Summary (4)

Create a Death Knight on any server; they start at level 55.

Undertake a unique campaign in an abandoned area in the eastern Eastern Plaguelands to get geared and learn about the Scourge and Lich King.

Complete all quests in the starting area; you cannot leave until all are finished.

Collect papers from drops and use Crusader Skulls to make free potions before leaving the starting zone.

Each quest rewards you with a blue item for each equipment slot and talent points.

Learn that Death Knights use Runes (blood, frost, plague) to limit abilities, with two of each type and a 5-second cooldown after use.

Understand that focusing on one rune type reduces effectiveness but abilities can split runes.

Utilize Death Knight strengths: heroic tanks that can dual-wield, use 2H swords or axes, but cannot use ranged weapons or shields.

Hold a sigil for benefits; while other tank classes may be better, DKs can avoid many attacks.

Focus on DPS and self-healing, as DKs lack shield capability.

Use Runeforging to apply rune enchants to your weapons.

Travel to Ebon Hold, a floating platform over the Eastern Plaguelands, using your deathgate power.

From Ebon Hold, buy corpse dust for ghouls, forge runes on weapons, and seek training.

Set up camp with the Ebon Blade in Icecrown for similar benefits.

Choose two glyphs for ghouls: a minor glyph to summon ghouls without a body or dust, and another to give your ghoul a 40% boost in health and strength (usable by anyone, including two-minute ghouls).

For all leveling Death Knights (levels 1-22), pick up the glyph of Death Grip to make its cooldown zero after killing something, significantly speeding up killing.