Building The Offset (Part 2 - Tank)
So here we go. Yesterday, we talked in general about building a gear set. Today we’ll actually get into the meat of the Tanking gear set.
Many of the ‘failsafe’ options I’ll talk about below are outclassed by Heroic and Raid drops. When a ‘failsafe’ piece is a really strong item, I’ll attempt to note it.
I would be remiss to not acknowledge the large debt I owe to Eanin of Maintankadin for his assistance with Eanin’s Failsafe Tank Gearing Guide.
As you build your Tank set, there are a couple of goals you want to keep in mind.
The first being Defense, unless you are a Druid. Defense on gear is that subtle clue from Blizzard that it’s a tank item despite all that Strength and possibly Expertise and Hit on there. You need to reach 535 Defense for Heroics or Add tanking and 540 for Raid Bosses. There are other goals to reach for as a Tank, but many of them are simply not attainable in early gear. Just maintaining the Defense minimum will be a challenge for most until you start getting some raid drops.
Along with defense, you want gear with healthy amount of Stamina, and some dodge, and parry. “Block Tanks”, which are Paladins and Warriors, also want some Block Rating and Block Value on their gear.
Note that EoH = Emblems of Heroism, EoV = Emblems of Valor
Head:
Tempered Titansteel Helm (Crafted BoE = Gold) - This helm will not be replaced until Raiding.
The Crusader's Resolution (Quest: The Crusaders' Pinnacle)
Tempered Saronite Helm (Crafted BoE = Gold)
Neck:
Chained Military Gorget– (EoH) This neck will not be replaced until Raiding.
Burning Skull Pendant(World BoE = Gold) – This is a Block Value piece. It’s not a great choice for Death Knights or Druids
Titanium Earthguard Chain(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Reinforced Titanium Neckguard (Quest:The Admiral Revealed)
Shoulders:
Tier 7.5 Tank Shoulders (60 EoV)
Wapach's Shoulders of Solidarity – These puppies will cost more than they are worth, but if they drop for you, they are pretty decent.
Crusader's Square Pauldrons(World BoE = Gold)
Tempered Saronite Shoulders (Crafted)
Back:
Platinum Mesh Cloak(25 EoV) – This is competitive with just about any Raid drop you could get. Durable Nerub-Hide Cape(World BoE = Gold) - This is pretty much for Druids only, unless you can get to 540 Defense while still wearing it. That is fairly unlikely unless you have some Raid drops.
Tattered Castle Drape(BoE Drop = Gold) – This is another block piece.
Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions(Reputation - Wyrmrest Accord Honored)
Chest:
Tier 7 Tanking Chest (80 EoH)
Breastplate of the Solemn Council(Reputation Wyrmrest Accord Revered)
Silver-Plated Battlechest (Quest: Junk in my Trunk)
Wrist:
Bracers of Dalaran's Parapets (BoE EoV item = Major Gold. These are starting to be available on my server for 5k. Of course, feel free to skip these unless you're very wealthy)
Bracers of Reverance (Quest: A Wing and a Prayer)
Tempered Saronite Bracers (Crafted BoE = Gold)
Hands:
Tier 7 Gloves (60 EoH)
Fireproven Gauntlets(Reputation - Kirin Tor Exalted)
Refined Ore Gloves(BoE drop = Gold) – This is another Block Value piece
Daunting Handguards(BoE Crafted = Gold) - The high Defense on these is really helpful in reaching the Defense minimum.
Belt:
Waistguard of Living Iron(40 EoH) – This won’t be replaced until Raiding.
Waistguard of the Risen Knight(World BoE = Gold)
Tempered Saronite Belt(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Legs:
Tier 7.5 Tank Legs (75 EoV)
Special Issue Legplates (Reputation - Argent Crusade Honored)
Daunting Legplates(BoE Crafted = Gold) – This is another high Defense item that is extremely helpful in reaching the Defense minimum.
Feet:
Kyzoc’s Ground Stompers(40 EoV) – These boots are considered to be among the very best Tanking boots currently available.
Tempered Titansteel Treads(Crafted BoE = Gold) – These won’t be replaced until raiding and I actually like them better than the Inexorable Sabatons.
Inexorable Sabatons(Raid BoE drop = Major Gold) – Another Block Value piece.
Sabatons of Draconic Vigor (Reputation – Wyrmrest Accord Revered)
Toxin-Tempered Sabatons(Reputiation – Ebon Blade Honored)
Rings:
Titanium Earthguard Ring (Crafted BoE = Gold) – This won’t be replaced until Raiding.
Ring of Earthen Might(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Staunch Signet (Quest: The Struggle Persists)
Trinkets:
Valor Medal of the First War(40 EoH)
Darkmoon Card: Greatness (Quest: Nobles Deck. ) You need to buy the Noble Cards which are very, very expensive. The Strength version is an incredible threat and mitigation trinket, which also doubles as a very good DPS trinket.
Weapon:
Anyone of the rewards from Quest: Wanted:Ragemane's Flipper. Pick the one you have a racial benefit for, or the one with the highest Defense.
Shield:
Titansteel Shield Wall – This will not be replaced until Raiding.
Saronite Bulwark(Crafted BoE = Gold)Blade-Binding Bulwark(BoE Drop = Gold)
Ranged Slot
Paladin - Libram of Obstruction(15 EoH)
Warrior - Armor Plated Shotgun (Crafted BoE = Gold)
Many of the ‘failsafe’ options I’ll talk about below are outclassed by Heroic and Raid drops. When a ‘failsafe’ piece is a really strong item, I’ll attempt to note it.
I would be remiss to not acknowledge the large debt I owe to Eanin of Maintankadin for his assistance with Eanin’s Failsafe Tank Gearing Guide.
As you build your Tank set, there are a couple of goals you want to keep in mind.
The first being Defense, unless you are a Druid. Defense on gear is that subtle clue from Blizzard that it’s a tank item despite all that Strength and possibly Expertise and Hit on there. You need to reach 535 Defense for Heroics or Add tanking and 540 for Raid Bosses. There are other goals to reach for as a Tank, but many of them are simply not attainable in early gear. Just maintaining the Defense minimum will be a challenge for most until you start getting some raid drops.
Along with defense, you want gear with healthy amount of Stamina, and some dodge, and parry. “Block Tanks”, which are Paladins and Warriors, also want some Block Rating and Block Value on their gear.
Note that EoH = Emblems of Heroism, EoV = Emblems of Valor
Head:
Tempered Titansteel Helm (Crafted BoE = Gold) - This helm will not be replaced until Raiding.
The Crusader's Resolution (Quest: The Crusaders' Pinnacle)
Tempered Saronite Helm (Crafted BoE = Gold)
Neck:
Chained Military Gorget– (EoH) This neck will not be replaced until Raiding.
Burning Skull Pendant(World BoE = Gold) – This is a Block Value piece. It’s not a great choice for Death Knights or Druids
Titanium Earthguard Chain(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Reinforced Titanium Neckguard (Quest:The Admiral Revealed)
Shoulders:
Tier 7.5 Tank Shoulders (60 EoV)
Wapach's Shoulders of Solidarity – These puppies will cost more than they are worth, but if they drop for you, they are pretty decent.
Crusader's Square Pauldrons(World BoE = Gold)
Tempered Saronite Shoulders (Crafted)
Back:
Platinum Mesh Cloak(25 EoV) – This is competitive with just about any Raid drop you could get. Durable Nerub-Hide Cape(World BoE = Gold) - This is pretty much for Druids only, unless you can get to 540 Defense while still wearing it. That is fairly unlikely unless you have some Raid drops.
Tattered Castle Drape(BoE Drop = Gold) – This is another block piece.
Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions(Reputation - Wyrmrest Accord Honored)
Chest:
Tier 7 Tanking Chest (80 EoH)
Breastplate of the Solemn Council(Reputation Wyrmrest Accord Revered)
Silver-Plated Battlechest (Quest: Junk in my Trunk)
Wrist:
Bracers of Dalaran's Parapets (BoE EoV item = Major Gold. These are starting to be available on my server for 5k. Of course, feel free to skip these unless you're very wealthy)
Bracers of Reverance (Quest: A Wing and a Prayer)
Tempered Saronite Bracers (Crafted BoE = Gold)
Hands:
Tier 7 Gloves (60 EoH)
Fireproven Gauntlets(Reputation - Kirin Tor Exalted)
Refined Ore Gloves(BoE drop = Gold) – This is another Block Value piece
Daunting Handguards(BoE Crafted = Gold) - The high Defense on these is really helpful in reaching the Defense minimum.
Belt:
Waistguard of Living Iron(40 EoH) – This won’t be replaced until Raiding.
Waistguard of the Risen Knight(World BoE = Gold)
Tempered Saronite Belt(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Legs:
Tier 7.5 Tank Legs (75 EoV)
Special Issue Legplates (Reputation - Argent Crusade Honored)
Daunting Legplates(BoE Crafted = Gold) – This is another high Defense item that is extremely helpful in reaching the Defense minimum.
Feet:
Kyzoc’s Ground Stompers(40 EoV) – These boots are considered to be among the very best Tanking boots currently available.
Tempered Titansteel Treads(Crafted BoE = Gold) – These won’t be replaced until raiding and I actually like them better than the Inexorable Sabatons.
Inexorable Sabatons(Raid BoE drop = Major Gold) – Another Block Value piece.
Sabatons of Draconic Vigor (Reputation – Wyrmrest Accord Revered)
Toxin-Tempered Sabatons(Reputiation – Ebon Blade Honored)
Rings:
Titanium Earthguard Ring (Crafted BoE = Gold) – This won’t be replaced until Raiding.
Ring of Earthen Might(Crafted BoE = Gold)
Staunch Signet (Quest: The Struggle Persists)
Trinkets:
Valor Medal of the First War(40 EoH)
Darkmoon Card: Greatness (Quest: Nobles Deck. ) You need to buy the Noble Cards which are very, very expensive. The Strength version is an incredible threat and mitigation trinket, which also doubles as a very good DPS trinket.
Weapon:
Anyone of the rewards from Quest: Wanted:Ragemane's Flipper. Pick the one you have a racial benefit for, or the one with the highest Defense.
Shield:
Titansteel Shield Wall – This will not be replaced until Raiding.
Saronite Bulwark(Crafted BoE = Gold)Blade-Binding Bulwark(BoE Drop = Gold)
Ranged Slot
Paladin - Libram of Obstruction(15 EoH)
Warrior - Armor Plated Shotgun (Crafted BoE = Gold)
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Galdoron