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Cataclysm Classic Unholy Death Knight Gear and Best in Slot

Last updated on Feb 10, 2025 at 12:00 by Sellin

On this page, you will find the best PvE gear and best in slot items for your Unholy Death Knight in Cataclysm Classic.

Pages in this Guide
1 Introduction 2 Builds, Talents, Glyphs 3 Rotation and Cooldowns 4 Spell Summary 5 Stat Priority 6 Enchants, Consumables 7 Gear and Best in Slot 8 Leveling 9 Pre-Raid Gear
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

Unholy Death Knight Best in Slot

The gear mentioned below is what is considered to be best in slot including gear obtainable from Raids, Dungeons and things able to be purchased from various vendors. This gear list follows the stat priority of UnholyUnholy Death Knight spec, which is :

  1. Strength
  2. Hit Rating (8% Hit Cap)
  3. Haste Rating
  4. Critical Strike Rating
  5. Mastery Rating
  6. Expertise Rating (6.5% – 26 Expertise Cap)

For more information on the best available gems and enchants, check out our Enchants and Gems Guide.

2.

Cataclysm Classic Gear Sets

Phase 4 Phase 3 Phase 1

The list below provides recommendation on how to optimally Reforge your gear but it is important to keep in mind that missing even a single piece of gear from this list can greatly impact how you should be Reforged. Keep your Hit and Expertise caps in mind at all times as you get upgrades.

2.1.

Phase 4 Best in Slot

Slot Item Reforge Source
Helm Necrotic Boneplate Helmet Icon Necrotic Boneplate Helmet Expertise →
Critical Strike		 Warmaster Blackhorn
(H) Dragon Soul;
Neck Necklace of Black Dragon's Teeth Icon Necklace of Black Dragon's Teeth Critical Strike →
Haste		 1250
Valor Points Icon Valor Points
Shoulder Backbreaker Spaulders Icon Backbreaker Spaulders Mastery →
Haste		 Spine of Deathwing
(H) Dragon Soul
Cloak Dreamcrusher Drape Icon Dreamcrusher Drape Critical Strike →
Haste		 1250
Valor Points Icon Valor Points
Chest Necrotic Boneplate Breastplate Icon Necrotic Boneplate Breastplate Hit →
Critical Strike		 Ultraxion
(H) Dragon Soul
Bracer Rockhide Bracers Icon Rockhide Bracers Mastery →
Haste		 Morchok
(H) Dragon Soul
Gloves Necrotic Boneplate Gauntlets Icon Necrotic Boneplate Gauntlets Mastery →
Haste		 Warlord Zonozz
(H) Dragon Soul
Belt Runescriven Demon Collar Icon Runescriven Demon Collar Mastery →
Hit		 Hagara the Stormbinder
(H) Dragon Soul
Legs Necrotic Boneplate Greaves Icon Necrotic Boneplate Greaves Mastery →
Hit		 Yor'sahj the Unsleeping
(H) Dragon Soul
Boots Treads of Crushed Flesh Icon Treads of Crushed Flesh Mastery →
Haste		 Warlord Zonozz
(H) Dragon Soul
Ring 1 Curled Twilight Claw Icon Curled Twilight Claw Mastery →
Haste		 Ultraxion
(H) Dragon Soul
Ring 2 Breathstealer Band Icon Breathstealer Band Mastery →
Critical Strike		 Multiple Bosses in
(H) Dragon Soul
Trinket 1 Creche of the Final Dragon Icon Creche of the Final Dragon
–
 Ultraxion
(H) Dragon Soul;
Trinket 2 Eye of Unmaking Icon Eye of Unmaking
–
 Spine of Deathwing
(H) Dragon Soul
Weapon Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps Icon Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps
–
 Madness of Deathwing
(H) Dragon Soul;
Sigil Gutripper Shard Icon Gutripper Shard Mastery →
Hit		 700
Valor Points Icon Valor Points

The list below provides recommendation on how to optimally Reforge your gear but it is important to keep in mind that missing even a single piece of gear from this list can greatly impact how you should be Reforged. Keep your Hit and Expertise caps in mind at all times as you get upgrades.

2.2.

Phase 3 Best in Slot

Slot Item Reforge Source
Helm Elementium Deathplate Helmet Icon Elementium Deathplate Helmet Hit →
Critical Strike		 Ragnaros
(H) Firelands;
Neck Necklace of Fetishes Icon Necklace of Fetishes Hit →
Haste		 Shannox
(H) Firelands
Shoulder Elementium Deathplate Pauldrons Icon Elementium Deathplate Pauldrons Mastery →
Critical Strike		 Majordomo Staghelm
(H) Firelands
Cloak Glittering Epidermis Icon Glittering Epidermis
–
 Ascendant Council
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Chest Elementium Deathplate Breastplate Icon Elementium Deathplate Breastplate Mastery →
Haste		 Alysrazor
(H) Firelands
Bracer Earthcrack Bracers Icon Earthcrack Bracers
–
 Lord Rhyolith
(H) Firelands
Gloves Elementium Deathplate Gauntlets Icon Elementium Deathplate Gauntlets Mastery →
Haste		 Baleroc
(H) Firelands
Belt Cinch of the Flaming Ember Icon Cinch of the Flaming Ember Hit →
Haste		 Avengers of Hyjal Exalted
Legs Lavaworm Legplates Icon Lavaworm Legplates Mastery →
Haste		 Alysrazor
(H) Firelands
Boots Arachnaflame Treads Icon Arachnaflame Treads
–
 Bethtilac
(H) Firelands
Ring 1 Alysrazor's Band Icon Alysrazor's Band Expertise →
Critical Strike		 Alysrazor
(H) Firelands
Ring 2 Obsidian Signet of the Avengers Icon Obsidian Signet of the Avengers Hit →
Haste		 Avengers of Hyjal Exalted
Trinket 1 Vessel of Acceleration Icon Vessel of Acceleration
–
 Ragnaros
(H) Firelands;
Trinket 2 Heart of Rage Icon Heart of Rage Expertise →
Mastery		 Chimaeron
(H) Blackwing Descent
Weapon Sulfuras, the Extinguished Hand Icon Sulfuras, the Extinguished Hand Mastery →
Haste		 Ragnaros
(H) Firelands;
Sigil Relic of the Elemental Lords Icon Relic of the Elemental Lords Critical Strike →
Hit		 700
Valor Points Icon Valor Points

The list below provides recommendation on how to optimally Reforge your gear but it is important to keep in mind that missing even a single piece of gear from this list can greatly impact how you should be Reforged. Keep your Hit cap in mind at all times as you get upgrades.

2.3.

Phase 1 Best in Slot

Slot Item Reforge Source
Helm Magma Plated Helmet Icon Magma Plated Helmet Expertise →
Hit		 Al'Akir or Nefarian
(H) Throne of the Four Winds;
(H) Blackwing Descent;
Neck Caelestrasz's Will Icon Caelestrasz's Will Dodge →
Hit		 Sinestra
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Shoulder Magma Plated Pauldrons Icon Magma Plated Pauldrons
–
 Al'Akir or Chogall
(H) Throne of the Four Winds;
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Cloak Glittering Epidermis Icon Glittering Epidermis Critical Strike →
Hit		 Ascendant Council
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Chest Magma Plated Battleplate Icon Magma Plated Battleplate Critical Strike →
Hit		 Halfus Wyrmbreaker
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Bracer Bracers of the Mat'redor Icon Bracers of the Mat'redor Critical Strike →
Hit		 Sinestra
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Gloves Magma Plated Gauntlets Icon Magma Plated Gauntlets Mastery →
Hit		 Atramedes
(H) Blackwing Descent
Belt Sky Strider Belt Icon Sky Strider Belt of the Earthfall Critical Strike →
Hit		 Conclave of Wind
(H) Throne of the Four Winds
Legs Sky Strider Greaves Icon Sky Strider Greaves of the Earthfall
–
 Al'Akir
(H) Throne of the Four Winds
Boots Massacre Treads Icon Massacre Treads Mastery →
Haste		 Chimaeron
(H) Blackwing Descent
Ring 1 Dargonax's Signet Icon Dargonax's Signet Critical Strike →
Haste		 Sinestra
(H) The Bastion of Twilight
Ring 2 Cloudburst Ring Icon Cloudburst Ring of the Earthfall
–
 Al'Akir
(H) Throne of the Four Winds
Trinket 1 Heart of Rage Icon Heart of Rage Expertise →
Haste		 Chimaeron
(H) Blackwing Descent
Trinket 2 Heart of Solace Icon Heart of Solace
–
 Augh
(H) Lost City of the Tol'vir
Weapon Reclaimed Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood Icon Reclaimed Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood Critical Strike →
Haste		 Nefarian
(H) Blackwing Descent
Sigil Relic of Aggramar Icon Relic of Aggramar Expertise →
Haste		 700
Valor Points Icon Valor Points
3.

Changelog

  • 10 Feb. 2025: Updated for Dragonsoul.
  • 13 Oct. 2024: Updated for Firelands.
  • 17 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for Phase 3.
  • 30 Jul. 2024: Reviewed for Phase 2.
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Pages in this Guide
1 Introduction 2 Builds, Talents, Glyphs 3 Rotation and Cooldowns 4 Spell Summary 5 Stat Priority 6 Enchants, Consumables 7 Gear and Best in Slot 8 Leveling 9 Pre-Raid Gear

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Frost Death Knight Guide
Blood Death Knight Guide
Unholy Death Knight Guide

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