Heya guys!! So Blizzard recently talked about how the majority of the WoW playerbase still isn’t level 80 yet, and on top of that, I got some e-mails from players still on their way to level 80.  Do we hear DK leveling specs, rotations, and glyphs incoming!?!?

I thought it a good time to revist some old leveling tips.  Besides…it’s the perfect opportunity to use this pic. *points up*  I’m still laughing looking at it.  Ahhh…men.  Toilet humor still amuses us, heh.

Leveling Spec: Blood

1. Level 58 – 32/0/17
2. Level 68 – 41/0/18
3. Level 80 – 53/0/18

The ideal Blood Rotation is:

1. IT -> PS -> HS -> HS -> OB -> DC
2. OB -> HS -> HS -> HS -> HS -> DC

Glyphs

• Major: Obliterate, Death Strike, Icy Touch
• Minor: Pestilence, Horn of Winter, free pick

Leveling Spec: Unholy

1. Level 58 – 0/0/49
2. Level 68 – 5/0/54
3. Level 80 – 16/0/55

The ideal Unholy Rotation is:

1. IT -> PS -> BS -> BS -> SS -> UB
2. SS -> SS -> SS -> DC

Glyphs

• Major: Scourge Strike, Death Strike, Raise Dead
• Minor: Pestilence, Horn of Winter, free pick

AoE Rotations

1. IT -> PS -> Pest -> DnD -> BT -> BB -> UB (UB if Unholy)
2. DS -> BB -> BB -> DS -> DC

Leveling Rotations

There is no “leveling rotation”.  Why?  You can’t account for every situation when dealing with “trash” mobs.  So you basically have rules.

1. UB is used when 1 target will be in the effect for 20 seconds, 2 targets will be in the effect for 10 seconds, or anytime there are 3 or more targets.
2. Whenever a DC is called for in a rotation, that is a RP dump period.  Drop more than one DC if possible.
3. When dealing with 2+ mobs, always lead off with IT -> PS -> Pest.
4. When dealing with 3+ mobs, always use DnD, UB, CE, and BB when possible.
5. Replace OB/SS with DS when applicable.  Make sure you keep your health over 50% at all times when possible.  If you have plenty of health, then use OB/SS when possible.
6. When in a fight lasting more than 10 seconds (with multiple mobs) remember to Pestilence again.  Preferably pick a mob that is low health to Pest so that you have fresh diseases on your other mobs.
7. Blood’s ideal rotation is assuming Frost subspec, and I forgot to double check on the Unholy one.  However, that being said, while leveling up once you’ve already done that much dmg to a target, whether they have diseases on them or not should no longer be an issue.

Previous SJ Reference Material

Anything in these posts that is contradicted by something in this post should probably be ignored.  This post is more recent, and has more information based off of what I’ve learned since.  These new specs are more effective for leveling purposes than the old ones I listed.

• http://www.skeletonjack.com/2008/11/18/death-knights-a-true-aoe-class/
• http://www.skeletonjack.com/2008/11/14/death-knight-specs-for-leveling-up-in-wotlk/
• http://www.skeletonjack.com/2008/11/15/answers-to-death-knight-questions/

Level up Where?

Nothing detailed here really, just the short and skinny.  Run to BC at level 58 and ride BC out till level 68.  When you hit 68 go to the Borean Tundra and ride that out till 70-71.  Then swap over to Howling Fjorde until you’re done questing there.  From there out, you can follow zone quests where you like.  A solid rule of thumb is that if you start getting a lot of quests that are all equal and lower level for you, it’s time to move on to the next zone.

Abbreviations

• IT = Icy Touch
• PS = Plague Strike
• Pest = Pestilence
• OB = Obliterate
• SS = Scourge Strike
• HS = Heart Strike
• BS = Blood Strike
• BT = Blood Tap
• BB = Blood Boil
• DC = Death Coil
• UB = Unholy Blight
• DnD = Death and Decay
• DS = Death Strike
• CE = Corpse Explosion

Disclaimer

This is a leveling post.  Not an end game post.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT!!!  This is for getting to 80, not for playing at 80.

Why no DW or Frost specs?!!?

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again.  These are not leveling friendly.  Insert random gamer quote who must know better than me:

I leveled fine as a Frost/DW Death Knight!!  It’s super easy and quick and blah, blah, blah, blah….

I’ve never claimed that Frost and DW specs can’t and won’t level on their own.  It is still a DK, and DK’s are massively overpowered when it comes to leveling, even with a gimped out spec.  But the fact is, you want to get to 80 quick right?  You want to be playing with your friends who only had to level 10 levels, while you’re powering through 25?  Blood and Unholy get you there *SO* much faster.

And remember…I even gave Frost props.  Some people are reporting Frost as best ST Boss dps spec in game.  Mad props yo!!  But at the same time, it’s not so hot for leveling.  Frost and DW are more heavily gear dependent than the other specs, and this hurts them for leveling purposes.  You’re welcome to stumble along on your own if you’re that stubborn…but I’m not going to promote that by putting my name next to it.  Ya know?  Would you want your name next to a bad quality product?  Not me! 

Contact Me!!

If you have questions, ideas, or just wanna say hi…here’s my e-mail.  I do forget to check it sometimes when I get wrapped up raiding and writing posts.  So if it takes me a few days (2-4) to respond sometimes, don’t worry.  It’s just me being scatter brained, heh.

Skeleton.Jack@hotmail.com

Tags: Power Leveling

Heya guys!!  A reader sent me an e-mail and mentioned a website in it: http://wowmb.net/

I dropped by for a peek and it seemed decent.  I honestly don’t have the time atm to really go look at it in detail to decide if I’d permanently link it.  But all the same, a quick link doesn’t kill me.

But as always I’ve gotta give mad love to Out of Mana.  My favorite Warlock Blog hands down.

Tags: Website

Heroic: Twilight Duo

Heya guys!!  That’s right!!  /flex  RAWWRRRR!!!!

Sleepless Knights downed 25man Naxx in one evening last night (took under 4 hours, though I didn’t time it).  Then tonight we dropped 25man Malygos and moved on to Sartharion.  Last week they dropped him with 1 drake up without me (I was out).  But tonight we dropped his sorry butt with 2 drakes alive!!  RAWWRR!!!!  Next week on Wed we go back for some more charred dragon tail, with three drakes that time!!

So I’ve been debating what to write about next.  There’s so much on my plate.  And I think, unless you guys raise an uproar about it, I’m going to focus on PvP next.  I’ll let Tank/PvE DPS slide a little bit.  Why?!?!  Don’t cry little girls…there’s a reason!!! heh

Blizzard Blue Post by Gnorog:

Arena season 5 is currently scheduled to begin on December 17th, and once that happens players who have reached level 80 will be able to compete in rated arena matches where they can gain arena points which can be used to purchase level 80 arena gear, as well as compete for end-of-season rewards.

That means in less than 2 weeks the new Arena Season, Season 5, will be upon us.  Now I’m not going to drop the ball on PvE DPS/Tank stuff.  But considering the impact a new season can have upon the player base, I thought it wise to work on this stuff now.

For those wondering where my primary research will be done, I will be pouring through Arena Junkies and Elitest Jerks forums.  Also, PvP’ing my little heart out…literally…when time provides.  The fact of the matter is that this is going to take 10-20 hours of real life time researching specs, playstyles, abilities, macros, team combinations, etc…  Not even counting the actual PvP time I will spend playing.  So when I tell you guys I invest some serious time into prepping information before I even start writing…well I mean it.

I’m going to talk to you guys about how to save money and make money with the new season release.  We’re going to go into team compositions, and strategies when facing distinct opponents.  Abilities need to be covered, rotations, on the fly decisions, and priority listings for your attacks.  And Specs…especially those.  Macros, etc, etc, etc…  We’re gonna do it all.  And what to farm and why for your gear.  So.  The information may come at a sporadic pace at first.  But sit back, relax, and enjoy it.

Now for those of you sitting there saying, “I don’t like to PvP!!”  /sigh

Have you ever gotten decent gear before as a Death Knight and PvP’d?  NNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So you can’t tell me that, and have me honestly care or believe in your answer.  End of Story.  So hopefully, you reading the posts about PvP over the next week or so will encourage you to try something new and see what it’s like.  Even if you don’t like it in the end, you’ve experienced an aspect of your game and character unknown to you before.

And I promise that you will better understand your class even in a DPS/Tanking scenario.  PvP is about dps and tanking, just players instead of mobs.  It’s the most intense in game experience imo, and it has a lot to teach everyone about their own characters.

P.S.

OMFG I FINALLY GOT AN EPIC 2H.  Yeah, that’s right…been totting a blue and still rocking the house.  Heroic Halls of Lightning…repeatedly…and finally…  Colossal Skull-Clad Cleaver  Yesss!!!

Tags: PvP, Raids