Unholy Death Knight DPS Ny'alotha Raid Guide — Shadowlands Pre-Patch 9.0.1
On this page, you will find tips, tricks, and strategies tailored to your Unholy Death Knight for each boss of the following raid: Ny'alotha. All our content is updated for World of Warcraft — Shadowlands Pre-Patch 9.0.1.
Introduction
In this section, you will find information and guidance for Unholy Death Knights on each boss individually in the Ny'alotha. These are not complete encounter guides, but rather provide specific tips for doing the bosses as a Unholy Death Knight.
Essences
Major Essence
Vision of Perfection — Use this essence as long as you have 2 or more
Magus of the Dead traits (be sure to also simulate the Major Essence
choices to be sure if this is the correct choice). The reason this essence is so
good with Magus of the Dead is because of the synergy of the Vision Major proccing
your Apocalypse (although with only 2 ghouls) along with as many Magus of the Dead
mages as how many traits you have. This Essence also lines up
Unholy Frenzy
and
Apocalypse very nicely with the Minor trait. If you do not have
enough Magus of the Dead traits then try using
Blood of the Enemy.
Minor Essences
Memory of Lucid Dreams — Provides you with a significant increase in resources
which make it a very strong choice. Also provides you with Versatility every time
it refunds a Rune which is very strong on progression fights.
Breath of the Dying — This is a new essence in Patch 8.3. The minor procs
Fire damage on the target that also act as an execute effect.
Essence of the Focusing Iris — This gives you a stacking Haste
buff as long as you keep attacking the same target. This is a very simple
essence that does lose some of its value in fights that require a lot of target
swapping.
Talent Cheatsheet
We advise to use the following talents on Wrathion, the Black Emperor.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Maut.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on The Prophet Skitra.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Dark Inquisitor Xanesh.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on The Hivemind.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve (or
Infected Claws, situationally)
- Level 25:
Bursting Sores or
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Pestilent Pustules or
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Shad'har the Insatiable.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Drest'agath.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Vexiona.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Ra-den the Despoiled.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on Carapace of N'Zoth.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
We advise to use the following talents on N'Zoth the Corruptor.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Wrathion, the Black Emperor
We advise you to use the following talents against Wrathion, the Black Emperor.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Make sure to stand to the side of Wrathion to avoid Tail Swipe
and
Searing Breath.
For more information, please refer to our Wrathion, the Black Emperor guide.
Maut
We advise you to use the following talents against Maut.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Depending on your group's strategy, you may want to save your major cooldown
( Army of the Dead) for the
Obsidian Shatter. Coordinate
this with your group because you may save Bloodlust/Heroism for this push.
For more information, please refer to our Maut guide.
The Prophet Skitra
We advise you to use the following talents against The Prophet Skitra.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Anti-Magic Shell can help prevent some of the damage from the Psychic Shredder add. You can Outbreak multiple adds during the Illusory Phase to generate Runic Power while your group is finding out where Skitra is.
For more information, please refer to our The Prophet Skitra guide.
Dark Inquisitor Xanesh
We advise you to use the following talents against Dark Inquisitor Xanesh.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Use Death's Advance or
Wraith Walk to quickly move
out of
Torment zones if you are struggling to move out quickly
enough. Try to save
Death's Advance and
Wraith Walk for
the
Void Orb mechanic, as these movement speed abilities can save
you in a pinch.
For more information, please refer to our Dark Inquisitor Xanesh guide.
The Hivemind
We advise you to use the following talents against The Hivemind.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve (or
Infected Claws, situationally)
- Level 25:
Bursting Sores or
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Pestilent Pustules or
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Whenever there are 3+ targets that are affected by your Virulent Plague,
make sure to use
Epidemic instead of
Death Coil.
For more information, please refer to our The Hivemind guide.
Shad'har the Insatiable
We advise you to use the following talents against Shad'har the Insatiable.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
You can use Anti-Magic Shell when afflicted with
Debilitating Spit in order to gain Runic Power and help
prevent some of the damage.
For more information, please refer to our Shad'har the Insatiable guide.
Drest'agath
We advise you to use the following talents against Drest'agath.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Tips will come to this section once the raid is out!
For more information, please refer to our Drest'agath guide.
Vexiona
We advise you to use the following talents against Vexiona.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Defile (or
Pestilence, situationally)
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Make sure to use your Mind Freeze on the Cultists to
interrupt their casts. Save your AoE burst for the Cultists as well
(
Epidemic and
Death and Decay).
For more information, please refer to our Vexiona guide.
Ra-den the Despoiled
We advise you to use the following talents against Ra-den the Despoiled.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Use Anti-Magic Shell when afflicted with
Charged Bonds
if you are low on health.
For more information, please refer to our Ra-den the Despoiled guide.
Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn
We advise you to use the following talents against Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
You may want to save your major DPS cooldowns for Phase Two to burst down the Organ of Corruption. Organize this with your groups before the fight.
For more information, please refer to our Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn guide.
Carapace of N'Zoth
We advise you to use the following talents against Carapace of N'Zoth.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Make sure to interrupt any players who have becomes Servants of N'Zoth. Do not use Anti-Magic Shell before the Madness Bombs go on people, this will cause the bomb to immediately go off.
For more information, please refer to our Carapace of N'Zoth guide.
N'Zoth the Corruptor
We advise you to use the following talents against N'Zoth the Corruptor.
- Level 15:
All Will Serve
- Level 25:
Ebon Fever
- Level 30: No specific recommendation
- Level 35:
Soul Reaper
- Level 40: No specific recommendation
- Level 45:
Pestilence or
Defile
- Level 50:
Summon Gargoyle
Tips
Make sure to interrupt any players who have becomes Servants of N'Zoth. If you are low on Sanity, use your extra action button to channel your Heart of Azeroth to restore Sanity.
For more information, please refer to our N'Zoth the Corruptor guide.
Changelog
- 12 Oct. 2020: Page updated for the Shadowlands pre-patch.
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This guide has been written by Abyssalwave, a top level Death Knight player. He is a former US #2 hardcore raider who currently raids with didnt ask. You can also check out his YouTube channel.
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