DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Frost Death Knight abilities, along with key cooldowns at the bottom. It's based on a standard build and is here to help while we work on a smarter, build-aware system. If you are very new to the game or this class, we added info on the new assisted rotation features at the bottom of this guide. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.2.5).

Single Target

• ObliterateView detailsUse with Killing Machine proc.
• Howling BlastView detailsUse with Rime proc.
• Frost StrikeView detailsTo spend Runic Power.
• ObliterateView detailsUse as filler.

Consume Killing Machine procs with Obliterate and Rime procs with Howling Blast. Use Frost Strike to spend Runic Power and Obliterate as a filler.

AoE

• FrostscytheView detailsUse with Killing Machine proc.
• ObliterateView detailsUse with Killing Machine proc.
• Howling BlastView detailsUse with Rime proc.
• Remorseless WinterView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Frost StrikeView detailsUse with Frostbane proc.
• Glacial AdvanceView detailsUse to spend Runic Power.
• FrostscytheView detailsUse as filler.
• ObliterateView detailsUse as filler.

In AoE, prioritize Frostscythe and Obliterate with Killing Machine procs. Use Howling Blast for Rime procs, Remorseless Winter on cooldown, and Glacial Advance to spend Runic Power.

Cooldowns

• Reapers MarkView detailsUse before Pillar Of Frost windows.
• Pillar Of FrostView detailsUse on cooldown, ideally with trinkets or potions.
• Remorseless WinterView detailsUse on cooldown or align with Pillar Of Frost.
• Empower Rune WeaponView detailsUse to avoid overcapping or during Pillar Of Frost.
• Breath Of SindragosaView detailsUse with 60 Runic Power and during Pillar Of Frost.
• Frostwyrms FuryView detailsUse before or during Pillar Of Frost for burst.
• ObliterationView detailsUse during Pillar Of Frost to generate Killing Machine procs.

Align Reapers Mark, Pillar Of Frost, and Breath Of Sindragosa for burst phases. Use Remorseless Winter and Empower Rune Weapon to maintain resources and maximize damage. Frostwyrms Fury is ideal for burst moments.

New to Class? Try Assisted Rotation

Patch 11.1.7 introduced new features that make it eaiser to pick and play new characters. These new settings can be enabled from settings » gameplay enhancements:

• Single-Button Assistant
• Assisted Highlight
• Cooldown Manager

If you are new to World of Warcraft or a certain class, enabling Assisted Highlight and Cooldown Manager can help you learn which abilities to prioritize and use.

While the Single-Button Assistant can be a much easier and more accessible way to play the game, it does come with a slight performance hit due to a small GCD penalty, as you will have to wait 25% longer in between spells and abilities.

To see which specs are best with the Single-Button Assistant feature, you can check out our DPS Rankings which uses SimC to sim every class using this feature.