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We've found the best gear that players can equip for Death Knights in WotLK Classic. In the sections below, we list out the best options for each item slot to maximize damage for both Frost and Unholy specializations. There are a few choices in each category as some may be harder to obtain than others and the differences are often minor depending on your current gear and stat priorities.
Death Knights were the first new hero class in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. The two specializations considered to be best for high damage were Frost and Unholy. In WoW Classic: WotLK, their performance is expected to be at the top of DPS tier lists.
Both specializations are seen as viable in all forms of content. Frost DK's will be seen a lot more often in early phases and Unholy DK's in later phases due to the nature of their talents scaling with gear.
Frost DK's excel at front-loaded burst Area of Effect damage with Howling Blast, whereas Unholy DK's excel at longer sustained AoE damage with their stronger diseases Death and Decay.
Both specializations prioritize the same stats on the gear that they are choosing to equip.
Best Gems For DPS Death Knights
The best gems for Frost and Unholy Death Knights are always going to be Strength gems. To activate the meta socket use a prismatic gem in a blue socket. For Red sockets use gems with the Bold prefix, for Yellow use gems with strength and/or hit rating.
Slot | First Choice(s) | Effect | Alternate Choice(s) | Effect |
---|---|---|---|---|
Meta | +21 Agility and +3% Critical Damage | +21 Critical Strike Rating and +3% Critical Damage | ||
Blue | +10 All Stats | +6 All Stats | ||
Red | +20 Strength | +16 Strength | ||
+14 Strength | ||||
Yellow | +10 Strength and +10 Hit Rating | +8 Strength and +8 Hit Rating | ||
+20 Hit Rating | ||||
+16 Hit Rating |
Death Knights that have Jewelcrafting (350) should use 3 Bold Dragon's Eye when possible.
Blacksmithing (400) provides 2 extra sockets with Socket Bracer and Socket Gloves
Best Enchants For DPS Death Knights
Death Knights are unique in that they have the profession-like ability Runeforging which offers them specific weapon enchants tailored to their needs. It doesn't require skill points or training and new recipes are learned every few levels for free. To change the runeforging enchant players must go to a Rune Forge in Acherus: The Ebon Hold and Shadow Vault in Icecrown. Runeforging enchants do not stack with other enchants.
Slot | Enchant | Effect |
---|---|---|
Main-Hand | 2% extra damage as Frost Damage and targets receive frost vulnerability. | |
Off-Hand | Increases total strength by 15% and attacks have a chance to heal | |
Head | +50 Attack Power +20 Crit Rating | |
Shoulders | +40 Attack Power +15 Crit Rating | |
Back | +23 Haste Rating | |
+22 Agility | ||
Chest | +10 All Stats | |
Bracers | +50 Attack Power | |
Gloves | +44 Attack Power | |
Waist | +1 Socket to Belt | |
Legs | +75 Attack Power +22 Crit Rating | |
Boots | +32 Attack Power | |
Rings | Enchant Ring - Assault (Requires Enchanting 400) | +40 Attack Power |
The more powerful Enchants that require a specific profession should always take precedent over the above, they are as follows:
Profession | Slot | Enchant | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Inscription (400) | Shoulders | +120 Attack Power + 15 Crit Rating | |
Tailoring (420) | Back | Chance to increase Attack Power by 400* | |
Leatherworking (400) | Bracers | +130 Attack Power | |
Engineering (380) | +Bracers | Throw a Cobalt Frag Bomb every 6 minute | |
Engineering (380) | Back | +23 Agility and slow fall | |
Engineering (400) | Gloves | On Use: +340 haste rating for 12 sec | |
Engineering (405) | Waist | +24 Critical Rate, On Use: Increased Run Speed |
Frost Death Knight Best In Slot Pre-Raid BiS Weapons
Following the stat priority explained in the Frost and Unholy guides, most of the armor pieces are going to have lots of Strength and Hit Rating with a few pieces having Expertise to reach the 6.5% cap and some with Critical Strike Rating. In early phases, due to choosing the Talent Bladed Armor it is generally better to go with a Plate armor option over a mail or leather one with similar stats.
Main Hand Slot
The Best Weapon is certainly the crafted Blacksmithing Mace. Human and Dwarves will make good use of it due to their Racial Traits. Orcs should consider the two axes as well if they are unable to obtain anything else on the list.
Item | Type | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|---|
Mace | Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer | - | |
Sword | Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House | very low | |
Sword | Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered | - | |
Sword | Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% | |
Axe | Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Axe | Erekem, Violet Hold (H) | 25% |
Off Hand Slot
Note that all the options here are the same as the Main Hand with the exclusion of the Blacksmithing mace as it is a main-hand only weapon.
Item | Type | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|---|
Sword | Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House | very low | |
Sword | Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered | - | |
Sword | Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% | |
Axe | Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Axe | Erekem, Violet Hold (H) | 25% |
Sigil Slot
The Sigil choices for Frost in this phase aren't very exciting. Blood Strike is not used often in the skill rotation making both of these options lackluster choices. Save your Emblems for other pieces.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
15 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Quest: Into the Realm of Shadows | - |
Unholy Death Knight Best In Slot Pre-Raid BiS Weapons
For Unholy Death Knights, utilizing Scourge Strike in their talent build, the emphasis on slower weapons in the main hand is important to deal more damage. The weapon speed does not matter for Unholy Death Knights that have not chosen to use Scourge Strike, simply choose which weapon(s) have higher stats.
Main Hand Slot
The Best Weapons are the crafted Blacksmithing Maces, either the one-handed or the 2-Handed version. Humans and Dwarves will make good use of either due to their Racial Traits. Orcs can consider the two axes as well if they are unable to obtain anything else on the list.
Item | Type | Speed | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mace | 2.5 | Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer | - | |
2H Mace | 3.4 | Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer | - | |
Sword | 2.6 | Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House | very low | |
Sword | 2.7 | Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered | - | |
2H Axe | 3.4 | Loken, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% | |
Sword | 2.5 | Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% | |
Axe | 2.6 | Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% |
Off Hand Slot
For Unholy, the speed of the weapon in the off-hand does not matter, simply choose whichever weapon has higher stats.
Item | Type | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|---|
Sword | 50 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Sword | Rare BoE Wold Drop | very low | |
Sword | Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House | very low | |
Sword | Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered | - | |
Sword | Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% | |
Axe | Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Axe | Erekem, Violet Hold (H) | 25% |
Sigil Slot
There is really only viable Sigil and it is a minor improvement to the damage of Death Coil. The other options aren't even worth listing.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
15 Venture Coin, PvP daily quest in Grizzly Hills "Grizzly" D. Adams / Purkom | - |
Best In Slot Pre-Raid BiS Armor For DPS Death Knights
Head Slot
Both the crafted options below are perfectly acceptable choices. The Engineering Helm performing slightly better than the others, however it does require engineering, whereas the other can be used by anyone.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Engineering (440) - Trainer | - | |
Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer | ||
Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H) | 25% | |
Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% |
Neck Slot
Jewelcrafting provides the best necklace for most classes and it can certainly be a profitable profession to have. The PvP necklace is also a great option should you chose to spend your honor points here.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Jewelcrafting (440) - Vendor | - | |
PvP Quartermaster: 38,000 Honor Points | - | |
25 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H) | 25% | |
Quest: The Admiral Revealed | - |
Shoulders Slot
If you're still able to farm Sunwell Plateau, the 5th option is technically still best in slot, otherwise the other options are fairly easy to obtain.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Ionar, Halls of Lightning | 25% | |
Moragg, Violet Hold | 50% | |
Reputation: The Sons of Hodir - Revered | - | |
Slad'ran, Gundrak (H) | 25% | |
SunmoteTransmute, Pauldrons of Perseverance from Yrma | - |
Back Slot
The best in slot back piece is difficult to obtain as it is only found from trash mobs in Heroic Gundrak, otherwise it will be very expensive on the Auction House.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
BoE Zone Drop, Gundrak (H) | 2% | |
Volkhan, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% | |
Maiden of Grief, Halls of Stone | 33% | |
Erekem, Violet Hold (H) | 33% |
Chest Slot
The Tier 7 chest-piece is a great investment of Emblem of Heroism as the 2-set bonus is really strong for Death Knights.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
80 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Prince Taldaram, Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom (H) | 25% | |
Novos the Summoner, Drak'Tharon Keep (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted | - |
Wrists Slot
The crafted bracers are the easiest to obtain and offer some very nice stats. Whereas the next best item may be very expensive on the Auction House as it is much rarer to find.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Blacksmithing (420) - Trainer | - | |
BoE Zone Drop, Violet Hold (H) | 2% | |
Sjonnir The Ironshaper, Halls of Stone (H) | 25% | |
Loken, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% |
Hands Slot
These tier 7 gloves will round out the 2-piece set bonus nicely when paired with the tier 7 chest piece easily making them the best in slot item. The Sunwell Plateau gloves are also still really strong with 2 red sockets.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
60 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H) | 25% | |
Quest: A Royal Escort | - | |
Blacksmithing (365) - Zone Drop Sunwell Plateau | 2% |
Waist Slot
Another good option here with Emblem of Heroism and a good place to use a Hit Rating Gem for the socket bonus.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Salramm the Fleshcrafter, Culling of Stratholme | 25% | |
BoE Zone Drop Azjol-Nerub (H and N) | 2% | |
General Bjarngrim, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% |
Legs Slot
The top pick for legs has a lot of the best stats Frost Death Knights could hope for, Strength and Hit Rating.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Ingvar the Plunderer, Utgarde Keep (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: The Wyrmrest Accord, Exalted | - | |
Varos Cloudstrider, The Oculus (H) | 25% | |
Gal'darah, Gundrak (H) | 25% |
Feet Slot
Another great reward from the Knights of the Ebon Blade and if you're unable to get the crafted weapon Reaper of Dark Souls is also a great reason to gain reputation with them.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted | - | |
Zuramat the Obliterator, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Reputation: Argent Crusade, Exalted | - | |
Svala Sorrowgrave, Utgarde Pinnacle (H) | 25% |
Rings
If you have plenty of gold, the Dalaran Teleport Ring is a fantastic option and can be upgrade in phase 2 as well.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Purchased from Harold Winston in Dalaran for 8500 Gold | - | |
Jewelcrafting (430) - Vendor | - | |
Jewelcrafting (420) - Vendor | - | |
Gal'darah, Gundrak (H) | 25% | |
Fishing Daily Quests: Bag of Fishing Treasures | very low | |
Ormorok the Tree-Shaper, The Nexus (H) | 25% |
Trinkets
The best Trinket will be used in the entire expansion so it would be well worth the investment if you have the funds, as it will be certainly costly. It can be obtained from Inscription (400): Darkmoon Card of the North.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Darkmoon Faire: Nobles Deck | - | |
40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Keristrasza, The Nexus (H) | 25% | |
King Dred, Drak'Tharon Keep (H) | 25% | |
King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H) | 25% |