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Special thanks to Alachia from World of Warcast and MetaTalks for the awesome intro!

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I’ve recently decided to level up my Shaman, changing his main spec from Enhancement to Restoration. Thanks to World of Warcraft patch 3.3, I can queue for random dungeons as a healer while I’m out questing. I put together a quick guide for itemizing a Resto Shammy using nothing but crafted items or bind-on-equip gear. The only exceptions are trinkets and the Shaman relic. Upgrades for these slots can be found by running the Venture Company dailies in Venture Bay.

Before reading this guide, please be aware of some assumptions:

• This guide is intended for players leveling up in Northrend, in preparation to run heroic dungeons
• Yes, I realize that there is better gear from quests and dungeons
• You are going to use only the best available gems and enchants
• The prefix/suffix random BoEs might be better in some cases, but ignored because of their uncertain availability

Here is the breakdown by slot. There are some cases where crafted items from Burning Crusade recipes are viable for leveling, especially Leatherworking’s Netherfury set. C = crafted, WD = world drop, DQ = daily quest. Now, on with it!

Head

Helm of the Lightning Halls (WD, 80)
Stormhide Crown (C, 78)
Duskweave Cowl (C, 75)
Nerubian Helm (C, 74)

Neck

Blood Sun Necklace (C, 75)
Crystal Citrine Necklace (C, 70)

Shoulder

Epaulets of Market Row (WD, 78)
Duskweave Shoulders (C, 77)
Nerubian Shoulders (C, 73)

Back

Wispcloak (C, 80)
Cloak of the Moon (C, 74)
White Remedy Cape (C, 69)

Chest

Revenant’s Breastplate (C, 80)
Stormhide Hauberk (C, 78)
Dark Nerubian Chestpiece (C, 76)

Wrist

Stormhide Wristguards (C, 78)
Bracers of Sizzling Heat (WD, 75)
Bracers of Havok (C, 69)

Hands

Stormhide Grips (C, 78)
Duskweave Gloves (C, 76)

Waist

Sash of Jordan (WD, 80)
Stormhide Belt (C, 78)
Netherfury Belt (C, 67)

Legs

Stormhide Legguards (C, 78)
Netherfury Leggings (C, 67)

Feet

Scaled Icewalkers (C, 77)
Netherfury Boots (C, 69)

Finger

Titanium Spellshock Ring (C, 80)
Runed Mana Band (C, 80)
Ring of Northern Tears (C, 78)
Shadowmight Ring (C, 77)
Sun Rock Ring (C, 70)

Trinket

Arcane Revitalizer (DQ, 74)
Goblin Repetition Reducer (DQ, 74)

Two-Handed Weapon

Zabra’s Misplaced Staff (WD, 77)
Lola’s Lifegiving Branch (WD, 71)

Main Hand Weapon

Titansteel Guardian (C, 80)
Cudgel of Saronite Justice (C, 77)
Melia’s Magnificent Scepter (WD, 75)
The Essence Focuser (WD, 70)

Off-Hand

Zom’s Crackling Bulwark (WD, 80)
Faces of Doom (C, 77)
Saronite Protector (C, 73)
Crystal Pulse Shield (WD, 69)

Totem

Totem of the Bay (DQ, 74)

Here is a general progression of one-handed weapons for a DPS Death Knight in Northrend for World of Warcraft.

Now that patch 3.2 is out, it’s time to take a look at one-handed weapons for dual-wielding specs. If you’re going to dual-wield, you’ll want two slow weapons, so I’m only showing progression for weapon speeds of 2.4 and above. What’s nice is you have crafted, bind-on-equip, non-unique weapons available to you at levels 71, 73, and 74 from a Blacksmith. If you’re a Weaponsmith yourself, you can pickup another pair of weapons at level 78.

Entering Northrend at level 68, you can obtain a Soldier’s Spiked Mace and Edge of the Tuskarr from quests very early on. These two weapons should carry you for three levels. Then at level 71, find two Cobalt Tenderizers until you hit Dragonblight and two Notched Cobalt War Axes when you hit level 73. The crafted Savage Cobalt Slicer is a fantastic upgrade at level 74. At level 75, you should find a couple of friends (especially a healer), and complete The Champion of Anguish quest chain in Zul’Drak. You can swap out one of your two crafted weapons for the Crimson Cranium Crusher.

Unless you are a Weaponsmith, or you can find a group willing to farm regular Utgarde Pinnacle at level 78, you’ll be waiting until level 80 to upgrade your weapons. If money is no object, check the auction house for a Krol Cleaver. In the meantime, start saving up gold or materials for a Titansteel Bonecrusher for your main hand. The TB is a main-hand-only weapon, so you’ll need to find an off-hand weapon to compliment it.

Finding a new off-hand at level 80 can be time-consuming depending on which faction you want to grind rep with. The Reaper of Dark Souls has a slight DPS edge over the Stalactite Chopper, but the Chopper comes with Armor Penetration. You’ll most likely be doing quests for both The Sons of Hodir and Knights of the Ebon Blade anyway, so pickup whichever one you get access to first.

1. Level 68 Soldier’s Spiked Mace (8966)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Cutting Off the Source (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 68 Edge of the Tuskarr (9020)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Tides Turn (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 71 Cobalt Tenderizer (9262)
   Obtained by: Blacksmith or AH (15 gold)
4. Level 71 Spiked Coldwind Club (9508)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Where the Wild Things Roam (Dragonblight)
5. Level 73 Yoke Slasher (9531)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Filling the Cages (Grizzly Hills)
6. Level 73 Notched Cobalt War Axe (9850)
   Obtained by: Blacksmith or AH (15 gold)
7. Level 74 Savage Cobalt Slicer (11240)
   Obtained by: Blacksmith of AH (80 gold)
8. Level 75 Crimson Cranium Crusher (12216)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Champion of Anguish (Zul’Drak)
9. Level 78 Corroded Saronite Edge (12427)
   Obtained by: Weaponsmith BoP
10. Level 78 Ymiron’s Blade (13104)
    Obtained by: King Ymiron (Utgarde Pinnacle)
11. Level 80 Stalactite Chopper (14299)
    Obtained by: The Sons of Hodir (Revered)
12. Level 80 Reaper of Dark Souls (14366)
    Obtained by: Knights of the Ebon Blade (Revered)
13. Level 80 Krol Cleaver (15718)
    Obtained by: World Drop or AH (5000 gold)
14. Level 80 Titansteel Bonecrusher* (15865)
    Obtained by: Blacksmith or AH (1000 gold)

* Main-hand only

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

During my character itemization research, I discovered the Battlemaster’s trinkets. If you are itemizing gear around item level 200 and 213, these trinkets can be a significant upgrade for you before you start running Naxxramas and Ulduar.

There are five trinkets available, each boosting an offensive attribute and an “on use” bonus of increasing your health by 3,385 for 15 seconds. Each trinket costs 49,600 honor, and is available from your faction’s Apprentice Armor Quartermaster (in Orgrimmar for Horde and Stormwind for Alliance).

• Battlemaster’s Accuracy: +95 hit rating
• Battlemaster’s Avidity: +95 haste rating
• Battlemaster’s Bravery: +111 spell power
• Battlemaster’s Conviction: +190 attack power
• Battlemaster’s Hostility: +95 critical strike rating

The other great benefit to having this trinket is… having another one. These are not unique! You can equip two of the same trinket, or balance out your build with a different Battlemaster’s trinket.

Here’s how these trinkets stack up against PvE trinkets with the same passive stat:

Hit Rating

• Pyrite Infuser: +95 hit rating w/ chance on melee and ranged critical strike to increase your attack power by 1234 for 10 sec (Flame Leviathan in 10-man Ulduar)

Haste Rating

• Frenzyheart Insignia of Fury: +71 haste rating w/ increased chance of a critical strike for 10 seconds (exalted with the Frenzyheart Tribe)

If you’re trying to increase your haste rating, there isn’t a better trinket out there than the Battlemaster’s Avidity. The bonus here is nice, but the majority of players typically choose to grind reputation with the Oracles.

Spell Power

• Forethought Talisman: +111 spell power w/ chance for heal over time of 3,572 over 12 sec on your target (various bosses in 25-man Naxxramas)
• Sif’s Remembrance:  +110 spell power w/ chance to gain 156 mana per 5 for 15 sec on each spell cast (Thorim in 10-man Ulduar)

Attack Power

• Bandit’s Insignia: +190 attack power w/ chance to deal 1504 to 2256 arcane damage for each melee or ranged attack (Sapphiron in 25-man Naxxramas)

Critical Strike Rating

• Extract of Necromantic Power: +95 critical strike rating w/ chance to deal 788 to 1312 additional damage for each damage over time spell cast
  
• Soul of the Dead: +95 critical strike rating w/ chance to restore 900 mana on a critical strike (Sapphiron in 25-man Naxxramas)
• Wrathstone: +108 critical strike rating w/ attack power increase of 856 for 20 sec when used (Kologarn in 25-man Ulduar)

You won’t see any 95 point or greater critical strike trinkets with a ranged/melee, non-caster attack bonus until heroic Ulduar. The Mirror of Truth and Loatheb’s Shadow each grant an 84 point critical strike bonus.

Wintergrasp Variants

There are also versions of these trinkets available for 25 Wintergrasp Marks of Honor. Each trinket comes with the “on use” bonus of removing all movement impairing effects and all effects which cause loss of control of your character. These, however, are unique, but can be paired up with one of the Battlemaster’s trinkets.

The progression path here is probably the most straight-forward of any slot. One of your first rare items from Northrend will come from the group quest “Breaking Through” in Borean Tundra, available at level 68. Completing this quest will reward you with the Choker of Forceful Redemption which will carry you to at least 72, if not 75.

At level 75, you’ll want to find a Jewelcrafter and make friends with him or her. You can pick up the Jewelcrafter-made Jade Dagger Pendant until you finish the Oracles/Frenzyheart quest chain in Sholazar Basin for the Spiked Collar of Servitude.

If you are questing in Icecrown and need a buffer for this slot in the mid-70s, The Severed Noose of Westwind is available to you from a quest at 78. When you hit level 80, find that Jewelcrafter friend of yours and get the Titanium Impact Choker crafted for you.

1. Level 68 Worgtooth Pendant (668)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Walking Dead (Howling Fjord)
2. Level 68 Choker of Forceful Redemption (909)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Breaking Through (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 72 Wyrm-slave Collar (946)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Neltharion’s Flame (Dragonblight)
4. Level 75 Jade Dagger Pendant (1167)
   Obtained by: Jewelcrafter or AH (40 gold)
5. Level 76 Spiked Collar of Servitude (1276)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – A Hero’s Burden (Sholazar Basin)
6. Level 78 The Severed Noose of Westwind (1409)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Admiral Revealed (Icecrown)
7. Level 80 Titanium Impact Choker (1915)
   Obtained by: Jewelcrafter or AH (1200 gold)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

Starting out in Borean Tundra, you’ll want to focus on obtaining the Battle Leader’s Breastplate. This will carry you for three levels until you can hit Dragonblight for the Chestplate of the Ruby Champion.

Your first opportunity to pick up a rare item will be at level 76 with the Kalu’ak. If you’ve completed all of the quests for this faction in at least two out of the three zones where Kalu’ak quests exist, you should have no trouble reaching honored.

You can then run Gundrak for the Forlorn Breastplate of War from Moorabi, or hold off until 80 and complete the quest “Whatever it Takes!” in the Halls of Lightning. Although you can pick up this quest at level 77, you’re more likely to find a heroic HoL group at 80, then you are a regular HoL group at 77.

• Level 68 Mightstone Breastplate (1436)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – Bury Those Cockroaches! (Borean Tundra)
• Level 68 Battle Leader’s Breastplate (1601)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – What the Cold Wind Brings… (Borean Tundra)
• Level 71 Chestplate of the Ruby Champion (1815)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – On Ruby Wings (Dragonblight)
• Level 73 Carapace of the Fallen (1932)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – A Minor Substitution (Grizzly Hills)
• Level 74 Chestplate of the Altar (1971)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – Precious Elemental Fluids (Zul’Drak)
• Level 75 Links of the Terrified Deity (2001)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – Convocation at Zol’Heb (Zul’Drak)
• Level 76 Whalebone Carapace (2194)
  Obtained by: The Kalu’ak (Honored)
• Level 76 Forlorn Breastplate of War (2413)
  Obtained by: Moorabi (Gundrak)
• Level 77 Breastplate of Jagged Stone (2812)
  Obtained by: Quest Reward – Whatever it Takes! (Halls of Lightning)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

The bad news is you don’t have many options here. The good news is you don’t have many options here.

Starting off in Borean Tundra, you can quickly obtain Warsong’s Fervor and Serrah’s Star. You can then jump over to Howling Fjord and work towards the First Mate’s Pocketwatch. At level 71 and after completing the Battle for the Undercity quest chain, you are rewarded with the Medallion of Heroism.

At this point, you won’t have to worry about trinket upgrades until level 77. When you hit 77, start working towards reputation gains with The Oracles faction. At exalted, you have the ability to purchase the Oracle Talisman of Ablution as an upgrade over the pocketwatch. Keep an eye out for the Nobles cards on the auction house and start building your Nobles Deck.

1. Level 68 Warsong’s Fervor (496)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – We Strike! (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 69 Serrah’s Star (608)
   Obtained by: – Keep the Secret Safe (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 69 First Mate’s Pocketwatch (708)
   Obtained by: – The Jig is Up (Howling Fjord)
4. Level 71 Medallion of Heroism (800)
   Obtained by: – The Battle For The Undercity (Dragonblight)
5. Level 77 Oracle Talisman of Ablution (1136)
   Obtained by: The Oracles (Exalted)
6. Level 80 Darkmoon Card: Greatness (2805)
   Obtained by: – Darkmoon Nobles Deck (Darkmoon Faire)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

One of the very first quests in Borean Tundra rewards you with a great starter weapon, the Combatant Greatsword. From there, you can follow a basic upgrade path, or work some dungeons and grind reputations to itemize as you level.

As you complete your Borean Tundra starter quests, the Axe of Frozen Death will become available to you from a level 68 quest chain reward. At level 70, you can start to farm Utgarde Keep for a chance at Ingvar’s Monolithic Cleaver. If you have difficulties getting a UK group, your next upgrade will come at level 73 from the Blacksmith-crafted Honed Cobalt Cleaver.

When you hit 75, you’ll want to travel to Zul’Drak and participate in the Ampitheater of Anguish event. Upon completion, you can choose between an axe (De-Raged Waraxe) and a polearm (Icier Barbed Spear). They are both similar, so your decision will probably be based on personal preference. You should consider a high-end enchant such as Massacre or Berserking for your weapon as there is a good chance you’ll keep this until level 80.

1. Level 68 Combatant Greatsword (12502)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Cutting Off the Source (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 68 Axe of Frozen Death (13675)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Hellscream’s Champion (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 73 Honed Cobalt Cleaver (14532)
   Obtained by: Blacksmith or BoE (100 gold)
4. Level 75 Banner Slicer (14752)
   Obtained by: World drop BoE (35 gold)
5. Level 70 Ingvar’s Monolithic Cleaver (14762)
   Obtained by: Ingvar the Plunderer (Utgarde Keep)
6. Level 74 Troll Butcherer (16390)
   Obtained by: Trollgore (Drak’Tharon Keep)
7. Level 75 De-Raged Waraxe (16870)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Champion of Anguish (Zul’Drak)
8. Level 75 Icier Barbed Spear (16898)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Champion of Anguish (Zul’Drak)
9. Level 78 Wyrmclaw Battleaxe (17646)
   Obtained by: Cache of Eregos (The Oculus)
10. Level 78 Whale-Stick Harpoon (17789)
    Obtained by: The Kalu’ak (Revered)
11. Level 78 Dreadlord’s Blade (17912)
    Obtained by: Dark Runed Chest (The Culling of Stratholme)
12. Level 78 Dirkee’s Superstructure (18235)
    Obtained by: Dirkee (rare elite) or BoE (400 gold) (The Storm Peaks)
13. Level 80 Argent Skeleton Crusher (19726)
    Obtained by: Argent Crusade (Revered)
14. Level 80 Runeblade of Demonstrable Power (19940)
    Obtained by: Knights of the Ebon Blade (Revered)
15. Level 80 Titansteel Destroyer (21721)
    Obtained by: Blacksmith or BoE (1000 gold)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

The glove itemization is fairly straight-forward, mainly because you don’t have a lot of options. Once you hit level 75, you’ll want to run The Violet Hold. The Plate Claws of the Dragon drop off the last boss, so you’ll have a consistent chance at a drop (rather than a random drop off of a random boss encounter in there).

If you pass on VH, there are two options at level 77 in the Storm Peaks. Hold on to those Astrid Riding Gloves until you have a chance to run Halls of Lightning for the Fists of Loken.

1. Level 68 Onyx Grips (1159)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Stop the Ascension! (Howling Fjord)
2. Level 71 Stonepath Gauntlets (1270)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Might of the Horde (Dragonblight)
3. Level 73 Spiked Cobalt Gauntlets (1409)
   Obtained by: Blacksmith or BoE (10 gold)
4. Level 75 Plate Claws of the Dragon (1604)
   Obtained by: Cyanigosa (The Violet Hold)
5. Level 77 Backhanded Grips (1473)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Krolmir, Hammer of Storms (The Storm Peaks)
6. Level 77 Astrid’s Riding Gloves (1525)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Making a Harness (The Storm Peaks)
7. Level 78 Gauntlets of The Culling (1712)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – A Royal Escort (The Culling of Stratholme)
8. Level 78 Fists of Loken (1923)
   Obtained by: Loken (Halls of Lightning)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

After you pick up the Chilled Greaves and Spiked Cobalt Boots, your next few options involve Wrathgate and dungeon quests. You may end up higher than level 71 by the time Wrathgate becomes available to you. In that case, you may want to focus on completing Azjol-Nerub and Drak’Tharon Keep. The Enticing Sabatons will carry you from 73 to at least 77, where the The Darkspeaker’s Iron Walkers from Icecrown are almost a side-grade.

The Berserker’s Sabatons at 78 are a nice stopgap if you can find them, but you may just keep what you have until you hit 80. Ultimately, you want to grind out your Knights of the Ebon Blade reputation to Exalted for the Death-Inured Sabatons. However, the crafted Spiked Titansteel Treads are more than adequate as an immediate upgrade when you ding 80.

1. Level 68 Chilled Greaves (1045)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Collapse (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 71 Spiked Cobalt Boots (1194)
   Obtained by: BoE or Blacksmith (5 gold)
3. Level 71 Implacable Zombie Crushers (1221)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Kor’kron Vanguard! (Dragonblight)
4. Level 72 Greaves of the Traitor (1478)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Death to the Traitor King (Azjol-Nerub)
5. Level 73 Enticing Sabatons (1651)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Cleansing Drak’Tharon (Drak’Tharon Keep)
6. Level 77 The Darkspeaker’s Iron Walkers (1688)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Mind Tricks (Icecrown)
7. Level 78 Berserker’s Sabatons (1795)
   Obtained by: BoE World Drop (50 gold)
8. Level 80 Spiked Titansteel Treads (2121)
   Obtained by: BoE or Blacksmith (233 gold)
9. Level 80 Death-Inured Sabatons (2587)
   Obtained by: Knights of the Ebon Blade (Exalted)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

At level 68, the Durable Worghide Cape becomes available from a quest reward after completing short quest chains for The Kalu’ak in either Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord. This cloak has great stats, but lacks both stamina and strength.

At level 80, you have a choice of two cloaks to go after: Ice Striker’s Cloak and Cloak of Bloodied Waters. The Ice Striker’s Cloak can be crafted by Leatherworkers at skill level 440, while the Cloak of Bloodied Waters is a random world drop. Start checking the auction house now for the Cloak of Bloodied Waters as it is preferred because of the higher amount of strength and critical strike rating. However, the Ice Striker’s Cloak could provide more overall balance to your gear setup as it provides 38 more stamina, agility, and an attack power bonus of 100.

1. Level 68 Seared Scale Cape (628)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Keep the Secret Safe (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 70 Assailant Shroud (666)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Culler Cometh (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 70 Ice-Crusted Cape (752)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Rivenwood Captives (Howling Fjord)
4. Level 68 Durable Worghide Cape (820)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Travel to Moa’ki Harbor (Dragonblight)
5. Level 71 Honorborn Cloak (780)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – All Hail Roanauk! (Dragonblight)
6. Level 71 Saboteur’s Wrap (802)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Bombard the Ballistae (Dragonblight)
7. Level 73 Cloak of Harsh Winds (801)
   Obtained by: BoE (Leatherworker or 30 gold)
8. Level 74 Venture Bay Buccaneer’s Cape (986)
   Obtained by: 50 Venture Coins (Grizzly Hills)
9. Level 76 Cloak of the Deadliest Game (1201)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Post-partum Aggression (Sholazar Basin)
10. Level 78 Cloak of Holy Extermination (1275)
    Obtained by: Argent Crusade (Honored)
11. Level 77 Embrace of Sorrow (1291)
    Obtained by: Quest Reward – Maiden of Grief (Halls of Stone)
12. Level 80 Ice Striker’s Cloak (1317)
    Obtained by: BoE (Leatherworker or 400 gold)
13. Level 80 Cloak of Bloodied Waters (1675)
    Obtained by: BoE (World Drop or 100 gold)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

The Girdle of Forceful Annihilation from the five-man quest in Dragonblight can be obtained at level 71, carrying you for two levels. At level 73, you can opt to purchase the Girdle of the Howling Berserker from the auction house, or wait a level and run Gundrak for the quest reward Clasp of the Fallen Demi-God. This item will take you to level 78, where you have a few options for upgrades. If you’re not able to run Gundrak, the Rhino-Tail Girdle (a level 76 quest reward from Sholazar Basin) is a solid choice until you hit 78.

1. Level 68 Gold-Plated Coldsteel Girdle (1173)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Necro Overlord Mezhen (Howling Fjord)
2. Level 71 Girdle of Forceful Annihilation (1301)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Sarathstra, Scourge of the North (Dragonblight)
3. Level 73 Girdle of the Howling Berserker (1408)
   Obtained by: BoE World Drop (40 gold)
4. Level 74 Clasp of the Fallen Demi-God (1598)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Gal’darah Must Pay (Gundrak)
5. Level 76 Rhino-Tail Girdle (1383)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Rhino Mastery: The Kill (Sholazar Basin)
6. Level 78 Savage Saronite Waistguard (1556)
   Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 50 gold)
7. Level 78 Girdle of the Mystical Prison (1740)
   Obtained by: BoE (Violet Hold or 25 gold)
8. Level 78 Spiked Metal Cilice (1978)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Salramm the Fleshcrafter (The Culling of Stratholme)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

The Vambraces of the Vengeance Bringer from the Utgarde Keep quest “A Score to Settle” will carry you from 68 to 77. It is highly recommended that you get that completed as early as possible. If this is skipped, your options are limited until you hit Icecrown, where several upgrades are available to you. Then, the crafted Vengeance Bindings at level 78 will carry you all the way to 80.

1. Level 68 Vambraces of the Vengeance Bringer (1068)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – A Score to Settle (Utgarde Keep)
2. Level 68 Landlocked Wristguards (599)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Not Without a Fight! (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 68 Freed Shackles (726)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Leading the Ancestors Home (Borean Tundra)
4. Level 69 Shaleground Bracers (775)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Conqueror of Skorn! (Howling Fjord)
5. Level 73 Wyrmbane Wristguards (988)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Canyon Chase (Dragonblight)
6. Level 75 Spiked Cobalt Bracers (1062)
   Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 16 gold)
7. Level 77 Hardened Bone Wrist Protectors (1065)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Killing Two Scourge With One Skeleton (Icecrown)
8. Level 77 Jotunheim Shackles (1103)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Art of Being a Water Terror (Icecrown)
9. Level 77 Plated Bracelet of the Skies (1205)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Volatility (Icecrown)
10. Level 77 Battlescar Spirebands (1215)
    Obtained by: Quest Reward – Not-So-Honorable Combat (Icecrown)
11. Level 77 Rings of Nergeld (1266)
    Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Sum is Greater than the Parts (Icecrown)
12. Level 78 Vengeance Bindings (1657)
    Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 125 gold)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

Taking into account the priority to hit and critical strike, the Warchief’s Legplates of Carnage (and an Alliance equivalent) from The Battle for Undercity should take you from level 71 to 77.

1. Level 68 Mightstone Legplates (1396)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Taken by the Scourge (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 71 Wraithshimmer Legplates (1605)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Forsaken Blight and You: How Not to Die (Dragonblight)
3. Level 71 Warchief’s Legplates of Carnage (2005)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Battle For The Undercity (Dragonblight)
4. Level 77 Plated Legs of the Unholy (2251)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Rider of the Unholy (Icecrown)
5. Level 78 Ancient Royal Legguards (2577)
   Obtained by: King Ymiron (Utgarde Pinnacle)
6. Level 80 Legplates of Bloody Reprisal (3243)
   Obtained by: Reputation Exalted (The Wyrmrest Accord)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

At level 71, checking the auction house for the Blood-Tempered Shoulders is purely optional as they’re only useful for one level and may not be worth your gold. If you obtain the Chiseled Stalagmite Pauldrons from The Nexus at level 71, those will carry you to level 73.  Similarly, if you complete the dungeon quest reward from Old Kingdom and receive the Shoulderplates of the Abolished, those will carry you to 75.

1. Level 68 – Mightstone Pauldrons (992)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Bring ‘Em Back Alive (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 68 – Chilled Pauldrons (1213)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Neutralizing the Cauldrons (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 71 – Stonepath Pauldrons (1281)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Chains of the Anub’ar (Dragonblight)
4. Level 71 – Blood-Tempered Spaulders (1292)
   Obtained by: BoE (World drop or 50 gold)
5. Level 71 – Chiseled Stalagmite Pauldrons (1447)
   Obtained by: Ormorok the Tree-Shaper (The Nexus)
6. Level 72 – Blood-Spattered Spaulders (1271)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – A Possible Link (Grizzly Hills)
7. Level 72 – Spiked Cobalt Shoulders (1392)
   Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 9 gold)
8. Level 73 – Shoulderplates of the Abolished (1550)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Faceless Ones (Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom)
9. Level 74 – Brazen Offender’s Shoulderplates (1283)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Too Much of a Good Thing (Zul’Drak)
10. Level 75 – Shoulderplates of the Beholder (1569)
    Obtained by: Moragg (The Violet Hold)
11. Level 77 – Mantle of Volkhan (1605)
    Obtained by: Quest Reward – Diametrically Opposed (Halls of Lightning)
12. Level 78 – Savage Saronite Pauldrons (1770)
    Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 125 gold)
13. Level 78 – Gold Star Spaulders (1949)
    Obtained by: The Oracles (Revered)
14. Level 80 – Spaulders of the Giant Lords (2242)
    Obtained by: The Sons of Hodir (Revered)

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

Prices and links provided by Wowhead. Gear score provided by Loot Rank (based on the PvE Death Knight template).

1. Level 68 – Mightstone Helm (1457)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Trophies of Gammoth (Borean Tundra)
2. Level 69 – Helm of the Crimson Drakonid (1476)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Drake Hunt (Borean Tundra)
3. Level 73 – Thought-Purifying Protector (1708)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Ruuna’s Request (Grizzly Hills)
4. Level 75 – Horned Cobalt Helm (2050)
   Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 15 gold)
5. Level 77 – Skullcage of Eternal Terror (2323)
   Obtained by: BoE (World Drop or 30 gold)
6. Level 77 – Helm of Towering Rage (2353)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – Reclamation (Sholazar Basin)
7. Level 77 – Bloodstained Helmet (2391)
   Obtained by: Quest Reward – The Hunter and the Prince (Icecrown)
8. Level 77 – Brann’s Lost Mining Helmet (2356)
   Obtained by: Krystallus (Halls of Stone)
9. Level 78 – Helm of Command (2659)
   Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 71 gold)
10. Level 80 – Spiked Titansteel Helm (3753)
    Obtained by: BoE (Blacksmith or 650 gold)