Terms and conditions applyBone ShieldBone ShieldVampiric BloodRed ThirstUmbilicus EternusDeath StrikeBone ShieldBone ShieldDeath StrikeBone ShieldDancing Rune WeaponBone ShieldBone ShieldDancing Rune WeaponGorefiend's GraspHeartbreakerBlooddrinkerRune StrikeRune StrikeRapid DecompositionDeath and DecayCrimson ScourgeHemostasisSkullflower's HaemostasisConsumptionHemostasisDeath StrikeDeath StrikeFoul BulwarkTombstoneOssuaryWill of the NecropolisAnti-Magic BarrierRune TapGrip of the DeadDeath and DecayTightening GraspGorefiend's GraspWraith WalkVoraciousBloodwormsMark of BloodBloodwormsPurgatoryRed ThirstVampiric BloodBonestormTombstoneOssuaryDecent

Eternal Rune Weapon: even in its non-stacking, small amount of gain version, it provides a neat little boost to Dancing Rune Weapon

Bones of the Damned: the % chance does not stack. Provides a chance to generate an additional Bone Shield charge and increases armor provided by Bone Shield

Somewhat Decent

Runic Barrier: might see some use when cheesing debuffs

Marrowblood: provides a small amount of extra throughput at no real cost or requirement to change your playstyle

Bad

Bone Spike Graveyard: provides a small amount of burst healing and damage when dropping D&D. As we no longer have an incentive to keep D&D up as often as possible (the removal of the RP given by standing in it), this trait is a small amount of extra throughput in exchange for a wasted rune

Deep Cuts: semi-decent idea, flat-out not strong enough

Embrace of the Darkfallen: somewhat similar in concept to the old UE, granting leech instead of a shield. ~1% leech, however, isn’t consequent enough

Death Strike changes - promoting a true reactive playstyleDeath StrikeBone ShieldDeath StrikeTombstoneDeath StrikeOssuaryEarly Expansion BluesDeath StrikeDeath Strike

Comment by KrunkyDrakonisGood stuff.Comment by DethrixAh that's is a shame. Blood DK was a contender as an alt for me due to how it played in Legion. Tanking was an occasional thing as a change of pace... Im not interested in having to be cutting edge to run few dungeons and raids.Comment by ChungtaoI wish they changed how Bone Shield stacks influence the rotation outside of specific talents. As far as buffs go, it doesn't really matter how many stacks you have to spare, be it 10kk or just one bone flying around, - you'll get a set amount of passive benefits; even from a fantasy standpoint, one would be much more durable, being surrounded by an impenetrable cloud of bones and blood, rather than hiding behind a small boney husk. Maybe a change to the stacking buff, 10% baseline and 1% per stack afterwards, would also partially address the issues BDK has with his critical reliance on haste gear. Not to mention a more engaging and decisive gameplay.Comment by WaIesgreat summary!

missing a tag in the list of bad azerite traitsComment by fakenezzSo basically what you are saying is that you need to be a Cutting Edge player to properly play BDK or else we will die like crap. Thanks but no thanks.Comment by ThechieftainWell been playing bdk for a while getting cutting edge with it. I have tired it on beta and pre-patch. Overall play style is same yet somehow you dont feel as strong as it was.Comment by MandlHey folks, Mandl here!

I wish they changed how Bone Shield stacks influence the rotation outside of specific talents. As far as buffs go, it doesn't really matter how many stacks you have to spare, be it 10kk or just one bone flying around, - you'll get a set amount of passive benefits; even from a fantasy standpoint, one would be much more durable, being surrounded by an impenetrable cloud of bones and blood, rather than hiding behind a small boney husk. Maybe a change to the stacking buff, 10% baseline and 1% per stack afterwards, would also partially address the issues BDK has with his critical reliance on haste gear. Not to mention a more engaging and decisive gameplay.So basically what you are saying is that you need to be a Cutting Edge player to properly play BDK or else we will die like crap. Thanks but no thanks.Comment by MandlWell been playing bdk for a while getting cutting edge with it. I have tired it on beta and pre-patch. Overall play style is same yet somehow you dont feel as strong as it was.breakComment by 4m1rthat's really taking it TOO far, the intended gameplay for Death Strike has been using it right after damage spikes for a long time. it's like using other tanks' active mitigation randomly and expecting to get survivability out of it, u ARE expected to time ur active mitigation accordingly. actually, it's easier for BDK as they don't need to predict damage spikes because they use their active mitigation reactively, not proactively.Comment by rythir24Sigh, my poor main. Also why remove one of the weapons from DRW? It's an appealing visual affect. Prime example of a pointless change.Comment by MandlSigh, my poor main. Also why remove one of the weapons from DRW? It's an appealing visual affect. Prime example of a pointless change.that's really taking it TOO far, the intended gameplay for Death Strike has been using it right after damage spikes for a long time. it's like using other tanks' active mitigation randomly and expecting to get survivability out of it, u ARE expected to time ur active mitigation accordingly. actually, it's easier for BDK as they don't need to predict damage spikes because they use their active mitigation reactively, not proactively.Comment by rythir24Sigh, my poor main. Also why remove one of the weapons from DRW? It's an appealing visual affect. Prime example of a pointless change.that's really taking it TOO far, the intended gameplay for Death Strike has been using it right after damage spikes for a long time. it's like using other tanks' active mitigation randomly and expecting to get survivability out of it, u ARE expected to time ur active mitigation accordingly. actually, it's easier for BDK as they don't need to predict damage spikes because they use their active mitigation reactively, not proactively.Comment by MandlSigh, my poor main. Also why remove one of the weapons from DRW? It's an appealing visual affect. Prime example of a pointless change.Comment by Maulis425Very cool to see the author of the article here in the discussion. Quick question for you: is the benefit of rune strike purely rune generation? I played around with it in pre-patch and it felt very weak compared to the other options, will it take higher gear and more "stress" in the fight to make it shine?Comment by MandlVery cool to see the author of the article here in the discussion.somewhereQuick question for you: is the benefit of rune strike purely rune generation? I played around with it in pre-patch and it felt very weak compared to the other options, will it take higher gear and more "stress" in the fight to make it shine?Comment by rythir24Sigh, my poor main. Also why remove one of the weapons from DRW? It's an appealing visual affect. Prime example of a pointless change.Comment by reza577Dont bother with Blood DK until they change their talents, some rows have so many good talents bunched up together while other rows are all #$%^.
not to mention the nerf to our healing,we also get Alot less passive armor from bone shield than we got before.

so sad.
i remember being a Mythic dungeon god playing Blood. and i remember owning every class in 1v1 duels.
since BFA pre patch i have lost to most classes in 1v1s... lolComment by Maulis425Very cool to see the author of the article here in the discussion.somewhereQuick question for you: is the benefit of rune strike purely rune generation? I played around with it in pre-patch and it felt very weak compared to the other options, will it take higher gear and more "stress" in the fight to make it shine?Comment by ONCHEhapBeen playing blood since Naxx

I feel like I'm going to enjoy this version of the spec a lot,it just feels very reactive and that's what I love about blood

However,I can see how a new player can struggle a lot with the spec,rune economy seems even more harsh than early Legion,and if you don't use your rune strikes really well,you'll end up paddling behind and unable to catch up,and you can't just use death strike whenever like you could outside of mythic raiding in Legion,so the spec is extremely punishing right nowComment by PantheaHey guys. Panthea here.

Feel free to ask me any questions you have here or in the Acherus discord.