World of Warcraft at Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMOG Gamers to the Next Level!

Note that this info is still good, it's from patch 3.1. Updates are coming soon.

This guide is designed to help you understand what the Death Knight is, why you should play one, what professions go along with the Death Knight, and provide an introduction to many of the unique mechanics that fuel the unholy warrior’s unique playstyle. This is a multi-part guide so be sure to check back as we continue to expand not only this guide but our entire Death Knight guide as a whole.

You may find some terms in this guide that may seem foreign if you’re just starting the game. We try our best to use as little gamer speak as possible but sometimes there are words that only the game utilizes. For that we suggest, especially if you’re a new player, that you check out our WoW glossary of World of Warcraft and gamer terms.

If you want to know more on what professions to choose or need a primer on Runes, Runic Power, and Runeforging then click here for Death Knight Basics - Professions, Runes, and Runeforging.

What are Death Knights?

Death Knights are unholy warriors who fill both a DPS and tanking role. This means they know how to deal the damage and take it. They cannot use shields making them the only tanks in the game who tank with two-handed weapons. Most of their damage mitigation is from their tough armor, their presences (see below for more information), and various abilities.

Pros on playing a Death Knight:

• Death Knights wear Plate armor, start at level 55, and come with a set of uncommon gear and get a set of rare gear from their starting zone quests.
• Death Knights use runic power and a rune system which is unique to the class and provides a new and interesting style of gameplay.
• Death Knights can tank with two-handed weapons and get free weapon enchants as part of their “Runeforging” ability.
• Resilient class with lots of magical abilities and melee abilities providing a dynamic combat style.
• Can pull enemies directly to them with an instant ability.
• Lots of abilities to take down casters.

Cons of playing a Death Knight:

• Requires a character to reach level fifty five to unlock, meaning you cannot begin the game as a Death Knight.
• Identity Crisis: Death Knights start at level fifty five, making them attractive for everyone’s first choice when they decide to make an alt.
• Cannot use a shield when tanking, meaning that damage mitigation is from the presence and abilities.
• Starting quest can be annoying if you just want to hop directly out into the world.

Creating a Death Knight

Is it right for you and how do you make one?

Death Knights require you to have a level fifty five character before you can create one. You may create one per server and they can be any race (though some racials lean themselves to the Death Knight more than others). You’ll also need the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. If you have a level fifty five character and the expansion then you’re ready to make one.

Is it right for you though? Well, that’s an excellent question that’s also very difficult to answer. There are a lot of different factors to look at with the Death Knight. If you don’t have a character to level eighty yet (but do have one to fifty five) then you’ll need to ask yourself if you’re ready to give up on your longtime friend to start on something new. If you’re already the max level then you’re going to want to ask yourself if you’re going to be serious with the Death Knight. If you’re not going to be serious then it might not be worthwhile to start.

A lot of classes require a certain psychological profile to really connect with the player. For instance, ranged DPS classes suit people who want to stand in the backlines and plunk arrows or fireballs to the front lines while Warriors are great for people who want to get right up into the face of danger. Death Knights mix a little bit of both worlds (but have a good emphasis on the latter). They can pull enemies to them, send spells flying a good distance, and do a lot. They’re a mix of a lot of things and are easy to try out to see if you like.

A good suggestion is to make one and take it through the starting zone. By the time you’re done you’ll have had a good deal of fun questing with all of the unique and high-tech quests in the area. Then you’ll be able to make up your mind if it’s right for you. Since you have to be seasoned with the game to make one you should have a good grasp on what you’re looking for in a class. The Death Knight is already leveled up a good bit too giving you plenty of things to try and play around with.

Which race do I pick?

The Death Knight can be any race which opens it up to a world of choice. Each race has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to picking. Races can be considered both subjective and definite. Some races are “better” in that their racial abilities are superior to others as far as the class is concerned. However, the differences can be cast aside whenever looks or visual appeal come into play.

If you’re going by racials then there are some obvious choices. For the alliance you have Night Elves with their ability to shadow meld which can often give them an excellent PvP boost (not to mention their dodge chances for tanking), Gnomes who have Escape Artist, and Dwarves with Stone Form (which is excellent for tanking). Humans have increased expertise with Swords (which is awesome). On the Horde side you have two very strong choices. The Tauren’s War Stomp (another great PvP and PvE racial) and the Forsaken’s Will of the Forsaken (which is also amazing in both PvP and PvE for the Death Knight) are excellent choices. Orcs and Trolls are also very viable. Every class is viable really, so you can't go wrong.

Page two of our Death Knight guide goes into professions, runes, and runeforging. Be sure to continue reading!