"An icy harbinger of doom, channeling runic power and delivering vicious weapon strikes."
I had fun with my Unholy Death Knight "Necromancer" concept so I wanted to try my hand at Frost Death Knights. I realize this won't be everyone's cup of tea as I decided to design up the Frost specialization specifically to my own likes and wants and hopes. I'm also open to ideas and criticisms
The core concept of my Frost Death Knight concept is to utilize Frost Fever and Runic Power to further amplify our attack(s). All of our base attacks will receive bonus damage if the target is already afflicted with Frost Fever and Obliterate can actively benefit from Runic Power
but it "consumes" Frost Fever so it would need to be reapplied. Annihilation adds a unique decision making dynamic and other changes push viable variations of play styles i.e. Frost Fever focus or Obliterate/Runes focus or Runic Power focus or a combination.
- Frost Death Knights can use either a 2-Handed weapon or x2 1-Handed weapons. Blizzard has already normalized everything weapon related and, as far as I can tell, it's only Killing Machine that doesn't have a normalized PPM. I expect they may be able to switch it (modeling it like what they did for Runic Attenuation). Everything else being equal, the difference between a 2-Handed weapon with a 3.6% weapon speed and x2 1-Handed weapons with a 2.6% weapon speed is 27.8% in more auto-attack damage for the x2 1-Handed weapons over a 46.8 sec. period. This equates to 33.9% more damage every 60 sec. Thus reduce dual wield auto-attack damage by approx. 13% damage per swing (or auto-attack per weapon as it's the same thing) and now we have an equalized weapon speed between the weapon types. Runeforging can also be a non-issue... see below.
Annihilation -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
30 sec cooldown / Instant
Your next Obliterate critical strike is empowered by your available Runic Power to deal up to an additional 100% critical strike damage. Runic Power is not consumed.
Death's Advance -
Cooldown reduced
30 sec cooldown / Instant
For 5 sec, your movement speed is increased by 30%, you cannot be slowed below 100% of normal speed, and you are immune to forced movement effects and knockbacks. Passive: You cannot be slowed below 70% of normal speed.
Frost Strike -
Tuning
25 Runic Power / Instant / Melee range
Chill your weapon(s) with icy power, and quickly strike the enemy instantly dealing (55% of Attack Power) as Frost damage. Total damage increased 10% if Frost Fever is on the target.
Horn of Winter -
*** NEW ***
2 min cooldown / Instant / 100 yd range
Blow the Horn of Winter, increasing versatility of all party and raid members within 100 yards by 10% for 10 sec.
Howling Blast -
Tuning - - - Updated - - -
1 Rune / Instant / 30 yd range
Blast the target with a frigid wind, dealing (14% of Attack Power) Frost damage to that foe, and (7% of Attack power) Frost damage to all other enemies within 10 yards, infecting all targets with Frost Fever.
Frost Fever -
Tuning
Instant / Unlimited range
A disease that deals (80% of Attack power [20% of Attack Power every 3 sec.]) Frost damage over 12 sec and grants the Death Knight 5 Runic Power each time it deals damage.
Obliterate -
Tuning + modified mechanics - - - Updated - - -
2 Runes / Instant / Melee range
A brutal instant attack that deals (100% of Attack Power) Physical damage and (25% of Attack Power) Frost damage. Frost damage increased 25% if Frost Fever is on the target, but consumes the disease.
Pillar of Frost -
Tuning
1 min cooldown / Instant
The power of frost increases your Strength by (10% + (Mastery % / 6)) for 15 sec. Each Rune spent while active increases your Strength by an additional 1%.
Raise Dead -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
3 min cooldown / Instant / Melee range
Raises a Ghoul to fight by your side for 1 min. If no humanoid corpse that yields experience or honor is available, you must supply Corpse Dust to complete the spell. You can have a maximum of one Ghoul at a time.
Remorseless Winter -
Tuning
1 Rune / 20 sec cooldown / Instant
Drain the warmth of life from all nearby enemies within 8 yards, dealing (44% of Attack Power [5.5% of Attack Power every 1 sec]) Frost damage over 8 sec and reducing their movement speed by 20%. Total damage increased 10% if Frost Fever is on the target.
Soul Reaper -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
1 Rune / 6 sec cooldown
Strikes an enemy for (50% of Attack Power) and afflicts the target with Soul Reaper.
After 5 sec. If the target is below 35% Health, this effect will deal (100% of Attack Power) additional
Shadowfrost Damage. If the enemy dies before the effect is triggered, the Death Knight
gains 50% Haste for 5 seconds.
Wraith Walk -
Icon Change
1 min cooldown / 4 sec cast (channeled) / Instant
Sidestep into the shadowlands, removing all root effects and increasing your movement speed by 70% for 4 sec. Taking any action cancels the effect. While active, your movement speed cannot be reduced below 170%.
Dark Succor -
Combined Dark Succor + Death Strike (Rank 2)
Passive
When you kill an enemy that yields experience or honor, your next Death Strike within 20 sec is free and heals for an additional 10% of maximum health. Death Strike's cost is reduced by 10, and its healing is increased by 60%.
Mastery: Hypothermia -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
Passive
Each time Frost Fever deals damage, it has a (Mastery %) chance to erupt Frost Strike (and FrostScythe) has a (Mastery %) chance to cause Frost Fever to erupt, dealing (20% of Attack Power) Frost damage to the target(s). Also increases the damage of your Frost abilities by (Mastery %).
Rime -
Removed Frostscythe and added Icy Touch
Passive
Obliterate has a 45% chance to cause your next Howling Blast (Icy Touch) to consume no runes and deal 300% additional damage.
Inexorable Assault -
Icon change & Frostscythe no longer benefits
Passive
Gain Inexorable Assault every 8 sec, stacking up to 5 times. Obliterate consumes a stack to deal an additional (20% of Attack Power) Frost damage.
Cold Heart -
Icon change
Passive
Every 2 sec, gain a stack of Cold Heart, causing your next Chains of Ice to deal (10% of Attack Power) Frost damage. Stacks up to 20 times.
Murderous Efficiency -
Icon change
Passive
Consuming the Killing Machine effect has a 50% chance to grant you 1 Rune.
Hungering Rune Weapon -
*** NEW ***
1 min cooldown / Instant
Replaces Empower Rune Weapon. Empower your rune weapon, immediately activating all your runes and generating 25 Runic Power.
Deathchill -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
Passive
Reduces the cooldown of Mind Freeze by 3 sec. Mind Freeze now instantly deals (10% of Attack Power) Frost Damage. Generates 30 Runic Power on a successful interrupt.
Glacier Rot -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
Passive
Frost Fever also infects the target with Glacier Rot, which increases Frost Fever damage taken by 10% and all other Death Knight magic damage taken by an additional 8%.
Sindragosa's Fury -
*** NEW ***
Passive
Increases damage dealt by Howling Blast (Icy Touch) to all targets by 100%.
Howling Blast - Combined Howling Blast + revised Sindragosa's Fury - - - Updated - - -
1 Rune / Instant / 30 yd range
Replaces Icy Touch. Blast the target with a frigid wind, dealing (28% of Attack Power) Frost damage to that foe, and (14% of Attack power) Frost damage to all other enemies within 10 yards, infecting all targets with Frost Fever.
Icy Citadel -
Modified Azerite ability
Passive
When Pillar of Frost expires, your Strength is increased by (Mastery % / 6) for 6 sec. This effect lasts 2 sec longer for each Obliterate critical strike during Pillar of Frost.
Volatile Shielding -
*** NEW ***
Passive
Your Anti-Magic Shell absorbs 35% more damage, and generates 100% additional Runic Power.
Frigid Dreadplate -
Combined Improved Icebound Fortitude + Ice in Your Veins - - - Updated - - -
Passive
Reduces the cooldown of Icebound Fortitude by 1 min, and increases its damage reduction effect by 15%. Death Strike heals for 100% more while Icebound Fortitude is active.
Lichborne - Combined & modified Icebound Fortitude + Lichborne + Ice in Your Veins
4 min cooldown / Instant
Replaces Icebound Fortitude. Draw upon unholy energy to become undead for 10 sec. While undead, all damage is reduced by 40% and you are nearly unstoppable becoming immune to Stun, Snare, Fear and Root effects. Death Strike heals for 100% more while Lichborne is active. Passive: Reduces the duration of Silence effects by 25%.
Frostscythe -
Icon Change
25 Runic Power / Instant / Melee range
A sweeping attack that strikes all enemies in front of you for (40% of Attack power) Frost damage. Total damage increased 10% if Frost Fever is on the target.
Icecap -
Icon change & tuning
Passive
Your critical strikes reduce the remaining cooldown of Pillar of Frost by 2 sec.
Obliteration -
Frostscythe addition
Passive
While Pillar of Frost is active, Frost Strike, (Frostscythe), and Howling Blast (Icy Touch) always grant Killing Machine and have a 30% chance to generate a Rune.
Deathlord's Wrath -
*** NEW *** - - - Updated - - -
Passive / 1.5 PPM
Your attacks have Obliterate has a (35%) chance to awaken the powers of Northrend, temporarily empowering you and increasing your combat capabilities for 10 sec. Your Speed, Avoidance, and Leech are increased by 10% and your Critical Strike, Haste, Mastery, or Versatility is increased by 20%.
I feel that the Frost PvP talents are meh overall because we really only have a few viable choices. Reworking the spec has allowed me to try to re-envision the PvP talents to allow for more balanced and hopefully fun choices. I personally feel that
ALL PvP talents for
ALL Classes should provide options
ONLY applicable to defense/utility, slows/stuns, etc. and heals; PvP talents should not affect damage in any capacity. Unfortunately that would mean I would need to consider or rework every Class PvP talents and abilities to make any sense of my Frost envisioning. No thanks
Frozen Grip -
Frost variation of Walking Dead
Passive
Your Death Grip also chills the target and causes them to be unable to move faster than normal movement speed for 8 sec.
Death's Reach -
Available to Frost
Passive
Increases the range of Death Grip by 10 yds. Killing an enemy that yields experience or honor resets the cooldown of Death Grip.
Unholy Command -
Available to Frost
Passive
Your Death Grip has two charges.
Icy Touch -
*** NEW ***
1 Rune / Instant / 30 yrd range
Chills the target for (14% of Attack power) Frost damage, infecting them with Frost Fever, and instantly removes one helpful Magic effect from that foe.
Hungering Cold -
*** NEW ***
40 Runic Power / Instant / 1 min cooldown
Purges the earth around the Death Knight of all heat. Enemies within 10 yards are trapped in ice, preventing them from performing any action for 10 sec and infecting them with Frost Fever. Enemies are considered Frozen, but any damage other than diseases will break the ice.