User:Gorebashy

DK Cookie-Cutter DPS Guide
I have noticed that there are many DKs in my guild that are learning how to up their DPS. The priority is to get into the raids fast with 2000+ dps and here is how to achieve this in 1 week only.

The information below is by no means an ideal mod, but it is a way to get 2000+ DPS in a matter of a week once you hit level 80. I have tried to list items that you don't need to do Heroics (or insane gold) for, as I know that for many there is a problem with getting invited when you have a low DPS. Where possible you can replace these items with good drops from the Heroics that you can get on.

'''Please note that it is ESSENTIAL that you follow the instructions under CORE BUILD and equip the 'SIGIL of Arthritic Binding'. You also need a weapon that does over 180DPS. Otherwise things are just a baseline for you to improve upon.'''

Finally, I really hope this guide helps some of you get your DPS up and get the most out of the game. Please don't think I know everything, as I really don't (but hopefully this will help). ;D

Talent Build
Please use this 17/0/54 unholy talent build, as this entire guide is built around it.

Glyphs
Glyphs are REALLY important. The scourge strike glyph is the most important as it spreads your diseases without having to use crap spells...

Glyph of Blood Strike - Makes the most of your Blood Strike

Glyph of Scourge Strike - Makes the most of your Scourge Strike. Spreads your diseases without having to use low dps spells....

Glyph of the Ghoul - Increases your ghoul's DPS

Minor glyphs are personal preference really and don't really matter for dks. They are a bit crap to be perfectly honest. Only thing I will say is get glyph of the ghoul if you want to save a fortune on corpse dust..

Presence
USE BLOOD PRESENCE ONLY! I can't emphasise this point enough!

Macros
Bind this to your E Key and spam it. I wont go into detail on the mechanics of this other than the fact the Blood Strike converts your Blood Runes to Death Runes and the rest is all about getting Scourge strikes in (doing massive damage). This has been carefully balanced for optimum DPS without having to use olympic hand-to-eye coordination.

/cast !Rune Strike

/castrandom Scourge Strike, Blood Strike, Scourge Strike, Scourge Strike

Bind this to your Q Key and keep it up as much as possible (higher priority than Death Coil). You need to refresh this every 18s so make sure you have the Runic Power saved up. This is your AOE effect so it helps to DPS mobbs especially:

/cast Unholy Blight

Bind this to your R Key and use it to dump your excess Runic Power. Only use this if you have Unholy Blight up.

/cast Death Coil

What Do I Need?
1) About 3000+ Gold - Farm like crazy (3 Days)

2) Exalted with Sons of Hodir - Relics of Ulduar from AH (expensive), Lvl 80 dungeons with the tabard, dalies (1 Week)

3) Ebon Blade Exalted - Lvl 80 dungeons with the tabard, dalies (2-3 Days)

4) A couple of quests

THATS IT!

Basic Gear
This is not the best gear but it is the FASTEST to get and it will get you to 2000+ DPS which is where the bar for raids (which is the goal after all) is set. After that you can get raid gear. Where you can upgrade it with whatever falls your way in Heroics. Your priority is Strength, Attack Power and armour - nothing else matters whatsoever.

2H Weapon - Titansteel Destroyer - 1400g AH

Gloves - Vengeance Bindings - 30g AH

Cloak - Cloak of the Bloodied Waters - 120g AH

Chest - Darkheart Chestguard - Exalted, Ebon Blade (yes, I know it's leather - but the attack power is exactly what you need)

Feet - Death-Inured Sabatons - Exalted, Ebon Blade

Finger1 - Ring of Scarlet Shaddows - 50g AH

Finger2 - Ring of Earthen Might - 100g AH

Hands - Gauntlets of the Culling - Quest in CoS

Head - Spiked Titansteel Helm - 1200g AH

Legs - Plated Legs of the Unholy - Quest in Icecrown

Neck - Jade Dagger Pendant - 30g AH

Shoulder - Spaulders of the Giant Lords - Revered, Sons of Hodir (buy the Relics of Ulduar for 1000g and do the dailies)

Waist - Thorim's Grasp - Quest in Storm Peaks

Sigil - Sigil of Arthritic Binding - 20 Venture Coin in Venture Bay (this improves your scourge strike which, for this guide, is our main attack)

Trinket 1 - Mirror of Truth - 40 Emblems of Heroism (annoying but worth it)

Trinket 2 Crusaders Locket- Quest in Icecrown

Enchants
Enchants are REALLY important. Here I have listed the enchants you should get. Sometimes these aren't the very BEST as the price isn't worth your time for something you will replace.

Weapon - Rune of the Fallen Crusader - Free at Runeforge

Head - Arcanum of Torment - Revered, Ebon Blade

Shoulders - Greater Inscription of the Axe - Exalted, Sons of Hodir

Back - Whatever Agility enchant you can afford (not important)

Chest - Whatever Stats enchant you can afford

Wrist - Greater Assualt - 150g AH

Gloves - Whatever strength enchant you can afford

Waist - Eternal belt buckle so you can fit a prismatic gem - 30g AH

Legs - Icescale Leg Armour - 150g

Boots - Greater Assault Enchant

Fishing Pole - Essential style accesory...

Socketable Gems
Gems are REALLY important. Even if it is cheap rubbish it is worth socketing at least something!

I am not going to bother listing the gems you should get, as basically you need to get the best gems you can afford with these stats in mind:

1) Strength

2) Attack Power

4) Armour

3) Agility

Anything else is a waste of space...

Elixirs & Foodbuffs
Again, these are REALLY important. Buy these when you need the raid DPS:

Flask of Endless Rage - Elixir 15g AH

Dragonfin Filet - Foodbuff 5g AH

Minion
Keep your minion in Defensive setting as then he will automatically attack, but he won't agro undisturbed mobs either. Make sure he is up at all times if possible as he will really help your DPS.

How to behave as a DPS
Here are a few simple rules I live by as a DPS and they serve me very well indeed:

1) Be QUIET and LISTEN to instructions. Some of the raid bosses are very complicated and you cant just spank them. If you don't listen to the raid leader giving instructions you WILL die.

2) Stay behind the tank unless he is in combat. Mobs will attack the nearest target by default untill they figure out who is a threat.

3) Attack mobs in the order they are marked. This will make the bosses/mobs drop faster as you concentrate damage with your teamates.

4) Never ever ever cast the following (if the tank is still alive), as it will cause threat and cause mobbs to attack you instead of the tank:

Death and Decay, Army of the Dead, Dark Command

5) Always make sure that Horn of Winter is up, as it really helps the group DPS.

6) Always give the tank 2-5 seconds to increase his threat before you start attacking. This will ensure he is tanking efficiently and you dont get the agro.

7) Stand BEHIND the mobs when attacking. When you are standing behind them they cant dodge or parry and this increases your DPS.

8) Keep spamming your E button (Scourge Strike and Blood Strike), Make sure your Q button macro is up all the time (Unholy Blight). Dump Excess Runic Power using your R Button (Death Coil).

9) Protect the healer at all costs. If you see a mob attacking him, use Deathgrip to pull them into where the tank is. The tank will love you for it (and the healer).

10) Be ready to offtank. This is a bit advanced but, if you have the balls, when the tank dies switch to Frost Presence and tank the boss. It might save our bacon. Make sure the healer knows you are the nominated off-tank or it simply won't work.

11) If you are low on health run out and stand next to the healer to get his attention. He will get round to you when he has a chance. Better to do no DPS for a few seconds than to die. Works a treat!

12) Remember you are low priority in the food-chain. The tank and healer are the core of the unit, so sacrifice yourself if you have to to keep them going.