Combat (2)

Learn about World of Warcraft combat mechanics, including rune usage, disease combos like Pestilence and Blood Boil, and essential abilities such as Death Grip and Death Coil.

You have two runes of each type, allowing you to use up one set and then switch to others until your preferred runes are ready. Be mindful of abilities that consume two types of runes; strategic thinking can lead to better combos.

Icy Touch and Plague Strike both apply diseases that deal damage and have effects, which can also empower other abilities. The combo of Pestilence and Blood Boil allows you to spread diseases and then detonate them for area-of-effect (AoE) damage. Death and Decay is your other early AoE spell.

Regardless of your fighting style, Death Grip, Chains of Ice, and Death Coil are your primary abilities. Death Grip is your only true ranged attack, but it pulls enemies closer. Chains of Ice can be used to immobilize fleeing enemies or, in Player vs. Player (PvP), to prevent opponents from moving. Death Coil can be used for healing or as a ranged attack. Though easily overlooked, Death Coil is one of the few abilities that uses your runic power, so use it whenever possible.

You have three talent trees: Unholy, Blood, and Frost. Blood is a popular choice for its self-healing capabilities. Unholy is the next most popular due to the addition of a pet and increased movement speed. Frost is favored by some for its easier-to-use abilities and greater runic power generation.

If you wish to focus on a specific tree, here are key starting points:

• Unholy: Invest 5 points for improved dodge. On the second tier, you can reduce the cooldown of Death Grip. Alternatively, consider the Death Grip glyph, which removes its cooldown on a killing blow (XP or honor kill).
• Blood: Prioritize the Rune Tap ability, which requires 11 talent points. Even if you invest heavily in other trees, you should still be able to acquire it by level 80.
• Frost: Ensure you obtain the extra maximum runic power. Subsequently, consider investing in frost damage abilities if you favor Icy Touch and Chains of Ice.

Finally, Icy Touch and Chains of Ice are effective ranged abilities. Both can deal damage if you acquire the Chains of Ice glyph. The Pestilence glyph also enhances that ability's usefulness, especially since some of your other abilities rely on diseases being present. Don't forget about non-damage glyphs that provide beneficial effects.