DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation guide provides a quick, basic understanding of which abilities to prioritize when playing a Frost Death Knight, along with additional details on important cooldowns at the bottom. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.0.5).

Single Target

Ensure Frost Fever is applied before engaging the target.

• ObliterateView detailsUse if you have a Killing Machine proc.
• Frost StrikeView detailsTo maintain Icy Talons and Unleashed Frenzy buffs.
• Remorseless WinterView detailsUse on cooldown.
• Frost StrikeView detailsIf you have 5 stacks of Rune Of Razorice.
• Howling BlastView detailsUse if you have a Rime proc.
• Soul ReaperView detailsIf the target is below 35% health and you have 3+ Runes.
• Frost StrikeView detailsIf you have 70+ Runic Power.
• Obliterate
• Frost Strike

Focus on using Obliterate for procs, followed by Frost Strike to maintain buffs. Use Remorseless Winter on cooldown and Soul Reaper when the target is low on health.

AoE

Use Death And Decay to initiate AoE damage.

• Death And Decay
• ObliterateView detailsIf you have a Killing Machine proc.
• Remorseless Winter
• Glacial AdvanceView detailsIf your Unleashed Frenzy or Icy Talons is not at max stacks.
• Howling BlastView detailsUse if you have a Rime proc.
• Obliterate

Start with Death And Decay, then prioritize Obliterate for procs and maintain Remorseless Winter on cooldown.

Cooldowns

• Reapers MarkView detailsUse on cooldown with Pillar Of Frost.
• Remorseless WinterView detailsUse on cooldown, but avoid during Pillar Of Frost if using Obliteration.
• Chill StreakView detailsUse on cooldown, ideally before Pillar Of Frost.
• Pillar Of FrostView detailsUse on cooldown, stacking with potions or trinkets.
• Empower Rune WeaponView detailsPair with Pillar Of Frost windows.
• Frostwyrms FuryView detailsUse in synergy with Pillar Of Frost for AoE.
• Cold HeartView detailsUse at 16+ stacks.
• Breath Of SindragosaView detailsUse with Pillar Of Frost windows.
• ObliterationView detailsUse during Pillar Of Frost windows.
• Abomination LimbView detailsUse on cooldown, save for adds.
• Horn Of WinterView detailsUse to generate resources when needed.
• Death And DecayView detailsUse for cleave in AoE.
• FrostscytheView detailsUse on cooldown outside of Pillar Of Frost.

Utilize cooldowns effectively, aligning Reapers Mark and Pillar Of Frost for maximum damage. Use Breath Of Sindragosa and Empower Rune Weapon strategically to enhance your damage output.