Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Guide

Introduction

    Blood Death Knights are one of three specializations that bring an attack power buff with
    Abomination's Might
    . They can also bring melee haste with
    Improved Icy Talons
    and a melee attack speed debuff with
    Improved Icy Touch
    . All Death Knights also bring an agility and strength buff with
    Horn of Winter
    .

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Rotation

Opener

  1. Use
    Frost Presence
    .
  2. Use
    Death and Decay
    10 seconds before pull for Runic Power.
  3. Use
    Army of the Dead
    6 seconds before pull.
  4. Use
    Horn of Winter
    pre-pull.
  5. Pre-pot
    Indestructible Potion
    .
  6. Use
    Rune Strike
    to avoid capping on Runic Power.
  7. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  8. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  9. Use
    Blood Tap
    .
  10. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  11. Use
    Empower Rune Weapon
    .
  12. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  13. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  14. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  15. Use
    Plague Strike
    .
  16. Use
    Blood Strike
    .
  17. Proceed with normal priorities.

Single Target

  1. Use
    Frost Presence
    .
  2. Maintain
    Horn of Winter
    if assigned.
  3. Use
    Blood Tap
    .
  4. Use
    Empower Rune Weapon
    .
  5. Use
    Hysteria
    on a physical DPS.
  6. Use
    Rune Strike
    to avoid capping on Runic Power.
  7. Maintain
    Blood Plague
    and
    Frost Fever
    with
    Pestilence
    .
  8. Use
    Icy Touch
    . This is your highest threat ability. Try to use the Death Runes generated from
    Death Rune Mastery
    after using a
    Death Strike
    .
  9. Use
    Blood Strike
    to maintain
    Blade Barrier
    .
  10. Use
    Death Strike
    to heal yourself.

AoE

  1. Use
    Death and Decay
    .
  2. Use
    Icy Touch
    .
  3. Use
    Plague Strike
    .
  4. Use
    Pestilence
    to spread the diseases.
  5. Proceed with normal priorities and use
    Blood Boil
    instead of
    Heart Strike
    whenever possible.

Defensive Cooldowns

  1. Rune Tap
    .
  2. Vampiric Blood
    .
  3. Icebound Fortitude
    .
  4. Anti-Magic Shell
    .
  5. Death Pact
    on the ghouls from
    Army of the Dead
    or
    Raise Dead
    .
  6. Mark of Blood
    if talented.

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Talents

Standard Build

This build goes into the Frost Tree and unlocks two raid buffs with
Improved Icy Touch
and
Improved Icy Talons
. If you aren't using a Two-Handed weapon, you can remove the points from
Two-Handed Weapon Specialization
, and move them into talents such as
Mark of Blood
,
Bloody Vengeance
, or
Bloodworms
.
0
Blood
0
Frost
0
Unholy

Mitigation

If you don't need to spec into
Improved Icy Talons
for your raid, this build will provide a lot more mitigation. If you aren't using a Two-Handed weapon, you can remove the points from
Two-Handed Weapon Specialization
, and move them into talents such as
Mark of Blood
,
Bloody Vengeance
, or
Bloodworms
.
0
Blood
0
Frost
0
Unholy

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Glyphs

  1. Major:
    Dark CommandDark Command
    ,
    Vampiric BloodVampiric Blood
    ,
    DiseaseDisease
  2. Optional: For AoE, replace
    Vampiric BloodVampiric Blood
    with
    Death and DecayDeath and Decay
  3. Minor:
    Blood TapBlood Tap
    ,
    Raise DeadRaise Dead
    ,
    PestilencePestilence

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Stats

Hit Cap

    Melee Hit

  • 7% (230 Rating) with
    Heroic Presence
  • 8% (263 Rating)
  • Spell Hit

  • 13% (342 Rating) with
    Heroic Presence
    , and
    Improved Faerie Fire
    or
    Misery
  • 14% (368 Rating) with
    Improved Faerie Fire
    or
    Misery
  • 16% (420 Rating) with
    Heroic Presence
  • 17% (446 Rating)

Expertise Cap

    Soft Cap

  • 123 Rating with
    Mace Specialization
    from Dwarf or
    Axe Specialization
    from Orc, and
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 140 Rating with
    Mace Specialization
    or
    Sword Specialization
    from Human, and
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 164 Rating with
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 214 Rating
  • Hard Cap

  • 369 Rating with
    Mace Specialization
    from Dwarf or
    Axe Specialization
    from Orc, and
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 386 Rating with
    Mace Specialization
    or
    Sword Specialization
    from Human, and
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 410 Rating with
    Veteran of the Third War
  • 460 Rating

Defense Cap

  • 540 Rating

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

    Best:
  • Flask of Stoneblood
    Alternatives:
  • Elixir of Mighty Agility
    ,
  • Elixir of Mighty Defense
    ,
    Elixir of Mighty Fortitude
    , or
    Elixir of Protection

Food

    Best:
  • Dragonfin Filet
    Alternatives:
  • Snapper Extreme
    ,
  • Worg Tartare
    ,
  • Rhinolicious Wormsteak

Potions

    Best:
  • Indestructible Potion

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Best Races

Alliance

  1. Draenei:
    Heroic Presence
  2. Dwarf:
    Stoneform
    and
    Mace Specialization
  3. Human:
    Sword Specialization
    and
    Mace Specialization
  4. Night Elf:
    Quickness

Horde

  1. Orc:
    Axe Specialization
    and
    Blood Fury
  2. Troll:
    Berserking
    and
    Regeneration
  3. Tauren:
    Endurance

Wrath Classic (WOTLK) Blood Tank Death Knight Best Professions

  1. Engineering: Best profession thanks to
    Nitro Boosts
    ,
    Reticulated Armor Webbing
    ,
    Flexweave Underlay
    , and
    Mind Amplification Dish
    enchants,
    Global Thermal Sapper Charge
    , and
    Armored Titanium Goggles
    for early gearing.
  2. Jewelcrafting: Second best profession thanks to the 3 unique gems such as
    Solid Dragon's Eye
    , as well as
    Figurine - Monarch Crab
    and
    Figurine - Ruby Hare
    for early gearing.
  3. Blacksmithing, Mining, Leatherworking, Enchanting: All provide comparable stat bonuses with
    Socket Bracer
    and
    Socket Gloves
    ,
    Toughness
    ,
    Fur Lining - Stamina
    , and
    Ring - Stamina
    respectively.
  4. Alchemy:
    Mixology
    .