Death and Decay (death knight ability)

Death and Decay
	Death and Decay; Level 8 death knight ability; 30 yd range; 1 Rune; 30 sec cooldown; Instant; Corrupts the targeted ground, causing [39.6% of Attack Power] Shadow damage over 10 sec to targets within the area.;
Properties
Class	Death knight
School	Shadow
Cooldown	30 sec
Other information
Level learned	8
Improvements	[Cleaving Strikes], [Crimson Scourge], [Death's Echo], [Grip of the Dead], [Pestilence], [Rapid Decomposition], [Relish in Blood], [Rot and Wither], [Sanguine Ground], [Unholy Ground]
Related buff
	; Death and Decay ; Dealing Shadow damage to enemies inside Death and Decay. ; Duration: 10 seconds ;

"It's not hard to track a death knight, mon. Just follow da devastation."
—The Longeye^[1]

Death and Decay is a targetable AoE ability for death knights, learned at level 8.

It is the key to AoE tanking, and should always be used on cooldown when facing two or more mobs. It should not be used against single targets, as your other attacks provide more threat.

For DPS, it is worth using when facing large packs.

Background

Main article: Death and Decay

Patch changes

Hotfix (2023-02-06): Death and Decay damage increased by 20%.
Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Rank 2 effects moved to the [Cleaving Strikes] talent.
Hotfix (2021-12-08): Death and Decay will no longer grant the [Death's Due] on-hit effects for Night Fae Death Knights.
Patch 9.0.2 (2020-11-17): Blood: Damage has been increased by 25%.
Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13):
- Now available to all specializations. Heart Strike and Scourge Strike striking additional targets moved to Rank 2.
- [Scourge Strike] and [Clawing Shadows] now capped at 5 targets while inside Death and Decay. Both abilities will prefer targets inflicted with Festering Wound.
Patch 8.3.0 (2020-01-14): Blood Death Knights can no longer sometimes cast Death and Decay while they are pacified.
Hotfix (2018-12-20): Fixed an issue preventing Death and Decay from functioning properly when cast in the same area by multiple Death Knights.
Patch 8.1.0 (2018-12-11): Death and Decay's [Necrotic Strike] now also hits up to 3 additional targets.
Patch 7.1.5 (2017-01-10): Increased the damage of Death and Decay by 6%.
Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): No longer available to Frost. Now causes [Heart Strike] and [Scourge Strike] to hit additional targets while the death knight remains in the area. Damage increased by 125%.
Patch 6.2.3 (2015-11-17): Damage has been increased by 10%.
Hotfix (2014-10-16): Damage increased by 20%.
Hotfix (2013-10-03): Death and Decay should no longer incorrectly grant a radius bonus when cast while the Death Knight is moving.
Patch 5.1.0 (2012-11-27): Now displays less intense visual effects for other players
Hotfix (2012-10-01): Death and Decay will no longer trigger the Runic Return two piece PvP set bonus.
Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): No longer produces a high amount of threat.
Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Death and Decay should now function correctly when [Anti-Magic Shell] is active.
Patch 4.0.6a (2011-02-11): No longer damages the death knight's currently selected friendly target when it does damage to nearby target dummies.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Now costs 1 Unholy Rune (was 1 Blood, 1 Frost, and 1 Unholy Rune).
Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Added.