Cataclysm Blood Death Knight Guide (BiS, Rotation, Talents) (2024)

In this WoW Cata Blood Death Knight guide, you will find the best Blood spec for Death Knights in Cataclysm Classic. The build shows the best talents, glyphs, rotation, BiS gear, gems, and enchants to tank dungeons and raids as a Blood Death Knight.

📂 Cataclysm Classic Wiki

📅 Last updated on June 4, 2024.

Table of Contents

Blood Death Knight Rotation in Cata Classic
Blood Death Knight Pre-Raid BiS List for Cata
Blood Death Knight Phase 1 BiS List for Cata (Tier 11)
Blood Death Knight Stat Priority in Cataclysm Classic
Blood Death Knight Gems in Cataclysm Classic
Death Knight Builds in Cataclysm Classic

Blood Death Knight Talents & Glyphs in Cataclysm

Choose the following talents and glyphs as a Blood Death Knight at level 85 to tank dungeons and raids in Cataclysm Classic:

Use Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle as your weapon rune. Be in Blood Presence at all times. For fights with multiple targets use the glyph Glyph of Death and Decay instead of Glyph of Rune Strike.

Blood Death Knight Rotation in Cata Classic

The rotation for a Blood Death Knight in Cataclysm Classic is better described as the following priority list:

Cast Outbreak to apply Frost Fever and Blood Plague if they are not active.
Keep Blood Plague active with Plague Strike, in case Outbreak is on cooldown.
Keep Frost Fever active with Icy Touch, in case Outbreak is on cooldown.
Cast Death Strike if you have Frost and Unholy/Death runes.
Cast Heart Strike if you have 2 Blood runes or your second blood rune is ready soon.
Cast Rune Tap whenever Will of the Necropolis procs.
Cast Rune Strike to spend your Runic Power.

In combat, you don’t want to have 2 fully charged runes. Always try to cast a spell from your priority list so every rune type has at least one rune recharging. You can delay the use of your second rune without any penalty.

To improve your gameplay further, you need to modify your priority list in your opener and when fighting against multiple enemies. Additionally, your tanking ability will improve by using your defensive cooldowns accordingly.

Blood DK Opener Rotation

In your opener, delay Outbreak. Establish threat with Death Strike and Heart Strike first. Then cast Dancing Rune Weapon followed by Outbreak. This opener will increase the effectiveness of your diseases due to Vengeance and your rune recharging starts earlier.

After you’ve cast Outbreak, continue with the priority list from above.

Blood DK AoE Rotation

If you fight multiple enemies use the following AoE priority list as a Death Knight tank:

Cast Death and Decay whenever it’s available. Keep your enemies inside the ground effect at all times.
Cast Outbreak to apply Frost Fever and Blood Plague. Spread your diseases with Pestilence.
Cast Death Strike if you have Frost and Unholy/Death runes.
Cast Blood Boil, when Crimson Scourge procs.
Cast Blood Boil if you fight 4 or more enemies, otherwise cast Heart Strike.
Cast Rune Strike to spend your Runic Power.

Blood DK Cooldowns

To master your class, you need to use your defensive cooldowns while tanking. As a Blood DK, these are your cooldowns:

Use Dancing Rune Weapon as often as possible for its offensive effect. If you know you need one more defensive cooldown at a certain point in a fight, you can save Dancing Rune Weapon for it. Otherwise, keep it on cooldown.
Use Icebound Fortitude right before you’ll receive big damage.
Use Anti-Magic Shell right before you receive magic damage.
Use Bone Shield and Vampiric Blood more generously.

Blood Death Knight Pre-Raid BiS List for Cata

The Blood Death Knight pre-raid best-in-slot list contains the best items you can get in Cataclysm Classic before entering any raids at level 85:

Head (Arcanum of the Earthen Ring)
Reinforced Bio-Optic Killshades (Engineering)
Helm of the Proud (2,200 Justice Points)
Helm of Setesh (Halls of Origination – Heroic)
Neck
Gift of Nadun (Uldum – Exalted)
The Lustrous Eye (1,250 Justice Points)
Carrier Wave Pendant (Blackrock Caverns – Heroic)
Shoulders (Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz)
Pauldrons of Edward the Odd (World Drop)
Sunburnt Pauldrons (1,650 Justice Points)
Raz's Pauldrons (Blackrock Caverns – Heroic)
Cloak (Enchant Cloak - Protection)
Wrap of the Great Turtle (Mount Hyjal – Exalted)
Gray Hair Cloak (1,250 Valor Points)
Burned Gatherings (Blackrock Caverns – Heroic)
Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stamina)
Hardened Elementium Hauberk (Blacksmithing)
Icebone Hauberk (World Drop)
Chestplate of the Steadfast (2,200 Justice Points)
Beauty's Plate (Blackrock Caverns – Heroic)
Wrists (Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina)
Sandguard Bracers (Uldum – Exalted)
Alpha Bracers (Halls of Origination – Heroic)
Shackles of Undeath (Shadowfang Keep – Heroic)
Hands (Enchant Gloves - Greater Mastery)
Numbing Handguards (1,650 Justice Points)
Fingers of Light (Halls of Origination – Heroic)
Waist
Hardened Elementium Girdle (Blacksmithing)
Belt of the Ferocious Wolf (Mount Hyjal – Exalted)
Garr's Reinforced Girdle of Memories (World Drop)
Girdle of the Mountains (1,650 Justice Points)
Sand Dune Belt (Lost City of the Tol'vir – Heroic)
Legs (Drakehide Leg Armor)
Corefire Legplates (World Drop)
Triton Legplates (Throne of the Tides – Heroic)
Greaves of Splendor (2,200 Justice Points)
Legguards of Winnowing Wind (The Vortex Pinnacle – Heroic)
Feet (Enchant Boots - Earthen Vitality)
Boots of Sullen Rock ( Twilight Highlands – Exalted)
Gryphon Rider's Boots ( Twilight Highlands – Exalted)
Baron Silverlaine's Greaves (Shadowfang Keep – Heroic)
Rings (Enchant Ring - Greater Stamina)
Blauvelt's Family Crest (World Drop)
Felsen's Ring of Resolve (Deepholm – Revered)
Signet of Transformation (Blackrock Caverns – Heroic)
Red Rock Band (Uldum – Revered)
Umbriss Band (Grim Batol – Heroic)
Trinkets
Lifebound Alchemist Stone (Alchemy)
Leaden Despair (The Stonecore – Heroic)
Za'brox's Lucky Tooth ( Four Heads are Better than None, starts with Victors' Point in Twilight Highlands)
Za'brox's Lucky Tooth ( Four Heads are Better than None, starts with Crushblow in Twilight Highlands)
Weapon
Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds (Archaeology)
Sword of the Bottomless Pit (The Stonecore – Heroic)
Relic
Notched Jawbone (Inscription)

If you have enough Valor Points to buy gear with an item level of 359 you should do so. These items are always an upgrade over item level 346 pieces.

If your main profession is Leatherworking, you can enchant your wrist slot with Draconic Embossment - Stamina instead of Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina. This makes Leatherworking one of the best professions for tanks. Use the WoW Cata Leatherworking leveling guide to level this profession efficiently.

The pre-BiS list is continuously being worked on. Please use the feedback button below to send us your thoughts and suggestions.

Blood Death Knight Phase 1 BiS List for Cata (Tier 11)

The following Blood Death Knight best-in-slot list contains the best items you can get in Phase 1 of Cataclysm Classic at level 85:

Head (Arcanum of the Earthen Ring)
Magma Plated Faceguard (Blackwing Descent / Throne of the Four Winds)
Neck
Rage of Ages (Blackwing Descent)
Shoulders (Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz)
Magma Plated Shoulderguards (The Bastion of Twilight / Throne of the Four Winds)
Cloak (Enchant Cloak - Protection)
Glittering Epidermis (The Bastion of Twilight)
Chest (Enchant Chest - Peerless Stats)
Magma Plated Chestguard (The Bastion of Twilight)
Wrists (Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina)
Bracers of Impossible Strength (The Bastion of Twilight)
Hands (Enchant Gloves - Greater Mastery)
Magma Plated Handguards (Blackwing Descent)
Waist
Jumbotron Power Belt (Blackwing Descent)
Legs (Drakehide Leg Armor)
Magma Plated Legplates (Blackwing Descent)
Feet (Enchant Boots - Earthen Vitality)
Massacre Treads (Blackwing Descent)
Rings (Enchant Ring - Greater Stamina)
Ring of Rivalry (The Bastion of Twilight)
Bile-O-Tron Nut (Blackwing Descent)
Trinkets
Symbiotic Worm (Blackwing Descent)
Mirror of Broken Images (Tol Barad – Exalted)
Weapon
Akirus the Worm-Breaker (Blackwing Descent)
Relic
Relic of Khaz'goroth (700 Valor Points)

If you raid on normal difficulty, you can get the same items with an item level of 359 instead of item level 372 for your Blood DK.

Blood Death Knight Stat Priority in Cataclysm Classic

As a Blood Death Knight you want to prioritize gear with the following stats:

Mastery Rating
Stamina, until you and your healers feel comfortable.
Strength
Haste Rating
Up to 781 Expertise Rating to reach 26 Expertise.
961 Hit Rating, which equals a Hit Chance of 8%. Draenei only need 841 points in Hit Rating.
Dodge Rating
Parry Rating

Human, Dwarf, and Orc need less Expertise Rating to reach their Expertise caps, if they’re using weapons that are supported by their racial abilities. For Humans these are swords and maces, Dwarfs have an increased expertise with maces only, and Orcs need less Expertise Rating if they’re using axes.

Blood Death Knight Gems in Cataclysm Classic

The gems you want to put into your gear as a Blood Death Knight in Cata Classic are the following:

Meta: Austere Shadowspirit Diamond
Yellow: Fractured Amberjewel
Blue: Solid Ocean Sapphire
Red: Fine Ember Topaz if the socket bonus is good, otherwise Fractured Amberjewel.

Use yellow gems in your prismatic gem slots.

Death Knight Builds in Cataclysm Classic

Here you’ll find more builds for a Death Knight in Cataclysm Classic:

Unholy Death Knight in Cataclysm

The Unholy build for Death Knights in Cataclysm Classic is a spec to optimize the damage you deal in dungeons and raids. Find talents, rotation, glyphs, and BiS gear in our Cataclysm Classic Unholy Death Knight guide.

Frost Death Knight in Cataclysm

The Frost build for Death Knights in Cataclysm Classic is a spec to optimize the damage you deal in dungeons and raids. Find talents, rotation, glyphs, and BiS gear in our Cataclysm Classic Frost Death Knight guide.