Holy Tanking Batman!

So I was approached by someone on my server about getting some tanking advice. He is a Holy Paladin for his guild, and they would like the option of having him offtank in Karazhan and possibly High King Maulgar.

The only piece of tanking gear he has if the Battlescar Boots from the Chess event in Kara.

How can he pick up some quick tanking gear?

At what point should be alter his spec?

When can he try tanking?

If you've been playing for a while as Holy, one advantage you will have is that you will have already gotten your reputations up with the various Outland groups.

Let's see what kind of quick tanking suit we can build for the Holy going Prot type.

It's time to go shopping.

Head = Felsteel Helm (BS crafted)

Neck = Strength of the Untamed (CE rep)

Shoulders = hope you didn't vendor or DE your Righteous shoulders. If you did look on the AH for a green "Of The Crusade" or "Of the Knight", or farm 5 Ethereum Prison Key ( http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29460 ), compose to Ethereum Stasis Chamber Key ( http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29750 ), open the prison in Blade Edge Mountain - Bash'ir Landing, kill the mob inside. Hope it drops a blue "Of the Knight" of "Of the Champion".

Back = Cloak of Eternity (crafted)

Chest = Chestguard of the Stoic Guardian (75 Badges) or Vindicator's Hauerbrek (Aldor rep)

Bracers = Bracer's of the Green Fortress (BS crafted, requires Primal Nether)

Hands = Felsteel Gloves (crafted)

Belt = Girdle of the Protector (60 Badges) or Starcaller's Plated Belt (from the quest Arconus the Insatiable in Netherstorm), Lightwarden's Girlde (from the quest Deathblow to the Legion), or if you have done all those quests farm Heroic Slave pens for Girdle of the Immovable

Legs = Unwavering Legguards (75 Badges) or Timewardens Leggins (Keepers of Time rep)

Feet = Sabatons of the Righteous Defender (60 Badges) or Battlescar Boots

Rings: Delicate Eternium Band (JC Crafted), Band of Inpenetrable Defenses (BoE Epic). The Wind Trader's Band (from the quest Dealing with the Overmaster). Also farm Mech for Dathomere's Ring of Defense

Trinkets: Darkmoon Card Vengence, Voilet Signet, Dabiri's Enigma (from the quest Dimensiu's the All Devouring), or farm Shatterd Halls for a Figurine of the Collosus

Shield: Crest of the Sha'tar (shield) from Sha'tar rep

Weapon: Gavel of Unearthed Secrets (mace) from Lower City rep or the Continuum Blade from Keepers of Time rep. Alternatively, troll the Auction House for a Crystalforge Sword.

Libram: Libram of Repentance (15 Badges)

Gems: Only 1 gem exists to you right now, Solid Star of Elune. It goes in all your sockets, regardless of color.

As far as changing your spec, it's going to be nessesary to tank anything more than trash mobs.

Paladin baseline Healing is much stronger than Paladin baseline tanking, so your tanking needs more of a boost.

I'd suggest a 20/41 spec. If you feel that is too much to give up, you could try a 30/31 spec.

I'd be very interested in feedback from people who try either build to see how well it works.

I'd suggest changing your spec as soon as you have a good bit of tanking gear and are going to start tanking.

As to when to start tanking?

For Normal mode dungeons, I'd suggest about 9k health unbuffed, and 485 Defense.

For Heroics, 10k health unbuffed, and 485 defense.

For Karazhan, 10k health, 490 defense and Uncrushable. Tankpoints is a great mod to help you calculate if you are uncrushable. Check out my posts "Tankpoints 101" for more informaiton on uncrushable and the Tankpoints mod.

Then get out there and start doing it. Tanking is a very different mindset than Healing or DPSing, and the best way to get into that mindset is practicing.