Frost Death Knight Leveling Guide from 8 to 80 — The War Within (11.0.5)
On this page, you will find our Level by Level Frost Death Knight leveling guide for The War Within. Make sure to use the slider to make the guide adapt to your level. For more general leveling information, please refer to our Death Knight leveling guide.
Runeforge Choice
When you get the option to Runeforge, make sure you apply
 Rune of Razorice to your main hand and
 Rune of Razorice to your main hand and
 Rune of the Fallen Crusader
to your off-hand. If you are using a Two-Handed weapon, then use
 Rune of the Fallen Crusader
to your off-hand. If you are using a Two-Handed weapon, then use
 Rune of the Fallen Crusader. You can also choose to run
 Rune of the Fallen Crusader. You can also choose to run  Rune of Unending Thirst
intead of Fallen Crusader for heal and speed boost after you kill mobs. We recommend using
a 2H weapon when leveling.
 Rune of Unending Thirst
intead of Fallen Crusader for heal and speed boost after you kill mobs. We recommend using
a 2H weapon when leveling.
Gear Options
When leveling up, you should always choose the piece of loot with the highest item level. The only exception to this rule is if you have a Ring or Necklace with a slightly lower item level but 2 secondary stats on it instead of 1.
Level by Level Rotation and Talents
Move the slider below to make the guide update to your level!
Until you pick up  Obliterate, your primary
means of spending Runes is through
 Obliterate, your primary
means of spending Runes is through  Rune Strike.
 Rune Strike.
Depending on which race you picked, you will start at a different level, and have a slightly different intro:
- If you picked an Allied Race then you start at level 10.
- On the other hand, if you started with a non-allied race, you start at level 8.
You will start selecting talents at level 10, building your character as you gain one point per level to spend.
Talents to Level Up as a Frost Death Knight
Your first talent unlocks at Level 10.
Your talent set up should be as follows.
Rotation to Level Up as a Frost Death Knight
 Death and Decay when fighting more than one enemy,
to make your Death and Decay when fighting more than one enemy,
to make your Obliterates cleave. Obliterates cleave.
 Rune Strike is your main damaging ability
and Rune spender. Rune Strike is your main damaging ability
and Rune spender.
 Obliterate is your main damaging ability and
Rune spender. Obliterate is your main damaging ability and
Rune spender.
- Use  Death Coil when you have 80+ Runic Power
or no available Runes. You won't use this ability once you pick up Death Coil when you have 80+ Runic Power
or no available Runes. You won't use this ability once you pick up Frost Strike. Frost Strike.
 Raise Dead should be used off cooldown or
for bosses/elite mobs. Raise Dead should be used off cooldown or
for bosses/elite mobs.
- Use  Frost Strike when you have 80+ Runic Power
or no available Runes. Frost Strike when you have 80+ Runic Power
or no available Runes.
- Use  Frost Strike when your target has 5
stacks of Frost Strike when your target has 5
stacks of Razorice Razorice
- Use  Death Strike to heal yourself. Death Strike to heal yourself.
 Remorseless Winter whenever there are 2+
targets or the target will last the duration. Remorseless Winter whenever there are 2+
targets or the target will last the duration.
 Abomination Limb to quickly group up
and AoE down groups of mobs. Abomination Limb to quickly group up
and AoE down groups of mobs.
 Pillar of Frost when you open on a pack. Pillar of Frost when you open on a pack.
 Frostwyrm's Fury should be paired with Frostwyrm's Fury should be paired with Pillar of Frost and used on big packs, elites, or boss mobs. Pillar of Frost and used on big packs, elites, or boss mobs.
 Empower Rune Weapon should be paired with Empower Rune Weapon should be paired with Pillar of Frost and used on big packs, elites, or boss mobs. Pillar of Frost and used on big packs, elites, or boss mobs.
 Howling Blast to consume procs of Howling Blast to consume procs of Rime. Rime.
There are several passive abilities that you unlock through the leveling process that can change your play style and rotation.
 Rime makes your Rime makes your Howling Blast deal
significantly more damage, making it worthwhile to use at any target count
when you gain this buff. Howling Blast deal
significantly more damage, making it worthwhile to use at any target count
when you gain this buff.
 Killing Machine is a passive ability that
gives your auto attack Critical Strikes the chance to make your next Killing Machine is a passive ability that
gives your auto attack Critical Strikes the chance to make your next Obliterate critically strike. Obliterate critically strike.
 Dark Succor is incredible for leveling,
allowing you to easily heal and stay at high health while chain-pulling packs
and
mobs. Dark Succor is incredible for leveling,
allowing you to easily heal and stay at high health while chain-pulling packs
and
mobs.
Frost Death Knight Defensive Abilities while Leveling
 Anti-Magic Shell is
a very strong magic shield that also generates Runic Power. This should be used
whenever magic damage is present to take advantage of the Runic Power
generation. Anti-Magic Shell is
a very strong magic shield that also generates Runic Power. This should be used
whenever magic damage is present to take advantage of the Runic Power
generation.
 Lichborne is a powerful ability
for leveling, as it provides you with a good chunk of Leech. Use this cooldown
to take advantage of the healing and try to pair it with high AoE or
burst combinations. Lichborne is a powerful ability
for leveling, as it provides you with a good chunk of Leech. Use this cooldown
to take advantage of the healing and try to pair it with high AoE or
burst combinations.
 Icebound Fortitude is an amazing defensive
cooldown that should be used whenever necessary in order to keep you moving
from pack to pack. Icebound Fortitude is an amazing defensive
cooldown that should be used whenever necessary in order to keep you moving
from pack to pack.
 Raise Ally cannot be used when solo leveling,
however, it is fantastic in dungeon groups if you decide to level that way. Raise Ally cannot be used when solo leveling,
however, it is fantastic in dungeon groups if you decide to level that way.
 Death's Advance is one of your only movement
speed cooldowns making it incredibly useful when leveling. The secondary
effects of this are not too useful in leveling scenarios, except for the
passive that prevents you from being slowed past a certain point. Death's Advance is one of your only movement
speed cooldowns making it incredibly useful when leveling. The secondary
effects of this are not too useful in leveling scenarios, except for the
passive that prevents you from being slowed past a certain point.
Frost Death Knight War Mode Talents for Leveling
This section will go over the PvP talents for leveling content for Frost Death Knights.
Frost Death Knight PvP Talents for Leveling
 Deathchill can help in large pulls to prevent mobs from all
attacking you at the same time! Deathchill can help in large pulls to prevent mobs from all
attacking you at the same time!
 Necrotic Aura is a solid DPS boost since a large portion of our AoE
is magical damage Necrotic Aura is a solid DPS boost since a large portion of our AoE
is magical damage
 Bloodforged Armor is just a nice defensive boost. There are no other
good talents. Bloodforged Armor is just a nice defensive boost. There are no other
good talents.
Congratulations!
Congratulations on reaching level 80! Now that you have hit Level 80, we recommend looking at our Easy mode page and Talents section to learn how to play at max level.
Changelog
- 21 Oct. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 21 Aug. 2024: Updated for The War Within.
- 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4.
- 22 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 06 Nov. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 10 Jul. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 01 May 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 20 Mar. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Dec. 2022: Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
More Death Knight Guides
Guides from Other Classes
This guide has been written by Bicepspump, a semi-hardcore player raiding with Pescorus on Kazzak. He is heavily involved in the DK DPS theorycrafting community, testing hyoptheses and investigating the correct priority to use. He produces guide content on YouTube and frequently streams on Twitch.
- War Within and Classic Weekly Hotfix Summary: November 11th – 17th
- Not Even a Sanctuary Can Help You: Doomwalker Rampaging Through Anniversary Event Grounds
- The Most Popular Specializations in Mythic+ in Patch 11.0.5
- Is a Legion Remix on the Horizon? Ion Hazzikostas Hints at Possibilities
- Player Completes Anniversary Quest in Record 21.6 Seconds—Here’s the Trick!
- Don’t Waste Your Pots: the Ultimate Tempered Potion-Popping Macro:
- A Promotion Nightmare: The Growing Title and Queue for the Guest Relations Manager Is Getting Out of Hand!
- Blizzard Talks WoW’s Future: Player Housing, Undermine(d) Patch, and More in Windows Central Interview