Death knight abilities (Classic)
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- For death knight abilities and talents on retail servers, see Death knight abilities.
Death knight talents and abilities in the various Classic expansion versions.
Abilities
Wrath of the Lich King Classic
Prior to Cataclysm, there was no explicit choice of specialization. Abilities were divided up for organizational reasons, but could be freely learned by all characters at a class trainer.
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Blood
Ability Level Source [Blood Presence]55 Default 
[Blood Strike]55 Default 
[Forceful Deflection]55 Default 
[Pestilence]56 Trainer 
[Blood Boil]58 Trainer 
[Strangulate]59 Trainer 
[Blood Tap]64 Trainer 
[Dark Command]65 Trainer 
[Death Pact]66 Trainer -
Frost
Ability Level Source 
[Frost Fever]55 Default 
[Icy Touch]55 Default 
[Runic Focus]55 Default [Frost Presence]57 Trainer 
[Mind Freeze]57 Trainer 
[Chains of Ice]58 Trainer 
[Obliterate]61 Trainer 
[Path of Frost]61 Trainer 
[Icebound Fortitude]62 Trainer 
[Horn of Winter]65 Trainer 
[Rune Strike]67 Trainer 
[Empower Rune Weapon]75 Trainer -
Unholy
Ability Level Source 
[Blood Plague]55 Default 
[Death Coil]55 Default 
[Death Gate]55 
[8-30] The Light of Dawn
[Death Grip]55 Default 
[Plague Strike]55 Default 
[Death Strike]56 Trainer 
[Raise Dead]56 Trainer 
[Death and Decay]60 Trainer 
[Anti-Magic Shell]68 Trainer [Unholy Presence]70 Trainer 
[Raise Ally]72 Trainer 
[Army of the Dead]80 Trainer -
Runeforging Ability Level 
[Rune of Cinderglacier]55 
[Rune of Razorice]55 [Rune of Spellbreaking]57 [Rune of Spellshattering]57 
[Rune of Lichbane]60 [Rune of Swordbreaking]63 [Rune of Swordshattering]63 
[Rune of the Fallen Crusader]70 
[Rune of the Nerubian Carapace]72 
[Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle]72
Cataclysm Classic
As of Cataclysm, certain specialization abilities were automatically learned upon choosing a talent tree, and were only available to that specialization. All other class abilities, while divided up by specialization for organizational reasons, could be learned by all characters at a class trainer,.
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Blood
Ability Level Source [Blood Strike]55 Default [Parry]55 Default [Death Strike]56 Default [Pestilence]56 Trainer [Blood Presence]57 Trainer [Blood Boil]58 Trainer [Strangulate]59 Trainer [Blood Tap]64 Trainer [Dark Command]65 Trainer [Death Pact]66 Trainer 
[Dark Simulacrum]85 Trainer Specialization [Blood Rites]57 Automatic 
[Heart Strike]57 Automatic 
[Vengeance]57 Automatic 
[Veteran of the Third War]57 Automatic [Blood Shield]80 Trainer -
Frost
Ability Level Source [Frost Fever]55 Default [Frost Presence]55 Default [Icy Touch]55 Default [Runic Focus]55 Default [Mind Freeze]57 Trainer [Chains of Ice]58 Trainer [Obliterate]61 Trainer [Path of Frost]61 Trainer [Icebound Fortitude]62 Trainer [Festering Strike]64 Trainer [Horn of Winter]65 Trainer [Rune Strike]67 Trainer 
[Runic Empowerment]68 Trainer [Empower Rune Weapon]75 Trainer Specialization 
[Blood of the North]57 Automatic 
[Frost Strike]57 Automatic 
[Icy Talons]57 Automatic 
[Frozen Heart]80 Trainer -
Unholy
Ability Level Source [Blood Plague]55 Default [Death Coil]55 Default [Death Gate]55 [8-30] The Light of Dawn
[Death Grip]55 Default [Plague Strike]55 Default [Raise Dead]56 Trainer [Death and Decay]60 Trainer [Anti-Magic Shell]68 Trainer [Unholy Presence]70 Trainer [Raise Ally]72 Trainer [Army of the Dead]80 Trainer 
[Outbreak]81 Trainer 
[Necrotic Strike]83 Trainer Specialization [Master of Ghouls]57 Automatic 
[Scourge Strike]57 Automatic 
[Reaping]57 Automatic 
[Unholy Might]57 Automatic 
[Dreadblade]80 Trainer -
Runeforging Ability Level [Rune of Cinderglacier]55 [Rune of the Nerubian Carapace]55 [Rune of Razorice]55 [Rune of Spellbreaking]57 [Rune of Spellshattering]57 [Rune of Lichbane]60 [Rune of Swordbreaking]63 [Rune of Swordshattering]63 [Rune of the Fallen Crusader]70 [Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle]70 -
General Ability Level Source 
[Plate Specialization]50 Trainer Mastery 80 Trainer
Mists of Pandaria Classic
Starting in Mists of Pandaria, all abilities are automatically learned at the appropriate level rather than having to purchase them from a class trainer.
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General Ability Level [Blood Plague]55 [Blood Strike]55 [Death Coil]55 [Death Grip]55 [Frost Fever]55 [Frost Presence]55 [Icy Touch]55 [Parry]55 [Plague Strike]55 [Plate Specialization]55 [Death Gate] [8-30] The Light of Dawn
[Blood Boil]56 [Death Strike]56 [Pestilence]56 
[Raise Dead]56 [Blood Presence]57 [Mind Freeze]57 [Chains of Ice]58 [Strangulate]58 [Death and Decay]60 
[On a Pale Horse]61 [Icebound Fortitude]62 [Unholy Presence]64 [Horn of Winter]65 [Path of Frost]66 [Anti-Magic Shell]68 
[Control Undead]69 [Raise Ally]72 [Empower Rune Weapon]76 [Army of the Dead]80 [Outbreak]81 [Necrotic Strike]83 [Dark Simulacrum]85 -
Blood
Ability Level [Blood Rites]55 [Vengeance]55 [Veteran of the Third War]55 [Dark Command]58 [Heart Strike]60 
[Scent of Blood]62 [Improved Blood Presence]64 
[Rune Tap]64 [Rune Strike]65 
[Blood Parasite]66 
[Scarlet Fever]68 
[Will of the Necropolis]70 
[Sanguine Fortitude]72 
[Dancing Rune Weapon]74 
[Vampiric Blood]76 
[Riposte]76 
[Bone Shield]78 [Mastery: Blood Shield]80 
[Crimson Scourge]84 
[Soul Reaper]87 -
Frost
Ability Level [Blood of the North]55 [Frost Strike]55 
[Howling Blast]55 [Icy Talons]55 [Obliterate]58 
[Unholy Aura]60 
[Killing Machine]63 [Improved Frost Presence]65 
[Brittle Bones]66 
[Pillar of Frost]68 
[Rime]70 
[Might of the Frozen Wastes]74 
[Threat of Thassarian]74 [Mastery: Frozen Heart]80 [Soul Reaper]87 -
Unholy
Ability Level [Master of Ghouls]55 [Reaping]55 [Unholy Might]55 [Scourge Strike]58 
[Shadow Infusion]60 [Unholy Aura]60 
[Festering Strike]62 
[Sudden Doom]64 
[Unholy Frenzy]66 
[Ebon Plaguebringer]68 
[Dark Transformation]70 
[Summon Gargoyle]74 [Improved Unholy Presence]75 [Mastery: Dreadblade]80 [Soul Reaper]87 -
Runeforging Ability Level [Rune of Cinderglacier]55 [Rune of Razorice]55 [Rune of Spellbreaking]57 [Rune of Spellshattering]57 [Rune of Lichbane]60 [Rune of Swordbreaking]63 [Rune of Swordshattering]63 [Rune of the Fallen Crusader]70 [Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle]70 [Rune of the Nerubian Carapace]72
Talents
Wrath of the Lich King Classic
Talents become available at level 57. Prior to Mists of Pandaria, players could freely mix talents from multiple trees, as long as they had available talent points.
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Blood
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 
[Butchery]2 
[Subversion]3 
[Blade Barrier]5 2 
[Bladed Armor]5 [Scent of Blood]3 
[Two-Handed Weapon Specialization]2 3 [Rune Tap]1 [Dark Conviction]5 [Death Rune Mastery]3 4 [Improved Rune Tap]3 Rune Tap 
[Spell Deflection]3 
[Vendetta]3 5 [Bloody Strikes]3 [Veteran of the Third War]3 
[Mark of Blood]1 6 
[Bloody Vengeance]3 Dark Conviction 
[Abomination's Might]2 7 [Bloodworms]3 
[Unholy Frenzy]1 [Improved Blood Presence]2 8 [Improved Death Strike]2 [Sudden Doom]3 [Vampiric Blood]1 9 
[Will of the Necropolis]3 [Heart Strike]1 [Might of Mograine]3 10 
[Blood Gorged]5 11 [Dancing Rune Weapon]1 -
Frost
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 [Improved Icy Touch]3 
[Runic Power Mastery]2 
[Toughness]5 2 
[Icy Reach]2 
[Black Ice]5 
[Nerves of Cold Steel]3 3 [Icy Talons]5 Improved Icy Touch 
[Lichborne]1 
[Annihilation]3 4 [Killing Machine]5 
[Chill of the Grave]2 
[Endless Winter]2 5 
[Frigid Dreadplate]3 
[Glacier Rot]3 
[Deathchill]1 6 [Improved Icy Talons]1 Icy Talons 
[Merciless Combat]2 [Rime]3 7 
[Chilblains]3 
[Hungering Cold]1 [Improved Frost Presence]2 8 [Threat of Thassarian]3 [Blood of the North]3 
[Unbreakable Armor]1 9 
[Acclimation]3 [Frost Strike]1 
[Guile of Gorefiend]3 10 
[Tundra Stalker]5 11 [Howling Blast]1 -
Unholy
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 
[Vicious Strikes]2 
[Virulence]3 
[Anticipation]5 2 
[Epidemic]2 [Morbidity]3 [Unholy Command]2 
[Ravenous Dead]3 3 [Outbreak]3 
[Necrosis]5 
[Corpse Explosion]1 4 
[On a Pale Horse]2 
[Blood-Caked Blade]3 [Night of the Dead]2 5 
[Unholy Blight]1 
[Impurity]5 
[Dirge]2 6 
[Desecration]2 [Magic Suppression]3 [Reaping]3 [Master of Ghouls]1 Night of the Dead 7 [Desolation]5 
[Anti-Magic Zone]1 Magic Suppression [Improved Unholy Presence]2 
[Ghoul Frenzy]1 Master of Ghouls 8 
[Crypt Fever]3 [Bone Shield]1 9 
[Wandering Plague]3 [Ebon Plaguebringer]3 Crypt Fever [Scourge Strike]1 10 
[Rage of Rivendare]5 11 
[Summon Gargoyle]1
Cataclysm Classic
Talents become available at level 57. During Cataclysm, characters were initially locked into their specialization's talent tree, but after learning the tier 7 talent could freely take talents from other trees as long as they had available talent points.
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Blood
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 [Butchery]2 [Blade Barrier]3 [Bladed Armor]3 2 [Improved Blood Tap]2 [Scent of Blood]3 [Scarlet Fever]2 
[Hand of Doom]2 3 [Blood-Caked Blade]3 
[Bone Shield]1 [Toughness]3 [Abomination's Might]2 4 [Sanguine Fortitude]2 [Blood Parasite]2 [Improved Blood Presence]2 5 [Will of the Necropolis]3 Rune Tap [Rune Tap]1 [Vampiric Blood]1 6 [Improved Death Strike]3 [Crimson Scourge]2 7 [Dancing Rune Weapon]1 -
Frost
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 [Runic Power Mastery]3 [Icy Reach]2 [Nerves of Cold Steel]3 2 [Annihilation]3 [Lichborne]1 [On a Pale Horse]2 [Endless Winter]2 3 [Merciless Combat]2 [Chill of the Grave]2 [Killing Machine]3 4 [Rime]3 [Pillar of Frost]1 [Improved Icy Talons]1 [Brittle Bones]2 5 [Chilblains]2 [Hungering Cold]1 [Improved Frost Presence]2 6 [Threat of Thassarian]3 [Might of the Frozen Wastes]3 7 [Howling Blast]1 Hungering Cold -
Unholy
Tier Talent Ranks Requirement 1 [Unholy Command]2 [Virulence]3 [Epidemic]3 2 [Desecration]2 
[Resilient Infection]2 [Morbidity]3 3 
[Runic Corruption]2 [Unholy Frenzy]1 [Contagion]2 Epidemic [Shadow Infusion]3 4 
[Death's Advance]2 [Magic Suppression]3 [Rage of Rivendare]3 5 [Unholy Blight]1 [Anti-Magic Zone]1 Magic Suppression [Improved Unholy Presence]2 [Dark Transformation]1 Shadow Infusion 6 [Ebon Plaguebringer]2 [Sudden Doom]3 7 [Summon Gargoyle]1
Mists of Pandaria Classic
Talents become available at level 56. Starting in Mists of Pandaria, every 15 levels characters were presented with a choice of three mutually exclusive talents. Talents were available to all specializations.
| Level | Talent 1 | Talent 2 | Talent 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 |  [Roiling Blood] |
[Plague Leech] |
[Unholy Blight]
|
| 57 | [Lichborne] |
[Anti-Magic Zone] |
 [Purgatory]
|
| 58 | [Death's Advance] |
[Chilblains] |
 [Asphyxiate]
|
| 60 | [Death Pact] |
 [Death Siphon] |
 [Conversion]
|
| 75 | [Blood Tap] |
[Runic Empowerment] |
[Runic Corruption]
|
| 90 |  [Gorefiend's Grasp] |
 [Remorseless Winter] |
 [Desecrated Ground]
|
Glyphs
Wrath of the Lich King Classic
Cataclysm Classic
Mists of Pandaria Classic
See also
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