Home › BiS Lists › WotLK · Phase 1 › Unholy Death Knight

Unholy Death Knight Best in Slot — WotLK, Phase 1 — Naxx, OS & EoE

Melee DPS · Updated 2026-07-23

Phase 1 (Naxxramas, The Obsidian Sanctum & The Eye of Eternity) Best in Slot from Wowhead's WotLK Classic guide (wowhead.com/wotlk/guide/classes/death-knight/unholy/...-bis-gear-pve-phase-1) — used because Icy Veins has no Phase 1 table for this class. Sources kept as written by the guide (they mix boss drops, emblem purchases and crafted items; wording varies per guide author). Enchants and gems reused from the wotlk/p4 profile for this spec (same stat priorities; some gems are later-phase cuts — use the equivalent lower-tier cut in Phase 1).

Open in the interactive BiS browser →

Best in Slot by gear slot

Slot	Item & alternatives
Head	Obsidian GreathelmThe Obsidian Sanctum 25 — Sartharion 2ndValorous Scourgeborne HelmetNaxxramas 25 — Kel'Thuzad 3rdHelm of the UnsubmissiveNaxxramas 10 — Sapphiron
Shoulders	Valorous Scourgeborne ShoulderplatesNaxxramas 25 — Gluth and Loatheb 2ndHeroes' Scourgeborne ShoulderplatesNaxxramas 10 — Gluth and Loatheb 3rdShoulderguards of OpportunityNaxxramas 25 — Gluth and Noth the Plaguebringer
Back	Drape of the Deadly FoeNaxxramas 25 — Kel'Thuzad 2ndAged Winter CloakNaxxramas 25 — Trash Drop 3rdCloak of DarkeningNaxxramas 10 — Instructor Razuvious
Chest	Valorous Scourgeborne BattleplateNaxxramas 25 — Gluth and Four Horsemen Chest 2ndHeroes' Scourgeborne BattleplateArcanist Ivrenne / Magistrix Lambriesse — 80 Emblem of Heroism 3rdChestguard of the RecluseThe Eye of Eternity 25 — Malygos
Wrists	Bracers of Unrelenting AttackNaxxramas 25 — Gothik the Harvester 2ndBracers of the TyrantNaxxramas 25 — Grand Widow Faerlina 3rdBracers of Lost SentimentsNaxxramas 10 — Grand Widow Faerlina
Hands	Valorous Scourgeborne GauntletsThe Obsidian Sanctum 25 — Sartharion 2ndHeroes' Scourgeborne GauntletsArcanist Ivrenne / Magistrix Lambriesse — 60 Emblem of Heroism 3rdZeliek's GauntletsNaxxramas 25 — Four Horsemen Chest
Waist	Girdle of ChivalryNaxxramas 25 — Grobbulus 2ndGirdle of RazuviousNaxxramas 25 — Instructor Razuvious 3rdVerdungo's Barbarian CordArcanist Ivrenne / Magistrix Lambriesse — 40 Emblem of Heroism
Legs	Valorous Scourgeborne LegplatesNaxxramas 25 — Gluth and Thaddius 2ndHeroes' Scourgeborne LegplatesNaxxramas 10 — Gluth and Thaddius 3rdRiveted Abomination LeggingsNaxxramas 25 — Thaddius
Feet	Melancholy SabatonsThe Eye of Eternity 25 — Malygos 2ndSabatons of Sudden ReprisalNaxxramas 25 — Anub'Rekhan 3rdIron-Spring JumpersNaxxramas 25 — Gluth and Heigan the Unclean
Neck	Favor of the Dragon QueenNaxxramas / The Eye of Eternity 25 — Reward from Heroic Judgment at the Eye of Eternity - Drops from Sapphiron 2ndPendant of the DragonswornNaxxramas / The Eye of Eternity 10 — Reward from Judgment at the Eye of Eternity - Drops from Sapphiron 3rdGem of Imprisoned VassalsNaxxramas 10 — Kel'Thuzad
Ring 1	RuthlessnessNaxxramas 25 — : Instructor Razuvious, Patchwerk, Anub'Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlina
Ring 2	Circle of DeathNaxxramas 10 — Sapphiron 2ndStrong-Handed RingNaxxramas 25 — Any Boss 3rdGreatring of CollisionThe Obsidian Sanctum 10 — Sartharion
Trinket 1	Darkmoon Card: GreatnessDarkmoon Faire — Reward from Darkmoon Nobles Deck
Trinket 2	Meteorite WhetstoneHeroic: Utgarde Pinnacle — King Ymiron 2ndGrim TollNaxxramas 25 — Grobbulus, Gothik the Harvester, Heigan the Unclean, and Maexxna 3rdFury of the Five FlightsThe Obsidian Sanctum 25 — Sartharion
Main Hand	Last LaughNaxxramas 25 — Kel'Thuzad 2ndAngry DreadNaxxramas 25 — Noth the Plaguebringer 3rdDeadly Gladiator's CleaverRequires a personal rating of at least 1930 — 3150 Arena Points
Off-Hand	HailstormThe Eye of Eternity 10 — Malygos 2ndLast LaughNaxxramas 25 — Kel'Thuzad 3rdAngry DreadNaxxramas 25 — Noth the Plaguebringer
Sigil	Deadly Gladiator's Sigil of StrifeXazi Smolderpipe — 1,200 Arena Points 2ndSigil of AwarenessNaxxramas 25 — Heigan the Unclean 3rdSigil of the Wild Buck"Grizzly" D. Adams / Purkom — 30 Venture Coin

Enchants

Slot	Enchant
Head	Arcanum of TormentKnights of the Ebon Blade — Revered
Shoulders	Greater Inscription of the AxeSons of Hodir — Exalted
Back	Enchant Cloak — Greater SpeedEnchanting
Chest	Enchant Chest — Powerful StatsEnchanting
Wrists	Enchant Bracers — Greater AssaultEnchanting
Hands	Enchant Gloves — PrecisionEnchanting
Waist	Eternal Belt Buckle (+1 gem socket)Blacksmithing
Legs	Icescale Leg ArmorLeatherworking (crafted, usable by all)
Feet	Enchant Boots — IcewalkerEnchanting
Weapon	Rune of the Fallen CrusaderRuneforging (Ebon Hold)

Gems

Socket	Gem
Meta	Relentless Earthsiege Diamond (+37 crit, +3% crit damage)
Red	Bold Cardinal Ruby (+23 Str)
Yellow	Etched Ametrine (+16 hit / +23 Str) if short on hit — otherwise more Bold Cardinal Ruby
Blue	Enchanted Tear (meta activator) — otherwise more Bold Cardinal Ruby