Death and Decay (death knight ability)

Death and Decay
Death and Decay Level 8 death knight ability 30 yd range 1 Rune 30 sec cooldown Instant Corrupts the targeted ground, causing (39.6396% of Attack power) Shadow damage over 10 sec to targets within the area. Rank 2: Heart Strike hits up to 3 additional enemies while you remain in Death and Decay. Rank 2: <Scourge Strike/Clawing Shadows> and Necrotic Strike hit up to 4 enemies near the target while you remain in Death and Decay.
Usable by
Class	Death knight
Properties
School	Shadow
Cooldown	30 sec
Other information
Level learned	8
Rank levels	43 (rank 2)
Improvements	[Defile]
Affects	[Heart Strike], [Scourge Strike], [Tightening Grasp]
Related debuff
Death and Decay Suffering Shadow damage every sec. Duration: 10 seconds

"It's not hard to track a death knight, mon. Just follow da devastation."
—The Longeye

Death and Decay is a targetable AoE ability for death knights, learned at level 8.

It is the key to AoE tanking, and should always be used on cooldown when facing two or more mobs. It should not be used against single targets, as your other attacks provide more threat.

For DPS, it is worth using when facing large packs.

Background

Main article: Death and Decay

Patch changes

• Patch 9.0.2 (2020-11-17): Blood: Damage has been increased by 25%.
  
• Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now available to all specializations.
  
• Patch 8.1.0 (2018-12-11): Death and Decay's [Necrotic Strike] now also hits up to 3 additional targets.
  
• Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): No longer available to Frost. Now causes [Heart Strike] and [Scourge Strike] to hit additional targets while the death knight remains in the area. Damage increased by 125%.
  
• Patch 6.2.3 (2015-11-17): Damage has been increased by 10%.
  
• Hotfix (2014-10-16): Damage increased by 20%.
  
• Hotfix (2013-10-03): Death and Decay, [Howling Blast], and [Pestilence] should no longer incorrectly grant a radius bonus when cast while the Death Knight is moving.
  
• Hotfix (2012-10-01): Death and Decay will no longer trigger the Runic Return two piece PvP set bonus.
  
• Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): No longer produces a high amount of threat.
  

See also

• Death and Decay, TCG card

External links

Base	Rank 2 (Blood)	Rank 2 (Unholy)
Wowhead WoWDB	Wowhead WoWDB	Wowhead WoWDB