With the arrival of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic, players are once again immersed in the chaotic events brought about by Deathwing. To be prepared for the intense raids and challenges ahead, gearing up your Death Knight with the best-in-slot (BIS) items is crucial. This guide provides a comprehensive look at the BIS gear for Blood, Frost, and Unholy Death Knights in the pre-raid phase of Cataclysm Classic.
BIS Gear for Blood Death Knights (Pre-Raid)
Blood Death Knights serve as formidable tanks, thanks to the changes in stats and the addition of Mastery. To be raid-ready, aim for the following gear:
Slot | Item | Source | Alternatives |
Head | Reinforced Bi-Optic Killshades | Crafted through Engineering, only usable by Engineers | Helm of Satesh (Satesh in Halls of Origination Heroic) |
Neck | Carrier Wave Pendant | Drops from Blackrock Caverns (Heroic) | - |
Shoulder | Raz's Pauldrons | Drops from Blackrock Caverns (Heroic) | - |
Back | Wrap of the Great Turtle | Purchased from Provisioner Whitecloud, requires Exalted with Guardians of Hyjal | - |
Chest | Hardened Elementium Hauberk | Crafted through Blacksmithing | Lord Walden's Breastplate (Lord Godfrey in Shadowfang Keep Heroic) |
Wrist | Alpha Bracers | Drops from Halls of Origination (Heroic) | - |
Hands | Fingers of Light | Drops from Halls of Origination (Heroic) | - |
Waist | Hardened Elementium Girdle | Crafted through Blacksmithing | Sand Dune Belt (Augh in Lost City of the Tol'vir Heroic) |
Legs | Magma Plated Legguards | Purchased with 2,200 Valor Points | Greaves of Splendor (Purchased with 2,200 Justice Points) |
Feet | Boots of Sullen Rock (Horde only) | Purchased from Grot Deathblow, requires Exalted with Dragonmaw Clan | Gryphon Rider's Boots (Alliance only, purchased from Craw MacGraw. Requires Exalted with Wildhammer Clan) |
Finger | Umbriss Band | Drops from Grim Batol (Heroic) | - |
Finger | Red Rock Band | Purchased from Blacksmith Abasi in Uldum, requires Revered with Ramkahen | - |
Trinket | Mirror of Broken Images | Requires Exalted with Baradin's Wardens (Alliance) or Hellscream's Reach (Horde) | - |
Trinket | Lifebound Alchemist Stone | Crafted through Alchemy, it can only be used by Alchemists. | Leaden Despair (Drops from High Priestess Azil in The Stonecore Heroic) |
Weapon | Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds | Acquired through Archaeology | Sword of the Bottomless Pit (Drops from Ozruk in The Stonecore Heroic), Whitefin Axe (Drops from Ozumat in Throne of the Tides Heroic) |
Relic | Notched Jawbone | Crafted through Inscription | Stalagmite Dragon (Drops from Slabhide in The Stonecore Heroic) |
BIS Gear for Frost and Unholy Death Knights (Pre-Raid)
Frost Death Knights can provide solid DPS for their group and grant the Improved Icy Talons passive buff. Unholy Death Knights also serve as strong melee DPS. Some items that are BIS for Blood Death Knights are also BIS for Frost and Unholy, particularly Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds.
Slot | Item | Source | Alternatives |
Head | Reinforced Bi-Optic Killshades | Crafted through Engineering, only usable by Engineers | Helm of Easeful Death (Purchased with 2,200 Justice Points), Stonemason's Helm (Drops from Vanessa VanCleef in The Deadmines Heroic) |
Neck | Gift of Nadun | Purchased from Blacksmith Abasi in Uldum, requires Exalted with Ramkahen | Seedling Pod (Drops from Ammunae in Halls of Origination) |
Shoulder | Raz's Pauldrons | Drops from Blackrock Caverns (Heroic) | Pauldron's of the High Requiem (Purchased with 1,650 Justice Points) |
Back | Shadow of the Past | Drops from The Deadmines (Heroic) | Eagle Ray Cloak (Drops from Commander Ulthok in Throne of the Tides Heroic) |
Chest | Elementium Deathplate | Crafted through Blacksmithing | Lord Walden's Breastplate (Drops from Lord Godfrey in Shadowfang Keep Heroic) |
Wrist | Alpha Bracers | Drops from Halls of Origination (Heroic) | - |
Hands | Hematite Plate Gloves | Drops from The Stonecore (Heroic) | Gear-Marked Gauntlets (Drops from Helix Gearbreaker in The Deadmines Heroic) |
Waist | Elementium Girdle of Pain | Crafted through Blacksmithing | Belt of the Ferocious Wolf (Purchased from Provisioner Whitecloud, requires Exalted with Guardians of Hyjal) |
Legs | Magma Plated Legplates | Purchased with 2,200 Valor Points | Greaves of Gallantry (Purchased with 2,200 Justice Points) |
Feet | Waywatcher's Boots | Purchased from Provisioner Whitecloud, requires Revered with Guardians of Hyjal | Greaves of Wu the Elder (Drops from General Husam in Lost City of the Tol'vir Heroic) |
Finger | Gorsik's Band of Shattering | Purchased from D'lom the Collector, requires Revered with Therazane | - |
Finger | Signet of Transformation | Drops from Blackrock Caverns (Heroic) | Circle of Bone (Drops from Erudax in Grim Batol Heroic) |
Trinket | Impatience of Youth | Requires Exalted with Baradin's Wardens (Alliance) or Hellscream's Reach (Horde) | - |
Trinket | License to Slay | Purchased with 1,650 Valor Points | Right Eye of Rajh (Drops from Rajh in Halls of Origination Heroic) |
Weapon (If dual wielding) | Scimitar of the Sirocco | Acquired through Archaeology | Cookie's Tenderizer (Drops from Captain Cookie in The Deadmines Heroic) |
Weapon (If dual wielding) | Resonant Kris | Drops from Lost City of the Tol'vir (Heroic) | - |
Weapon (Two-Hand) | Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds | Acquired through Archaeology | Sword of the Bottomless Pit (Drops from Ozruk in The Stonecore Heroic) |
Relic | Relic of Aggramar | Purchased with 700 Valor Points | Notched Jawbone (Crafted through Inscription) |
With these gear sets, your Death Knight will be ready to take on the formidable challenges of Cataclysm Classic. Prioritize obtaining these items and WoW Cataclysm Classic Gold to ensure your character is fully prepared for the raids and adventures that lie ahead.
MMOexp WoW Cataclysm Classic Team