I've been experimenting with a lot of different openers with unholy and figured out an opener that works wonders, utilizing all you can fit in a proc timing at the start of the fight, using sigil swapping, consumables etc. For the veteran unholy players this won't be news, but for the new players it might help increase your dps.
These openers use a frost subspec/reaping talent build. Here's how it goes:
Start off with sigil of virulence, sigil swap
Army of the dead 5.5 seconds before pull - IT - PS - 2 BS - SS(macro) [if lucky, this will trigger sigil proc for 200str] - ERW - 2 SS - DC (use if you get maxed out on RP due to resto druid/disc priest RP gain to prevent overcapping, otherwise skip) - SS [you now have virulence proc and 3 stacks of hanged man] - saronite bomb/racial/engi hands/potion (you can chose to prepot since the potion effect lasts untill gargoyle with 2 seconds to spare) - BT/unholy presence - Gargoyle - switch back to blood presence on the next free rune
SS(macro) is something i figured out works by cheesing the gcd you get when switching gear in combat. It will allow you to use a skill/spell and instantly switch an item piece effectively using up only one gcd to accomplish both. The macro i use to acomplish this goes as follows:
#showtooltip scourge strike
/cast scourge strike
/cast !rune strike
/equip sigil of virulence
/equip sigil of the hanged man
Be careful when using this macro, it will only work properly if used while you are off gcd. If used while gcd is still in effect, only the /equip portion of it will go off, making you waste a global cooldown.
I only use this macro for the starting burst as i suspect sigil of virulence has an ICD that triggers upon equiping, hanged man does not.
If you chose not to sigil swap or you don't have it/is not working for you, here is some alternate rotations depending on your sigil of choice:
Start wih sigil of the hanged man
Army of the dead 5.5 seconds before pull - IT - PS - 2 BS - SS - ERW - 2 SS - DC (use if you get maxed out on RP due to resto druid/disc priest RP gain, otherwise skip) - SS - saronite bomb/racial/engi hands/potion (you can chose to prepot since the potion effect lasts untill gargoyle with 2 seconds to spare) - BT/unholy presence - Gargoyle - switch to blood presence on next free rune
Start with sigil of virulence
Army of the dead 5.5 seconds before pull - IT - PS - 2 BS - SS - ERW - saronite bomb/racial/engi hands/potion (you can chose to prepot since the potion effect lasts untill gargoyle with 2 seconds to spare) - unholy presence - Gargoyle - blood presence - 2 SS
This is just something i've come to know throughout my experience playing unholy and felt like i would like to share them with the community as i've seen some unholys struggling to pull off decent numbers on burst.
Feedback is most welcome and i'd like to see you guys give this a try, post your own openers and post some numbers. :)
May the dps race begin!