T's Death Knight Guide 4.3: Frost Rotations

DISCLAIMER: This guide is not updated to 3.1 yet. Please be patient.

If you have not done so already, PLEASE read the Basic Combat chapter.

**From this point forward, all calculations are not including Butchery, which almost every talent build, regardless of spec, will include. Honestly, that math is just too complicated, I'll leave that to EJ.

Frost Basic

Here's my basic Frost build.

This is fairly similar to the untalented rotation.

Phase 1

B B F F U U
RP: 0

Apply diseases. Be sure to use Plague Strike first, to maximize your Icy Touch damage through Glacier Rot.

B B F F U U
RP: 25

Chill of the Grave grants 5 extra RP.

2 Blood Strikes.

D D F F U U
RP: 45

There's those "Ds" instead of "Bs." Blood of the North gives us Death Runes.

Obliterate.

D D F F U U
RP: 65

Why Obliterate and not Howling Blast? True, Howling Blast tends to do more damage. However, the insane crit chance to Obliterate with a Frost build makes it the better option. Frost-heavy Dual-wield builds will want to use Howling Blast, since that does not scale off weapon damage like Obliterate.

That being said, if Rime procs, use it! This will generate extra RP, but I'm not including procs in my calculations.

Frost Strike.

D D F F U U
RP: 25

Phase 2

By now, our Runes from the initial casts are coming off cooldown. For simplicity's sake, and because timing may vary, I'm going to list all Runes as active for now. Time to begin the second half of our rotation.

D D F F U U
RP: 25

No Epidemic in my Frost build, so reapply diseases.

D D F F U U
RP: 50

Now, use Obliterate twice to take advantage of those Death Runes.

B B F F U U
RP: 90

Frost Strike twice.

B B F F U U
RP: 10

A fairly simple rotation. Continue as necessary.

Frost Max-DPS Rotation

This is a new rotation I just found that should give a huge increase in DPS over my standard rotation. It's insanely simple, too.

B B F F U U
RP: 0

Apply diseases, right? WRONG!

Start with a Blood Tap. Yes, this even generated Runic Power.

D B F F U U
RP: 10

Now, apply Frost Fever ONLY. Just use Icy Touch.

D B F F U U
RP: 25

Now, here's where things get interesting. Right off the bat, fire off 2 Obliterates.

B B F F U U
RP: 65

Finish up with a Blood Strike.

B D F F U U
RP: 75

Of course burn that RP with a Frost Strike.

B D F F U U
RP: 35

Now, let's reset.

B D F F U U
RP: 35

Looks similar, no? After the initial Blood Tap, the rotation is exactly the same over and over.

Icy Touch
Obliterate
Obliterate
Blood Strike
Frost Strike(s)

Very simple and VERY effective.