Death knight

This article is about the playable class in World of Warcraft. For other uses, see Death knight (disambiguation).

Death Knight
Available to	All playable races (except Dracthyr)
Specializations	Blood (tank) Frost (melee DPS) Unholy (melee DPS)
Resource(s)	Runic Power, Runes
Primary attribute	Strength
Weapon skills	Polearms, One-handed, Off-hand or Two-handed Swords, Axes and Maces
Armor type	Plate; can also equip Mail, Leather, Cloth.
Signature abilities	[Death Grip] [Death Strike] [Death Coil] [Obliterate] [Death and Decay]

“All that I am: anger, cruelty, vengeance - I bestow upon you, my chosen knight. I have granted you immortality so that you may herald in a new, dark age for the Scourge.”

— The Lich King's first words to a new death knight.

Death knights, often abbreviated to DK, are melee fighters that wield dark magic and runeforged weapons. Firstly introduced in Warcraft II, then as a hero unit in Warcraft III, the death knight is the first hero class of World of Warcraft, introduced in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Each death knight of the game's original 8 races begins at level 8 (55 prior to Shadowlands) in a phased, instanced area known as Plaguelands: The Scarlet Enclave. However, death knights of allied races and pandaren instead start at level 10 and are sent directly to Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Originally, only one death knight could be created per realm per account, but this restriction was lifted in patch 5.3. The requirement of already having a level 55 character in order to create a death knight was lifted in patch 6.1.

Death knights engage their foes up-close, supplementing swings of their weapons with dark magic that renders enemies vulnerable or damages them with unholy power. They drag foes into one-on-one conflicts, compelling them to focus their attacks away from weaker companions. In order to prevent their enemies from fleeing their grasp, death knights must remain mindful of the power they call forth from runes, and pace their attacks appropriately. In order to protect themselves and their fellows from death in battle, death knights gird themselves in heavy armor and parry attacks with their blades. They have a personal connection with their blades, and can forge runes into them in order to increase their power; these runeblades are empowered with dark magic and they can expend the power of their runes for vicious attacks.

Death knight talents can bolster their defensive abilities by focusing on their ability to heal themselves, increase their damage and spell attacks, or summon forth minions and diseases by making use of their runes:

• Blood death knights are dark guardians who manipulate and corrupt life energy to sustain themself in the face of an enemy onslaught.
• Frost death knights are harbingers of doom, channeling runic power and delivering vicious weapon strikes.
• Unholy death knights are masters of death and decay, spreading infection and controlling undead minions to do their bidding.

Primary death knight attributes are strength and stamina. Most important secondary attributes are usually Haste and Critical Strike, though certain specializations and rotations may favor Mastery.

Class overview

When the Lich King's control of his death knights was broken, his former champions sought revenge for the horrors committed under his command. After their vengeance was won, the death knights found themselves without a cause and without a home. One by one they trickled into the land of the living in search of a new purpose. Frost sharpens their strikes; blood fortifies their bodies; and undeath allows them to erupt in unholy rage in the heat of battle. A thousand atrocities are etched in the eyes of every death knight, and foes who gaze into them too long will feel the warmth pulled from their bodies, replaced with cold steel.

When the Lich King's control over his death knights was broken, his former champions found their new purpose as Knights of the Ebon Blade. After Bolvar Fordragon donned the helm to keep the undead Scourge contained, he called forth a new generation of death knights to join the Ebon Blade's cause.

Creation screen description

Death knights are a hero class, which means they start at high level. Death knights are a melee class with an emphasis on causing diseases and using dark magic.

Background

Teron Gorefiend, first of the death knights.

See also: Death knight races

Creations of Gul'dan

This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.

Main articles: Death Knight (Warcraft II), Death knight organizations#Of the Horde

These soldiers of darkness were created by Gul'dan to replace the slaughtered Warlock clans. Assembled from the corpses of the Knights of Stormwind slain in the last battles of the First War, these abominations were then instilled with the ethereal essence of the Shadow Council, now serving the Horde in a blasphemous state of eternal undeath. Further empowered with magical energies culled from the slain necrolytes, the death knights wielded an arsenal of necromantic and elemental spells that mete out all but certain death to the enemies of the Horde.

The original death knights were created for Orgrim Doomhammer by Gul'dan as powerful soldiers of the Horde. These death knights were created by placing the souls of the slain warlocks of the Shadow Council into the corpses of fallen Stormwind knights, the first of whom was Teron Gorefiend. Unlike modern death knights of the Scourge, these ghoulish fiends were not battle-hardened warriors: they were insidious necromancers who possessed superior intellect and tremendous magical power. They often favored the use of terror tactics and reanimated the corpses of enemy soldiers who fell in battle to serve them as mindless undead minions.

Most of these death knights were destroyed during and after the Second War, either killed by the Alliance or transformed into liches by Kil'jaeden.

Fallen Knights of the Silver Hand

This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

Arthas Menethil, first of the Lich King's death knights.

Main articles: Death Knight (Warcraft III), Death knight organizations#Of the Scourge

Death Knights were once virtuous defenders of Humanity. However, once the Paladin ranks were disbanded by the failing Alliance, many of these holy warriors traveled to the quarantined lands to ease the suffering of those left within the plague-ridden colonies. Though the Paladins were immune to disease of any kind, they were persecuted by the general populace who believed that they had been infected by the foul plague. A small band of Paladins, embittered by society's cruelty, traveled north to find the plague's source. These renegade Paladins succumbed to bitter hatred over the course of their grueling quest. When they finally reached Ner'zhul's icy fortress in Northrend they had become dark and brooding. The Lich King offered them untold power in exchange for their services and loyalty. The weary, vengeful warriors accepted his dark pact, and although they retained their humanity, their twisted souls were bound to his evil will for all time. Bestowed with black, vampiric Runeblades and shadowy steeds, Death Knights serve as the Scourge's mightiest generals.

Years after the destruction of Draenor, the immensely powerful Lich King created a new breed of death knights: malevolent, rune-wielding warriors of the Scourge. The first and greatest of these was the Lich King's chosen champion, Prince Arthas Menethil, once a mighty paladin of the Silver Hand, who sacrificed his soul to claim the runeblade Frostmourne in a desperate bid to save his people. The rest were primarily made up of other fallen warriors or paladins whose souls were twisted and bound to the will of the Frozen Throne. Unlike Gul'dan's death knights, these dark champions possessed unholy strength, however, they did not possess free will and their minds were inexorably entwined with and dominated by the Lich King's vast consciousness. Despite the heavy costs of free will, some powerful mortals were intrigued by the promise of immortality and pledged their souls freely into the Lich King's service to achieve it.

In the years since Arthas shattered the Frozen Throne and merged with the Lich King, the power and fury of the death knights only grew. These unrelenting crusaders of the damned eagerly awaited the Lich King's command to unleash their fury on Azeroth once again.

The Death Knights of Acherus

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Main article: Knights of the Ebon Blade

Death knights of Acherus, wielding powers of blood, frost, and the unholy.

A hero... that's what you once were. You stood boldly against the Shadow and purchased another dawn for the world... with your life. But the evil you fought is not so easily banished; the victory you claimed, not so easily held. For now, the specter of death looms over the world yet again and it has found new champions to bring about its final reign. Knights of darkness, wielding runes of death and destruction, bound by the will of the Lich King. This is the hour of their ascension! This is the hour of your dark rebirth...

Death knights are the former champions of the Scourge. They fortify their bodies and drain life energy itself with the power of blood, sharpen their blades and strike powerfully with the power of frost, and raise the dead while striking with the unholy fervor granted by undeath. They are engines of destruction chosen by the Undead Scourge to serve the almighty will of the Lich King.

The playable death knights are the uniformly undead members of the Death Knights of Acherus, a regiment consisting of hundreds of death knights stationed at the necropolis Acherus: The Ebon Hold under the direct command of the Lich King and Highlord Darion Mograine. These death knights were set loose upon the Scarlet Enclave, culminating in the flight of the newly-formed Scarlet Onslaught to Northrend, and the subsequent massacre in which the death knights decimated Scarlet reinforcements. After this, the Death Knights of Acherus were sent to Light's Hope Chapel to destroy the Argent Dawn.

During the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, the Lich King, in betrayal of his death knights, was willing to sacrifice them to kill Highlord Tirion Fordring. However, when Tirion emerged to defend Light's Hope Chapel, along with the paladins of the Silver Hand and the Argent Dawn, he unleashed his holy fury against the invading armies of undead. The Light overwhelmed the might of the Scourge, immediately killing all the undead forces in the immediate area, while Darion Mograine and his death knights knew defeat.

The freed death knights took Acherus from the Scourge and formed the Knights of the Ebon Blade under the command of Highlord Mograine. The Ebon Blade sent many of its freed death knights to their respective factions – Alliance or Horde. The Knights of the Ebon Blade would later become a major factor in the death of the Lich King Arthas Menethil, joining the Argent Crusade to form the Ashen Verdict. They also played a considerable role in defeating the Legion during their invasion several years later, moving Acherus to the Broken Isles and accepting the leadership of Bolvar Fordragon, the new Lich King, in exchange for his assistance in holding back the Scourge and helping them in their efforts against the Legion.

Death knights of formerly Alliance races could potentially make individual cases in order to join the Forsaken under Sylvanas Windrunner. For example, if a worgen death knight proved his loyalty beyond a doubt, he may be allowed to serve under Sylvanas. However, this is considered extremely uncommon, and no known undead worgen character has yet to join the Horde in the lore.

Undeath as a knight

A female, human Death Knight of Acherus.

Psychologically

• After being raised by the Lich King and regardless of their past life, almost all death knights embraced the honor of their new status. However, there were the rare few that were reanimated and retained emotion and memory, and in some cases, fear. These "unworthy initiates" to the dark brotherhood were then disposed of, fed "alive" to ravenous ghouls. Death knights afflicted by the worgen curse had their feral instincts shattered in favor of the Lich King's will. This held true even after their freedom from the Lich King.
• All death knights are inflicted with an "addiction" of sorts, referred to as the "eternal hunger" by Highlord Darion Mograine and as the "endless hunger" by the dread Instructor Razuvious. A death knight will feel immeasurable pain and agony if it is not inflicting suffering and/or death on a regular basis. The pain is so great that failure to sate the hunger could result in the death knight becoming lost in a blood-seeking, murderous frenzy. After sating the hunger soon upon creation, a death knight is then instructed to duel other death knights in a ritual known as Death's Challenge, which was born from the Lich King's victory over Illidan Stormrage in the frozen wastes. The hunger even overrides magic dependency.
• Despite their previously evil and currently somewhat amoral natures, some death knights remained true to a code of honor even during their service to the Scourge — or, at least, to a semblance of order and discipline. For example, the human Thassarian and the blood elf Koltira Deathweaver shared a close friendship that other death knights such as Orbaz Bloodbane looked down upon. The fallen paladin Sir Zeliek was unique in the fact that, while his body was forced to obey the Scourge's commands, he had managed to retain his sanity and morals despite his corruption.

The death knights are tormented by the shades from the Realm of Shadows.

• Without the protection of the Lich King, shades from the Realm of Shadows constantly torment death knights that were liberated from his service. Death knights can feel positive emotions for a brief time and rarely. Bad emotions like remorse and pity, they feel deeply.
• Despite all the psychological conditioning and trauma they went through, some knights are able to act mostly like they were before their death, and a considerable number seemed to have rejoined the ranks of Alliance and the Horde militaries after their liberation from Acherus. This includes Thassarian, who served among the Alliance and saved his own sister Leryssa even as a death knight, and later affirmed a mutual respect between Koltira Deathweaver despite their opposing political loyalties.
• Some death knights of the Ebon Blade, along with members of the Argent Crusade, are watching Sylvanas and the Forsaken very closely, as similarities between her and the Lich King increased after the Cataclysm, implying they do not necessarily approve of her tactics and policies.
• The new generation of the Four Horsemen is made entirely of souls which voluntarily agreed to be raised as death knights and serve the Lich King, Bolvar Fordragon, and despite initial doubts about Bolvar, they resolved to continue to serve him, after Sylvanas tore open the Veil between the living world and the Shadowlands.

Biologically

• Most death knights resemble their living selves, though pale and with an unholy light that illuminates their eyes. Others may lack the eye illumination and have tattoos decorating their faces. Death knights that were formerly human may look like Forsaken or even skeletons after some time, examples being Marduk Blackpool, the Black Knight and Lord Darkscythe.
• A thousand atrocities are etched in the eyes of every death knight, and foes who gaze into them too long will feel the warmth pulled from their bodies, replaced with cold steel.
• While in the Scourge, death knights are known to have eaten meals consisting primarily of humanoid meat, vermin, and insects. Death knights can enjoy alcohol and be affected by its inebriating effects, but they do not experience the same pleasure from alcohol as the living do, and the Scourge warned its members that "Alcohol is simply not the same".
• They are also capable of sleeping, though it is not necessary on a biological level and was forbidden by the Scourge.

Races

Main article: Death knight races

All races released can be death knights, and start with the following attributes:

			Strength	Stamina	Health
Alliance	Draenei		31	38	266
	Dwarf		31	37	259
	Gnome		26	35	245
	Human		29	36	252
	Night elf		27	36	252
	Worgen		31	36	252
	Void elf		30	40	320
	Lightforged		33	41	328
	Dark Iron		35	41	328
	Kul Tiran		34	42	336
	Mechagnome		31	39	312
Neutral	Pandaren		33	42	336
Horde	Blood elf		26	36	252
	Goblin		26	35	245
	Orc		32	37	259
	Tauren		31	40	280
	Troll		30	36	252
	Undead		31	37	259
	Nightborne		31	39	312
	Highmountain		34	42	336
	Mag'har		36	41	328
	Zandalari		34	40	320
	Vulpera		30	39	312

 ^† The attributes are reflected base on their starting level. Allied races and the pandaren start at level 10 while the core races start at level 8.

Racial abilities

In-game model of a dwarven death knight.

These are some of the racial traits relevant to death knights:

• Blood Elves — [Arcane Torrent] removes 1 beneficial effect from all enemies within 8 yards and restores 20 runic power. [Arcane Acuity] increases critical strike chance by 1%.
• Draenei — [Heroic Presence] increases your Strength, Agility, and Intellect by 65 (scales with level). Their [Gift of the Naaru] ability also grants them a heal over time.
• Dwarves — [Stoneform] can be useful for tanking, as well as dispelling harmful debuffs in PvP (Includes magic and curse since WoD but nerfed to only apply damage reduction to physical). Might of the Mountain (crit strike bonus damage and healing +2%).
• Gnomes — [Expansive Mind] increases runic power by 5%. Escape Artist: escape the effects of any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect. [Nimble Fingers] increases the gnome haste by 1%.
• Goblins — [Time is Money] increases the Death Knight's haste by 1%. [Rocket Barrage]'s damage is negligible and should not be used, as it puts the much more useful Rocket Jump on cooldown. [Rocket Jump] can be used to getaway in PvP, to avoid area of effect damage in raids, for closing gaps, and for making difficult jumps.
• Humans — [Will to Survive] acts as an extra trinket, removing snare effects.
• Night Elves — [Shadowmeld] provides the Death Knight with an aggro-dump; also allows the Death Knight to enter a stealth state (which breaks on movement). [Quickness] can improve a tanking Death Knight's avoidance. Touch of Elune: increases your Haste by 1% during the night and increases your Critical Strike by 1% during the day.
• Orcs — [Blood Fury] acts as an extra trinket (boosting your attack power). Hardiness: duration of Stun effects reduced by an additional 10%. Command: Damage dealt by pets increased by 1%, useful for Unholy Death Knights and those who use ghouls.
• Trolls — [Berserking] increases your haste by 15% for 10 sec. [Beast Slaying] increases experience gains from killing Beasts increased by 20%.
• Tauren — [War Stomp] causes a short area-of-effect stun around the Death Knight, useful for rough spots, as well as [Endurance], which increases your Stamina by 197 (scales with level). Brawn: increases your critical strike bonus damage by 2%.
• Undead — [Touch of the Grave] adds a small chance to self heal when causing damage. [Shadow Resistance] gives the Death Knight an extra resistance to Shadow damage. [Will of the Forsaken] acts as an extra trinket, removing charm, fear, and sleep effects. [Cannibalize] is a decent self heal over time in PvP that allows the Death Knight to restore health when a humanoid or undead corpse is nearby.
• Worgen — [Darkflight] acts as speed boost to escape danger or chase down an enemy. [Viciousness] increases the Death Knight's critical strike chance. [Aberration] increases resistance to Shadow and Nature damage slightly.

Notable death knights

See also: List of death knights

Old Horde death knights

Name	Role	Affiliation	Status	Location
Teron Gorefiend	First of the death knights	Illidari, Shadowmoon clan	Deceased-Killable	Various
Gaz Soulripper	Oversaw the reconstruction of the Azerothian Dark Portal after the Second War	Horde of Draenor, Shadow Council	Deceased	Unknown
Ragnok Bloodreaver	Attempted to enslave nether drakes on Draenor	Independent	Deceased	Hellfire Peninsula

Scourge death knights

Name	Role	Affiliation	Status	Location
Arthas Menethil	Former Lich King of the Scourge, former crown prince of Lordaeron	Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Various
Alexandros Mograine	Former Knight of the Silver Hand, former leader of the Four Horsemen, original wielder of the Ashbringer	Scourge	Deceased-Killable (Classic)	Various
Darion Mograine	Son of Alexandros Mograine, Highlord of the Knights of the Ebon Blade, formerly wielder of  [Corrupted Ashbringer]	Knights of the Ebon Blade, Ashen Verdict	Active	Various
Baron Rivendare	Leader of the Four Horsemen, former leader of the Scourge forces in Stratholme	Scourge	Killable	Various
Crok Scourgebane	Grand Champion of the Ebon Blade	Knights of the Ebon Blade	Active	Various
Dranosh Saurfang	Son of Varok Saurfang, commander of the Kor'kron Vanguard, killed and raised by the Lich King as Deathbringer Saurfang	Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Various
Falric	Right hand of Arthas Menethil, raised as a death knight by his master	Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Halls of Reflection
Gravewalker Gie	First known pandaren death knight	Horde	Active	Frostwall, Frostfire Ridge
Koltira Deathweaver	First death knight to re-join the Horde	Knights of the Ebon Blade, Undercity	Active	Various
Lady Tamakeen	First known Dark Iron dwarf death knight	Alliance	Active	Boralus
Lord Alexei Barov	Lord of House Barov	Scourge	Deceased-Killable (Classic)	Formerly Barov Family Vault, Scholomance
Marwyn	Captain of Arthas Menethil, raised as a death knight by his master	Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Halls of Reflection
Orbaz Bloodbane	The Hand of Suffering, commander of the Host of Suffering	Host of Suffering, Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Various
Thassarian	First death knight to re-join the Alliance	Knights of the Ebon Blade, Alliance, Valiance Expedition	Active	Various
Trag Highmountain	Ally of the taunka, raised into undeath by the Orb of Ner'zhul	The Taunka	Active	Various

Overview

Death knight as depicted in a teaser (very early concept).

Death knights in World of Warcraft are a new class mirroring their previous incarnations. While boasting powerful melee abilities, as well as plate armor, these warriors supplement their strength with dark magic. Calling upon a rune system of magic, the death knight may summon unholy, blood, and frost spells.

Unlocking your death knight

The death knight is the first hero class in World of Warcraft. The death knight will start at level 8 in Acherus: The Ebon Hold over the Eastern Plaguelands, with multiple spells and abilities ready to use, and a set of uncommon gear. Allied race and pandaren death knights start at level 10 in Icecrown Citadel instead. When you leave Ebon Hold, you will have a full set of rare gear ready for Outland or Northrend. Through the death knight-specific quests in this necropolis and the surrounding areas, the character learns to master the power of the death knight and learns to use this new power for the will of the Lich King. Quests will take them outside the necropolis and into an area within the Scarlet Enclave.

The term "hero class" is commonly misunderstood to mean that the class is more powerful than other classes. The term instead signifies a unique playstyle and experience, as well as denoting a class of heroes which start at an already "heroic" or "veteran" level, with an experience and gear to match.

As of patch 5.3.0, players are no longer restricted to creating a single death knight per realm. As of patch 6.1.0, the requirement to have an existing character at level 55 or higher before creating a death knight has also been lifted. All races introduced prior to World of Warcraft: Shadowlands can be death knights.

The rune system

Current rune system (rune color based on specialization).

The death knights use a unique rune-based resource system as a resource to govern their spells and abilities. Using certain abilities exhausts one or more runes, starting a cooldown of 10 seconds. Only two runes can recharge at once, regardless of how many have been used. In addition, whenever the death knight uses a rune ability, it builds up a certain amount of Runic Power (usually 10 Runic Power per Rune spent). All abilities that use Runic Power use a set amount (for example, Death Coil always uses 35).

Blood death knights primarily focus on building enough runic power to consistently self-heal through attacks. Frost death knights deal large amounts of damage through powerful strikes and use of runic power. Unholy death knights focus more on rune regeneration, fast-paced attacks, and the aid of undead minions.

The original player frame for death knights shown at BlizzCon was changed as feedback showed it was not ideal for displaying rune power for players.

[Runeforging] is a profession available only to death knights, providing permanent weapon enchants. The enchants work just like the permanent weapon enchants provided by Enchanting, but are self-only and are designed specifically to benefit the death knight class. These are independent of the rune resource system.

Character's role

In general, the death knight can be considered a hybrid melee class that combines damage dealing and tanking, somewhat akin to Warriors. They wear plate armor and are able to dual-wield or use two-handed weapons. Like druids, they tank without shields. Their tanking mechanics involve high armor and a high chance to dodge and parry. Death knight tanks depend on a combination of high damage abilities, in addition to high threat abilities, such as Death and Decay and [Rune Strike], to generate and hold aggro.

Specializations

"Blood" redirects here. For the comic issue, see Blood (comic).

For a list of specialization-specific abilities, see Death knight abilities#Specializations.

Blood

A dark guardian who manipulates and corrupts life energy to sustain <him/her>self in the face of an enemy onslaught.

Blood is the death knight tanking spec, primarily amplifying the death knight's melee spells, weapons, and abilities. Blood's primary abilities are [Marrowrend], which provides a stacking buff that reduces damage taken, and [Death Strike], which provides self-healing and a temporary damage absorption shield. While having less damage mitigation than other tanking classes, Blood has a prominent health-regeneration theme, allowing them to solo many encounters that would otherwise require a healer.

At level 10 or above, Blood death knights can wield  [Maw of the Damned] after completing the appropriate quest.

In undeath, some death knights find a special affinity for the blood and bone of the living. They carve into their enemies, sustaining themselves with deadly sanguine strikes, while using the bloody, shattered remains of the dead to fortify their own defenses. These crimson-soaked knights bend the very rules of mortality to control the frontlines of the battlefield.

Frost

An icy harbinger of doom, channeling runic power and delivering vicious weapon strikes.

Frost has many control elements, with a strong critical-strike/bonus-damage theme, and enhances the dual-weapon and two-weapon DPS abilities. It provides some very powerful direct damage abilities like [Frost Strike], [Obliterate], and [Howling Blast].

At level 10 or above, Frost death knights can wield the Blades of the Fallen Prince -  [Frostreaper] and  [Icebringer] - after completing the appropriate quest.

Combining martial prowess with supernatural cold, frost death knights leave their enemies chilled to the bone—and broken of the will to fight. Unlike mages who learn to harness frost magic to great effect, these death knights are born of it, rime gripping their decaying hearts. These frozen undead warriors wield dual blades to strike with ferocity and inflict deathly cold upon anyone who would stand against them.

Unholy

A master of death and decay, spreading infection and controlling undead minions to do <his/her> bidding.

Unholy has a heavy focus on diseases and related abilities, with AoE, spell damage shielding, and mobility-improvement sub-themes. It enhances the death knight's diseases and damage over time spells, as well as improving summoned minions. It also provides the death knight with a ghoul, who is a permanent pet, and a gargoyle guardian he or she can summon.

At level 10 or above, Unholy death knights can wield  [Apocalypse] after completing the appropriate quest.

While free from the Lich King's grasp, some death knights still embody the ever-corrupting nature of the Scourge plague that once threatened to consume Azeroth. No matter their allegiance or cause, they remain defilers of life; and nowhere is their callousness more on display than when threatened. Inflictors of the most aggressive of diseases—and masters of raising unhallowed minions from the ground—these unholy death knights are vicious melee combatants, capable of striking with the force of an undead legion and unleashing pestilence that would bring their foes to ruin.

Gear

See also: Death knight sets

Death knights can wear any type of armor (though they specialize in Plate) from the moment of creation and begin with a full set of Uncommon-quality plate armor. They can wield any type of sword, mace, axe, or polearm and can dual-wield one-handed swords, maces, or axes. Death knights have their own, unique enchantments acquired by [Runeforging], and also have three unique mounts: the [Acherus Deathcharger], the purchasable  [Winged Steed of the Ebon Blade], and the quest reward [Deathlord's Vilebrood Vanquisher].

Death knights rely on enchanted rune weapons to use their abilities and are powerful foes on the battlefield. Like warriors, they deal large amounts of physical damage and are capable of withstanding large amounts of damage to protect their allies. Death knights spread infections and diseases among their enemies, and use dark magics to heal themselves in battle. Born of the frozen north, death knights can command the frost in their veins to freeze the hearts and minds of their enemies, or even turn the ground beneath their feet to ice. They also have a number of abilities for defending against magic.

Runeforging

Main article: Runeforging

The Runeforge is a Scourge instrument that creates runeblades.

[Runeforging] allows the death knight to permanently enchant their weapon. These enchants act as a replacement for the stat enhancements provided by shields or ranged weapons, which death knights cannot wear.

A weapon can have an enchant from either runeforging or from Enchanting, but not both together (the runeforging enchants are usually considered better). A player will have to be near a Runeforge in order to forge a rune onto their weapon. Once a weapon has been engraved with a rune, it is impossible for the rune to be removed, though it can be exchanged for a different rune. Like all weapons that have been modified, a runeforged weapon becomes soulbound to its death knight.

Runeforging

Rune	Level
[Rune of Razorice]	8
[Rune of the Fallen Crusader]	8
[Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle]	8
[Rune of Unending Thirst]	20
[Rune of Sanguination]	32
[Rune of the Apocalypse]	44
[Rune of Hysteria]	46
[Rune of Spellwarding]	48

In the RPG

Death Knight prestige class icon.

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Death knights are afflicted by what is called the "Alabaster Skin": as they progress in power, the death knight's skin hardens and grows pale, resembling marble or alabaster. Their hair also develops streaks of white, and some death knights' hair goes completely white as they progress in power.

Trivia

• Before the allied race death knights were made available, Lady Tamakeen and Charg "The Boisterous" had been introduced as death knights.
• The  [25-30] In Service of the Illidari quest mentions that Teron Gorefiend might have been creating new first-generation death knights while a member of the Illidari.
• In the Warcraft III alpha, death knights were rather different, having the same model the Revenants would eventually get. Their description was as such: "The nefarious Death Knights were created by Gul'dan during the Second War using the corpses of slaughtered Human Knights and the malicious spirits of the dead Orc Warlocks. Death Knights replaced the Warlocks as the Horde's magic-users, but their insubordination and apathy for the Orcish cause led them to be widely mistrusted. The Death Knights, along with their master, Ner'zhul, were captured by the Legion after the war on Draenor concluded. When the Legion remade Ner'zhul into the Lich King, the Death Knights refused to give him homage. As punishment for their insubordination, they were stripped of most of their power and bound to Ner'zhul's iron will. Now the mystical Death Knights serve as some of the mightiest warriors of the Scourge." Since the death knights of the Third War were then supposed to be the same as those of the Second War, the description of the Lich also reflected that by saying Liches were former warlocks and shamans instead of warlocks and death knights. Before the revamp, the modern-style death knights were then a separate unit called the "Anti-Paladin". Even after being changed to their current style, the death knights were originally riding spectral mounts called Nightmares that looked like clouds of mist instead of skeletal horses.
• The original concept for making a death knight was for the player to sacrifice a pre-existing high-level character in order to create the death knight. The quest  [80] Kanrethad's Quest is a remnant of that old quest chain.
• Even before their formal introduction as a playable class in Wrath of the Lich King, several death knight NPCs and mobs already existed, with different gear and customization than those playable now. Examples of such old-school death knights are Marduk Blackpool, Lord Alexei Barov, and the many enemies of the death knight wing from the original Naxxramas. Some of these death knight used shields, notably the Death Knight Understudies. Also do note that some of them have been updated since, but pictures of their older appearances are still archived on their respective pages.
• The death knight starting experience was intended to show that a single knight was a merciless nigh-unstoppable force of nature.
• The runeblade is considered an extension of the death knight's being. It is through the runeblade that a death knight commands the powers of frost, blood and the unholy. Instructor Razuvious states that a death knight cannot battle without a runeblade, while according to Lady Blaumeux a death knight without a runeblade is weak and powerless.
• Both the Dark Riders and the newest incarnation of Attumen the Huntsman look like death knights, having possibly been cursed by Medivh.
• First generation death knights are voiced by Brian Silva.
• Second generation death knights male orcs are voiced by Danilo Di Julio. One of the male death knight voices are done by Rena Durham and one of the female death knight voices are done by Lani Minella.
• In Warcraft III, almost all the random Death Knight hero units had a title of nobility, starting with Arthas Menethil himself. As a nod to this, in World of Warcraft death knight mobs and NPCs are among the most numerous to have titles of nobility.

Gallery

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  NPC model used for Baron Rivendare.

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  Lady Blaumeux model.

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  Thane Korthazz model.

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  Sir Zeliek model.

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  Death Knight Understudies are death knights with shields.

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  Lady Alistra uses a dark ranger skin

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  Troll Disciple of the Unholy use the mummy skin, while the tauren and dwarf don't have the undead skin tone.

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  Death knights versus paladins in the Second War in WoW: Chronicle Volume 2.

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  Alternate version of the art.

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  A death knight of the Second War in WoW: Chronicle Volume 2.

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  Wrath of the Lich King Classic key art.

Wrath of the Lich King artwork

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  Death knight artwork

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  Death knight sketch

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  Blood elf

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  Draenei

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  Dwarf

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  Gnome

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  Gnome

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  Gnome

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  Human

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  Human

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  Human

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  Human

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  Night elf

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  Orc

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  Tauren

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  Troll

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  Undead

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  Death knight shields

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  Death knight gothic armor

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  Death knight armor

Warcraft III

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  Death Knight hero unit model.

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  Concept art.

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  The "Death Knight" model during development that would be given to revenants.

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  The "Death Knight" concept art in early development.

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  Female Death Knight Classic Model.

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  Female Death Knight Skin.

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  Female Death Knight Icon.

Warcraft II

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  Death Knight unit spite.

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  Death Knight unit portrait.

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  Death Knight art from the manual.

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  Art from the manual of a Death Knight with skeletons.

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  Art from the manual of a Death Knight casting Death and Decay.

TCG

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  Krog the Deathfist, an orc death knight.

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  Asoren Darksnout, a tauren death knight.

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  A worgen death knight versus a forsaken spellcaster.

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  Jarrod Gravon, another worgen death knight.

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  Ahkara, a draenei death knight.

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  Skaala of the Somber Watch, a draenei death knight.

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  Brumdor Dreadforge, a dwarf death knight.

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  Shanis Bladefall, a night elf death knight.

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  A blood elf death knight.

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  Elderguard Brennan, a forsaken death knight.

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  Requite card, with a draenei death knight.

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  Zog, Herald of Death, an ogre death knight.

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  Krunkle Deathspark

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  Dwarf Aric Stonejack

Hearthstone

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  Knights of the Frozen Throne has normal heroes transform into terrifying Death Knights!

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  Bloodreaver Gul'dan

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  Deathstalker Rexxar

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  Frost Lich Jaina

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  Malfurion the Pestilent

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  Scourgelord Garrosh

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  Shadowreaper Anduin

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  Thrall, Deathseer

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  Uther of the Ebon Blade

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  Valeera the Hollow

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  Darion Mograine

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  Deathbringer Saurfang

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  Deathlord Nazgrim

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  Inquisitor Whitemane

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  Rivendare, Warrider

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  Thassarian

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  Thoras Trollbane

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  Aranna the Runeseeker

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  Deathkeeper Alleria

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  Fallen Yrel

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  Hamuul Runeblade

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  Runemage Khadgar

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  Sai Shadestorm

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  Scarlet Leafdancer

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  Ghoul Queen Scarlet

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  Scourgeslayer Vashj

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  Acherus Veteran

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  Arrogant Crusader

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  Blackguard

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  Boneguard Commander

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  Corpsetaker

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  Deadscale Knight

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  Deathwarden

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  Harbinger of Winter

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  Howling Commander

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  Marrow Manipulator

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  Unrelenting Trainee

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  Blood Boil

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  Death Strike

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  Plague Strike

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  Runeforging

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  Art from the Curse of Naxxramas cinematic, based on the Requite TCG card.

Other

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  Death knight from Warcraft Adventures pre-release material.

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  Death knight in a Temple of the Damned in Warcraft Adventures.

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  Death knight art in RPG books Alliance & Horde Compendium and Dark Factions.

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  Art for World of Warcraft Miniatures Game product Souls of Vengeance.

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  Unique Starcraft II editor remodeled asset from Warcraft III.

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  Sonya Death Knight skin in Heroes of the Storm.

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  Sonya Deathbringer skin in Heroes of the Storm.

Fan arts

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Videos

• Death Knight opening cinematic since ''Wrath of the Lich King'
• Death Knights Wrath of the Lich King Classic

Patch changes

• Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Core race death knights now start at level 8 (was 55). Pandaren and allied race death knights now start at level 10 (was 58).
  
• Patch 8.3.0 (2020-01-14): Pandaren and allied race options for the class by pre-purchasing World of Warcraft: Shadowlands and start at a new starting zone in Icecrown at level 58.
  
• Patch 6.1.0 (2015-02-24): The requirement to have a character that's level 55 or higher to unlock the death knight as a playable class has been removed.
  
• Patch 5.3.0 (2013-05-21): The restriction limiting players to one death knight character per realm has been lifted.
  
• Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Relics have been removed from the game.
  
• Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12):
  • Blood is now a dedicated tanking spec; Frost and Unholy are now dedicated DPS.
  • The way in which runes recharge has changed. Rather than each rune type (Blood, Frost, Unholy) regenerating simultaneously, they now fill sequentially.
    
• Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): All multi-rune abilities generate 15 runic power.
  
• Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Added.
  

See also

• Death knight organizations
• List of death knights

External links

World of Warcraft Official Game Guide - Death Knight

World of Warcraft Community Site Death knight forums (US)

World of Warcraft Europe Death knight forums (EU)

Icy Veins Blood, Frost, and Unholy Death Knight Raiding Guides (Mists of Pandaria)

Elitist Jerks the dominant theorycraft sites' DK forums.