Unholy DPS Build 17/0/51 +3

Post by demontaz

Hello, wowheads.

So I finally get to lvl 80 and I figure it's time to take a good look at my build and what I want to do in WoW. I'd like to raid primarily. I'd like to get into 2v2s as well maybe 3s...just for points and fun mostly. While I wait for the next raid or when I get tired of getting raped in arena, I'll probably be doing some AoE grinding in Wintergrasp, Basin, etc for mats. I really like the Unholy tree so I went here to get some recommendations on a good DPS build with the latest changes:

http://www.skeletonjack.com/2009/01/20/best-unholy-spec-and-rotation-for-308/

Then I read the DK PvP Handbook here on wowhead. Awesome post. I'd like to see it updated for 3.0.8 but it is still a must-read for any DK PvP or PvE.

What I came up with is this build with 3 points extra

http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=jfVMVZZfMbhxfkxcRMcout

My question to you scientists and scholars of WoW is where to put those other 3 points?

Here are some possible candidates for the extra points from best idea to worst idea, IMO.

Toughness - More armor and less slows
Rune Tap - I have Blood Pact which I hardly use and I'll prob. want Imp. Rune tap too if I get it. Some say this is must have for PvP...?
Wandering Plague - Does this break stealth in 3.0.8?
Outbreak - Doesnt seem good for PvP. Added AoE damage for PvE
Virulence - Add a point for 1% extra spell hit. meh?
Dark Conviction - Pretty much the reason I went for blood sub-spec. At 5/5 now. Is it that good? or would 1 points from taken from this and put in Rune Tap serve me better...then the other 3 in Imp. Rune tap. Dark Conviction seems pretty good for PvP and PvE

I would like you guys' input on this build, but I'm more interested in what you think I should do with the 3 points. I will probably spend most of my time in PvE so there's that. But is there anything in the list above (or something I missed) that will help in PvP?

ps. - Current Build from Jame's DK leveling guide. Hopefully I'm not killing my DPS changing from this build: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/deathknight/talents.html?tal=2305020400000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000230200332023115203150003133151

Post by GenXCub

Imp Icy Touch? Some extra damage and also stronger attack speed debuff on your target? Not saying it's better than what you have listed, but certainly better than Outbreak.

In my MikScrollingBattleText, it is really good about telling me the Total of aoe damage. It's rare that a Blood Boil beats a single blood strike (unless you have 6+ targets)

I'd probably still go Wandering Plague, though it is way more PvE than PvP.

Post by demontaz

Thx for the input.

I did a little more reading:
http://elitistjerks.com/f72/t36303-dps_compendium/

There is a really nice list of talents and how much approx. dps you're going to get from each. It is PvE based, but Wandering Plague is pretty high on the list for the Unholy tree. They also give Virulence a decent score, but I've got that at 2/3 already. I think that is OK.

So now my list looks like

Toughness 3/5
Wandering Plauge 3/3
Imp. Icy Touch 3/3

I did overlook Imp. Icy Touch. Getting hit less is a good thing. I dont want to give up any crit so I'm keeping my Dark Conviction 5/5. And while Imp Rune tap can give me a good bit of hp back, I'll probably neglect it like i neglect Blood Pact.

I'm still wondering how much extra dps Toughness would give since I have Bladed Armor. That will probably be the deciding factor.

Thanks again for your input.

EDIT: Someone did the math on Toughness! http://www.wowhead.com/?forums&topic=73527&p=781024. Off to number crunch a bit...

Post by zethcarn

Wandering Plague 3/3

It's giving all your disease a chance to "crit" and spread to other targets. Very good and a must have considering all the talents in Unholy that already boost your spell damage.

Post by 308452

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Post by demontaz

I'm going to have to drop Toughness from the list. Extra armor and AP is nice, but I'll only have 3 points to put into it. If I had 5 points to put into it, I would probably choose it over Wandering Plague or Imp. Icy Touch.

I'm leaning more towards Imp. Icy Touch now. Getting hit less will help in PvP and PvE, while Wandering Plague is mostly going to benefit PvE.

@Phille
What are you going for with that build? Trying to mix PvP and PvE like me? The only choice I don't entirely agree with is Desecration at 5/5. It's only going to be good in stationary fights (some boss fights). PvPers will quickly gtfo of that (although you might fool someone into wasting a trinket or a CD). If you really want Desecration, I'd put 2/5 in it and use the other 3 for Gargoyle 1/1 and Unholy Aura 2/2. Your desecrate will still kick off every 2-3 hits and you're going to get more than 2-3 hits in every 12 seconds so it's pretty much like having it at 100%.

Post by demontaz

Ok.

I'm going with Wandering Plague over Icy Touch. Wandering plague will add dmg to all my diseases instead of just one skill.

I ended up with this: http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=jfVMVZZfMhhxfkxckMcsut

We'll see how it goes after a weekend of raiding.

Unholy DPS Build 17/0/51 +3

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