The class uses a new means of casting spells through runic power, building up reserves through fighting rather than having them drain away through use. Combined with special debuffs they apply to enemies and having to track three different types of runes, they are a complex but satisfying new addition to the game.

Their starting zone is instanced, keeping any other players from trying to take advantage of the new characters until they've gotten to know the system a little better. People who want to fight other players might not be able to spend all their time killing new death knights, but they can still be satisfied with a new zone for player-versus-player combat, new daily PVP quests and a new battleground.Since you can't leave until the starting area is complete, it's a really good thing it's so much fun, featuring appropriately evil tasks assigned to you by Arthas, including running down and slaughtering crying peasants.