Frost Death Knight DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 5. Strengths
  • 6. Weaknesses
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Stat Choice
  • 3. Basic Rotations
    • 3.1. Single Target Rotation
    • 3.2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 4. Cooldowns
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resources
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 56) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 57) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 58) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. AoE
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority
    • 3.1. Single Target
    • 3.2. AoE
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. Cooldown Usage
  • 4. Optional Read: Mastering Your Frost Death Knight
    • 4.1. Runes and Runic Power
      • 4.1.1. Runes
      • 4.1.2. Runic Power
    • 4.2. Dual-Wielding Versus Two-Handed
    • 4.3. Mastery: Frozen Heart
    • 4.4. Procs
      • 4.4.1. Killing Machine Procs
      • 4.4.2. Rime Procs
    • 4.5. Anti-Magic Shell Usage
    • 4.6. Advanced Cooldown Usage
      • 4.6.1. Pillar of Frost
      • 4.6.2. Empower Rune Weapon
      • 4.6.3. Artifact Abilities
      • 4.6.4. Horn of Winter
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Priority
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Death Knights
      • 1.1.1. Raise Ally
      • 1.1.2. Mind Freeze
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Frost Death Knights
      • 1.2.1. Death Grip Mouseover Macro
      • 1.2.2. Howling Blast
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Death Knights
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.7. mRunes
      • 2.1.8. Omen Threat Meter
      • 2.1.9. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot
  • 2. Tier 21 Set Bonus
  • 3. Trinkets
  • 4. Legendary Items
  • 5. Loot Competition
  • 6. ChangeLog

This page is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialisation without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics

Frost Death Knights are a dual-wielding melee DPS specialisation that deal strong single target and AoE damage and which have a fairly simple and approachable playstyle.

Your main goal throughout fights will be to maximise your Runic Power generation while keeping an eye out for your two procs, Rime and Killing Machine.

• Level 56: Runic Attenuation
• Level 57: Murderous Efficiency
• Level 58: Icecap
• Level 60: irrelevant
• Level 75: irrelevant
• Level 90: Gathering Storm
• Level 100: Obliteration

2. Stat Choice

1. Strength;
2. Mastery (until 40%);
3. Haste (until 30%);
4. Critical Strike (until 30%);
5. Critical Strike = Haste;
6. Versatility.

3. Basic Rotations

3.1. Single Target Rotation

This rotation is based on the following priority system.

1. Use Sindragosa's Fury (with Pillar of Frost, the proc of Rune of the Fallen Crusader, and 5 stacks of Razorice).
2. Use Remorseless Winter on cooldown (for Gathering Storm).
3. Use Howling Blast, only if you have a Rime proc.
4. Use Obliterate to avoid capping runes, or if you have a Killing Machine proc.
5. Use Frost Strike when you are about to cap Runic Power.
6. Use Obliterate.
7. Use Frost Strike.

3.2. Multiple Target Rotation

The multiple target rotation assumes you are using Breath of Sindragosa as your tier 7 talent. In preparation for Breath of Sindragosa becoming available, you should pool up 50+ Runic Power and 4 runes. While it is active, perform the following steps.

1. Use Obliterate if Breath of Sindragosa is about to fall off.
2. Use Remorseless Winter (for Gathering Storm).
3. Use Howling Blast, only if you have a Rime proc.
4. Use Obliterate.
5. Use Empower Rune Weapon if nothing else is available.
6. Use Horn of Winter, if you are using this talent.

When Breath of Sindragosa is on cooldown, use the following priority instead.

1. Use Sindragosa's Fury.
2. Use Howling Blast, only if you have a Rime proc.
3. Use Frost Strike, if you have 90+ Runic Power.
4. Use Frostscythe, if you have a Killing Machine proc.
5. Use Remorseless Winter on cooldown.
6. Use Frostscythe.
7. Use Frost Strike, if you have 70+ Runic Power.

4. Cooldowns

As a Frost Death Knight, you have 2 DPS cooldowns. In addition to this, you gain another cooldown from your Artifact weapon. Below, we explain how they are best used.

• Pillar of Frost should be used on cooldown, stacking it with potions or any on-use trinkets you have. Alternatively, you can save it for moments when you need increased damage.
• Empower Rune Weapon should be used as many times as possible throughout the encounter, making sure not to waste any of the resources it provides you with.
• Sindragosa's Fury should be used as many times as possible throughout an encounter. Ideally, it should be used against multiple targets (and it is worth saving for this purpose), but it can also be used against a single target.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Ertrak, a top Frost Death Knight who raids in Azshari Vegans.

5. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 28 Nov. 2017: Updated the page to reflect changes to talents and stat priority.
• 01 Sep. 2017: Updated page to reflect changes made to talents and rotation (adding Breath of Sindragosa viability, notably).
• 28 Aug. 2017: Updated page to reflect changes made to the rest of the guide (talents and rotation).
• 13 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 24 Apr. 2017: Removed mentions of Machine Gun playstyle.
• 21 Feb. 2017: Updated the page to account for the various updates made to the guide in other parts.
• 13 Jan. 2017: Changed tier 6 Breath of Sindragosa talent recommendation to Gathering Storm.
• 10 Jan. 2017: Added alternative recommendations for the Breath of Sindragosa build.
• 16 Dec. 2016: Fixed an error referring to tier 7 talents being available at level 110, instead of 100.
• 11 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode page.