Death Knight changes in WoW Patch 3.1 PTR build 9733
by Eliah Hecht 
Mar 27th 2009 at 4:00PM
Although this wasn't the biggest PTR patch in the world (they're coming smaller and faster now, perhaps suggesting that 3.1 is near), there were still some notable changes for my new favorite melee class. The changes for Death Knights are as follows:
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Frost
- Howling Blast cooldown has been reduced from 10 sec to 8 sec.
- Rime now resets the cooldown on Howling Blast when it procs, in addition to its previous effects.
These Frost changes are a clear buff to deep Frost DPS builds. Which was needed, because nobody plays Frost 2h.
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Unholy
- Death Strike damage has been lowered, it now deals 60% weapon damage (down from 75%) plus 178.2 (down from 222.75) for Rank 5.
- Night of the Dead has been moved from Tier 8 to Tier 4.
- Ghoul Frenzy has been moved from Tier 6 to Tier 7.
- Master of Ghouls has been moved from Tier 4 to Tier 6.
The Unholy changes are mostly about keeping the perma-ghoul out of the hands of non-Unholy DKs. As of the prior build, a Blood spec with Master of Ghouls was getting a lot of buzz, but this is no longer going to be possible - to get MoG, you'd have to skip basically everything past Heart Strike (i.e. Blood Gorged and Dancing Rune Weapon, as well as most of Might of Mograine), which is just too much to pass up. The nerf to Death Strike is also aimed at PTR Blood builds, which were using DS instead of Obliterate. Whether or not they still will be, Blood damage will be lower now. This doesn't bother me much - I'll be able to justify staying Unholy, which I like better anyway. I'm still not happy about all that armor penetration, though.
Patch 3.1 brings us Ulduar, dual specs, significant changes to all the classes, and more! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1.Filed under: Patches, Death Knight
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
shopshopshop Mar 27th 2009 4:06PM
When you say nobody plays Frost 2h, are you being sarcastic? I can't tell.
Kassu Mar 27th 2009 4:43PM
I think he isn't being sarcastic.
Going to make frost2hdps my second spec once dual specs hit. I like Frost Strike. ~70% crit, hits up to ~8k self buffed in Naxx gear. Yeah, I like it a lot.
Eliah Hecht Mar 27th 2009 4:44PM
I wasn't being sarcastic, I was just exaggerating. Obviously some people play frost 2h; some people play everything. But it is distinctly less popular than Blood and Unholy, as far as I can tell.
Heilig Mar 27th 2009 4:50PM
Frost 2H is less popular because it doesn't get as much advantage from Killing Machine and much less of its DPS is based off weapon damage. Frost relies more on AP based skills for yellow hits, so you DW for maximum white damage and to proc Killing Machine.
The cooldown on HB pretty much had to be reduced now since it's the 51 pt talent. If it is going to be the cherry and is supposed to be the cornerstone of your DPS, it needs to be available pretty often.
Atros Mar 27th 2009 5:37PM
Frost 2h is a fairly potent spec even on live, and severely underrated. It scales very well, and makes some massive usage out of weapon based damage. The name of the game is the massive Frost Strike hits, which is an especially potent RP dump and extremely efficient. Guile of Gorefiend means it crits big, and many other talents in the tree (including Killing Machine) make it crit often. As well, Frost specced Obliterates hit like a truck.
Rictus Mar 27th 2009 6:00PM
A guildie of mine plays 2hand Frost DPS and loves the spec. Watching him in action, seeing him churn out massive crits is nothing short of fabulous. I myself am Tank-specced in Frost and can see where his damage comes from. Frost really is severely underrated and underappreciated.
Fletch Mar 27th 2009 6:41PM
I currently play a 2h frost dps build and I often beat unholy, and almost always beat blood for dps given similar gear. Having said that, if the current PTR changes go through I will be going unholy when 3.1 drops because my PTR tests indicate (though admittedly they are not particularly exhaustive) that frost dps just isn't in the same league as unholy.
ShadowC Mar 28th 2009 2:10AM
I've been playing 2h frost ever since I hit 80.
Its a very versatile spec with a nice pvp frost strike(killing move).
HB does have a bit lower of Hit dmg but does prevail at Crit dmg.
HB was a great success at killin off
- Maex Spider adds
- Drake and Fire elementals (OS)
In the end, Frost is a Different spec to play with a different rotation (not so different with a 8sec HB Cd, Probly throwing in an Obliterate somewhere). Theres still going to be blood and unholy players who aren't used to this, but the Dps balance will definatley put a smile on the faces of frost 2h Takers.
in an off topic I think my pesilence spreads Devouring plague
Friday_Knight Mar 28th 2009 7:22AM
Actually Heilig 2 hander Frost dps doesn't get as much play because people ASSUME that they get more Killing Machine procs by dual wielding, which is not true.
Killing Machine works off of PPM (procs per minute) and thus, over time, the number of procs works out to be the same.
RoPete33 Mar 27th 2009 4:09PM
I currently play a 21/50 2h Frost DPS spec so that's good news. Question though, in frosty boss fights such as Saph and KT would I be significantly less effective?
Corth Mar 27th 2009 4:12PM
nope, Blizz has taken a large majority of resist fights out of the game,. i personally never get any resists/misses not due to hit rating
ShadowC Apr 1st 2009 6:08PM
If people realize those boss's will be what they will encounter occasionally they would have an Obliterate + Frost strike (death coil still isn't enough compared to a frost build) Rotation.
Maahk Mar 30th 2009 11:45AM
As 2h frost, on Saph I do significantly worse than on other fights due to his resistance to frost damage. It's better than when he was immune, but still significantly lower. KT is fine.
Corth Mar 27th 2009 4:12PM
im personally a tanking frost DK and the Howling Blast/Rime buffs are a definite TPS buff. and i do decent DPS when i have a dps gear since i offtank when i not needed i sit at 2300 doing my tanking frost spec with a two hander
Vitez Mar 27th 2009 4:11PM
I play frost 2h...
smiley Mar 27th 2009 4:11PM
are dk"s still in the game ... damn it 3.1 is a failure
all kidding aside yea the nerfs kinda suck for dk"s but admitadly you guys were pretty OP and from what I've seen in ptr still are on top... just by a smaller gap
Mecer Mar 27th 2009 4:12PM
The 2h frost DPS is more or less true, the far majority of Frost DPS is with dual wielding with Killing Machine and the Unholy talents.
I personally play Frost 2h, but Im a Tank so these are a welcome threat buff for me :).
Mindaika Mar 27th 2009 4:17PM
I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure GC explicitly stated that Blood DPS would be using DS as their FU ability.
Grubba Mar 27th 2009 4:24PM
You wouldn't be mistaken. That would also be why they added, you know, a deep Blood talent to improve Death Strike.
That Blood DKs were using it is not the reason its damage got nerfed.
Kassu Mar 27th 2009 4:45PM
Pretty sure you are dead wrong here..
Death Strike is a tanking and PVP tool. What kind of a fool would ever consider using it for DPS =/