WoW Wrath Classic: PvE DPS Death Knight BiS Gear (WotLK)

Showcasing the best gear for each equipment slot for both Frost and Unholy Death Knights in World of Warcraft Classic: Wrath of the Lich King.

Death Knight PvE Guides

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.

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

Relentless Earthsiege Diamond

+21 Agility and +3% Critical Damage

Chaotic Skyflare Diamond

+21 Critical Strike Rating and +3% Critical Damage

Blue

Nightmare Tear

+10 All Stats

Enchanted Tear

+6 All Stats

Red

Bold Cardinal Ruby

+20 Strength

Bold Scarlet Ruby

+16 Strength

Perfect Bold Bloodstone

+14 Strength

Yellow

Etched Ametrine

+10 Strength and +10 Hit Rating

Etched Monarch Topaz

+8 Strength and +8 Hit Rating

Rigid Stormjewel

+20 Hit Rating

Rigid Autumn's Glow

+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

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

Rune of Razorice

2% extra damage as Frost Damage and targets receive frost vulnerability.

Off-Hand

Rune of the Fallen Crusader

Increases total strength by 15% and attacks have a chance to heal

Head

Arcanum of Torment

+50 Attack Power +20 Crit Rating

Shoulders

Greater Inscription of the Axe

+40 Attack Power +15 Crit Rating

Back

Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed

+23 Haste Rating

Enchant Cloak - Major Agility

+22 Agility

Chest

Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats

+10 All Stats

Bracers

Enchant Bracers - Greater Assault

+50 Attack Power

Gloves

Enchant Gloves - Crusher

+44 Attack Power

Waist

Eternal Belt Buckle

+1 Socket to Belt

Legs

Icescale Leg Armor

+75 Attack Power +22 Crit Rating

Boots

Enchant Boots - Greater Assault

+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

Master's Inscription of the Axe

+120 Attack Power + 15 Crit Rating

Tailoring (420)

Back

Swordguard Embroidery

Chance to increase Attack Power by 400*

Leatherworking (400)

Bracers

Fur Lining - Attack Power

+130 Attack Power

Engineering (380)

+Bracers

Frag Belt

Throw a Cobalt Frag Bomb every 6 minute

Engineering (380)

Back

Flexweave Underlay

+23 Agility and slow fall

Engineering (400)

Gloves

Hyperspeed Accelerators

On Use: +340 haste rating for 12 sec

Engineering (405)

Waist

Nitro Boosts

+24 Critical Rate, On Use: Increased Run Speed

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.

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

Titansteel Bonecrusher

Mace

Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer

-

Krol Cleaver

Sword

Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House

very low

Reaper of Dark Souls

Sword

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered

-

Crypt Lord's Deft Blade

Sword

Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H)

25%

The Key

Axe

Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H)

33%

Stormstrike Mace

Axe

Erekem, Violet Hold (H)

25%

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

Krol Cleaver

Sword

Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House

very low

Reaper of Dark Souls

Sword

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered

-

Crypt Lord's Deft Blade

Sword

Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H)

25%

The Key

Axe

Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H)

33%

Stormstrike Mace

Axe

Erekem, Violet Hold (H)

25%

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

Sigil of Haunted Dreams

15 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Sigil of the Dark Rider

Quest: Into the Realm of Shadows

-

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.

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

Titansteel Bonecrusher

Mace

2.5

Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer

-

Titansteel Destroyer

2H Mace

3.4

Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer

-

Krol Cleaver

Sword

2.6

Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House

very low

Reaper of Dark Souls

Sword

2.7

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered

-

Colossal Skull-Clad Cleaver

2H Axe

3.4

Loken, Halls of Lightning (H)

25%

Crypt Lord's Deft Blade

Sword

2.5

Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H)

25%

The Key

Axe

2.6

Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H)

33%

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

Grasscutter

Sword

50 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Avool's Sword of Jin

Sword

Rare BoE Wold Drop

very low

Krol Cleaver

Sword

Reinforced Junkbox: Rogue Pickpocket; Auction House

very low

Reaper of Dark Souls

Sword

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered

-

Crypt Lord's Deft Blade

Sword

Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H)

25%

The Key

Axe

Lavanthor, The Violet Hold (H)

33%

Stormstrike Mace

Axe

Erekem, Violet Hold (H)

25%

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

Sigil of the Wild Buck

15 Venture Coin, PvP daily quest in Grizzly Hills "Grizzly" D. Adams / Purkom

-

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

Charged Titanium Specs

Engineering (440) - Trainer

-

Spiked Titansteel Helm

Blacksmithing (440) - Trainer

Mask of the Watcher

Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H)

25%

Chitin Shell Greathelm

Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H)

25%

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

Titanium Impact Choker

Jewelcrafting (440) - Vendor

-

Hateful Gladiator's Pendant of Victory

PvP Quartermaster: 38,000 Honor Points

-

Pendant of the Outcast Hero

25 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Gold Amulet of Kings

King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H)

25%

The Severed Noose of Westwind

Quest: The Admiral Revealed

-

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

Pauldrons of the Lightning Revenant

Ionar, Halls of Lightning

25%

Shoulderplates of the Beholder

Moragg, Violet Hold

50%

Spaulders of the Giant Lords

Reputation: The Sons of Hodir - Revered

-

Snake Den Spaulders

Slad'ran, Gundrak (H)

25%

Pauldrons of Berserking

SunmoteTransmute, Pauldrons of Perseverance from Yrma

-

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

Cloak of Bloodied Waters

BoE Zone Drop, Gundrak (H)

2%

Shroud of Reverberation

Volkhan, Halls of Lightning (H)

25%

Embrace of Sorrow

Maiden of Grief, Halls of Stone

33%

Cloak of the Gushing Wound

Erekem, Violet Hold (H)

33%

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

Heroes' Scourgeborne Battleplate

80 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Bonegrinder Breastplate

Prince Taldaram, Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom (H)

25%

Breastplate of Undeath

Novos the Summoner, Drak'Tharon Keep (H)

25%

Darkheart Chestguard

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted

-

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

Vengeance Bindings

Blacksmithing (420) - Trainer

-

Cast Iron Shackles

BoE Zone Drop, Violet Hold (H)

2%

Bands of the Stoneforge

Sjonnir The Ironshaper, Halls of Stone (H)

25%

Advanced Tooled-Leather Bands

Loken, Halls of Lightning (H)

25%

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

Heroes' Scourgeborne Gauntlets

60 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Gauntlets of Dragon Wrath

Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H)

25%

Gauntlets of The Culling

Quest: A Royal Escort

-

Hard Khorium Battlefists

Blacksmithing (365) - Zone Drop Sunwell Plateau

2%

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

Verdungo's Barbarian Cord

40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Spiked Metal Cilice

Salramm the Fleshcrafter, Culling of Stratholme

25%

Treasure Seeker's Belt

BoE Zone Drop Azjol-Nerub (H and N)

2%

The General's Steel Girdle

General Bjarngrim, Halls of Lightning (H)

25%

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

Staggering Legplates

Ingvar the Plunderer, Utgarde Keep (H)

25%

Legplates of Bloody Reprisal

Reputation: The Wyrmrest Accord, Exalted

-

Legplates of the Oculus Guardian

Varos Cloudstrider, The Oculus (H)

25%

Gored Hide Legguards

Gal'darah, Gundrak (H)

25%

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

Death-Inured Sabatons

Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted

-

The Obliterator Greaves

Zuramat the Obliterator, The Violet Hold (H)

33%

Boots of the Neverending Path

Reputation: Argent Crusade, Exalted

-

Echoing Stompers

Svala Sorrowgrave, Utgarde Pinnacle (H)

25%

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

Ring of the Kirin Tor

Purchased from Harold Winston in Dalaran for 8500 Gold

-

Titanium Impact Band

Jewelcrafting (430) - Vendor

-

Ring of Scarlet Shadows

Jewelcrafting (420) - Vendor

-

Hemorrhaging Circle

Gal'darah, Gundrak (H)

25%

The 5 Ring

Fishing Daily Quests: Bag of Fishing Treasures

very low

Band of Frosted Thorns

Ormorok the Tree-Shaper, The Nexus (H)

25%

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 Card: Greatness

Darkmoon Faire: Nobles Deck

-

Mirror of Truth

40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran

-

Sphere of Red Dragon's Blood

Keristrasza, The Nexus (H)

25%

Incisor Fragment

King Dred, Drak'Tharon Keep (H)

25%

Meteorite Whetstone

King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H)

25%

Adam is a guide writer for all types of games. He particularly enjoys diving deep into understanding the complex systems typically found within MMORPG's. He loves sharing those special gaming experiences with his friends both online and locally with couch co-op, VR, and even tabletop games. If there's a gaming question, he'll find an answer. He is also an avid Volleyball player and friend to all dogs.