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Death Knights

Death Knight

Blood

DPS class with a strong burst

Frost

Tanking class with a good heal

Unholy

A great tank heal, and an average group healer

Blood

1. Blood Death Knight Overview

The Blood specialization has an engaging playstyle, using self-healing through Death Strike Icon Death Strike as a primary source of damage mitigation. Blood has a versatile defensive toolkit and is effective in the full range of current content.

2. Patch 8.1 Changes for Blood Death Knight

Healing from Bonestorm Icon Bonestorm now caps at 15% maximum health per tick.

Will of the Necropolis Icon Will of the Necropolis now absorbs 30% of all damage taken below 30% health, down from 35% of damage below 35% health.

The debuff from Purgatory Icon Purgatory no longer clears upon death.

The Azerite trait Embrace of the Darkfallen Icon Embrace of the Darkfallen has been removed and replaced with Bloody Runeblade Icon Bloody Runeblade.

Veteran of the Third War Icon Veteran of the Third War no longer provides additional armor.

The PvP talent Dark Simulacrum Icon Dark Simulacrum has had its Runic Power cost removed, and the cooldown reduced to 20 seconds, down from 25 seconds.

The PvP talent Heartstop Aura Icon Heartstop Aura is no longer available to Blood Death Knights.

3. Viability of Blood Death Knight in 8.1

Despite a noticeable nerf to Armor, Blood Death Knight remains viable in both raiding and Mythic+. Blood will struggle with encounter mechanics that deal massive damage, but continues to have strong self-healing that allows for fast recovery from dangerous damage situations.

4. Blood Death Knight Strengths

High self-sustain

Many specialized defensive cooldowns

Unique utility with Gorefiend's Grasp Icon Gorefiend's Grasp

Two separate taunt cooldowns with Dark Command Icon Dark Command and Death Grip Icon Death Grip

5. Blood Death Knight Weaknesses

Limited mobility

Reactive mitigation model, leading to spiky health

Frost

1. Frost Death Knight Overview

The Frost specialisation provides reasonable single target and AoE DPS and it seems to be on par with Unholy in terms of performance.

Its playstyle is straightforward and its rotation is easy to learn.

2. Patch 8.1 Changes for Frost Death Knights

Glacial Contagion has been removed and replaced by Frostwhelp's Indignation Icon Frostwhelp's Indignation.

A new Azerite trait was added, Cold Hearted Icon Cold Hearted.

Breath of Sindragosa Icon Breath of Sindragosa received a 10% damage nerf.

Death Strike Icon Death Strike's cost was reduced by 10 Runic Power and also received a 20% healing buff.

3. Frost Death Knight Strengths

Easy spec to learn

Good sustained cleave damage

Very strong short burst AoE damage

4. Frost Death Knight Weaknesses

Lacks mobility, making it one of the slowest specs in the game

Requires many small decisions at crucial moments in order to maximise the DPS rotation

5. Frost Death Knight Viability in the Current Patch

Frost Death Knights have an amazing DPS toolkit to deal with most of the fights in Uldir. Most of the fights in Uldir have some form of AoE or cleave situation, which Frost Death Knights excel at. Frost is currently one of the highest performing DPS specs in the Uldir raid.

Unholy

1. Unholy Death Knight Overview

The Unholy specialisation currently provides moderate single target damage, as well as excellent cleave damage against 4+ targets. It is better in this regard when compared to many other specialisations.

2. Patch 8.1 Changes for Unholy Death Knights

Festering Doom has been replaced by Magus of the Dead Icon Magus of the Dead.

Helchains has replaced Horrid Experimentation Icon Horrid Experimentation.

A new Azerite trait was added, Cold Hearted Icon Cold Hearted.

The talent All Will Serve Icon All Will Serve now scales properly with Haste.

Death Strike Icon Death Strike's cost was reduced by 10 Runic Power and also received a 20% healing buff.

3. Unholy Death Knight Strengths

Strong single target, AoE, and cleave DPS depending on talent setup

Excellent damage-mitigation capabilities

High raid utility in the form of Death Grip Icon Death Grip and Asphyxiate Icon Asphyxiate

Has ability that provides immunities to knockback and movement-impairing effects

4. Unholy Death Knight Weaknesses

Poor target switching due to Festering Wound application

Lack of damage immunity

Low movement speed

A variable amount of ramp-up time before it can deal effective DPS (due to the application of Festering Wound Icon Festering Wounds)

5. Unholy Death Knight Viability in the Current Patch

Unholy Death Knights are currently outshined in Uldir in comparison to Frost Death Knights. Unholy's current strength is in their burst AoE, which Uldir does not require much of. Unholy is very strong for trash pulls in Mythic+, with the ability to solo very large trash pulls with the right build.