by Kane Casburn

Created on: November 18, 2008   Last Updated: January 23, 2011

World of Warcraft's new expansion set; Wrath of the Lich King; has brought into it's world the new character class of Death Knight.

This class starts off at level 55 and requires you to have a character of at least level 55 on the same server already. You are also only allowed one of this class. So if you wish to create another one you will have to delete the old character first.

As a Death Knight you start off as a minion of the Lich King
Arthas and will carry out a quest chain focused on doing his bidding. The starting areas are exciting and very much fun for existing players due to its changing scenery as the quest chain continues and the involvement of the new siege weapons as well. Whilst the Death Knight starts with the First Aid skill at 270, medium blue quality gear and the ability to gain a fast mount quickly in the starting area, you will be required to start all other professions from 0 and will need to level through the Outlands before heading to Northrend.

All of a Death Knights abilities work from Runes, of which the Death Knight has two of each Blood , Frost and Unholy. These runes are like the Death Knight's mana whereas their abilities and spells cost specific amounts of runes which refresh over a short period of time. Death Knights also use a bar called Runic Power which is very akin to a Warriors Rage bar where each strike the Death Knight does generates Runic Power which then can be used for spells such as Death Coil; a ranged damaging spell which can also heal undead.

Runeforging is another staple of a Death Knight's existence, allowing the Death Knight to put Enchant-like effects onto their weapons on a permanent basis. these can include effects which lengthen or increase diseases or give Spell-reflect. This however can only be down in the Death Knight's starting hub of the Ebon Blade.

Death Knights focus on 3 talent trees; Blood, Frost and Unholy. Each of the Death Knights abilities work around causing diseases or other harmful affects to their opponents. Diseases such as frost fever and blood plague deal damage over time which also have the chance of being spread to other targets through talents or an ability called Pestilence. Strikes also make an appearance in the Death Knight's repertoire with each talent tree having their own version of a strike that usually benefits from having multiple diseases on the target such as Death Strike which heals the Death Knight for a proportion of the damage already dome by the diseases upon hit. With the ability to raise your own Ghoul as a short term minion or more permanent pet (through talents) the Death Knight is an excellent addition to the Classes in the game.

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