Once you start gearing up for the end game as a Death Knight, there is a whole other area to consider. That area is the enchants and improvements you put on your gear. These improvements to the gear many times even outweigh the next upgrade you are likely to get. All that later though, what are the type of improvements you
can get and where do they come from.
Types of Improvements
The simplest and most straight forward enhancement that you can get for most of your gear is an enchantment. These are magically cast on your gear by an enchanter or by yourself using a scroll or enchanting that an enchanter created for you or that you bought in the auction house.
While there are other types of item enhancements these are the only true “enchants”, however most players refer to all types generically as enchants. Leg Armor Kits offer huge bonuses
Other types of item enhancements are crafted additions to items such as leg armor kits created by leatherworkers, threads created by tailors, and belt buckles created by blacksmiths.
Many different types of these can be created by these professions, and can add huge bonuses to your gear. Some professions also can produce item enhancements for only their own items, such as enchanters being able to enchant their rings, blacksmiths adding sockets to their gloves and belts, and inscriptionists being able to inscribe their shoulders.
The next significant type of item enhancement is gems. Gems are added into the sockets found (or added) on many different pieces of gear. These gems are created by jewel crafters and come in various colours that you can match up to the socket colour on the item to receive further bonuses. It is important to note however that you do not need to match the socket colour. That's right, the
socket colour is just a recommendation and following it will grant the socket bonus listed. However since most socket bonuses are not worth not using your class and specs best gems, in general you will end up just ignoring the socket colour.
The last common type of item enhancement is an extension of the enchantment system. These are essentially purchased enchants from various reputation vendors. These are the Arcanums for helms and the Inscriptions for shoulders. The Arcanums are found at various different reputation vendors and which vendor you need to visit depends on your talent spec. The end game shoulder inscriptions are all found at the Sons of Hodir quartermaster in the Storm Peaks zone. There are some available from the vendors in Shattrath as well, however they are based on level 70 content and it is easier to just wait until level 80 and grind the Sons of Hodir reputation.
Recommended Enchants
There are a huge number of enchants available and this list just scratches the surface. These however are the ones that you should aim for when you are gearing up to raid.
Even if you can't afford all of them right away, this is your wish list.
Tank
DPS
Head
Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector - Argent Crusade Reputation – Revered (+37 Stamina, +20 Defence)
Arcanum of Torment - Knights of the Ebon Blade – Revered (+50 Attack Power, +20 Critical Strike)
Shoulder
Lesser / Greater
Inscription of the Pinnacle -Sons of Hodir Reputation – Honored / Exalted (+15/+20 Dodge, +10+15 Defence)
Lesser / Greater Inscription of the Axe - Sons of Hodir Reputation – Honored / Exalted (+30/+40 Attack Power, +10/+15 Critical Strike)
Back
Titanweave (+16 Defence)
Major Agility (+22 Agility)
Superior Agility (+16 Agility)
