Frost Death Knight leveling guide
Frost is the Death Knight who hits hardest with two weapons. You start at level 55 in Acherus and reach Northrend around 68, and by then Obliterate and Frost Strike deal huge single hits, Killing Machine turns them into critical strikes, and Rime gives you free Howling Blasts for groups. Unbreakable Armor and Lichborne keep you standing, although Frost relies more on good gear than Blood.
Strengths and weaknesses
- High burst with Obliterate, Frost Strike and Killing Machine.
- Howling Blast and Hungering Cold handle groups of enemies well.
- Unbreakable Armor and Lichborne help in tough fights.
- Less self-healing than Blood, so large pulls are riskier with weak gear.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Frost: Improved Icy Touch 3/3, Runic Power Mastery 2/2, Nerves of Cold Steel 3/3, Black Ice 5/5, Annihilation 3/3, Icy Talons 5/5, Lichborne, Killing Machine 5/5 and Endless Winter 2/2.
- Glacier Rot 3/3, Improved Icy Talons, Rime 3/3, Hungering Cold, Threat of Thassarian 3/3, Unbreakable Armor, Frost Strike and Guile of Gorefiend 3/3.
- Tundra Stalker 5/5 and Howling Blast, for 51 points. In Blood: Butchery 2/2, Blade Barrier 3/5 and Bladed Armor 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Death Rune Mastery 3/3 and Dark Conviction 5/5.
- Blade Barrier 5/5, for 20 points in Blood.
Rotation
One enemy
- Icy Touch and Plague Strike for both diseases.
- Obliterate with your Frost and Unholy Runes, and Blood Strike with your Blood Runes.
- Frost Strike with Runic Power, and Icy Touch or Frost Strike while Killing Machine is active.
Groups of enemies
- Icy Touch and Plague Strike on one enemy, then Pestilence to spread the diseases.
- Howling Blast on the group, for free when Rime lights up, and Death and Decay where they stand.
- Hungering Cold to freeze everything around you when a pull gets too big.
Staying alive
- Unbreakable Armor and Icebound Fortitude against heavy hits, and Anti-Magic Shell against spells.
- Lichborne, then Death Coil on yourself as a strong heal, and Death Strike to heal while you fight.
- Chains of Ice and Death Grip to control enemies, and Empower Rune Weapon from level 75 to get all runes back.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Strength first, then Hit, Expertise, Armor Penetration and Crit.
- Two one-handed weapons with the highest damage you can find, or a slow two-handed weapon.
- Enchants: Rune of the Fallen Crusader on the main hand and Rune of Razorice on the off hand, Crusher on the gloves and Greater Assault on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Mining with Blacksmithing for plate gear and extra sockets, or Jewelcrafting for strong gems.