyph DRW and get a good lead on threat right at the start.
The DK mastery is very cool. It's also not really needed for this content. IF your stats arent all that great, don't scuttle them for mastery. That'll change when you can start getting 100% + mastery.
Added priority lists to OP under "How can I maximize my DPS?"
No. But you can be very soon! Check the OP for the Priority List for Unholy spec. What you want to do is see what options are available to you and always pick the option highest on the priority list. Since the priority is not 100% straightforward (like, say, pre-Cataclysm Retribution Paladins), you'll have to watch your runes/RP and make the best decision. It's more challenging at first but it becomes automatic pretty quickly.
You are close.
Basically, put up diseases and then Scourge Strike if you have an Unholy or Death Rune up.
Let your Blood runes and Frost runes regen and then, when you have one of each, Festering Strike.
Weave Death Coils into any dead time or to keep yourself from maxing out on RP.
Pay attention to Runic Corruption and don't DC when it's already active.
That's the basics. Blow your cooldowns (Gargoyle and Unholy Frenzy) when appropriate.
Use Dark Transformation as soon as it's ready and try and pool some RP while your ghoul is transformed so you can quickly DC a bunch (without overwriting RC procs!) and get him retransformed as soon as possible when it falls off.
Edit: Stupid fingers.
Added priority lists to OP under "How can I maximize my DPS?"
Sweet, thanks, here's tanking priority:
No diseases single target. DS every 6 seconds for shield, (if you have enough stats to go around, try to reforge for 66% shields). RS when available. HS when DS/RS unavailable. easy enough. Death Coil is usually not recommended, only use when no runes are up, you're at 100 RP AND DRW is on CD. Always use Rune Tap on cooldown, use it for a DS.
For snap aggro:
DS HS HS DS (save RP, no RS.) Pop DRW, then DS HS HS DS DS (rune tap here) (RS when it's up) RS is priority for threat. Depending on RNG you'll either have a lead on threat, or have a giant lead on threat, if RS procced a lot. This is a bit organic, you are reliant of a procced proc, but DRW is huge for threat. with it up you should be over or nearing 60% avoidance. If you have DPS breathing down your throat the entire fight as i usually do, DRW on cooldown. (this is not recommended unless you have kickass healers, but i even turn my back to the boss and take a couple hits to get vengance up there, lol. with a full stack im at 13k Attack power, so its incredible for threat. well...depending on the boss. LK not so much.) Also, use death runes as though they were UH/frost runes for single target. Don't use em for HS.
Frost Fever is an important Debuff, as is crimson fever (whatever its called) It's easy to pop a BB in place of a HS, doesn't screw your rotation. But an IT will. So, if you find yourself with a decent threat lead, use your Rune Taps on an IT, and BB in place of a HS every 30 seconds.
AOE snap aggro: Tab targetting is your friend. RS will always be up. Use OMEN. Pop a RS on any mob you may be loosing. Tidy Plates is also awesome for keeping track of adds that may get loose, or have gotten loose.
Dnd BB BB then disease - pest. BB as much as you can if you have more than 5 mobs, otherwise tab targeting and Heat Striking is more effective. RS then BB the procced runes. DS when you are out of Blood/Death runes.
Blood is tanking, Frost/UH for DPS. you have to fill out a tree entirely in order to get your sub tree unlocked, so you'll be stuck in one tree to begin with. Don't worry about how you spend your points, you can't gimp yourself that much. Just do what you like and have fun....worry about uber DPS and all that later. x2 on the 2H upgrades go DW later.. I'd bet UH would be easier to level with, while tanking would allow you jsut instaqueue for dungeons. Maybe not in Cata, but for now at least.
Edit: Finished the starter area, got tossed out in SW, where should I go from here?
Outlands. You can catch a portal to the blasted lands from the mage tower in SW, or as a DK you have nearly all of the flight points in Azeroth already so it wouldn't take long to fly there.
0431-6094-6446-7088
I feel like when I'm tanking in Blood (level 72), I am constantly sitting on cooldowns with nothing up -- no runes, no RP, can't do anything.
my main spec is Frost and I feel like I have an easier time just ... doing things in that spec, although blood makes it a lot easier to tank without dying.
I hear the 20% recharge improvement currently in beta will help a lot.
Once the rune strike and rune recharge fixes come through, we'll be better.
Not seeing some of these abreviations in the list in the OP. Could somebody translate this into noobspeak for me?
"FFUU" refers to 'Frost Frost Unholy Unholy' --> that is, both pairs of frost and unholy runes are up.
Similarly, "DD" refers to both blood runes being up as 'Death' runes, and "BB" is if you have both Blood runes up.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OLcAGbXhWIVcl5IziVpG0eKFJS3xi_Sac9kYMkRFvD8/edit?usp=sharing
I added this to the OP as well as AOE Priorities.
Let it be known that I've been Frost for a week and I miss Unholy somethin' fierce. PvP Weapon, you can't come soon enough. I miss you Gravegobbler.
also what Prime Glyphs are people using (all specs)? I guess armory isnt showing prime glyphs for whatever reason when I go to look.
Think I'm gonna try some blood tanking tonight.
OMG WHAT IS OB?
Obliterate. I'm adding Frost abbreviations in, for some reason I forgot them.
EDIT: Added
You'd think that 2H would be inherently better pre cata content due to current itemization on one handers...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OLcAGbXhWIVcl5IziVpG0eKFJS3xi_Sac9kYMkRFvD8/edit?usp=sharing
It's especially curious since Shadowmourne is the reason Unholy DPS comes out on top of all DPS specs with BiS gear. Maybe this points to 2H Frost gaining slightly less benefit from weapon damage compared to Unholy? But, that would set it up to always be behind Unholy in 2H Weapon DPS. I have absolutely no math to back this up, by the way.
Has there been any word on removing the runestrike proc for tanks? It sounds like they can't decide how to make the mechanic work for just tanking mode - I say nerf the damage some and add a threat boost, making it spamable for all.
I believe that you need less hit overall as DW than 2H. Reforge into mastery and you won't mind more frost strikes. :winky:
Nvm - as 2H frost, you're reforging into haste(?). This is why DW hits so hard. You're in frost pres for %dmg increase, equipping mastery to increase frost damage %, and since your runes have much longer CDs FS will likely be your most used skill unless you have lucky empower procs. Oh, and you're also stacking cinderglacier or razorice.
Yet.