Rise of the Death Knight: Part One

Cataclysm made DKs OP, is what most will say when asked about the overall changes to Death Knights. The popularity of Death Knights has never been a problem since the first release of the class. How can you not be attracted to a plate wearer that deals both melee and magic damage? Scores of players rushed to create their first DK to play, and then found out; it was utter fun.

In the Beginning
The Wrath of the Lich King expansion promised a new hero class. The word 'hero' alone attracted many as did the flavor of once being alive but then dead and then undead at the hands of Arthas. Add in the bonus that a player not only began at level 58 but through questing came out of the starter zone with a full set of blue gear and a unique mount. Hook, line, and sinker.

What then was created was a massive surge of Death Knights in servers. Everyone and their dear mother was now a dark welder of runic power. Thus began the hatred.

The Stigmata
I know firsthand how it felt to be a newly-minted DK in WotLK. Back then, to be a Death Knight was to be laughable. A player that rolled a DK suddenly never experienced the game at all. We were compared to being alike roaches coming out of shady places. Personally, I could never find a pick up group that did not start an instance/raid without giving snark quips of  'lol DK' and 'grip newb'. Mind you, alot of the times my toon was just invited to hear the insults and then immediately kicked afterward.

Other small factors were stacked up against my DK as he was a Blood Elf(Yes, the gay comments never died down) that DPSed in Blood spec. During that first period it was unheard of to DPS in that spec as it was aimed toward single-target. The 'it' DKs were the ones that DPSed in the AOE Unholy spec. Gearing my Tarrick up during the majority of WotLK was an utter nightmare.

Playing as a Death Knight was literally an unforgiving playground. As a player, I not only had to work hard to not be placed into the 'dktard' majority but also had to constantly prove that I excelled at my class in less than stellar gear. And this was only if my Death Knight was even given a solid chance to prove anything at all.

Cataclysmic Changes
Who would have imagined then, that near the end of WotLK, and in the start of the new Cataclysm, that DKs would change so greatly? A dedicated tanking tree and two DPS specs with versatile rolls were granted. Players that endlessly teased the former agents of Arthas suddenly ran to reroll as one. Nowadays, nobody laughs. No one ridicules. Haters turned enthusiasts now /flirt and love them. Trade chat guild spams and raid barks actually look for a Death Knight. The days of being shunned as a class are finally over. However a stir of uneasiness from amongst the tanking roles has begun...

To be continued in Part Two
Thanks for reading!