DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation guide provides a quick, basic understanding of which abilities to prioritize when playing a Unholy Death Knight, along with additional details on important cooldowns at the bottom. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.1).

Single Target

Ensure Army Of The Dead is active before the encounter begins.

• Army Of The DeadView detailsUse as you approach the boss.
• Raise AbominationView detailsUse upon reaching the boss.
• Dark TransformationView detailsUse with Potion.
• Festering StrikeView detailsUse to apply Festering Wounds.
• Death And DecayView detailsUse for AoE damage.
• Summon GargoyleView detailsUse with Dark Transformation and Potion.
• Death CoilView detailsUse exactly 3 times.
• Unholy AssaultView detailsUse with Trinket and Racial.
• ApocalypseView detailsUse on cooldown.

Start with Army Of The Dead, then Raise Abomination. Follow with Dark Transformation and Festering Strike to apply wounds. Use Death And Decay for AoE, then Summon Gargoyle with cooldowns. Finish with Death Coil and Unholy Assault before using Apocalypse.

AoE

Use Death And Decay to initiate AoE damage.

• Raise AbominationView detailsUse to summon your minion.
• DefileView detailsUse for AoE damage and cleave.
• Scourge StrikeView detailsUse to apply Plaguebringer.
• Dark TransformationView detailsUse to apply Virulent Plague.
• OutbreakView detailsUse to maintain Virulent Plague.
• Abomination LimbView detailsUse for additional cleave damage.
• Unholy AssaultView detailsUse to apply wounds and boost damage.
• Vile ContagionView detailsUse to spread wounds to nearby targets.
• EpidemicView detailsUse to spend Runic Power when targets are low.

For AoE, start with Raise Abomination and Defile. Use Scourge Strike to apply wounds, followed by Dark Transformation and Outbreak. Utilize Abomination Limb and Unholy Assault for damage, then spread wounds with Vile Contagion and spend Runic Power with Epidemic.

Cooldowns

Use cooldowns strategically for maximum impact.

• Abomination LimbView detailsUse on cooldown, save for add waves.
• Unholy AssaultView detailsUse on cooldown for damage boost.
• Vile ContagionView detailsUse in AoE on targets with 6+ wounds.
• Army Of The DeadView detailsUse as you approach the boss.
• ApocalypseView detailsUse on cooldown, ideally with 4+ wounds.
• Dark TransformationView detailsUse off cooldown for cleave.
• Summon GargoyleView detailsUse on cooldown, prioritize Death Coil after.
• DefileView detailsUse in AoE, maintain uptime.

Prioritize cooldowns like Abomination Limb and Unholy Assault for damage. Use Vile Contagion in AoE, and ensure Army Of The Dead and Apocalypse are used effectively.