by the power of Blood, Frost, and Unholy

Effraeti’s recent posts on spec-specific DK fashion (exhibit A, exhibit B) have reminded me that I have for a long time thought it would be fun to change a DK’s hair color to match their spec. Furthermore, since the debut of Transmogrification, I’ve been thinking off-and-on about putting together a set of Death Knight Transmogrification Template Kits themed around the three specs. Effy may have beaten me to the punch, but I’m not going to let that prevent me from showing my own ideas!

Because these sets are specifically intended for Death Knights, I have not shied away from using DK Tier pieces or starting zone quest rewards.

I initially thought I’d make bright, color-saturated outfits. As I asked myself, “Would I rather have this outfit be pretty, or have it really look sinister and Death Knight-like?”, however, I turned toward more subdued colors.

This is one of my favorite plate chestpiece designs, and I think the runed pattern is perfect for Death Knights.

The red version is the Bloodforged and the blue is the Symbolic. A green(ish) version exists, the Runed Copper Breastplate, but that is mail, and is, in fact, one of the first pieces of armor an apprentice Blacksmith learns to craft. So I have used the black Darkrune Breastplate for Unholy instead. The purple High Chief’s Armor is another option for Unholy, but it has to be used with a purple cloak because I think that mixing purple and green veers too strongly off into Warlock or Darkmoon Faire territory.
Other items in these sets include the Acherus Knight’s Hood, Acherus Knight’s Pauldrons, Bloodbane’s Gauntlets of Command, and Greaves of the Slaughter.
The pants are the Bloodforged, Symbolic, Deathforged Legplates, and High Chief’s. The runed pants are shown with the Bogslayer Belt and the Deathforged Legplates are shown with the Deathforge Girdle.
The cloaks are Dawnstrike’s Cloak, Winterwater Cloak, Mok’Nathal Wildercloak, and Netherfury Cape

Here, I’ve gone the other direction, keeping the core black and splashing color onto the extremities.

Core items: Acherus Knight’s Hood, Drakescale Breastplate, Direwing Legguards
Shoulders: Mantle of the Desert Crusade, Imperial Plate Shoulders, Bile-Etched Spaulders
Belts: Thorium, Symbolic or Belt of the Sanctuary, Emerald
Gloves & Boots: Bloodforged, Symbolic or Talonguard, Emerald
Cloaks: Sky Darkener’s Shroud of Blood, Shroud of the North Wind, Mantle of Patience

Just a splash of color in these ones.

Ragesteel Breastplate, Hydralick Armor, Jouster’s Chestpiece, Emerald Breastplate,
Other items: Deathbone Girdle, Legplates of the Violet Champion, Acherus Knight’s Pauldrons, Bloodbane’s Gauntlets of Command, Greaves of the Slaughter, Blackmetal Cape or Iceward Cloak, Sawbones Shirt or Black Swashbuckler’s Shirt or Green Workman’s Shirt or Golden Filigreed Doublet
Any of the previously shown chestpieces would work effectively in this style of outfit. The Engraved Saronite Legplates are another good option for the pants.

I had to stay with quite simple, minimalist designs to be able to keep various elements thematically consistent across all three specs. I’ve also put together these more elaborate outfits that do not have any thematic continuity.

BLOOD

Helm of Infinite Visions, Darksoul Shoulders, Bloodforged chestpiece, Goblin Girdle, Legguards of Abandoned Fealty, Zaxxis Gloves, Ascendant’s Boots, Greatcloak of the Turned Champion, Dual-Blade Butcher

Alternate items: Darkcrest belt, Earthshape Pauldrons, Sky Darkener’s Shroud of Blood

FROST

Circle’s Stalwart Helmet, Heaving Plates of Protection, Icebane Chestguard, Plaguebringer’s Girdle, Legguards of the Unseeing, Icebane Gauntlets, Rock Furrow Boots, Deathchill Cloak

There are so many great weapons to use for a DW Frost DK!
Hailstorm, Wrathful Gladiator’s Slicer and Quickblade, Frostguard, Fang of the Leviathan, The Unbreakable Will, Razorscale Talon, Fusion Blade, Runescribed Blade, Void Sabre, Slayer of the Lifeless… and that’s just looking at 1H Swords!

Alternate items: Jouster’s belt gloves and boots, Cloak of Cheerful Flowers

UNHOLY

Fel-Steel Warhelm, Acid-Etched Pauldrons, Breastplate of Tarnished Bronze, Deathbone Girdle, Protective Engineer’s Leggings, Gauntlets of Temporal Interference, Dreadmaul Sabatons, Stolen Idra’kess Drape, Saronite Mindcrusher

Alternate items: Pauldrons of the Wardancer, Royal Gauntlets of Silvermoon, Petrified Ironwood Smasher

Some of these items, such as the Darkrune Breastplate, Darksoul Shoulders, and Icebane Gauntlets, are crafted from patterns that can no longer be obtained and will thus be quite difficult to find. The other options and variations I have shown can probably be successfully substituted for them.