Hey guys,
I’ve been in a slump on my death knight lately, having trouble finding that spark to play as and identify with them.
People who are longtime death knight fans (In content/roleplay/both) what draws you to them? What about them really fires you up, and in your eyes makes them cool?
There are a few things that make the DK stand out from other classes in the game.
Firstly, from a class fantasy standpoint, they fill the role of the dark warrior/overlord archetype, utilizing powerful armor, weaponry, and dark magics in battle. This archetype is used by several very cool characters, not the least of which is Arthas himself but also pertaining to characters like Darth Vader and Sauron. Indomitable, inexorable forces of darkness that slowly advance and crush anything in their path. Anyone who wants to play a character like this will often be drawn to the death knight.
Looking a bit closer, we can see what more specific abilities the Death Knight has. Not only do they possess the abilities of a necromancer, but also mimic the abilities of plenty of other badass undead creatures, such as vampires, undead dragons, and liches. All combined into a single powerful warrior, who, in addition, can command those same creatures. These abilities, all products of death magic, are pretty much unique to the death knight alone, whereas there are plenty of powers that are shared between multiple classes (IE, the light being used by pallies and priests, nature/animal magic being used by druids and hunters, etc.)
From a gameplay perspective, death knights have a unique resource system that, to this day, is set fairly well apart from most of the other resources in the game. Combine that with the playstyle of not having a lot of mobility but still having a lot of ways to close on your opponents and ways to deal with those that like to hide out of range, making you feel like a real monster on the battlefield.
All in all, if you want to play a dark juggernaut that moves like a dark wave across the battlefield, consuming anything in your path and growing stronger for it, then the death knight is for you.
If you’re still not feeling it, I’d recommend levelling another DK through the Legion Class Hall campaign. Class-based content is always great to get in the feel for any class, and I’d say that DK has one of the better order hall campaigns.
I appreciate the well-thought-out response, you’ve raised some really valid points.
The dark juggernaut fantasy is a real thing. It’s great to feel unstoppable, especially when playing blood.
I feel like I’ve lost sight of that by playing frost for a while in raids, shoehorned into the Breath of Sindagosa playstyle. Scrambling to keep breath uptime for a minute while cheesing around mechanics isn’t the dark juggernaut I’d love to be piloting.
To your point of low mobility but high lockdown, I’m a big fan – death grip is probably one of the most satisfying abilities in the game, something I’d miss if I swapped to a warrior or rogue as my go-to melee class.
One thing I struggle to relate my head around is the disease focus, especially with unholy. Raising dead is great, summoning gargoyles/val’kyr feels amazing. It’s being a walking, virulent plaguebomb (who likely smells) that the fantasy gets harder to vibe with. If I could reconcile that, I feel like I and a lot of others would be more willing to give unholy the shot it deserves.
Revisiting the death knight campaign might give me the inspiration I need. I really hope blizzard brings back class halls in some capacity in the future, because that shiz was my jam.
Cycle through all three specs. Mine has been doing it for years to experiment for longevity.
Lots of undead experience brain degradation, becoming increasingly addled has been a treat.
Plus its a great segway into what is essentially Forsaken rp (probably the most fun rp niche ive experienced thus far) for any race.
And after a while, you can scour the very flesh from your soul and bind your spirit directly to your armor like a stygian knight.
Or rebuild yourself like frankenstein (og forsaken were notable for attaching enemies limbs to their missing ones to remain functional.)
Not good enough to be a shambling cadaver? Sacrifice pure paladin flesh for a high quality corpse to inhabit. Just like Nathanos.
The possibilities are endless, throw in battle damage from when you died. Missing a jaw? Get a jawpiece to interact with in every emote.
A gaping hole in your side? Plug it with a rag. Are your insides dusty? Subsist on blood or ichor? Do you have an organic digestive system, a necromantic one or none? These things give your undead character and refine the experience.
And sweet lord, your mount.
Mounts can go the same route. Wheyher its undead gryphon or spectral steed the two of you are in this weird undead life together.
I havent even covered runeblade shenanigans, or in depth unholy, frost or blood. Theres so much more.
Dk/forsaken rp is far deeper than any other niche ive tried.
Now im excited again. I may dust off my dk after this. Hes been mindlessly wandering the grounds of icecrown in a frost induced stupor for the past 6 months.
Old undead are weird. Especially when they have died twice for double death powers.
If all my friends weren’t alliance-side, I’d swap forsaken in a heartbeat to try it out. A forsaken death knight just feels right to me, giving you the appearance and backstory to really go all-in.
That, and I’ve always found that the horde has had a bigger space/interest for high-fantasy characters.
This is pretty good brain food too. The runeblade IS what makes the death-knight, right? It’s something I can really push/work with. The weapon choice, what the runes represent, etc. And having the ability to wear incredibly cursed armor like saronite for its anti-magic properties really feeds into that dark juggernaut theme.
My brother said the iron knuckle from Zelda is what interested him in playing DK
Runeblade shenanigans, mostly. I really enjoy ignoring combat capability and thinking what the equivalent would be in other areas, because surely not all DKs are 100% dedicated to combat and were 100% dedicated throughout their lives.
My DK takes a crafting turn - sort of a, what’s the badass undeath version of a DK that was a crafter in life and started on runeblade shenanigans in death. So, I have her story such that I just say she makes a lot of high level components used in magical research, runeblade shenanigans, that sort of thing.
Not the most exciting thing, but sometimes I just wanna think about the economy and trade routes and how my character makes money and how they contribute outside of combat.
Whats amazing to me with DK roleplay is all the different ways each race/culture tackles it and can be integrated into the rp - are you a Troll? Multiple Loa who can serve as a patron, from good ol’ Bwon, Hakkar as the Loa of Blood, you could be a sleeper agent of Mueh’zala, or even an unearthed relic from the ancient empire under Xibala.
Are you a Draenei? You have the Auchenai resources to pull ideas from. Some orc derivation? Shadowmoon Necrolytes - heck even as a human are you from the scourge, forsaken, or really an orc soul holdover from the original deathknights under Gorefiend?
Gnome or Mechagnome? Much like the forsaken you can stick yourself back together but better, the ultimate steampunk cyborg running on death magic. Imagine the shenanigans goblins can get up to if accidentally blowing yourself up isn’t quite the roadblock it used to be.
Worgen? Not only do you have the obvious Scourge/Forsaken issues with the faction conflict, but theres always the Cult of the Wolf and Arugal elements reintroduced in Wrath - giving into the blood frenzy or becoming a shadowy, moonlit conjurer of darkness.
I just love the different ways undeath, the Death Knights, and the associated abilities can be framed in existing lore, its a great starting point.
I actually roleplay as a Blood Knight DK. For me, from a roleplay and lore perspective, what really draws me into the DKs are the story behind them, and the fear they bring to others. Despite the deeds of the Ebon Blade and those like Darion Mograine, their legacy under the Scourge is not forgotten, nor will it ever be. But in spite of this, they still move forward, still strive to forge a new life for themselves while at the same time, help preserve the future of Azeroth.
They are the thankless ones, the unsung heroes. Their lot is a tragic one, for no matter they do, the infamy of Arthas and the The Third War will dog their steps like a shadow, one that unfortunately casts them in an unpleasant light despite their intentions. They are essentially the black sheep of Azeroth. The ones who will never truly fit in.
As far as gameplay goes, being essentially an undead killing machine with the powers of a lich is actually pretty darn cool. My fav spec is Frost lol.
It’s really about the individual character.
Sadis, for example, is a bastard.
An Orc who abandoned any sense of honor in pursuit of power. He held no loyalty, had no friends or family, and no attachment to any kind of higher ideals or motivations.
Just raw, unfiltered lust for power.
He was a stain on the very concept of what makes up the noble part of the “noble savage” archetype that Orcs are meant to fill in Warcraft.
He went to the plaguelands and fought swarm after swarm of undead as he traveled to the necropolis he’d heard about. He then camped beneath it and slaughtered anything that approached him until he was finally killed. All because he wanted the power of the Runeblade wielding warriors he’d heard about, but wouldn’t willingly submit.
After being raised, he served particularly well. Right up until the events that lead to breaking of the Lich King’s grasp over him.
Since then his story has been one of penance for the horrors he visited upon his own soul and the souls of those around him. He was welcomed into the Clan because he went before the Chieftan and begged for a place where he could start again. When he learned of the Nightborne he volunteered to seek them out and show them the path forward.
He dedicates every waking moment to training and gaining power, so that he can be an unliving wall in the face of evil. Implacable, unstoppable and willing to visit upon the wicked a brutality such as would break the minds of those who live without purpose.
He is the evil that is paid unto evil. And that is his eternal penance for abandoning honor.
…
That’s what drives me to enjoy playing a death knight. A bit edgy perhaps, but DKs were made to be edgelords. It’s really no surprise I made him Venthyr.
My Gnomish DK is based very broadly on the mad scientist archetype, with a couple of the useful touchstones being Victor Frankenstein or Fabius Bile (Warhammer 40k). For him, the emphasis on disease that you see in the Unholy spec takes on a much more scientific tone. Rather than just being pestilential magic used to incapacitate foes, it’s more that he has access to weaponized serums, powders, potions, compounds, or all manner of other dangerous substances derived from his experiments. They can be applied to his weapons (melee based abilities), or even just hurled (outbreak) as the situation demands/allows. In other words, he takes the disease aspect and twists it slightly so it looks more like biological or chemical warfare.
I’d say raise dead is only soulstone in disguise, but I don’t know if you’re a warlock who hides from enemy territory