Death Knight Tanking(3.3.3 Updated)
Blood
Blood is a strong tanking tree, capable of excellent single-target threat and larger health pools.
Blood Strengths
- Single-Target Threat (see weaknesses)
- Effective Health - capable of the highest effective health of any deep-tree build
- Nice Raid Buffs - Abom's Might, Hysteria
Blood Weaknesses
- Dependency on debuffs for threat - Sunder/Expose armor (less of an issue on 25-man raids than 5/10-man)
- AOE Threat - Very inferior to the other trees
- Lack of proactive damage mitigation - No Bone Shield, UA, etc.
Blood Builds
Standard
Single Target Rotation - IT-PS-DS-HS-HS DS-HS-HS-HS-HS RPDUMP = RS/Deathcoil
Multi Target Rotation - DnD-IT-PS-Pest then TAB-HS/DS/Pest/BloodBoil RPDUMP = RS/Deathcoil
Frost
A well balanced tree.
Frost Strengths
- Well-rounded threat - both single and multi target threat is solid.
- Damage reduction - Frigid Deathplate, Unbreakable Armor, Guile of Gorefiend, improved Frost Presence
- Snap Aggro - Killing Machine/Howling Blast procs will glue whole packs of mobs to you.
Frost Weaknesses
- No real raid utility. If not specd into IIT, you don't buff your raid.
Frost Builds
Standard
Single Target Rotation - IT-PS-OB-BS-BS IT-PS-OB-OB RPDUMP = RS/FS
Alt. Single Target Rotation - IT-BS-OB-(Blood Tap if no Death Rune)OB RPDUMP = RS/FS
Alt. Single Target Rotation - HB-BS-BS-OB OB-OB-OB RPDUMP = RS/FS (assumes HB Glyph)
Multi-Target Rotation - DnD-IT-PS-Pest then TAB-HB/Pest/BloodBoil RPDUMP = RS/FS
Unholy
Unholy has recently been improved.
Unholy Strengths
- Damage reduction - Bone Shield + High avoidance
- Raid Buffs - Ebon Plaguebringer is fantastic, and unholy Death Knights apply this debuff to (unlimited) nearby targets very easily.
Unholy Weaknesses
- Low(er) single-target threat.
Unholy Builds
Standard
Single Target Rotation - IT-PS-BS-BS-SS IT-PS-SS-SS RPDUMP = RS/UnholyBlight/Deathcoil
Multi Target Rotation - DnD-IT-PS-Pest then TAB-SS/Pest/BloodBoil RPDUMP = RS/Deathcoil
3.3 Gear - Final (thanks Fn)
This table is being developed for a "Best in Slot" analysis for tanking. Due to the changing nature of boss fights and incoming damage type/size, it's nearly impossible (and barely useful) to create separate tables for each type of fight. Clearly the sets listed here will be less/more ideal depending on the encounter.
Notes: Due to the recent changes to T10, using 4/5 T10 is strongly recommended.
Slot Effective Health Avoidance Expertise HitHelm[Sanctified Scourgelord Faceguard] [Sanctified Scourgelord Faceguard] [Broken Ram Skull Helm]Amulet[Bile-Encrusted Medallion] [Noose of Malachite]/[Marrowgar's Scratching Choker] [Noose of Malachite]Pauldrons[Sanctified Scourgelord Pauldrons]/[Boneguard Commander's Pauldrons][Sanctified Scourgelord Pauldrons] [Spaulders of the Blood Princes]Cloak[Sentinel's Winter Cloak][Cairne's Endurance]/[Cloak of Many Skins] [Pride of the Demon Lord] [Royal Crimson Cloak]Breastplate[Sanctified Scourgelord Chestguard]/[Cataclysmic Chestguard] [Sanctified Scourgelord Chestguard][Cataclysmic Chestguard][Blightborne Warplate]Bracers[Gargoyle Spit Bracers] [Bracers of Dark Reckoning] [Armguards of the Shieldmaiden] Gloves[Sanctified Scourgelord Handguards]/[Gauntlets of the Kraken] [Taldaram's Plated Fists] [Veincrusher Gauntlets][Sanctified Scourgelord Handguards]Belt[Verdigris Chain Belt][Belt of Broken Bones] [Ironrope Belt of Ymirjar]Legplates[Pillars of Might][Sanctified Scourgelord Legguards] [Sanctified Scourgelord Legguards]/[Deathforged Legplates][Legguards of Lost Hope]Boots[Grinning Skull Greatboots] [Grinning Skull Greatboots] [Grinning Skull Greatboots][Scourge Fanged Stompers]/[Boots of Kingly Upheaval]Ring[Devium's Eternally Cold Ring] [Band of the Traitor King] [Ashen Band of Endless Courage]Ring[Band of the Twin Val'kyr]/[Juggernaut Band][Juggernaut Band] [Abomination's Bloody Ring]/[Harbinger's Bone Band]Trinket[Unidentifiable Organ]/[Juggernaut's Vitality][Corpse Tongue Coin] Trinket[Sindragosa's Flawless Fang] [Purified Onyxia Blood Talisman] Weapon[Glorenzelg, High-Blade of the Silver Hand]/[Oathbinder, Charge of the Ranger-General] [Oathbinder, Charge of the Ranger-General]/[Bloodfall] [Glorenzelg, High-Blade of the Silver Hand]/[Ramaladni's Blade of Culling]/[Oxheart] [Cryptmaker]/[Citadel Enforcer's Claymore]
