Death knight abilities
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| Starting a | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Tactics | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Class races | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Quests | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Abilities | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Trainers | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Armor sets | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
| Useful macros | DK | Dr | Hu | Ma | Mo | Pa | Pr | Ro | Sh | Wl | Wr |
Death knight abilities are abilities used by death knights. Most abilities are shared between all specializations, while some are only specific to one (or two) specializations.
Death knight abilities use either runes (as part of the rune system) or runic power and are divided into the trees of Frost, Blood and Unholy.
Class
All death knights automatically learn the following spells at the specified level, regardless of specialization.
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Ability Level 
[Blood Plague]55 
[Blood Strike]55 
[Death Coil]55 
[Death Grip]55 
[Frost Fever]55 
[Frost Presence]55 
[Icy Touch]55 
[Plague Strike]55 
[Death Gate]55 
[Runeforging]55 
[Plate Specialization]55 -
Ability Level 
[Blood Boil]56 
[Death Strike]56 
[Pestilence]56 
[Raise Dead]56 
[Blood Presence]57 
[Mind Freeze]57 
[Chains of Ice]58 
[Strangulate]58 
[Death and Decay]60 
[On a Pale Horse]61 
[Icebound Fortitude]62 -
Ability Level 
[Horn of Winter]65 
[Path of Frost]66 
[Anti-Magic Shell]68 
[Control Undead]69 
[Unholy Presence]70 
[Raise Ally]72 
[Empower Rune Weapon]76 
[Army of the Dead]80 
[Outbreak]81 
[Necrotic Strike]83 
[Dark Simulacrum]85 
[Soul Reaper]87
Specializations
- "Blood" redirects here. For the comic issue, see Blood (comic).
The three death knight specializations are Blood (tanking), Frost (melee DPS) and Unholy (melee DPS).
For an exploration of each death knight specialization, see Death knight specializations.
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Blood Ability Level 
[Blood Rites]55 
[Vengeance]55 
[Veteran of the Third War]55 
[Dark Command]58 
[Heart Strike]60 
[Scent of Blood]62 [Improved Blood Presence]64 
[Rune Tap]64 
[Rune Strike]65 
[Blood Parasite]66 
[Scarlet Fever]68 
[Will of the Necropolis]70 
[Sanguine Fortitude]72 
[Dancing Rune Weapon]74 
[Vampiric Blood]76 
[Bone Shield]78 Mastery: [Blood Shield]80 -
Frost Ability Level 
[Blood of the North]55 
[Frost Strike]55 
[Howling Blast]55 
[Icy Talons]55 
[Obliterate]58 
[Unholy Aura]60 
[Killing Machine]63 [Improved Frost Presence]65 
[Brittle Bones]66 
[Pillar of Frost]68 
[Rime]70 
[Might of the Frozen Wastes]74 
[Threat of Thassarian]74 Mastery: 
[Frozen Heart]80 -
Unholy Ability Level [Master of Ghouls]55 
[Reaping]55 
[Unholy Might]55 
[Scourge Strike]58 
[Shadow Infusion]60 [Unholy Aura]60 
[Festering Strike]62 
[Sudden Doom]64 
[Unholy Frenzy]66 
[Ebon Plaguebringer]68 
[Dark Transformation]70 
[Summon Gargoyle]74 [Improved Unholy Presence]75 Mastery: 
[Dreadblade]80
Talents
Talents become available at level 15, with a new tier unlocked every 15 levels. Only one talent can be chosen from each tier.
| Level | Choices | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 |  [Roiling Blood] |
 [Plague Leech] |
 [Unholy Blight] |
| 57 |  [Lichborne] |
 [Anti-Magic Zone] |
 [Purgatory] |
| 58 |  [Death's Advance] |
 [Chilblains] |
 [Asphyxiate] |
| 60 |  [Death Pact] |
 [Death Siphon] |
 [Conversion] |
| 75 | [Blood Tap] |
 [Runic Empowerment] |
 [Runic Corruption] |
| 90 |  [Gorefiend's Grasp] |
 [Remorseless Winter] |
 [Desecrated Ground] |
Glyphs
Glyphs are ability enhancements created by scribes; characters can equip up to six glyphs at one time. Three Major Glyphs that significantly enhance the character's major abilities and three Minor Glyphs that add cosmetic effects or minor enhancements. Most glyphs enhance existing abilities, but a few grant entirely new ones.
Once learned, glyphs are a permanent addition to a character's arsenal. They can be swapped out any time outside of combat using 
[Vanishing Powder] for characters level 25-80, 
[Dust of Disappearance] for characters level 81-85 or 
[Tome of the Clear Mind] for those at 86 or above, or by visiting a class trainer. Glyph slots become available at levels 25, 50 and 75. All glyphs can be used from level 25.
Runeforging
Runeforging is a skill that allows death knights to engrave runes into their weapons, using a runeforge.
| Icon | Rune of | Type | Level | Weapon Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Cinderglacier | Frost | 55 | Any | Has a chance to increase the damage by 20% of your next 2 spells that deal Frost or Shadow damage. Lasts 30 sec. |
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Razorice | Frost | 55 | Any | Causes 2% extra weapon damage as Frost damage and has a chance to increase Frost vulnerability. |
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Spellbreaking | Unholy | 57 | One-handed | Deflects 2% of all spell damage. |
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Spellshattering | Unholy | 57 | Two-handed | Deflects 4% of all spell damage. |
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Lichbane | Blood | 60 | Any | Adds 2% extra weapon damage as Fire damage or 4% versus Undead targets. |
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Swordbreaking | Blood | 63 | One-handed | Increases Parry chance by 2% and reduces duration of disarm effects by 50%. |
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Swordshattering | Blood | 63 | Two-handed | Increases Parry chance by 4% and reduces duration of disarm effects by 50%. |
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Fallen Crusader | Unholy | 70 | Any | Has a chance to heal you for 3% and increase total Strength by 15% for 15 sec. |
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Nerubian Carapace | Frost | 72 | One-handed | Increases Armor by 2% and total stamina by 1%. |
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Stoneskin Gargoyle | Frost | 72 | Two-handed | Increases Armor by 4% and total stamina by 2%. |
See also
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