Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Guide

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Rotation

Blood Death Knights are considered the best Tank in Cataclysm. The changes to
Death Strike
healing, as well as their
Mastery: Blood Shield
gives them insane self healing and damage prevention. They have an abundance of defensive cooldowns, so they have an answer for every situation. Another big quality of life change that all Blood Death Knights got is
Outbreak
now has a 30 sec cooldown, which means you can use this exclusively to keep your
Blood Plague
and
Frost Fever
on enemies, and you no longer need to
Icy Touch
and
Plague Strike
.

Single Target

1. Use
   Rune of Swordshattering
   .
2. Be in
   Blood Presence
   .
3. Maintain
   Horn of Winter
   if assigned.
4. Maintain
   Bone Shield
   .
5. Cast
   Blood Tap
   .
6. Cast
   Empower Rune Weapon
   when all Runes are on cooldown and you won't cap on Runic Power.
7. Cast
   Raise Dead
   . You can either use this as a DPS cooldown, or combine it with
   Death Pact
   for a defensive cooldown.
8. Cast
   Dancing Rune Weapon
   as a DPS cooldown, or save it for a defensive cooldown.
9. Cast
   Rune Strike
   to avoid capping on Runic Power.
10. Maintain
    Blood Plague
    and
    Frost Fever
    with
    Outbreak
    or
    Icy Touch
    and
    Plague Strike
    if it's on cooldown.
11. Cast
    Death Strike
    .
    Blood Rites
    will turn your Frost Runes and Unholy Runes into Death Runes when it is used.
12. Cast
    Heart Strike
    . Only use Blood Runes for this.

AoE

1. Cast
   Death and Decay
   .
2. Cast
   Outbreak
   to apply
   Blood Plague
   and
   Frost Fever
   or
   Icy Touch
   and
   Plague Strike
   if it's on cooldown.
3. Cast
   Pestilence
   to spread them.
4. Cast
   Heart Strike
   below 4 enemies, otherwise use
   Blood Boil
   .
5. Cast
   Death Strike
   depending on how much damage you are taking.
6. Cast
   Rune Strike
   to avoid capping on Runic Power.

Defensive Cooldowns

1. Rune Tap
   .
2. Vampiric Blood
   .
3. Icebound Fortitude
   .
4. Dancing Rune Weapon
5. Army of the Dead
6. Anti-Magic Shell
   .
7. Death Pact
   on the ghouls from
   Army of the Dead
   or
   Raise Dead
   .

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Glyphs

Prime:
Heart Strike
,
Rune Strike
,
Death Coil
( With
Lichborne
)
Optional: For AoE, replace
Rune Strike
with
Death and Decay
Major:
Vampiric Blood
,
Dancing Rune Weapon
,
Anti-Magic Shell
Optional:
Rune Tap
,
Blood Boil
,
Bone Shield
Minor:
Blood Tap
,
Horn of Winter
,
Resilient Grip

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Elixir of Deep Earth
  or
  Prismatic Elixir
• +
  Elixir of the Master

Alternatives:
• Flask of Steelskin

Food

Best:
• Lavascale Minestrone

Alternatives:
• Salted Eye
  ,
• Seafood Magnifique Feast

Potions

Best:
• Earthen Potion

Alternatives:
• Golemblood Potion

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Best Races

Alliance

1. Dwarf:
   Stoneform
   and
   Mace Specialization
2. Worgen:
   Viciousness
   and
   Darkflight
3. Human:
   Sword Specialization
   and
   Mace Specialization
4. Draenei:
   Heroic Presence
5. Night Elf:
   Quickness

Horde

1. Goblin:
   Time is Money
   ,
   Rocket Barrage
   , and
   Rocket Jump
2. Orc:
   Axe Specialization
   and
   Blood Fury
3. Troll:
   Berserking
   and
   Regeneration
4. Tauren:
   Endurance
5. Blood Elf:
   Arcane Torrent

Cataclysm Classic Blood Tank Death Knight Best Professions

1. Blacksmithing:
   Socket Bracer
   and
   Socket Gloves
   .
2. Jewelcrafting: Unique Epic Gems.
3. Leatherworking:
   Draconic Embossment - Stamina
   . Becomes 2nd best in T13.
4. The rest of the Crafting Professions provide nearly identical benefits.