Newly 80 DPS Death Knight Shopping List (Pre Heroic)
This list is a work in progress. As a general rule of thumb, decide to upgrade gear based on 1) hit, 2) strength, 3) attack power, 4) crit, in that order until you are hit capped. Haste is useless for a Death Knight, and armor penetration isn't worth gearing for. This doesn't mean that items that have those are worthless, but you don't want to look for gear specifically for that.
The hit cap varies depending on your talents, but if you have 3/3 Virulence from the Unholy tree, it should be around 295. I can't stress enough how important it is to be at or at least near the hit cap.
Also, try out Rating Buster. This add-on makes it dead simple to figure out if a piece of gear is worth upgrading to or not. http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info5819-RatingBuster.html
Gems
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=39996 Bold Scarlet Ruby
Go strength all the way, unless there's a really good socket bonus, and in that case try to still gear for strength, crit or hit.
Enchants
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44149 Arcanum of Torment (Head, Ebon Blade)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44131 Lesser Inscription of the Axe (Shoulders, Sons of Hodir)
Head
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41386 Spiked Titansteel Helm (Crafted)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44412 Faceguard of Punishment (Quest)
Quest giver in Utgarde Pinnacle. Very easy.
Legs
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37066 Ancient Royal Legguards (N Utgarde Pinnacle)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41347 Savage Saronite Legplates (Crafted)
Neck
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37096 Necklace of the Chrono-Lord (N Culling of Stratholme)
Waist
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37088 Spiked Metal Cilice (N Culling of Stratholme)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=42882 Thorim's Grasp (Quest)
Feet
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37068 Berserker Sabatons (World BOE Drop, AH)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44306 Death-Inured Sabatons (Rep Ebon Blade)
Hands
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44399 Gauntlets of the Culling (Quest)
You get these for clearing Culling of Stratholme. Quest giver is in the instance.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41349 Savage Saronite Gauntlets (Crafted)
Back
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37647 Cloak of Bloodied Waters (BOE drop H Gundrak)
Pretty much best in slot until raids, pretty rare on the AH.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43566 Ice Striker's Cloak
Wrist
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41355 Vengeance Bindings (Crafted)
Best DPS wrists until 25 man Naxx
Shoulders
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44195 Spaulders of the Giant Lords (Rep Sons of Hodir)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41351 Savage Saronite Shoulders (Crafted)
Chest
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43209 Breastplate of Jagged Stone (Quest)
You get this from a Thorim quest. You pretty much unlock it in parallel with unlocking the Sons of Hodir faction.
Weapon
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41257 Titansteel Destroyer (Crafted)
Usually around 1k gold, well worth it.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44249 Runeblade of Demonstrable Power (Reputation Ebon Blade)
Finger
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44039 Signet of Bridenbrad (Quest)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=36979 Bjarngirm Family Signet (N Halls of Lightning)
Trinket
Not a lot of trinkets outside heroics that are worth anything. Hang on to any quest trinkets.
