Son's Of Hodir - Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle
Arg' Crusade - Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Spec
5-54-123.2 GearLink to EJ.comDefence - A level 83 mob (e.g., a raid boss) will have a 5.6% chance to crit a level 80 player with 400 defense. Accordingly, the player will need an additional 5.6 * 25 = 140 defense skill, or a total of 540 defense skill to be uncrittable by raid bosses. This is equivalent to 689 defense rating.
Defence - A level 82 mob (the highest level found in heroic 5-man dungeons) will have a 5.4% chance to crit a level 80 player with 400 defense. Accordingly, the player will need an additional 5.4 * 25 = 135 defense skill, or a total of 535 defense skill to be uncrittable in heroic 5-mans. This is equivalent to 664 defense rating.
Hit Rating - Against a raid boss, melee and ranged attacks have a base 8% chance to miss (this is changed from TBC, where ti was 9%), so 263 hit rating is required to eliminate all melee misses if there are no other bonuses to hit.
26.23 hit rating = +1% chance to hit with spells. For our purposes, this only applies to Righteous Defense.
26 expertise
Gems and Enchants
Head
[Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector]: 37 stamina, 20 defense rating. Argent Crusade: Revered
[Arcanum of the Defender]: 16 defense rating, 17 doge rating. Keepers of Time: Revered
Shoulder
[Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle]: 20 dodge rating, 15 defense rating. Sons of Hodir: Exalted
[Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle]: 15 dodge rating, 10 defense rating. Sons of Hodir: Honored
[Greater Inscription of Warding]: 15 dodge rating, 10 defense rating. The Aldor: Exalted
[Inscription of Warding]: 13 dodge rating. The Aldor: Honored
[Master's Inscription of the Pinnacle]: 52 dodge rating, 15 defense rating. Requires Inscription (400)
Cloak
[Enchant Cloak - Titanweave]: 16 defense rating
[Enchant Cloak - Major Agility]: 22 agility
[Enchant Cloak - Mighty Armor]: 225 armor
[Enchant Cloak - Superior Agility]: 16 agility
[Enchant Cloak - Steelweave]: 12 defense rating
The raw efficiency of Major Agility is mitigated somewhat by the fact that agility is not an optimal tanking stat, but it's still the best enchant to get if you're interested in pure avoidance. Mighty Armor is good if you're going for mitigation, and Titanweave is obviously the best enchant to get if you're still looking for defense.
Note that the high-end enchants are pretty expensive (Titanweave requires two Titanium Bars, for example) so if you're tanking on a budget the weaker enchants will give you more value for your gold piece -- especially if you're still using a blue cloak, for example.
Chest
[Enchant Chest - Exceptional Resilience]: 20 resilience
[Enchant Chest - Super Health]: 275 health
[Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats]: 10 to all (primary) stats
[Enchant Chest - Greater Defense]: 22 defense rating
[Heavy Borean Armor Kit]: 18 stamina
[Enchant Chest - Super Stats]: 8 to all (primary) stats
Greater Defense is the most itemization-efficient, and definitely the way to go if you still need/want defense, or if you can use the enchant to switch defense gems to something else. The super and mighty health enchants are only worth ~15 and ~10 stamina, since they don't get any effect from BoK or stamina talents; generally the stat enchants are going to be better than these if you don't want the defense. Resilience should only be used if you absolutely need it to reach the crit cap (such as with resistance gear). The armor kit comes out to 227 hp on average with talents and BoK; not as good as the health enchant, but not far off and a great deal cheaper.
Wrists
[Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina]: 40 stamina
[Enchant Bracer - Major Defense]: 12 defense rating
[Leatherworking: Fur Lining - Stamina]: 90 stamina (req. 400 leatherworking)
Major Stamina is the most efficient option here by a significant margin. The only reason to go with the defense enchant is if you absolutely need it to reach the crit cap and you have no other options.
(Blacksmiths have an option to add a prismatic gem slot to their bracers. This does not count as an enchant.)
Hands
[Enchant Gloves - Armsman]: 10 parry rating, +2% threat
[Enchant Gloves - Major Agility]: 20 agility
[Enchant Gloves - Precision]: 20 hit rating
[Enchant Gloves - Expertise]: 20 expertise rating
[Heavy Borean Armor Kit]: 18 stamina
[Enchant Gloves - Major Strength]: 15 strength
[Reticulated Armor Webbing]: 800 armor (req. 400 engineering)
[Hand-Mounted Pyro Rocket]: 1035-1265 fire damage, 1 min cooldown (req. 400 engineering)
All of the WotLK enchants are viable choices here, depending on what you want/need. Personally I'd recommend skipping Armsman until you get to the point where threat is actually a concern. The Major Strength enchant is from TBC, and should only be used if you're hell-bent on maximizing block value and dps. The armor kit is less efficient than the other options but if you really really want stamina, there it is.
If you're an engineer, the armor modification is excellent. At normal armor levels for a prot paladin, it'll reduce incoming physical damage by roughly 1.5-2% before blocking. The hand-mounted rockets are a fun toy, but between Hand of Reckoning and Exorcism, they're not likely to be necessary.
zeida: A note about the pyro rocket modification: They have an extremely wide firing arc (nearly 180 degrees) and a 45 yard range. Although the new single target taunt obviously offers superior damage and threat, and doesn't consume an enchantment slot, it will not possess this range or arc of the glove enhancement. I must confess I do use these, because I like to chain pull trash and they cut downtime substantially, but from a pure tanking standpoint, they are indeed hard to defend in terms of utility and worthiness.
Waist
[Eternal Belt Buckle]: Extra prismatic gem socket
The one and only good thing to put on your belt. Doesn't affect the belt socket bonuses in any way, so fill it with whatever you need most.
Legs
[Frosthide Leg Armor]: +55 stamina, +22 agility
[Jormungar Leg Armor]: +45 stamina, +15 agility
(Leatherworkers get a cheap leg armor patch with the same stats as the epic armor kit, but they can only use it on their own armor.)
The blue armor kit is a good deal cheaper than the epic kit, so plan accordingly if you're expecting upgrades soon.
Feet
[Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude]: 22 stamina
[Enchant Boots - Tuskarr's Vitality]: 15 stamina, +8% run speed
The run speed improvement on Tuskarr's Vitality does not stack with the 15% increased run speed from the Pursuit of Justice talent. Take this into account when planning your build and your enchants.
There's also an engineer-only boot gadget, [url=http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=55016]Nitro Boosts][/b], which increases your run speed for 5 seconds on use, with a 5-minute cooldown. At first glance, this looks like a nice answer to one of the weak spots of paladin tanks: the inability to close distances quickly (e.g., Intervene, Feral Charge, Death Grip). However, the rather unfortunate drawback is that the boosters have a chance to backfire and launch you straight up in the air. When this happens, mobs that you're tanking will lose aggro on you and run off to beat up other people, and you'll die from falling damage when you come back down unless you have Divine Shield ready, or your cloak has the parachute gadget. While this can obviously be an entertaining effect, your 25-man raid won't be particularly pleased if they wipe on a difficult fight because your boots malfunctioned. So use these only if you're really sure they won't get you into trouble.
zeida: The nitro boost boots modification may in fact malfunction and knock the user high into the air, dropping aggro, but should this occur, he will not fall to the ground and die instantly; instead he receives the Parachute buff (just as he would being dismounted flying over Wintergrasp or Dalaran) and will fall slowly to the ground. I do not know whether this breaks on damage or not.
They have an additional possible malfunction not mentioned - they will sometimes be fully ineffective and do absolutely nothing.
I personally do have the nitros on my tanking boots as a PoJ specced paladin, simply because I believe having the capacity to quickly cover great distance (even unreliably) is far more potentially decisive than 22 stamina. Obviously, using these things when I am actively tanking a major mob would be irresponsible except in dire circumstances; nonetheless I like having the option available to me."
Finger
[Enchant Ring - Stamina]: +24 stamina (req. 400 enchanting)
This is the "perk" for being an enchanter: you get 48 extra stamina from enchanting your rings in a slot where non-enchanters get nothing.
Weapon
[Enchant Weapon - Accuracy]: +25 hit rating, +25 crit rating
[Enchant Weapon - Exceptional Agility]: +26 agility
[Titanium Weapon Chain]: +28 hit rating, 50% reduction in duration for disarm effects.
[Enchant Weapon - Potency]: +20 strength
The Titanium Weapon Chain is very nice for hit-capping, and until patch 3.08 it's probably the best overall value even if you have Pursuit of Justice (they don't stack). Accuracy has almost as much hit rating and a lot of crit, so it's a solid enchant but extremely expensive right now. Exceptional Agility is the only option if you want avoidance. Potency is included because it's the only +strength enchant, so it's the only way to increase block value if that's what you're really after.
(The planned Titanguard enchant for +50 stamina to a weapon has been removed and won't appear in the game.)
Shield
[Enchant Shield - Defense]: 20 defense rating
[Enchant Shield - Major Stamina]: 18 stamina
[Titanium Plating]: 40 block value
Defense or block value is generally the way to go here; Major stamina is a TBC enchant and should only be used if you really really really want stamina and you can't get it anywhere else.
Quick and Dirty guide to getting level 80 gear
This is a list aimed at tanks starting leveling in Northrend who need to put together a set of tanking gear quickly, but can also be useful for people looking for pieces in a slot or two. All the items listed here are blue quality, and can be obtained through quests, reputation, or crafting. Drops are not included because the intent is to give a list of gear that can be obtained quickly.
Starting at 71-74, do all Wyrmrest quests at the Wyrmrest temple. Once you've completed these, purchase a Wyrmrest Accord tabard and put it on. (Don't let the first level 80 instance catch you by surprise.) Continue wearing the tabard, and do the daily quest at Wyrmrest temple every day as you level until you reach at least Revered with the Wyrmrest Accord.
At level 74, get yourself a [Tempered Saronite Belt] off the Auction House or have someone make you one. Buy and attach an [Eternal Belt Buckle] to it, and socket it with a [Thick Sun Crystal] for a total of 69 defense rating. Optionally, purchase other pieces in the Tempered Saronite "set" to use as leveling gear or as fallback pieces in case you can't get one of the recommended items before you start raiding or doing heroics.
Head to Zul'Drak as soon as you can. (level 74 or so) and find a partner to do the "Wanted: Ragemane's Flipper" quest at given the first Argent Crusade camp. Get [Crescent of Brooding Fury] for completing the quest.
Still in Zul'Drak, follow quests to Argent Stand (the major Argent Crusade base in the zone). Do quests there to improve your Argent Crusade rep, including the dailies. Continue to do these daily quests every day as you level until you reach Revered with the Argent Crusade. (There are more quests that give Argent Crusade rep than Wyrmrest rep, so don't take off the Wyrmrest tabard until you're finished with Wyrmrest rep.)
Move back to the west edge of Zul'Drak and do the quests from the Argent Crusade Forward Camp for more AC rep. Also do Stefan's quests from Ebon Watch to acquire [Betrayer's Choker]. Socket it with a [Thick Sun Crystal] for a total of 29 defense rating.
When you reach an appopriate level (76-ish) start keeping your eyes open for a Gundrak group to complete the "For Posterity" quest and get [Solid Platinum Band].
When you go to train at level 77, get a [Saronite Bulwark] off the Auction House.
When you go to train at level 78, get some [Daunting Handguards] off the Auction House. Once back in Northrend, go to Wyrmrest Temple and purchase [Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions], and then go to the Argent Crusade camp in the southeast corner of Icecrown and purchase [Special Issue Legplates]. Apply a [Jormungar Leg Armor] to the legplates and socket them with a [Stalwart Huge Citrine] for a total of 87 defense rating..Also buy an Argent Crusade tabard and have it handy to switch when you do this.
Starting at level 78, keep your eyes peeled for groups for Halls of Stone to do the Brann Bronzebeard event and get [Pauldrons of Reconnaissance], and for an Oculus group to do the quests inside for [Bracers of Reverence].
Optionally, also keep your eyes peeled for Utguard Pinnacle groups; the instance will give you Rep with whatever faction's tabard you're wearing, and the plate chest reward from the quest in the instance is a useful intermediate and backup piece if you have trouble completing Wyrmrest rep.
Starting from the Argent Crusade camp where you purchased the legplates and tabard, complete the quest chain given by Tirion Fordring through the building of the new tower, and obtain [The Crusader's Resolution].
Follow the breadcrumb quests to your faction's airship and do quests for Thassarian (Alliance) or Koltira Deathweaver (Horde) to establish the new Ebon Blade base at the Shadow Vault. If/when you reach Honored, purchase [Toxin-Tempered Sabatons].
When you reach Revered with the Argent Crusade, purchase [Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector] and apply it to your helm.
When you reach level 80 and Revered with the Wyrmrest Accord, purchase [Breastplate of the Solemn Council].
As soon as possible, go to K3 in Storm Peaks and follow the chain starting with the quest "They Took Our Men!" until you get access to the Hodir quartermaster. Then begin working on dailies and other quests until you reach at least Honored with the Sons of Hodir and purchase [Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle] and apply it to your tanking shoulders. This does not need to be done to become uncrittable with the recommended set if you follow the instructions, but you should start on it as soon as you can find the time in order to work your way up to Exalted for the epic inscription.
If you have not already, obtain the following enchants:
A +12 defense rating enchant to cloak.
A +22 defense rating enchant to chest.
A +40 stamina enchant to bracers.
A +20 hit rating enchant to gloves
A +22 stamina enchant to boots.
A [Titanium Weapon Chain] to weapon.
A +20 defense rating enchant to shield. In total, you should have an additional 54 defense rating from enchants.
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Enough is Enough,...With 3.2, new heroics, and an overhaul of the badge system before Maelstrom..whenever that is, im bringing Nadiastorm back into the game. There are a number of reasons why, many of which i should or should not say, but the main difficultly has been finding my role as a DPS ..limiting to what i am used to, and damned annoying when there is no tank available. Plus i have played this class for 3 years and feel alot more comfortable with it, and im not messing about with any indecision about it....Nad's coming back out of retirement
