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[3.3] Intro to Death Knight Tanking
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Post by
Nystali
As for tanking in general, I did a bit yesterday My first observation is that the transition from mounted to unmounted combat in ToCh is absolutely ridiculous. And I don't think the champions accrue threat properly the first few seconds. Its probably just me, but I hate it.
My health only dropped 1-2kish. I've been stuck in T7 gear for a while though so can't say how its affected top end tanks.
Anyways, I did tank through a few heroics. Unfortunately, I brought a slightly undergeared and rusty healer along with me that also happened to be a druid. I find there to be a huge fluctuation between the druids I get to heal me. Even before the patch, some always kept me near fully topped off all the time with little problems, others had my health bar swinging from extreme to extreme. Anyways, as we got him some better gear I think my health stabilized better, but I still felt handcuffed and couldn't pull some of the larger groups that I was used to.
I haven't had the opportunity to tank a raid yet so I can't really speak for the changes in that kind of environment.
Overall, I might have to be more mindful of my cooldowns. Before I'd almost forget to use them unless it was like the last boss or an uber pull. Now I've found myself actually using unbreakable armor and even IBF more frequently.
I think the changes aren't killer, but they do require a slight adjustment.
Post by
Eleazer
The changes hit lower geared tanks harder than those in Uld 25 gear. The Armor loss was much more signifcant to them than those in high tier raids. I needed to upgrade my gear significantly to get back into Ulduar Main Tanking. I am still a good 3-5k health behind our Pali and Warrior tanks in equal gear. My mitigation took a 5 percent hit, but I am closer to their mitigation. My dodge is significantly higher than both of theirs, but their total avoidance is a good 10 percent higher than me if you include block. So in essence my mitigation is now on par with theirs, but I have less health and less avoidance than them. Doesn't sound like a good tradeoff.
Now Cooldown wise I have the best in the business. I actually have to use my cooldowns now, and I think that is my major complaint now. IBF/UA/AMS and trinket popping are things I have to use even in heroics when I didn't before.
Are we dead as tanks? No, but it's going to require more work to be as good as we once were.
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Post by
Nystali
For 10 man Naxx, expertise won't be a big issue except on 4 horsemen. Baron parries like a god. Hit on the other hand is very important. You gotta be able to hit your target in order to produce threat.
Expertise will become more important as you push further into content and your raid's dps gets higher and higher. While you will also be increasing your threat production through upgrades, every missed, parried, or dodged attack at the beginning of a fight while you are working to establish aggro will really hurt, particularly if you have some aggro fiend warlocks or hunters in your group.
Your first focus would of course be hit. Then as you push further into content, pay attention to some upgrades with expertise on it. Rings and weapons are a great place for that. If you get lucky and obtain inevitable defeat that almost solves your soft cap for expertise right there.
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Post by
Nystali
The thread was (and still sort of is)... unfortunately, while they tried to clear up the top of the pages with the Helpful threads stickies... not many people click on it to see the actual helpful threads.
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Post by
Muoumon
Hello all,
How does
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#j0xZMxe0A0Ioc0fuzAocg00L:TawVmM
strike you for MT spec?
I am contemplating of dropping Necrosis and getting Bladed armor.
Also I am not sure about the 2 points in Runic Power Mastery but if not there then where?
Insights are welcome.
MM
Post by
Nystali
Imp Icy Touch and Chill of the Grave are much better talents than Runic Power Mastery and even Deathchill.
I really don't like any tank build that doesn't have bladed armor. Additionally frost builds thrive on scent of blood (2/3).
While it doesn't have Bladed Armor, I think
7/54/10
might work better.
Post by
Uncreative
I'm new to tanking and currently trying to get started and I was hoping for some help.
Here is the profile.
I was wanting to now where I could make improvements. I have 28 Triumph emblems and am trying to decide whether to get the
handguards
or the
shoulders
first. I'm also confused as to how exactly I should gem my gear. Also is blood a good spec to learn how to tank with or should I use a different spec? Thanks in advance and sorry if some of my questions have been answered already and I just didn't look hard enough for them.
Post by
Nystali
I'd probably go with the Rune Strike Sigil first.
Blood is fine to learn with and may in the long run help you learn to manage runes better. I find frost to be easier just because it is a little more aoe capable.
For gemming, if you've got proper tanking gear, you shouldn't have to gem for defense with rune of SSG. After that I'd work a combination of hit and stamina gems. I generally don't gem for avoidance, but if you're at a point where you've made the hit cap and the expertise soft cap, then you could probably start consider throwing some avoidance in there.
Post by
Eleazer
Quick Question - I tank in my own Convoluted Blood Spec now, however, I wanted to try Unholy tanking, but wanted to know why you wouldn't spec for the Pet? I would think he was essential but perhaps I am confused.
Post by
dervasavred
Quick Question - I tank in my own Convoluted Blood Spec now, however, I wanted to try Unholy tanking, but wanted to know why you wouldn't spec for the Pet? I would think he was essential but perhaps I am confused.
He doesn't help your threat or add anything new to your abilities. All he does is melee something. You'll rarely use his Stun mechanic in raids and the point investment to get him is a little steep for something that isn't iseful to your threat.
Post by
Nystali
There weren't a whole lot of killer changes in the new patch so I didn't have to change much.
I did update the frost section to incorporate dual wielding. I will have to make a slight change as soon as wowhead merges its ptr side so I can properly link the one-handed version of stoneskin gargoyle.
I also updated the DW comments on the last part of my guide to state that my rundown of stats lost by going with dual wielding has changed with the use of the new rune.
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