Frost Death Knight DPS Spell Summary (Legion 7.3.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes for Frost Death Knights
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. Frost Death Knight Strengths
  • 6. Frost Death Knight Weaknesses
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics of Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Stat Choice for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Basic Rotations for Frost Death Knights
    • 3.1. Single Target Rotation
    • 3.2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 4. Cooldowns for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. ChangeLog
• ×Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resources of Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Frost Death Knight Basic Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. Cooldowns for Frost Death Knights
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 56) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 57) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 58) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Frost Death Knights
  • 9. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression for Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Relic Choice for Frost Death Knights
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. AoE
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice for Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority for Frost Death Knights
    • 3.1. Single Target
    • 3.2. AoE
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation for Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Single Target Opener During Obliteration
  • 3. Multiple Target Rotation for Frost Death Knights
  • 4. Cooldown Usage for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. Optional Read: Mastering Your Frost Death Knight
    • 5.1. Runes and Runic Power
      • 5.1.1. Runes
      • 5.1.2. Runic Power
    • 5.2. Dual-Wielding Versus Two-Handed
    • 5.3. Mastery: Frozen Heart
    • 5.4. Procs
      • 5.4.1. Killing Machine Procs
      • 5.4.2. Rime Procs
    • 5.5. Anti-Magic Shell Usage
    • 5.6. Advanced Cooldown Usage
      • 5.6.1. Pillar of Frost
      • 5.6.2. Empower Rune Weapon
      • 5.6.3. Frost Death Knight Artifact Abilities
      • 5.6.4. Horn of Winter
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding of Frost Death Knight Stats
    • 2.1. Statistics Priority
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Enchants for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Consumables for Frost Death Knights
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Death Knights
      • 1.1.1. Raise Ally
      • 1.1.2. Mind Freeze
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Frost Death Knights
      • 1.2.1. Death Grip Mouseover Macro
      • 1.2.2. Howling Blast
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Death Knights
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.7. mRunes
      • 2.1.8. Omen Threat Meter
      • 2.1.9. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List for Frost Death Knights
  • 2. Tier 21 Set Bonuses for Frost Death Knights
  • 3. Frost Death Knight Trinkets
  • 4. Legendary Items for Frost Death Knights
  • 5. Loot Competition for Frost Death Knights
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Battle for Azeroth
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. Basic Mechanics Changes for Frost Death Knight in BfA
  • 3. Baseline Abilities & Changes for Frost Death Knight in BfA
  • 4. The BfA Frost Death Knight Talent Tree
    • 4.1. Level 56
    • 4.2. Level 57
    • 4.3. Level 58
    • 4.4. Level 60
    • 4.5. Level 75
    • 4.6. Level 90
    • 4.7. Level 100
  • 5. Azerite Traits
  • 6. Frost Death Knight Rotation in BfA
    • 6.1. Rotation Priority during Breath of Sindragosa
    • 6.2. Rotation Priority outside of Breath of Sindragosa
  • 7. Multi-Target Rotation for Frost Death Knight in BfA
  • 8. ChangeLog

General Information

On this page, we list the spells that you will often use as a Frost Death Knight.

The other pages of our Frost Death Knight guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Ertrak, a top Frost Death Knight who raids in Azshari Vegans.

1. Introduction

If you are new to Frost, this is a great place to start to get an understanding of how the spec works. On this page we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialisation, how they interact with each other and also with important cooldowns. If you already have experience with Frost and are comfortable with it in Legion, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Main Resources of Frost Death Knights

Runic Power and Runes are your two resources. Throughout the fight, you will look to spend as many Runes as possible and generate as much Runic Power as you can, which you will then use to help you deal more damage.

3. Frost Death Knight Basic Abilities

These are your core skills that are available regardless of talents, and form the core gameplay of the specialisation.

Frost Fever is a DoT that is applied by Howling Blast, and which you should aim to have up on the target(s) essentially at all times.

Howling Blast costs 1 Rune (although its cost is removed when you have a Rime proc), deals Frost damage to the target and all other enemies within 10 yards of them, and affects all targets it hits with Frost Fever.

Obliterate costs 2 Runes and deals a high amount of Physical damage to the target, and using it has a 45% chance to grant you a Rime proc.

Frost Strike costs 25 Runic Power, and this is your only means to dump Runic Power and deal damage throughout the fight.

Remorseless Winter costs 1 Rune and deals Frost damage over time to all enemies in a radius around you, also slowing their movement speed by 50% for the duration.

Wraith Walk is a useful movement ability that increases your movement speed by 70% for 3 seconds, breaking any root effects when used, and preventing you from being slowed or otherwise impaired for its duration. It has a 45-second cooldown and performing any action (other than moving) will cancel its effect.

Anti-Magic Shell absorbs up to 30% of your maximum health in magic damage over 5 seconds, and generates Runic Power based on the damage absorbed. This should be used to mitigate magic damage throughout the fight, while the added Runic Power will help increase your DPS.

4. Important Procs for Frost Death Knights

Frost Death Knights have two important procs.

Rime is a proc that can be triggered by either your Obliterate (with a 45% chance) or your Frostscythe (with a 22.5% chance), and it causes the next Howling Blast to cost no Runes and deal 300% increased damage. Using this procs before re-casting Obliterate is a very high priority.

Killing Machine grants your auto-attacks a chance to cause your next Obliterate to be a guaranteed critical hit.

5. Cooldowns for Frost Death Knights

Frost Death Knights have two important offensive cooldowns.

• Pillar of Frost increases your Strength by 20% for 20 seconds, also making you immune to "external movement effects", such as knockbacks, for the duration. It has a 1-minute cooldown.
• Empower Rune Weapon instantly recharges all of your Runes and also grants you 25 Runic Power. It has a 3-minute cooldown.

6. ChangeLog

• 25 May 2018: Made a few small tweaks, for clarity.
• 13 Jun. 2017: Updated Rime description to account for Patch 7.2.5 changes.
• 11 Dec. 2016: Page added.

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