So I've started playing WoW again, and the only way I've been able to make leveling up enjoyable for the umpteenth time is relentless ganking of my fellow men who had the lack of wisdom to pick horde.

However I'm coming across this new animal, Death Knights, and I'm not sure exactly what to do with them. Could you guys give me some pointers? What are the effective ways a Rogue can deal with you guys?

With blood spec, it seems the typical stunlock/get out of combat/restun/kill routine doesn't cut it, even with wounding poison. And Unholy's ghoul pets make that problematic as well.

So, got any advice?

Serrenia(however its spelled) on World of Ming did an article about this about 3 weeks ago, as to killin DKs, just know that we have CD's but also that between 55-75 we are pretty much unstoppable.

Le friggen sigh.

Well I guess it's not much different than not even attempting to glance at a warlock before Cloak of Skill.

Thanks.

Well one more question: What @ level 75 makes you guys manageable?

Thats just a round about number LOL, a well played DK is gonna own most people, its just a matter of learning what CDs we use etc..

So you're of the argument that 'DKs are OP'?

Well can I get a dissenting opinion? I'd like to believe I'll still be able to do what the Rogue was made for: Gank.

No I'm not of that opinion, just like a well played rogue in Vanilla and TBC could kill almost everyone, just like a well played Frost Mage etc...basically DKs are still very new to the WoW environment and folks are learning what they can and can't do, this alone makes them very powerful, but certainly not unstoppable.

Roll a mage. On my 71 (alt) Mage I blow up DKs like they are no tomorrow. Maybe because I know what CDs are going to be used next and what to look out for. But besides that expend their CDs and kite the %@!@ out of em.

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Q u o t e:
No I'm not of that opinion, just like a well played rogue in Vanilla and TBC could kill almost everyone, just like a well played Frost Mage etc...basically DKs are still very new to the WoW environment and folks are learning what they can and can't do, this alone makes them very powerful, but certainly not unstoppable.

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This many months after the release, I think that argument starts losing value.

Seriously though, you don't think that after the PvP season has started, that people haven't had time to 'figure out' DKs by now?

That's what I'm here for. To get the 'hey we figured out DKs, because the argument that they were new and an unknown factor was completely legitimate.'

However if that is still being employed this long after the launch, I'd say it's not a great argument.

When a rogue wastes as 5 point stun on me while IBF is up...I /facepalm.
When a rogue does not dismantle me...I facepalm.
When a rogue blows COS and evasion at the same time...facepalm.
When a rogue just stands there in front of me...facepalm.
Basically if a rogue has no clue because they have had easymode for far to long to learn their class...facepalm.

Duly noted.

And yes, Dismantle before an evasion after a stunlock seems to help alot, but blood spec DKs seem to be able to heal up in short order anyways.

So beyond looking for Icebound Fortitude before hitting my 5pt Cheapshot, and saving my Cloak of Skill for getting critical debuffs off, what else do you suggest?

I'll tell you that mutilate rogues are the only ones that give me trouble. No matter my armor/health, when they stun me (Get the jump mind you) and start spamming mutilate, they seem to crit about 85% of the time and it does roughly 1k-1.5k per Mutilate, mixed with an Evis for about 2.5-3.5k.

Other rogues, I haven't noticed as much DK Stopping power.

Okay onto another question...

What are the nuanced behaviors/practices that you DKs find infuriating? The sort of things that are done to completely undermine your position in PvP?

In this case, by Rogues.

Here is some great advice to help you from dying against a deathknight... Stay stealth and stay at a distance. If they are close to you SAP/Sprint and gtfo of the zone.

I laughed hard the first time a rogue tried to gank me, At first I was like oh #*@% a rogue (I was a mage) then I look at my health dropping and it was like I was getting staffd by a priest only 50x's faster so I just put mark of blood on him and after he put me back at 100% I killed him in 4-5 hits.

So my best advice, have fun ganking everything else beware of the deathknights....

blind ftw.

How to fight DK as rogue

Step #1 don't engage them 1v1 its not very smart
Step #2 if you must engage them 1v1 and they are pvp UH (21/0/50) you are more than likely goign to lose as they pretty much counter class rogues pretty hard.

Step #3 Watch for mark of blood adn vanish dont hit them you will only heal them
Step #4 dismantle makes us use our nukes which still hurt but not as bad as those big scourge strikes.
Step #5 You must blow wevery CD you have to have a chance hope you have prep up you gonna need it.
Step #6 Don't fight them in their face... TRY to get around them to avoid parry... if they parry ro dodge you are going to eat a rune strike... which will very much crit you for 8k+ when they are geared.

Things to know:

CoS wipes all DoTs on you. It does not stop me from Plauge Striking you again because that is a melee strike and not a magic effect. CoS -> vanish at range only, otherwise you've wasted your ONLY getaway.

A disarmed Death Knight can still use IT, HB, DC, his pet, IBF, Bone Armor/other spec cooldowns, AMS, AMZ, Army of the Dead, etc. It is still a huge pain in the ass to be dismantled as a Death Knight, however don't think that it'll save your ass if you're low on health.

Likewise, Evasion will not save you from IT, HB or DC. Evasion will also make you vulnerable to being Rune Striked, which will hurt.

Frost DKs have access to Frost Strike, which ALSO goes through Evasion. It also hits like a damn freight train with a Frost spec.

Don't waste your stuns on IBF. Feel free to gouge him and waste IBF uptime though, since it (stupidly) doesn't affect that.




I haven't really told you how to kill a DK, but I've told you what to expect your tools to do.

Thank you very much everyone, this has been incredibly informative. If anyone has anything else to add, please by all means do so, it's still welcome.

I look forward to spirited attempts to gank you all soon.