Midnight Season 2
Melee DPS

Death Knight · Unholy

Unholy is a disease-and-pet melee spec that banks Lesser Ghoul stacks with Festering Strike and unleashes them with Scourge Strike under Dark Transformation and Army of the Dead. It ramps into powerful sustained and multi-target damage.

Checked 5 Sept 2026· 12.1.0. Last checked 46 days ago. No patch has landed since, but it is due another look.Last checked 46 days ago. No patch has landed since, but it is due another look.

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Guide contents
Spec briefing

How Unholy Death Knight wins

Unholy is a disease-and-pet melee spec that banks Lesser Ghoul stacks with Festering Strike and unleashes them with Scourge Strike under Dark Transformation and Army of the Dead. It ramps into powerful sustained and multi-target damage.

Role
Melee DPS
Stat lead
Strength then Haste
Single target
San'layn
Cleave / AoE
Rider of the Apocalypse
Patch 12.1.0Updated Sep 5, 2026

Strong when

Plan around

  • Noticeable ramp before peak damage
  • Lesser Ghoul stack management adds complexity
  • Damage leans on the pet staying alive and buffed
Patch 12.1.0

What changed for this spec

Blizzard says 12.1 deliberately thins Unholy's summon density, calling the combined Midnight rework and Rider of the Apocalypse summons more than they are comfortable with and citing a need to keep a clear game space for players. Army of the Dead is rebuilt: it now forms an unholy army of 8 Lesser Ghouls for 30 seconds that you command through Scourge Strike, executing Orders based on nearby enemies instead of summoning Lesser Ghouls, with Death Order and Epidemic Order named as those Orders. Soul Reaper no longer consumes charges of Putrefy and instead consumes up to 3 Lesser Ghoul stacks to summon them instantly. Reanimation is renamed Lord of the Dead with a redesigned sacrifice effect. Tuning moves in both directions: all damage is reduced by 3% and Army of the Dead Lesser Ghoul damage by 25%, while auto-attack damage is increased by 100% and Epidemic by 54%, alongside the class-wide note about lowering major DPS cooldown throughput and increasing steady state damage.

3 things on this page name abilities the patch changed

These are flagged, not corrected. Rewriting a priority list needs a source this page does not have, so what is shown is where the guide and the patch notes disagree.

  • Army of the Dead (rotation) The notes say "Army of the Dead has been updated - Summon or empower Lesser Ghouls to form an unholy army of 8 for 30 seconds. While active, you command your army through Scourge Strike, executing Orders based on nearby enemies instead of summoning Lesser Ghouls."
  • Soul Reaper (rotation) The notes say "Soul Reaper has been updated - No longer consumes charges of Putrefy to cast. Now consumes up to 3 Lesser Ghoul stacks to summon them instantly."
  • Soul Reaper (talents) The notes say "Soul Reaper has been updated - No longer consumes charges of Putrefy to cast. Now consumes up to 3 Lesser Ghoul stacks to summon them instantly."

Source: Blizzard, Curse of Ula'tek content update notes (https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24293281). Transcript: docs/apps/wow-god/research/patch-12.1/12.1.0-CLASSES-section.txt

Not re-verified for Season 2. This ordering was checked for patch 12.0.7. Patch 12.1 raised max-level player health and creature damage by 25% and deliberately moved power out of cooldowns into steady-state damage, either of which can move secondary weights. Open question: no Season 2 sim source has been checked, so the order below is last season's and is shown unchanged rather than guessed at.

Character setup

Stat priority and consumables

Item level and effect strength still matter. Use this ordering to break close choices, then re-check it after major gear swaps.

  1. 1.Strength
  2. 2.Haste
  3. 3.Mastery
  4. 4.Critical Strike
  5. 5.Versatility

Haste ramps wound generation and pet uptime; Mastery boosts shadow and disease damage. Critical Strike and Versatility trail for throughput. Item level and Strength win most slot comparisons - sim before replacing a higher-item-level piece or moving gems.

Unholy Death Knight races and racials

Patch 12.0.7 · reviewed 2026-07-24

Orc is the practical Horde PvP default for Unholy; Pandaren adds setup control, Troll adds a burst button, and PvE dispel racials can outweigh tiny throughput differences.

Best Horde PvP: Orc

Orc remains Unholy's dependable Horde choice: Hardiness helps against stun pressure and Command improves pet damage. It is the practical default when you only want one Unholy Death Knight.

If you already have Orc: Pandaren or Troll

Pandaren is the next practical PvP option for Quaking Palm setup utility. Troll is the burst-focused alternative through Berserking, but its long cooldown makes it less reliable across an arena match.

PvE and Mythic+ utility

For difficult dungeon or raid effects, Dwarf or Dark Iron Dwarf self-cleanses can be more valuable than a small throughput racial. Choose your Horde race for the utility you will actually press, not a simulated fraction of a percent.

Sources and review scope
Consumables

Flasks, food, potions, weapon oils, and runes for this build.

6 rows
FoodRootland CelebrationDefault feast.FlaskFlask of the MagistersDefault damage flask.Combat PotionLight's PotentialUse inside the Dark Transformation plus Apocalypse window.Health PotionSilvermoon Health PotionCarry for raid, keys, and PvP.Weapon OilThalassian Phoenix OilDefault weapon oil.Augment RuneVoid-Touched Augment RuneUse for progression and high keys.

Priority order is from patch 12.0.7 and has not been re-derived for 12.1. Individual lines naming an ability that 12.1 removed or redesigned are annotated above; lines that 12.1 only retuned are unchanged, because a damage number moving does not by itself reorder a priority list.

Combat

Opener and priority

Use these as decision priorities, not a rigid cast sequence. Re-evaluate whenever targets, resources, procs, or mechanics change.

Core principles

  • Keep abilities on cooldown: Unholy is a very burst-focused spec that relies heavily on using its cooldowns as often as possible - cooldown setup and execution is its highest priority.
  • Spend Sudden Doom procs ASAP: Sudden Doom has many talent interactions and is the strongest non-cooldown button you can press, so spend the proc with Death Coil or Epidemic as quickly as possible.
  • Keep an eye on your Ghouls: Lesser Ghouls are the bread and butter of Midnight Unholy - always have Lesser Ghoul stacks from Festering Strike so Scourge Strike can summon them.
Rider of the ApocalypsePlays a proc-and-resource priority split into two states: the normal list, and a compressed list while Forbidden Knowledge is active (covered in the advanced section). Each GCD, go top to bottom and press the highest-value button.

Single-target priority

  1. 1.Outbreak - if Virulent Plague is not active
  2. 2.Army of the Dead - on cooldown
  3. 3.Dark Transformation - on cooldown
  4. 4.Soul Reaper - on cooldown
  5. 5.Putrefy - if Dark Transformation is active
  6. 6.Festering Scythe - if its buff is about to expire
  7. 7.Death Coil - if you have a Sudden Doom proc
  8. 8.Festering Strike - if you have no Lesser Ghoul stacks
  9. 9.Scourge Strike - if you have Lesser Ghoul stacks
  10. 10.Death Coil

AoE priority

  1. 1.Outbreak - if Virulent Plague is not active
  2. 2.Army of the Dead - on cooldown
  3. 3.Dark Transformation - on cooldown
  4. 4.Festering Scythe - if its buff is about to expire
  5. 5.Soul Reaper - on cooldown
  6. 6.Putrefy - if Dark Transformation is active
  7. 7.Death and Decay - if you expect your targets to stay inside it
  8. 8.Epidemic - if Sudden Doom procs
  9. 9.Festering Strike - if you have no Lesser Ghoul stacks
  10. 10.Scourge Strike - if you have Lesser Ghoul stacks
  11. 11.Epidemic

Opener

  1. 1.Pre-pot and prepare your on-use trinket around the pull.
  2. 2.Cast Outbreak.
  3. 3.Cast Festering Strike.
  4. 4.Cast Festering Scythe.
  5. 5.Cast Army of the Dead.
  6. 6.Cast Dark Transformation.
  7. 7.Use your on-use trinket and combat potion.
  8. 8.Cast Soul Reaper.
  9. 9.Cast Necrotic Coil twice.
  10. 10.Cast Putrefy, then continue with the normal priority.
San'laynAdds Vampiric Strike and stricter Lesser Ghoul banking ahead of Dark Transformation, plus Soul Reaper execute priority under 35% health. The same two-state structure around Forbidden Knowledge applies.

Single-target priority

  1. 1.Outbreak - if Virulent Plague is not active
  2. 2.Festering Strike - before Dark Transformation if you have 3 or fewer Lesser Ghoul stacks
  3. 3.Soul Reaper - if your target has less than 35% health
  4. 4.Army of the Dead - on cooldown
  5. 5.Dark Transformation - on cooldown
  6. 6.Soul Reaper - on cooldown
  7. 7.Putrefy - if Dark Transformation is active
  8. 8.Festering Scythe - if its buff is about to expire
  9. 9.Death Coil - if you have a Sudden Doom proc
  10. 10.Festering Strike - if you have no Lesser Ghoul stacks
  11. 11.Scourge Strike - if you have Lesser Ghoul stacks
  12. 12.Death Coil

AoE priority

  1. 1.Outbreak - if Virulent Plague is not active
  2. 2.Festering Strike - before Dark Transformation if you have 5 or fewer Lesser Ghoul stacks
  3. 3.Army of the Dead - on cooldown
  4. 4.Dark Transformation - on cooldown
  5. 5.Festering Scythe - if its buff is about to expire
  6. 6.Soul Reaper - on cooldown
  7. 7.Putrefy - if Dark Transformation is active
  8. 8.Death and Decay - if you expect your targets to stay inside it
  9. 9.Epidemic - if Sudden Doom procs
  10. 10.Festering Strike - if you have no Lesser Ghoul stacks
  11. 11.Scourge Strike - if you have Lesser Ghoul stacks
  12. 12.Epidemic

Opener

  1. 1.Pre-pot and prepare your on-use trinket around the pull.
  2. 2.Cast Outbreak.
  3. 3.Cast Festering Strike.
  4. 4.Cast Festering Scythe.
  5. 5.Cast Army of the Dead.
  6. 6.Cast Dark Transformation.
  7. 7.Use your on-use trinket and combat potion.
  8. 8.Cast Vampiric Strike twice.
  9. 9.Cast Soul Reaper.
  10. 10.Cast Necrotic Coil twice.
  11. 11.Cast Vampiric Strike.
  12. 12.Cast Putrefy, then continue with the normal priority.

Pre-combat checks

  • Summon Timmy: make sure your primary pet is up by casting Raise Dead. This applies to raids, dungeons, delves, and open-world content alike.

Major cooldowns

Army of the Dead

  • Your biggest cooldown, and a trigger for many other talents - most prominently Raise Abomination, Summon Gargoyle, and Apocalypse Now, all of which summon additional pets.
  • With Commander of the Dead talented, it is vital that Army of the Dead and Dark Transformation stay in sync so you use both at the same time.
  • In practice, hit Dark Transformation as soon as possible after it comes off cooldown once between every Army of the Dead cast.

Advanced tips

Playing around Forbidden Knowledge

  • During Forbidden Knowledge the priority compresses: Soul Reaper and Putrefy on cooldown, Festering Scythe if its buff is about to expire, then fill with Necrotic Coil.
  • Lesser Ghoul rules still apply inside the window: Festering Strike with no stacks, Scourge Strike (Vampiric Strike as San'layn) with stacks.
  • In AoE during Forbidden Knowledge, add Death and Decay if targets will stay inside it and cast Graveyard before falling back to the ghoul builders.
  • Unholy's opener is famously a nuclear launch sequence - the Midnight versions are simpler, but the cooldown stack at the pull is still where your damage lives.

Import strings were built for patch 12.0.7 and have NOT been re-verified for 12.1. Nobody authoritative publishes import strings, so none was rewritten here rather than invented. Patch 12.1 moved or removed talents in several trees, so a string may import a build that no longer exists. Check the listed key talents against the 12.1 changes above before importing.

Build

Talents and hero trees

Use San'layn for the single-target profile below and Rider of the Apocalypse when cleave or adds make its toolkit more valuable.

Recommended starting profiles

Single-target: San'layn

San'layn adds Vampiric Strike and Gift of the San'layn for stronger sustained single-target and self-healing.

  • San'layn hero tree
  • Stat priority: Strength > Haste
  • Interrupt: Mind Freeze

Multi-target: Rider of the Apocalypse

Rider of the Apocalypse summons extra horsemen and enables Apocalypse Now for wide burst on pulls.

Talent builds

Start with the profile matching your content. Boss and dungeon tabs in the gear section show the exact loadout used for each ranked result. A build with no import string has not had one exported for this patch; the key talents below are the build.

Open talent calculator

Raid - San'layn Single Target

Recommended raid default. San'layn's Vampiric Strike and Gift of the San'layn reward long uninterrupted uptime on a boss: bank Lesser Ghoul stacks before Dark Transformation, weave Putrefy inside it, and keep Soul Reaper on execute targets.

San'laynVampiric StrikeGift of the San'laynDark TransformationPutrefySoul ReaperSummon Gargoyle
Open in talent calculator →Raid BiS equipment ↓

Mythic+ - Rider AoE

Default key build. Rider of the Apocalypse brings Apocalypse Now and Death Charge for wide burst on pulls; Festering Scythe and Scourge Strike convert banked Lesser Ghoul stacks across the pack, Epidemic dumps Runic Power, and Raise Abomination is the pet cooldown of choice for repeatable key pulls.

Rider of the ApocalypseApocalypse NowDeath ChargeRaise AbominationFestering ScytheEpidemicFestering StrikeDeath and Decay
Open in talent calculator →Live Mythic+ gear →

Arena - Wound Pressure (3v3)

Built for spread pressure and healer punishment. Doomburst converts Sudden Doom procs into slows, Necrotic Wounds turns Putrefy into healing absorption, Strangulate and Dark Simulacrum answer casters, and Spellwarden makes Anti-Magic Shell a partner save. Swap utility picks to match the enemy comp.

DoomburstNecrotic WoundsStrangulateDark SimulacrumSpellwardenDeath's AdvanceLichborneIcebound Fortitude
Open in talent calculator →Live 3v3 arena gear →

Complete talent referenceshow

Every class, specialization, and hero-tree talent from Blizzard game data. Active and choice talents stay open; passive nodes remain searchable and expand on demand.

Build a custom loadout
Talent type

Death Knight class tree

Shared class talents, including throughput, control, defensives, and movement.

46 of 46 shown

Active and choice talents

Icebound FortitudeActiveYour blood freezes, granting immunity to Stun effects and reducing all damage you take by 30% for 8 sec.Death StrikeActiveFocuses dark power into a strike that deals 61 Physical damage and heals you for 20.00% of all damage taken in the last 5 sec, minimum 7.0% of maximum health.Raise DeadActiveRaises a ghoul to fight by your side. You can have a maximum of one ghoul at a time. Lasts 1 min.Mind FreezeActiveSmash the target's mind with cold, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.Blinding SleetActiveTargets in a cone in front of you are blinded, causing them to wander disoriented for 5 sec. Damage may cancel the effect. When Blinding Sleet ends, enemies are slowed by 50% for 6 sec.March of DarknessChoiceDeath's Advance grants an additional 25% movement speed over the first 3 sec.Wraith WalkChoiceEmbrace the power of the Shadowlands, removing all root effects and increasing your movement speed by 70% for 4 sec. Taking any action cancels the effect. While active, your movement speed cannot be reduced below 170%.Control UndeadActiveDominates the target undead creature up to level 71, forcing it to do your bidding for 5 min.Death PactActiveCreate a death pact that heals you for 50% of your maximum health, but absorbs incoming healing equal to 30% of your max health for 15 sec.Anti-Magic ZoneActivePlaces an Anti-Magic Zone for 6 sec, reducing the magic damage taken by party or raid members by 15%.AsphyxiateChoiceLifts the enemy target off the ground, crushing their throat with dark energy and stunning them for 5 sec.Death's ReachChoiceIncreases the range of Death Grip by 10 yds. Killing an enemy that yields experience or honor resets the cooldown of Death Grip.

Passive talents

Runic AttenuationPassiveAuto attacks have a chance to generate 3 Runic Power.Improved Death StrikePassiveDeath Strike's cost is reduced by 10, and its healing is increased by 60%.Cleaving StrikesPassiveBlizzard does not currently expose a description for this node.Gloom WardPassive2 ranksAbsorbs are 30% more effective on you. Unholy MomentumPassive2 ranksIncreases Haste by 4%.EnfeeblePassiveYour ghoul's attacks have a chance to apply Enfeeble, reducing the enemies movement speed by 30% and the damage they deal to you by 12% for 6 sec.ColdthirstPassiveSuccessfully interrupting an enemy with Mind Freeze grants 10 Runic Power and reduces its cooldown by 3 sec.Proliferating ChillPassiveChains of Ice affects 1 additional nearby enemy.PermafrostPassiveYour auto attack damage grants you an absorb shield equal to 50% of the damage dealt.Veteran of the Third WarPassiveStamina increased by 20%. BrittlePassiveYour diseases have a chance to weaken your enemy causing your attacks against them to deal 6% increased damage for 5 sec.Blood BondPassiveWhile you are below 50% health, your Ghoul sacrifices 4% of its maximum health to heal you for 1% of your maximum health every sec.Icy TalonsPassiveYour Runic Power spending abilities increase your melee attack speed by 6% for 10 sec, stacking up to 3 times.Death NotesPassiveRaise Ally costs 30 less Runic Power.Death DefiancePassiveThe cooldown of Death Pact is reduced by 30 sec, and you receive 50% increased healing while its healing absorb is active.Unholy BondPassiveIncreases the effectiveness of your Runeforge effects by 20%.Ice PrisonPassiveChains of Ice now also roots enemies for 4 sec but its cooldown is increased to 12 sec.AssimilationPassiveThe cooldown of Anti-Magic Zone is reduced by 60 sec and its duration is increased by 2 sec.Anti-Magic BarrierPassiveReduces the cooldown of Anti-Magic Shell by 20 sec and increases its duration and amount absorbed by 40%.Grip of the DeadPassiveDeath and Decay reduces the movement speed of enemies within its area by 90%, decaying by 10% every sec.SuppressionPassiveDamage taken from area of effect attacks reduced by 3%. When suffering a loss of control effect, this bonus is increased by an additional 6% for 6 sec.Blood ScentPassiveIncreases Leech by 3%.Unholy EndurancePassiveIncreases Lichborne duration by 2 sec and reduces the cooldown by 30 sec. OsmosisPassiveAnti-Magic Shell increases healing received by 15%.Insidious ChillPassiveYour auto-attacks reduce the target's auto-attack speed by 5% for 30 sec, stacking up to 4 times.Runic ProtectionPassiveYour chance to be critically struck is reduced by 3% and your Armor is increased by 6%.Blood DrawPassiveWhen you fall below 30% health you drain 42 health from nearby enemies, the damage you take is reduced by 10% and your Death Strike cost is reduced by 10 for 8 sec. Can only occur every 2 min.Rune MasteryPassive2 ranksConsuming a Rune has a chance to increase your Strength by 6% for 8 sec.Subduing GraspPassiveWhen you would pull an enemy, the damage they deal to you is reduced by 6% for 6 sec.Will of the NecropolisPassive2 ranksDamage taken below 30% Health is reduced by 35%.Null MagicPassiveMagic damage taken is reduced by 8% and the duration of harmful Magic effects against you are reduced by 35%.Unyielding WillPassiveAnti-Magic Shell now removes all harmful magical effects when activated, but its cooldown is increased by 20 sec.Death's EchoPassiveDeath's Advance, Death and Decay, and Death Grip have 1 additional charge.Vestigial ShellPassiveCasting Anti-Magic Shell grants 2 nearby allies a Lesser Anti-Magic Shell that Absorbs up to 148 magic damage and reduces the duration of harmful Magic effects against them by 50%.

Unholy specialization tree

Every Unholy talent currently exposed by Blizzard game data.

39 of 39 shown

Active and choice talents

OutbreakActiveInflicts the target with Dread Plague and Virulent Plague. Dread Plague A malicious plague that deals 153 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Explodes for 64 Shadow damage to nearby enemies and infects one when the host dies. Can only be applied to 1 host at a time. Virulent Plague An infectious plague that spreads to all nearby enemies, dealing 71 Shadow damage over 24 sec.Scourge StrikeActiveAn unholy strike that deals 47 Shadow damage and causing your plagues on the target to erupt, dealing their damage an additional time at 35% effectiveness. Applies Virulent Plague or spreads it to a nearby enemy.PutrefyActiveSummon a Lesser Ghoul to strike the enemy for 69 Shadow damage and have them explode for 48 Shadow damage to nearby enemies.Dark TransformationActiveCorrupt and evolve your Ghoul into a Monstrosity, greatly empowering its abilities for 15 sec. Death Coil and Epidemic extends the duration of this effect by 1.0 sec.Plague MasteryChoiceCritical strike damage of your diseases is increased by 25%Grave MasteryChoiceCritical strike damage of your minions is increased by 15%Soul ReaperActiveRupture the soul of your enemy, dealing 158 Shadowfrost damage and causing the foe to take 20% increased damage from your diseases and minions for 8 sec. Only usable on enemies below 35% maximum health. Consumes up to 3 Lesser Ghoul stacks to summon them instantly.Army of the DeadActiveSummon or empower Lesser Ghouls to form an unholy army of 8 for 30 sec. While active, summoning a Lesser Ghoul will instead execute Orders based on nearby enemies. Death Orders Lesser Ghouls strike with you, dealing 11 Shadow damage to your target. Epidemic Orders Lesser Ghouls erupt in viscera, dealing 2 Shadow damage to nearby enemies. Deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets.Raise AbominationChoiceArmy of the Dead now raises an Abomination for 30 sec to attack enemies while emitting a disease cloud, dealing 12 Plague damage to nearby enemies every 2 sec.Summon GargoyleChoiceArmy of the Dead now summons a Gargoyle into the battlefield to bombard your enemies for 25 sec. The Gargoyle gains 1% increased damage for every 1 Runic Power you spend and always critically strikes.Forbidden KnowledgeActiveArmy of the Dead siphons the power of the fallen, transforming Death Coil and Epidemic into Necrotic Coil and Graveyard for 30 sec. Necrotic Coil Unleash a vortex of necrotic energy and bone, dealing 70 Shadowstrike damage up to 3 foes and 22 Shadow damage to all pierced enemies. Graveyard The dead erupt beneath all foes with Virulent Plague, dealing 39 Shadow damage and 18 Shadow damage to enemies nearby.

Passive talents

Sudden DoomPassiveDread Plague has a 35% chance to exhilarate you, making your next Death Coil or Epidemic cost 15 less Runic Power and deal 35% increased damage.Clawing ShadowsPassiveShadows guide your strikes, increasing the damage of your Scourge Strike by 25%, and causing it to grant you Clawing Shadows up to 4 times. For each stack of Clawing Shadows, your Scourge Strike chains to an additional enemy. Each subsequent chain deals 10% reduced damage.Foul InfectionsPassiveYour diseases deal 10% more damage and have a 5% increased chance to critically strike.Necromancer's CunningPassiveWhen your Lesser Ghouls expire, they explode in viscera, dealing 15 Shadow damage to enemies nearby.Ebon FeverPassivePlagues deal 15% more damage over time in 75% of their duration.Festering ScythePassiveFestering Strike now follows up with a Festering Scythe that costs no Runes. Festering Scythe Slashes through all enemies within 14 yds in front of you, dealing 36 Shadow damage and hastening all of your plagues on targets hit to deal damage 35% faster for 25 sec.SuperstrainPassiveDread Plague deals damage to an additional nearby enemy at 75% effectiveness and has a chance to grant you 4 Runic Power.Magus of the DeadPassiveDark Transformation and Army of the Dead summon a Magus of the Dead who hurls Frostbolts and Shadow Bolts at your foes for 15 sec.Infected ClawsPassiveThe infected claws of your ghouls have a chance to sicken the foe, dealing 5 Shadow damage over 12 sec. When reapplied, any remaining damage is added to the new effect. Cycle of DeathPassivePutrefy reduces the cooldown of Death and Decay by 1.0 sec. Death and Decay reduces the cooldown of Putrefy by 0.3 sec for each enemy it damages, up to 3.0 sec.Coil of DevastationPassiveDeath Coil deals 10% increased damage and causes the target to take an additional 30% of the direct damage dealt over 4 sec.ReapingPassiveScourge Strike, Festering Strike, and Death Coil deal 30% additional damage to enemies below 35% health. Dark Transformation resets Soul Reaper's cooldown and allows it to be used on any target.Menacing MagusPassiveYour Magus of the Dead Shadow Bolt now fires a volley of Shadow Bolts at up to 8 nearby enemies. Your Lord of the Dead Frostbolts now chain to 3 additional enemies.Ghoulish FrenzyPassiveDark Transformation increases the attack speed and damage of you and your Monstrosity by 5% for 15 sec.MorbidityPassiveDiseased enemies take 1% increased damage from you per disease they are affected by.Harbinger of DoomPassiveSudden Doom triggers 30% more often and can accumulate up to 2 charges. Summoning a Lesser Ghoul with Scourge Strike reduces the cooldown of Putrefy by 2.5 sec.Unholy DevotionPassivePutrefy causes your permanent Ghoul to go on an unholy frenzy, increasing its attack speed and energy regeneration by 25% for 12 sec. Multiple applications may overlap.All Will ServePassiveRaise Dead summons an additional skeletal archer at your command that shoots Blighted Arrows. Blighted Arrow An unholy arrow that deals 11 Shadow damage. When consuming Sudden Doom, your Death Coil commands your archer to fire an additional Blighted Arrow at 80% effectiveness. Epidemic will instead cause Blighted Arrow to ricochet and hit up to 5 additional targets. BlightburstPassiveThe explosion effect of Putrefy extends the duration of your plagues by 3.0 sec and deals 35% of the damage they would deal over that time instantly. Putrefy now applies your plagues to unaffected targets.Putrid EchoesPassivePutrefy deals 20% increased damage, has 2 additional charges and consumes up to 2 available charges.Doomed BiddingPassiveConsuming Sudden Doom summons forth a Lesser Ghoul to assist you for 8 sec.ScourgingPassive2 ranksScourge Strike now causes your Plagues to erupt at 100% effectiveness. Clawing Shadows can now stack 2 additional times.Ancient PowerPassive2 ranksSpending Runic Power increases your Strength by 0.30% for 20 sec. Multiple applications may overlap.Unholy AuraPassive2 ranksMagus of the Dead grants you 2.0% Haste for 15 sec. Multiple applications may overlap.Commander of the DeadPassive2 ranksDark Transformation empowers your Gargoyle, Abomination, Magus and Lesser Ghouls for 30 sec, increasing their damage by 20%.BlightfallPassiveDark Transformation grants access to Blightfall. Blightfall Consume 100% of your plagues around you and deal 100% of their remaining damage instantly. Grants 1 charge of Putrefy.Lord of the DeadPassivePutrefying a Lesser Ghoul has a 100% chance to reanimate it as a Magus of the Dead who hurls Frostbolts and Shadow Bolts at your foes for 15 sec. When you control 3 Magus of the Dead, sacrifice them to summon their Lord of the Dead for 15 sec, casting Frostbolts that chain between 2 enemies. Magus with higher remaining duration grant increased power.OutnumberPassiveEach Lesser Ghoul increases the damage of your permanent Ghoul by 10%, and Dark Transformation additionally empowers the Claw attacks of your Lesser Ghouls to Sweeping Claws. Sweeping Claws Rakes an enemy with deformed claws, dealing 24 Shadow damage to the target and 16 Shadow damage to nearby enemies.

San'layn

San'layn hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

18 of 18 shown

Active and choice talents

Blood-Soaked GroundChoiceWhile you are within your Death and Decay, your physical damage taken is reduced by 8% and your chance to gain Vampiric Strike is increased by 5%.DesecrateChoiceDeath and Decay deals its damage 100% faster.Pact of the San'laynChoiceYou store 10% of all Shadow damage dealt into your Blood Beast to explode for additional damage when it expires.Sanguine ScentChoiceYour Death Coil and Death Strike have a 15% increased chance to trigger Vampiric Strike when damaging enemies below 35% health.Vampiric AuraChoiceYour Leech is increased by 2%. While Lichborne is active, the Leech bonus of this effect is increased by 100%, and it affects 4 allies within 12 yds. Bloody FortitudeChoiceIcebound Fortitude reduces all damage you take by up to an additional 20% based on your missing health. Killing an enemy that yields experience or honor reduces the cooldown of Icebound Fortitude by 3 sec.Newly TurnedChoiceRaise Ally revives players at full health and grants you and your ally an absorb shield equal to 20% of your maximum health.Vampiric SpeedChoiceDeath's Advance and Wraith Walk movement speed bonuses are increased by 10%. Activating Death's Advance or Wraith Walk increases 4 nearby allies movement speed by 20% for 5 sec.

Passive talents

Infliction of SorrowPassiveWhen Vampiric Strike damages an enemy affected by your plagues, it extends the duration of the plagues by 3.0 sec, and deals 10% of the remaining damage to the enemy.Incite TerrorPassiveVampiric Strike and Scourge Strike cause your targets to take 1% increased Shadow damage, up to 5% for 15 sec. Vampiric Strike benefits from Incite Terror at 400% effectiveness.InevitablePassiveYour plagues deal up to 30% increased damage based on the target's missing health.The Blood is LifePassiveDark Transformation summons a Blood Beast to attack your enemy for 10 sec. Each time the Blood Beast attacks, it stores a portion of the damage dealt. When the Blood Beast dies, it explodes, dealing 15% of the damage accumulated to nearby enemies and healing the Death Knight for the same amount. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.Vampiric StrikePassiveYour Death Coil and Death Strike have a 25% chance to make your next Scourge Strike become Vampiric Strike. Vampiric Strike heals you for 2% of your maximum health and grants you Essence of the Blood Queen, increasing your Haste by 1.0%, up to 5.0% for 20 sec. Gift of the San'laynPassiveWhile Dark Transformation is active you gain Gift of the San'layn. Gift of the San'layn increases the effectiveness of your Essence of the Blood Queen by 200%, and Vampiric Strike replaces your Scourge Strike for the duration. Frenzied BloodthirstPassiveEssence of the Blood Queen stacks 2 additional times and increases the damage of your Death Coil and Death Strike by 5%, and Epidemic by 5% per stack.TransfusionPassiveVampiric Strike increases the damage of your Dancing Rune Weapons by 20% for 8 sec. Multiple applications may overlap.Thrill of BloodPassiveEssence of the Blood Queen additionally increases your Mastery by 1.0% per stack. Blood Plague deals 5% increased damage.Visceral StrengthPassiveWhen Sudden Doom is consumed, you gain 4% Strength for 5 sec.

Rider of the Apocalypse

Rider of the Apocalypse hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

17 of 17 shown

Active and choice talents

Horsemen's AidChoiceWhile at your aid, the Horsemen will occasionally cast Anti-Magic Shell on you and themselves at 80% effectiveness. You may only benefit from this effect every 45 sec.Pact of the ApocalypseChoiceWhen you take damage, 5% of the damage is redirected to each active horsemen.Fury of the HorsemenChoiceEvery 50 Runic Power you spend extends the duration of the Horsemen's aid in combat by 1 sec, up to 5 sec.A Feast of SoulsChoiceWhile you have 2 or more Horsemen aiding you, your increased damage.On a Paler HorseChoiceWhile outdoors you are able to mount your Acherus Deathcharger in combat.Death ChargeChoiceCall upon your Death Charger to break free of movement impairment effects. For 10 sec, while upon your Death Charger your movement speed is increased by 100%, you cannot be slowed below 100% of normal speed, and you are immune to forced movement effects and knockbacks.

Passive talents

Apocalypse NowPassiveArmy of the Dead and Frostwyrm's Fury call upon all 4 Horsemen to aid you for 20 sec.Hungering ThirstPassiveThe damage of your diseases and Death Coil are increased by 5%.Whitemane's FaminePassiveWhen Scourge Strike damages an enemy affected by Undeath it gains 1 stack and infects another nearby enemy.Mawsworn MenacePassiveScourge Strike deals 15% increased damage and the cooldown of your Death and Decay is reduced by 5 sec.Nazgrim's ConquestPassiveIf an enemy dies while Nazgrim is active, the strength of Apocalyptic Conquest is increased by 3%. Additionally, each Rune you spend increase its value by 1%.Trollbane's Icy FuryPassiveScourge Strike shatters Trollbane's Chains of Ice when hit, dealing 36 Shadowfrost damage to nearby enemies, and slowing them by 40% for 4 sec. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.Rider's ChampionPassiveSpending Runes has a chance to call forth the aid of a Horsemen for 10 sec. Mograine Casts Death and Decay at his location that follows his position and extends the duration of your diseases by 1.0 sec whenever it deals damage. Whitemane Casts Undeath on your target dealing 2 Shadowfrost damage per stack every 3 sec, for 24 sec. Each time Undeath deals damage it gains a stack. Cannot be refreshed. Trollbane Casts Chains of Ice on your target slowing their movement speed by 40% and increasing the damage they take from you by 5% for 8 sec. Nazgrim While Nazgrim is active you gain Apocalyptic Conquest, increasing your Strength by 5%. Mograine's MightPassiveYour damage is increased by 5% and you gain while inside Mograine's Death and Decay.Unholy ArmamentsPassiveThe abilities that Horsemen cast deal 5% increased damage..Let Terror ReignPassiveCasting Death Coil or Epidemic orders Whitemane to cast her Death Coil or Epidemic alongside you at 125% effectiveness.Ride or Die!PassiveDark Transformation summons forth Whitemane for 6 sec.

Deathbringer

Deathbringer hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

17 of 17 shown

Active and choice talents

Pact of the DeathbringerChoiceWhen you suffer a damaging effect equal to 25% of your maximum health, you instantly cast Death Pact at 50% effectiveness. May only occur every 2 min. When a Reaper's Mark explodes, the cooldowns of this effect and Death Pact are reduced by 5 sec.Rune Carved PlatesChoiceEach Rune spent reduces the magic damage you take by 1.5% and each Rune generated reduces the physical damage you take by 1.5% for 5 sec, up to 5 times.Death's MessengerChoiceReduces the cooldowns of Lichborne and Raise Dead by 30 sec.Expelling ShieldChoiceWhen an enemy deals direct damage to your Anti-Magic Shell, their cast speed is reduced by 10% for 6 sec.Dark TalonsChoiceConsuming Killing Machine or Rime has a 25% chance to grant 3 stacks of Icy Talons and increase its maximum stacks by the same amount for 6 sec. Runic Power spending abilities count as Shadowfrost while Icy Talons is active.Reaper's OnslaughtChoiceReduces the cooldown of Reaper's Mark by 15 sec, but the amount of Obliterates and Frostscythes empowered by Exterminate is reduced by 1.Reaper's MarkActiveViciously slice into the soul of your enemy, dealing 81 Shadowfrost damage and applying Reaper's Mark. Each time you deal Shadow or Frost damage, add a stack of Reaper's Mark. After 12 sec or reaching 40 stacks, the mark explodes, dealing 10 damage per stack. Reaper's Mark travels to an unmarked enemy nearby if the target dies.

Passive talents

Swift and PainfulPassiveIf no enemies are struck by Soul Rupture, you gain 15% Strength for 8 sec. Wave of Souls is 100% more effective on the main target of your Reaper's Mark.Grim ReaperPassiveReaper's Mark initial strike grants Killing Machine. Reaper's Mark explosion deals up to 30% increased damage based on your target's missing health.Wave of SoulsPassiveReaper's Mark sends forth bursts of Shadowfrost energy and back, dealing 33 Shadowfrost damage both ways to all enemies caught in its path. Wave of Souls critical strikes cause enemies to take 5% increased Shadowfrost damage for 15 sec, stacking up to 2 times, and it is always a critical strike on its way back.Bind in DarknessPassiveRime empowered Howling Blast deals 60% increased damage to its main target, and is now Shadowfrost. Shadowfrost damage applies 2 stacks to Reaper's Mark and 4 stacks when it is a critical strike.Wither AwayPassiveFrost Fever deals its damage 75% faster, and the second scythe of Exterminate applies Frost Fever.Soul RupturePassiveWhen Reaper's Mark explodes, it deals 20% of the damage dealt to nearby enemies.ExterminatePassiveAfter Reaper's Mark explodes, your next 2 Obliterates or Frostscythes cost 1 Rune and summon 2 scythes to strike your enemies. The first scythe strikes your target for 155 Shadowfrost damage and the second scythe strikes all enemies around your target for 62 Shadowfrost damage. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.Echoing FuryPassiveReaper's Mark deals 5% increased damage. Casting Dancing Rune Weapon grants 1 stack of Exterminate with 100% first scythe and 100% second scythe effectiveness.Deathly BlowsPassiveDeath Strike damage increased by 20%.Frigid ResolvePassiveThe effectiveness of Permafrost is increased by 100% and Exterminate grants Permafrost equal to 10% of the damage dealt. Permafrost Your auto attack damage grants you an absorb shield equal to 50% of the damage dealt.
Gear

Boss and dungeon loadouts

Switch between raid and Mythic+ to inspect the top player for every available encounter: exact talents, source link, item level, enchant and socket counts, and the player's gear.

Season 2 class set

datamined. Read out of the game's spell data and republished by Wowhead. Blizzard does not publish set bonus text, so there is no first-party version to compare it against.
2-piece
Your Magus of the Dead and Lord of the Dead cast a more powerful Necrotic Bolt instead of Frostbolt, and Withering Grasp instead of Shadow Bolt.
4-piece
Necrotic Bolt's damage is increased by 130%, and Withering Grasp's damage is increased by 130%, against enemies below 35% health.

Source: Wowhead spell pages, retrieved 2026-09-05. spell 1296654, spell 1296655. Third party, not Blizzard. If one of these is wrong, check the overview page and tell us.

Loading verified raid results

Pulling the top Warcraft Logs result, exact talents, and equipment for each boss.

Editorial acquisition targets

Use these slot targets when planning drops and crafted pieces. The encounter explorer above remains the source for the exact gear worn by each ranked player.

Season 1 acquisition targets, not re-verified for Season 2. The rows below name Season 1 items at their Season 1 item levels and are accurate as that; they are not Season 2 recommendations. Season 2's raid is The Venomous Abyss (8 bosses, Nek'zali the Soulcoiler through Ula'tek). Confirmed Season 2 raid item levels run 279 (Raid Finder, first boss) to 344 (Mythic, last two bosses and Very Rare drops), with Normal 292-302, Heroic 305-315 and the Great Vault paying 292/305/318/334 by difficulty. Open question: per-slot best-in-slot for Season 2 needs a sim source, and none was reachable.

Raid acquisition targets

15 slots
Best tier helm
Head
298
TierRune of Avoidance
Raid tier / catalyst
Rotmire's Sporeheart
Neck
298
Socketed neckIndecipherable Eversong DiamondFlawless Quick Amethyst
Sporefall
Best tier shoulders
Shoulder
298
TierAmirdrassil's Grace
Raid tier / catalyst
Draconic Nullcape
Back
298
Raid BiS
Vaelgor & Ezzorak
Best tier chest
Chest
298
TierMark of the Worldsoul
Raid tier / catalyst
Light's March Bracers
Wrist
298
Haste / Mastery
Imperator Averzian
Best tier gauntlets
Hands
298
Tier
Raid tier / catalyst
Girdle of Devouring Rot
Waist
298
Raid BiS
Sporefall
Extinction Guards
Legs
298
Non-tier BiSForest Hunter's Armor Kit
Midnight Falls
Parasite Stompers
Feet
298
Raid BiSLynx's Dexterity
Vorasius
Sin'dorei Band of Hope
Finger
298
Mastery / HasteEyes of the Eagle
Belo'ren
Eye of Midnight
Finger
298
Socketed ringEyes of the EagleFlawless Quick Amethyst
Midnight Falls
Umbral Plume
Trinket
298
S-tier passive trinket
Belo'ren
Gaze of the Alnseer
Trinket
298
Secondary-stat proc
Chimaerus
Bellamy's Final Judgement
Weapon
298
Two-handed weaponAcuity of the Ren'dorei
Lightblinded Vanguard

Season 1 acquisition targets, not re-verified for Season 2. The dungeons named below are the Season 1 pool and are not in Season 2 rotation. Season 2 runs Altar of Fangs (new in 12.1), Murder Row, Den of Nalorakk, The Blinding Vale, Voidscar Arena, Temple of Sethraliss, Kings' Rest and Ruby Life Pools. Confirmed Season 2 keystone item levels: +2 through +3 pay 295 end-of-run and 305 in the vault, rising to 311 end-of-run and 318 in the vault at +10 and above. Open question: per-slot best-in-slot for Season 2 needs a sim source, and none was reachable.

Mythic+ acquisition targets

15 slots
Best tier helm
Head
298
TierRune of Avoidance
Raid tier / catalyst
Barbed Ymirheim Choker
Neck
298
Socketed neckIndecipherable Eversong Diamond
Pit of Saron
Best tier shoulders
Shoulder
298
TierAmirdrassil's Grace
Raid tier / catalyst
Rigid Scale Greatcloak
Back
298
Mythic+ BiS
Skyreach
Best tier chest
Chest
298
TierMark of the Worldsoul
Raid tier / catalyst
Trollhunter's Bands
Wrist
298
Mythic+ BiS
Maisara Caverns
Voidclaw Gauntlets
Hands
298
Mythic+ BiS
Seat of the Triumvirate
Girdle of the Shadowguard
Waist
298
Mythic+ BiS
Seat of the Triumvirate
Best tier legs
Legs
298
TierForest Hunter's Armor Kit
Raid tier / catalyst
Footwraps of Ill-Fate
Feet
298
Mythic+ BiSLynx's Dexterity
Maisara Caverns
Bifurcation Band
Finger
298
Socketed ringEyes of the EagleFlawless Quick Amethyst
Magister's Terrace
Omission of Light
Finger
298
Mythic+ BiSEyes of the Eagle
Nexus-Point Xenas
Heart of Wind
Trinket
298
Haste proc
Windrunner Spire
Algeth'ar Puzzle Box
Trinket
298
S-tier on-use trinket
Algeth'ar Academy
Whirling Voidcleaver
Weapon
298
Two-handed weaponAcuity of the Ren'dorei
Magister's Terrace
Enhancements

Enchants

Choose enhancements after your equipment is settled. Secondary-stat enchant choices move with your current stat mix and the content you are preparing for.

Recommended enchants
9 recommendations
Rune of AvoidanceHead - Default defensive helm enchant.EnchantingAmirdrassil's GraceShoulders - Default shoulder enchant.InscriptionMark of the Worldsoul+50 Primary StatChest - Default chest enchant.EnchantingForest Hunter's Armor Kit+41 Agility or Strength - +115 StaminaLegs - Default leg armor kit.LeatherworkingLynx's Dexterity+19 Avoidance - +232 StaminaBoots - Default boot enchant.EnchantingZul'jin's Mastery+29 MasteryRings - One of the listed rings alternatives.Eyes of the Eagle+2% critical strike effectivenessRings - Default ring enchant; Zul'jin's Mastery only when your sim prefers it.EnchantingAcuity of the Ren'doreiWeapon enchant - +53 Primary Stat for 15 sec when Might of the Void triggersWeapon - Default weapon enchant.EnchantingBerserker's RageWeapon enchant - Frenzied Focus grants +124 Haste for 15 secWeapon - One of the listed weapon alternatives.
Enhancements

Gems

Socket into the current stat priority, then re-check after major equipment swaps rather than treating a gem choice as permanent.

Recommended gems
3 recommendations
Indecipherable Eversong Diamond+32 Primary StatPrimary-stat diamond.JewelcraftingFlawless Masterful Peridot+16 Haste - +7 MasteryMastery filler when your gear is already Haste-heavy.JewelcraftingFlawless Quick Amethyst+16 Mastery - +7 HasteDefault Haste filler for wound generation and pet uptime.Jewelcrafting
Crafting

Embellishments

Crafted effects are capped at two equipped embellishments. Lock these in only after deciding which crafted slots survive your next raid or Mythic+ upgrades.

Recommended embellishments
3 recommendations
Use two throughput embellishments once your crafted slots are settled.Darkmoon Sigil: HuntEarly crafted weapon - Early-season craft on a two-handed Strength weapon; replace when a better weapon path is available.InscriptionArcanoweave LiningCloak / wrist - Default throughput pair once the weapon slot is settled; sim exact crafted pairs.Tailoring
Survival and control

Utility, defensives, and movement

Your Death Knight toolkit is part of the rotation whenever it prevents lost uptime, lethal damage, or an enemy cast.

Defensives

Utility & CC

Movement

Unmatched anti-magic layering plus Death Grip control; Raise Ally is a combat battle rez.

Interrupt: Mind Freeze - grab a focus-interrupt macro on the Unholy macros page.

Execution

Interface and macros

Use interface changes only when they expose a decision sooner: resources, procs, defensives, dispels, interrupts, and encounter assignments.

Better Blizzplates - cleaner, threat-colored nameplates with cast bars and cooldown text - the nameplate upgrade nearly every top player runs.
OmniCD - party and enemy defensive/utility cooldown tracking - the biggest information edge the base UI still does not show.
Mythic Dungeon Tools - build and follow pull-by-pull Mythic+ routes.
Details! (optional) - deep damage/healing breakdowns and Warcraft Logs uploads beyond Midnight's built-in meter.
Hekili - optional priority helper - great for learning a new spec's rotation.

Focus interrupt

#showtooltip Mind Freeze
/cast [@focus,harm,nodead][] Mind Freeze
Full addon guide →Unholy macros →Keybind setups →

Written for patch 12.0.7. Patch 12.1 increased max-level player health and creature damage by 25% and made crowd-control diminishing returns reset after 20 seconds instead of 16, so defensive timing and crowd-control advice on this page is the most likely to have moved. Source: Curse of Ula'tek content update notes, https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24293281.

Execution review

What improves results

Self-review

Common mistakes

FAQ

5 quick answers

What is the Unholy Death Knight stat priority in Midnight Season 1?

Strength, then Haste, Mastery, Critical Strike, and Versatility. Haste ramps wound generation and pet uptime, and Mastery boosts shadow and disease damage. Item level usually wins between close pieces.

Which hero tree should Unholy use?

San'layn for raid single-target - Vampiric Strike and Gift of the San'layn reward long boss uptime. Rider of the Apocalypse for Mythic+, where the extra horsemen and Apocalypse Now give wide burst on pulls.

How many Lesser Ghoul stacks should I keep banked?

Bank stacks with Festering Strike before every burst window: as San'layn, cast Festering Strike first if you have three or fewer stacks before Dark Transformation (five or fewer in AoE). Scourge Strike converts stacks into Lesser Ghouls - an empty bank when Dark Transformation comes off cooldown is lost damage.

Army of the Dead or Raise Abomination?

Army of the Dead for raid bosses where you can pre-cast before the pull. Raise Abomination for Mythic+, where its shorter, repeatable pattern fits key pulls better.

What is the standard opener?

Outbreak to apply Virulent Plague, Festering Strike to bank Lesser Ghoul stacks, Festering Scythe, Army of the Dead, then Dark Transformation. Potion and on-use trinkets go in right after Dark Transformation, followed by Soul Reaper, Necrotic Coil twice, and Putrefy before settling into the normal priority.

Guide Updates

  1. Jul 31, 2026Published the initial Midnight 12.0.7 Unholy Death Knight guide: San'layn raid and Rider Mythic+ builds, an arena wound-pressure build, gear targets, stats, gems, enchants, consumables, and the wound priority loop.
  2. Jul 31, 2026Validated the Haste/Mastery stat order and hero-tree leans against the spec playbook, ability and PvP talent names against the generated talent data, and boss callouts against the Midnight raid roster.
Arena Talent Planning

Talents by enemy class

Pick an opponent to see the pressure your PvP build must answer. The baseline comes from this spec's current arena build when one is published.

Open full matchup guide
Their pressure

Fast swaps, stuns, magic burst, and relentless mobility.

Talent focus

Stun response, magic reduction, and instant recovery.

Game plan

Choose tools that survive a short coordinated stun instead of relying only on long casts or delayed defensives.

Published PvP baseline
Arena - Wound Pressure (3v3)

Built for spread pressure and healer punishment. Doomburst converts Sudden Doom procs into slows, Necrotic Wounds turns Putrefy into healing absorption, Strangulate and Dark Simulacrum answer casters, and Spellwarden makes Anti-Magic Shell a partner save. Swap utility picks to match the enemy comp.

DoomburstNecrotic WoundsStrangulateDark SimulacrumSpellwardenDeath's AdvanceLichborneIcebound Fortitude

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