Last updated on Jun 10, 2024 at 00:00by Sellin
Welcome to our Blood Death Knight guide for Cataclysm Classic, tailoredfor PvE content. Here, you will learn how all you need to know to playBlood Death Knight proficiently. Click the links below to navigate the guideor read this page for a short introduction.
1.
Blood Death Knight Cataclysm Pre-Patch Information
This page contains all relevant information needed for Blood Death Knightbefore the release of Cataclysm Classic. Be sure to check back as we get closerto the release date, as this page will be updated with the latest informationas it becomes available.
1.1.
Is Blood Death Knight Viable in Cataclysm Classic?
Yes! Blood Death Knight is one of the strongest tanks in Cataclysm and offers an incredibleunique playstyle compared to other tanks that allows you much greater control over yourability to survive. Blood Death Knight also offers some of the strongest utility in the gamein the form of powerbul debuffs like Frost Fever and Scarlet Feverand the ability to instantly resurrect a fallen ally in combat with your Raise Allyability. Death Grip and Chains of Ice are two more incredibly valuable toolsthat add to that seemingly never ending toolkit that is Death Knight utility.
Strengths
- Strongest self-sustain in the game thanks to Death Strike and Blood Shield, making them incredibly difficult to kill and allowing a considerable amount of skill expression.
- Provides the Abomination's Might and Scarlet Fever raid buff and debuff, making them incredibly useful in a 10-man raid.
- Death Grip allows for easy repositioning of mobs, especially casters.
- Highest damage-dealing Tank.
Weaknesses
- Extremely immobile and vulnerable to slows/stuns after cooldowns are expended.
- Must be in melee range to be able to use majority of its self-sustain/mitigation.
- Very gear dependent especially early.
2.
Best Races for Blood Death Knight
As Horde, the default choice will be Tauren; due to the bonus health granted from the Enduranceracial. If you are confident in your ability to survive without this added health both Orc and Trollare incredible choices with Orc slightly edging out Troll due to the strength of Blood Furyand your ability to snapshot diseases with it active.
As Alliance, the default choice will be Dwarf; The Stoneform racial is one of the strongestif not the strongest Tanking racial abilities in the game and the massive and the two minute 10% damage reductioncan be the difference between surviving or dying. Worgen is another great option too though as Death Knightscan struggle with mobility so the Darkflight ability can provide some incredibly useful movement speed as wellas gaining a small bit of Critical Strike from Viciousness.
3.
Best Professions for Blood Death Knight
Cataclysm does a much better job of balancing professions leading to eachprofession to give an average increase of about 80 stats. With that in mind thereare still some decisions to be made when it comes to which Profession to chooseas there are still options that may be better for your class.
- Blacksmithing —Lets you add an extra socket to both your Gloves and Bracers thanks to Socket Gloves and Socket Bracer.As a Tank the static Stats are incredibly valuable and only becomes more valuable as the expansion progressesonward and Epic Gems are introduced.
- Engineering —Engineering is still one of the best Professions in the game and is madeeven stronger for Tanks with the addition of two new Tinkers, Quickflip Deflection Plates and Grounded Plasma Shield.Both are incredible increases to your survivability. It is also impossible toignore Nitro Boosts which provide a ton of movement speed which as a Death Knightyou will almost always be lacking. And you will still retain access to Synapse Springsfor when you are out in the world Soloing or switch to a DPS spec.
- Leatherworking —Is another great choice as there is no new Stamina enchantment to Bracersin Cataclysm. The Leatherworking enchant Draconic Embossment - Stamina will grant you155 more Stamina than Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina. This is the single largest primarystat gain you can obtain as a Tank and especially as a Tank like Blood Death Knight where rawHP is so important due to the number of abilities that scale off maxmimum HP this is not somethingto pass over.
4.
Death Knight Addons and Macros
Addons and Macros can greatly improve your quality of life during Cataclysm.Listed below are some of our recommendations on Addons and Macros to help getthe most out of your time playing the game.
Death Knight AddonsDeath Knight Macros
5.
Changelog
- 22 May 2024 (stats page): Updated for Expertise/Hit Change.
- 20 May 2024 (this page): Updated for Phase 1 release.
- 08 May 2024 (spells page): Added page.
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