Welcome to Lichborne, WoW.com's weekly death knight column. This week, your host, Daniel Whitcomb, is busy applying for a slot as one of Arthas' pall bearers. Do you think I should wear the Ebon Blade Tabard or the Argent Crusade Tabard for that?

Good News Everyone! With the Deathbringer down, you don't have to wait for some gnome in a frying pan. The Plagueworks are open, and you can go right in. Before we take a look at the Plagueworks boss loot, you might want to go back and read the opening paragraphs of last week's Lower Spire loot guide. It outlines the basic parameters and stat considerations we death knights use in picking out our best loot. Once you've done that, read on for a look at death knight loot from the Plagueworks wing of Icecrown Citadel.

Festergut

10-man

The Cloak of Many Skins probably isn't quite as good as the Sentinel's Winter Cloak for tanking, at least in its non-heroic version, but it is better at pure avoidance for sure, and is a decent option until you have the emblems to spare for the Sentinel's Winter Cloak, or if you just want more straight up avoidance.

The Festering Fingerguards are certainly a more than respectable pair of gloves. Not only do they have a good amount of hit and expertise, but yellow and red gemslots and a solid amount of strength. Interestingly enough, I've heard rumors of tanks spending points or rolling on these gloves, and I can't say that's completely out of left field either. If you're already at the critical strike cap for defense, and you need more threat, these gloves are near tailor made for it thanks to the hit and expertise, and the two gem slots mean you won't take quite as huge a hit to your stamina as you would otherwise. Besides, DPS can use their tier 10 gloves for the bonus anyway.

For dual wielding Death Knights, the Gutbuster comes out as a pretty decent side-grade or companion to the Frost Giant Cleaver from the Lower Spire, especially if you need hit rating. It also has more raw attack power than the Frost Giant Cleaver.

25-man

The Belt of Broken Bones is going to provide about as much avoidance we've seen from a tank belt so far in ICC, and provides two gem slots to work with as well. The Verdigris Chain Belt (from emblems) is probably going to be slightly better at absorbing physical damage thanks to the extra armor, but the Belt of Broken Bones is probably still well worth the DKP.

With high amounts of strength and armor penetration and a gem slot inviting even more strength, the Might of Blight has already made it onto more than one prospective best in slot gear list for Blood and Unholy Death Knights especially. There's a good chance that the upcoming Ashen Verdict strength ring will outshine it, but then again, that's what 2 ring slots are for.

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