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Why the DK? I can see death grip being very handy, but wouldn't one shaman's grounding totem ruin that benefit? Given the number of wizard cleave teams I would think DG would often be useless. However, obviously DK is a great choice... can anyone explain why?
Instead of the DK, how about:
How about a lock for the AoE stun?
Enhancement shaman for the purge, grounding totem, and melee buffs?
Feral druid for MotW, heals on crit, extra crit, stuns?
Abom's might - 10% atk power
Horn of Winter - str/agi
Death Grip
Strangulate
Icy Talons - 20% melee haste
Howling Blast
Chillbains (hamstring)
Glyphed Heartstrike (hamstring)
Heartstrike (cleave)
Mark of Blood
A warlock brings nothing really. AoE stun would be kind of good, but a warlock in the lead is a dead warlock :P
I guess I'm just not familiar enough with DKs (I've never played one). Sounds like they have lots of melee buffs, but is there one glaring reason they're so good with the ret pallys? Or is it just a combination of everything?
I believe (not having tried this comp myself ) that one issue with the pallys was the ease with which they could be kited.
If someone was at range they could generally keep the pally chasing after them.
The DK brings Death Grip to drag them back and chains of ice both good for letting the paladins bring the hurt.
Combine that with the buffs to melee, as stated above ,and the fact the DK can take a pounding too as well as additional cater interrupts/silence and it's a great combination.
Melee buffs plus snares and death grip is pretty dominating.
DK makes a wonderful lead, both in theory and (at least for a few folks) in practice. A better question is probably what might you sub out for one of the pallies without adding too much micromanagement?
A healer played by a friend? (Maybe a rooting druid?)
A warrior for Mortal Strike?
Losing a pally means losing a chunk of heals, though. It also means your DPS is not quite so bursty, potentially.
The only thing I see that can rival DK lead is a enhance shaman lead:
1. Earthbind pulse removing snare for group, (an AOE snare that also dispel snare for group, this is just too good)
2. purge to remove BOP (or priest/pally shield),
3. all the buff DK has minus str + agi since it uses earth totem, makes up with bloodlust.
4. tremor for fear (gotta pick between this and earthbind)
5. Frost shock = root if the target is far.
6. 6 second interrupt CD.
7. Hex.
Particularly about points NO.1, Frost mage just creats so much trouble for me as DK + 4 rets. Frost nova, nova, nova. I only have 4 freedom. He novas 5. Takes time to dispel and he novas me to no end. Not to mention the sheep on DK. totally screw me up.
Enhance shaman is better vs frost mage to auto dispel those roots. Only thing might be enhance shaman dies rather easily without "shamanistic rage (-30% dmg)". After the duration runs out, you are pretty much naked.