How To Improve As Frost Death Knight — The War Within (Season 1)

Last updated on Sep 09, 2024 at 18:00 by Bicepspump 47 comments
General Information

On this page, you will find out how you can improve at playing Frost Death Knight in World of Warcraft — The War Within (Season 1). We list the common mistakes that you should try to avoid and the small details that can greatly improve your performance.

1.

Not Capping Runes or Runic Power

Because you can have 3 Runes recharging at the same time, any time you are holding 4 or more Runes, you are effectively capped on Runes and wasting potential Rune regeneration. There is never a point in your play where it would be valuable to not cast anything or where you need more than 3 Runes saved up; always keep 3 Runes on cooldown.

Similarly, every point of Runic Power you generate when already at maximum Runic Power is a fraction of a lost Frost Strike Icon Frost Strike. There are instances when you will overcap Runic Power because you are prioritizing not overcapping on Runes, especially in AoE. This is fine and expected behavior.

2.

Not Managing Your GCDs in Your Obliteration Window

When playing the Obliteration Icon Obliteration talent, your damage is highly dependent on your Pillar of Frost Icon Pillar of Frost windows. If you mess these up ever so slightly, it will have a significant impact on your DPS.

It is crucial that you only use the correct abilities in your Pillar window. Some exceptions exist, but using things like Abomination Limb Icon Abomination Limb is a bad idea.

It is also important that you trigger your first Killing Machine Icon Killing Machine as soon as possible. We recommend creating a macro that casts Pillar of Frost Icon Pillar of Frost and then immediately uses Howling Blast Icon Howling Blast, Frost Strike Icon Frost Strike or Glacial Advance Icon Glacial Advance (one macro for each).

3.

Making Sure not to Accidentally Cancel Breath of Sindragosa

There is a macro that will prevent this from occurring, which is provided in the Macros and Addons section.

4.

High Icy Talons and Unleashed Frenzy Uptime

If you are running the talents Icy Talons Icon Icy Talons or Unleashed Frenzy Icon Unleashed Frenzy (you pretty much always will), then you want to make sure to use your Runic Power frequently. One way of doing this more easily is to naturally weave your abilities. Don't press multiple Frost Strike Icon Frost Strike in a row, instead use an ability in between to better keep up your buffs!

5.

Pooling Resources for Breath of Sindragosa

If you are running the talent Breath of Sindragosa Icon Breath of Sindragosa, then you have noticed it draining your Runic Power fairly quickly. To maximize the duration of your Breath of Sindragosa, you want to start pooling Runic Power properly before you cast it. For any non-lusted Breath, pool 100+!

6.

Changelog

  • 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.2.
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 01 Jun. 2023: Updated talents and reworded Mythic+ rotation text.
  • 01 May 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
Show more
Show less