Introduction
In this article, we will be discussing potential new PvP talents for Frost Death Knights (DKs) in World of Warcraft. With the recent changes to the talent tree, there is an opportunity to brainstorm interesting and useful alternatives to Death’s Echo and Chill Streak.
Icicle Crash
One potential talent we can consider is “Icicle Crash.” This ability would involve a series of icicles crashing to the ground around the Death Knight, dealing substantial damage in a small area. The mechanic would work by activating the ability and creating a small circle on the ground. After a couple of seconds, a falling icicle would hit that specific location. This process would repeat, with a new icicle and location generated every second for a duration of five seconds.
To avoid abuse, predetermined spawn locations for the icicles should be based on the player’s facing direction. Randomized locations could lead to exploiting the ability by positioning against a wall, causing all icicles to hit a concentrated area, similar to the Shadow Priest’s Void Volley. To maintain balance, it is crucial to prevent this talent from becoming just another AoE button to press during combat.
The key aspect of Frost DK PvP revolves around repositioning enemies. Therefore, a talent that rewards repositioning enemies to specific locations at certain times, or even involving teammates in the repositioning process, would be both enjoyable and rewarding. It could add complexity and execution to enhance the existing strategies employed by Frost DKs.
Frozen Plates
Frost DKs have a vulnerability to physical damage, especially when they become the target of focused attacks. While it is acceptable for classes to have strengths and weaknesses, it may be worthwhile to introduce a PvP talent that diminishes this vulnerability to some extent.
Introducing “Frozen Plates,” a talent that grants the Death Knight a buff called Frozen Plates when they are hit by physical abilities. Each stack of Frozen Plates provides a 0.5% increase in armor for a duration of five seconds, with the capability of stacking up to 30 times.
The intention behind this talent is to provide the DK with extra protection the longer they are the target of attacks. This mechanic may encourage opponents to switch targets temporarily, allowing the DK’s stacks to reset. To maintain balance, only specific abilities should contribute to the accumulation of stacks. This ensures that pets, dual-wielding opponents, and other high-volume physical damage sources do not disproportionately affect the talent’s effectiveness.
Icy Shackles
“Icy Shackles” is another talent concept worth exploring. This talent would affect the Death Knight’s Chains of Ice ability by debuffing the next two unique targets hit by it. These targets would be drawn towards a central location between them if they are within a 40-yard range of each other. Additionally, they would be rooted in place for five seconds.
Similar to the mechanic in the game Heroes of the Storm known as “Chains of Kel’Thuzad,” this talent would provide DKs with a high skill-cap ability that rewards creativity. For example, it could be used against teams that are challenging to group up, such as those composed of spellcasting classes. By applying Icy Shackles to an Elemental Shaman and a Holy Priest, the Death Knight could then Death Grip the Warlock into a triple Blind.
This talent can serve multiple purposes, including peeling opponents, forcing line-of-sight, interrupting enemy casts, and setting up plays without relying solely on the Blind ability. To maintain fairness and counterplay, the ability should be telegraphed for two global cooldowns (equivalent to two Chains of Ice casts). This allows opponents to preemptively outrange each other if they suspect an Icy Shackles setup. Additionally, it gives them the opportunity to prepare a dispel for the root effect.
Blinding Sleet Modification
In addition to new talents, we believe that a modification to the existing ability “Blinding Sleet” would be beneficial. Currently, there are occasional issues where Death Grip followed by Blinding Sleet fails to hit the intended target, even when they are right in front of the Death Knight. To address this, we propose implementing a very short persistent hitbox for Blinding Sleet. This adjustment would ensure that the ability reliably affects targets, improving its overall effectiveness.
Conclusion
We have explored several potential PvP talents that could enhance the Frost DK gameplay experience in World of Warcraft. These talents prioritize repositioning enemies, mitigating physical damage vulnerability, and providing high skill-cap opportunities for creative plays. Additionally, we propose a modification to Blinding Sleet to improve its reliability. We would love to hear your thoughts! What ideas do you have for new Frost DK PvP talents?
