Unholy Death Knight leveling guide
Unholy is the Death Knight with diseases, a permanent ghoul and a Gargoyle. You start at level 55 in Acherus and reach Northrend around 68, and by then Scourge Strike and Death Coil hit hard, Crypt Fever and Ebon Plaguebringer make your diseases even stronger, and On a Pale Horse lets you move around faster. Bone Shield and your ghoul take the edge off the damage while you level.
Strengths and weaknesses
- High steady damage from diseases, Scourge Strike and Death Coil.
- Master of Ghouls gives a permanent ghoul, and Summon Gargoyle adds a lot of damage on a strong enemy.
- On a Pale Horse and Unholy Presence make you move faster.
- Less self-healing than Blood, so large pulls are harder.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Unholy: Virulence 3/3, Vicious Strikes 2/2, Ravenous Dead 3/3, Epidemic 2/2, Morbidity 1/3, Necrosis 5/5, On a Pale Horse 2/2, Blood-Caked Blade 3/3, Night of the Dead 2/2 and Impurity 5/5.
- Master of Ghouls, Desecration 2/2, Desolation 5/5, Bone Shield, Crypt Fever 3/3, Ghoul Frenzy, Ebon Plaguebringer 3/3 and Scourge Strike.
- Rage of Rivendare 5/5 and Summon Gargoyle, for 51 points. In Blood: Butchery 2/2, Blade Barrier 3/5 and Bladed Armor 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 2/2 and Dark Conviction 5/5.
- Death Rune Mastery 3/3, for 20 points in Blood.
Rotation
One enemy
- Raise Dead for your ghoul, then Icy Touch and Plague Strike for both diseases.
- Scourge Strike with your Frost and Unholy Runes, and Blood Strike with your Blood Runes for Desolation.
- Death Coil with Runic Power, and Summon Gargoyle on a strong enemy.
Groups of enemies
- Icy Touch and Plague Strike on one enemy, then Pestilence to spread the diseases.
- Death and Decay and Blood Boil on the group, and Ghoul Frenzy to heal your ghoul.
Staying alive
- Bone Shield before each fight, and Icebound Fortitude against heavy hits.
- Anti-Magic Shell against spells, and Death Strike to heal while you fight.
- Death Pact with your ghoul as an emergency heal, 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, Haste, Crit and Expertise.
- The slowest two-handed weapon with the highest damage you can find.
- Enchants: Rune of the Fallen Crusader on the weapon, 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.