Honor's Code

General Enchanting Principles Always keep in mind the total effect that any given enchant has on your ability to tank content. Sometimes, the overall "lower quality" enchants are more viable for certain pieces of gear. You do your raid no good if you are dead or if you're not holding aggro against your DPS. For that reason, if you're having problems surviving, get survival based enchants, while if you're having problems generating threat, put on some threat enchants. Moreover, if Agility on your gloves pushes you over to uncrushable, get that over spellpower and, in rare cases, if defense to bracers makes you uncrittable where you otherwise wouldn't be, get it. The same principle applies to gems. Enchanting to the strengths of your gear is a strong gearing principle. Tanks are not made best by a balanced set of gear in most cases, but a min/maxed set that specializes in something particular. This doesn't mean neglect stats, mind you, but it does mean that ...

General Gem Theory If you still need to reach the Uncrushable breakpoint, use your gem slots to get there. If you're already at the Uncrushable breakpoint, gem for stamina. Gear is a better place to get mitigation and avoidance. Gemming for threat with gems is not as powerful as other uses of your gem slots. Don't gem for spell damage, hit, spell hit, etc. Consumables and your weapon are better places to look at it to increase your threat generation. Not all of the gems will release in Phase One. Some of them will unlock in a later phase. Gems Solid Star of Elune (12 stamina, Blue) This gem gives the largest bonus to effective health of all gem options prior to the Phase 3 BT/Hyjal gems becoming available. If you are uncrushable by a solid margin, this will give you the most survivability of any gem option. Enduring Talasite (4 Defense Rating and 6 Stamina, Blue/Yellow) The best yellow hybrid available, giving both a modicum of avoidance and stamina.  In Phase 4, this will be...