Frost DK Changes Analysis

Classes Death Knight
1

  • Frost

    • Obliterate has been updated –

      • Two-Handed: A brutal attack that deals Physical and Frost damage.

      • Dual Wield: A brutal attack with both weapons that deals a total of Physical and Frost damage.

    • Shattering Blade now has an additional effect – When Frostbane consumes the Razorice stacks on your main target, it deals an additional 250% damage instead.

    • Long Winter has been updated – While Pillar of Frost is active your auto-attack critical strikes increase its duration by 1 second, up to 4 seconds.

    • All ability damage reduced by 19%.

    • Auto-attack damage increased by 300%.

    • Frostbane damage reduced by 10%.

    • Breath of Sindragosa secondary target damage reduced by 20%.

    • Hyperprexia now causes Runic Power spending abilities to have a chance to additionally deal 30% of the damage dealt over 4 seconds.

    • Empower Rune Weapon effect is now instant and no longer has a projectile.

It looks like they’re adjusting Frost DK to be auto-attack based. My guess is they’re trying to streamline spec dmg to be slightly less bursty and improve sustain dmg in between goes.

Hopefully, with the right talents, the big boost in auto-attack dmg will at least compensate for (but ideally exceed) the DPS loss from the nerf to ability dmg.

This would also explain the Death Strike nerf, with the changes to Permafrost and synergy with increased auto-attack dmg making Frost passively tankier with the beefier absorb shield from Perma. Basically, having slightly less effective Death Strikes but requiring less Death Strikes in the first place.

Of course, how this actually plays out and whether it’s an improvement to the previous meta waits to be seen.

The dmg reduction loss to Lichborne sucks, but the buff and reduced cd to Death Pact hopefully makes up for it. (This might actually not be so bad, since Lich can then be used exclusively as a cc break/immunity.)

Not sure if 2h will be as viable anymore, since (correct me if I’m wrong) dual wield I think is traditionally better with an auto-attack build. I’m guessing stat priority will also lean towards Haste/Mastery type builds to maximize auto-attacks.

This is all just me theorycrafting, btw, so take it all with a grain of salt :man_shrugging: .

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I’ve run some tests today and totally support your analysis. These changes affect bursty, RNG nature of frost - which is great because it raises the floor and provides a much more predictable dps curve.

It rewards time on target, smart play and avoiding mechanics. The rotation is much simpler. It’s always been engaging - have loved Frost since WotLK. And it’s a first expression of a true frost identity.

It also heavily favours dual wielding - which is iconic frost. I’m in huge favour of these changes and I’m still testing.

The one correction I’d make to your theorycrafting is that crit and haste are the primary stats - but very closely weighted. I’m trying to find the sweet spot, but once you hit the point of diminishing returns, then move to mastery.

For these changes, crit and haste synergizes really well with changes to remorseless winter and killing machine. Also with the stacking of icy talons and razor ice.

The output favours heavy engagement and time on target - and using abilities provide a great boost - but most importantly, the synergies introduced with these changes really stabilize the core identity of frost and feel very impactful.

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Thanks for the input!

I did want to make a correction here, as I’ve been testing the changes since yesterday’s patch.

(I want to preface this by saying this is strictly for PvP.)

Just doing some quick tests on PvP dummies, I’m getting about a +10% overall dmg increase in a 30-second burst window after patch buffs.

Regarding stats, I was pretty much off on my predictions :sweat_smile:. While the dmg increase to auto-attacks is noticeable, it looks like it’s not significant enough to justify a change in stat priority.

However, imo, stat weights are pretty much the same as 11.2 for 2h Deathbringer. I’ve been simming my gear/build per Raidbots which favors a heavy focus on Mastery, with maybe a little Crit and little to no Haste.

This makes sense, as (especially with yesterday’s buffs) the bulk of 2h Deathbringer’s dmg still comes from burst, where Haste is not needed as much. This is because for burst dmg, you should be operating with full or close to full runes, and you want to focus more on hitting as hard as possible with all of the Killing Machine/Exterminate procs, etc.

Also, you should have enough Haste already with buffs and talents such as Unholy Momentum (+4% Haste). Plus, the incoming Haste buff to Frostwyrm’s Fury via the apex talents will add to this further.

For Mastery/Crit/Haste/Vers, I’m currently @ 79%/13%/9%/24% respectively which feels pretty good.

While the accuracy of stat weights (per Raidbots) might not be 100%—since Raidbots unfortunately doesn’t have a setting to sim @ max PvP ilvl and pulls the numbers from PvE ilvl of gear, I’m pretty sure—it tends to be a pretty good ballpark estimate and my testing in arenas seems to reflect this.

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I think this is great.

I can provide the PvE perspective and your PvP perspective would help complete the picture. And unintended collaboration? :slight_smile:

For PvE, dual wielding and haste / crit definitely wins out. I still have to calculate the fair numbers as right now, I’m systematically going through each talent, one at time to compile the numbers. Not even looking at hero talents yet.

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As someone who pvps a lot and did a lot of testing on beta:

Frost pvp at least has a stun and silence every 45 sec with the apex talents.

That is about all it has going for it.

Unholy outshines it so much more imo. Does better sustain, better aoe, depending on build even better burst and has overall better survival due to the new pvp talent they added. Not to mention rune of apoc giving a reap MS effect too.

Frost will still do great in bgs imo, but arena UH just outshines it.

But I am a frost player so will still probably go frost. I hit 2300 week 1 this season as frost before I had a real losing lobby. Going to try and get 2400 week 1 if able come midnight.

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Unholy will prob always be Blizz’s preferred spec for PvP. I prefer the Frost playstyle tho, and the spec is currently better in PvP than a lot of people think, imo.

One of the biggest advantages atm is the almost zero ramp-up time for FDK burst. I hit one global (Obliterate + ERW which is off GCD) then grip heals in and pop everything.

Grip > Blinding Sleet > Frostwyrm’s stun > Strang is also one of the nastiest opening cc chains as well. Plus having double grip which is like having extra kicks if needed.

This quick burst/cc combo disrupts a lot of enemy openers who are still building up resources for burst, and puts a ton of pressure on the healer who will prob have to trinket by the time Strang hits. Usually, can lock down a kill by 2nd or 3rd go.

I’m currently pushing 2500+ in solo shuffle 3s without much difficulty running this setup.

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