The Gaming Lizard

With the release of Patch 4.0.1 due to hit us any time that we're not expecting, it's high time to take a look at one of Deathknight's new core (and controversial) mechanic/ability to date - Runic Empowerment

The ability started out harmlessly as a 3 pointer talent in Tier 1 of the Frost tree. Perhaps not enough people are taking the talent or Blizzard suddenly decides RE is good for us. In any case, it became the trainable level 68 ability that we see today.

But what is RE meant to be? To find out, we shall dip our feet into the cesspool know as the WoW forums.

We think Runic Empowerment is an important mechanic because without it, the rotation becomes very predictable perhaps even metronome-like. We are trying to make sure all specs have some random mechanics so that they need to react to what happens instead of just pressing the same buttons over and over as fast as they can. Some players react badly to random mechanics because they make the rotations less predictable and therefore more challenging to manage. That's the entire point. - Ghostcrawler 180910

Indeed, current rotations of today's Unholy is straight-forward whereas Frost depends on a priority system. RE simply introduces another proc for us to take note of by shaking up our Rune cooldowns. To truly appreciate what RE does, we must once again recap on the revised rune system.

Today's Rune system works by spending all your runes as long as they are off CDs or you risk losing potential DPS. Come Cataclysm, the system has been reworked such that using 2 of the same rune type together will not cause both to start cooling down. Instead, only one will cooldown while the other will be "stored" as illustrated in the next screenshot:


What this does is an effective slowing down of our rotations so that only 3 runes will be useable at any given time. This affected us greatly since our prime strikes (barring Heartstrike) are double runes and dependable on 2X Death Runes that was generated by using 2 Blood Strikes back to back.

Using the new system, one would have to wait out on 2 FULL rune CDs just to use both Death Runes. And that's where RE comes into play.

This is accurate and something a lot of players seem to miss. Runic Empowerment will ONLY work on fully depleted runes - the ones that are sitting idle. It does not just feed you random runes that you have to work in, Tetris-like, to your rotation. That's a perhaps subtle but meaningful distinction.

I would not get an Unholy Rune from Runic Empowerment and think "I must hit Plague Strike NOW or I am losing potential dps." That would make more sense through today's lens of an unspent rune is always a wasted rune. In Cataclysm, you shouldn't let Runic Empowerment change up what ability you were planning on hitting next, at least for the most part. Sometimes you can just hit that ability sooner. But if you want to hit Obliterate, wait for Obliterate. Don't spend that Unholy Rune just becuse it's burning a hole in your pocket. -Ghostcrawler 24/09/10

A stored rune will not affect your DPS simply cause in a time span of (let's make up a number) 20 seconds, you can Oblit about 4 times today compared to only 2 Oblits under the new system. So theoretically, you can do anything you want in-between the first Oblit and waiting for FU runes to comes off CD.

Confused? Here's a simple illustration:

---Oblit--->
---Oblit--->---Wait for CD/Use Runic Power--->
End of 20 seconds: 2X Oblit used.

---Oblit--->---Wait for CD/Use Runic Power--->---Oblit--->
End of 20 seconds: 2X Oblit used.

As shown, as long as the 1st set of BFU runes are on CD, you are not missing out on anything by delaying your 2nd set of BFU. What REALLY matters is that one set of runes must be on CD at all times.

So how does RE fit into gameplay? We must understand first how RE operate: When you use your RP dump like DC and FS, you get a 45% chance to proc a STORED rune. Thus, RE will NOT PROC when there is not stored runes.


I bring your attention once again to this screenshot of RE proccing. Notice that my stored DR2 is now useable so I shall pair it with that lone FR1 (since UR1 is on CD), resulting in using Oblit earlier!

In the case of Frost Deathknights, using Blood Strike gives you a Death Rune. Using 2 Blood Runes back to back will give us 1 Death rune on CD, 1 Death rune Stored. So in a rotation of

IT-PS-Oblit-BS-BS-RP dump

we get BFU runes stored and chances to proc the stored runes. Essentially, you can get 4/5 useable runes at one time!

Remember how we had to wait 2 full rune CD just to utilise 2X Death rune for Oblit? Now we can tear the pairing apart and instead use it with either Frost or Unholy runes. Then, whichever rune comes off CD later can be paired with Death Rune number 2! The 2nd Unholy Rune you just used may be useable again simply after a FS/DC!

RE is thus about thinking on your feet and being focused. As long as 1 set of runes are on CD, feel free to use RP or that nice RIME proc. After getting used to it, you can almost predict when RE will proc and what attack to use when it does.

I have to admit that RE can sometimes feel frustratingly random but it'll get better once you start to accept it as part of your arsenal. And when RE do proc, it'll feel like you just won the lottery (ok, $5 prize money).

With the addition of Runic Corruption (which modifies RE), only Frosties will be the ones using RE so stay tunes for a Frost POV look at RE soon.

If you have any questions or if any part sounds too alien, do drop a comment and I'll improve on it.