The Egotistical Priest
An irreverent and opinionated discussion of the many classes
in the World of Warcraft gaming universe.
Nyisa’s Pre Heroic Gear List
by Zasp
It’s Wednesday already? Where has the time gone?
Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July weekend, I spent most of my time hanging out with some friends and grinding honor since it was AV weekend. My rogue’s almost completely done with the honor grind, and it makes me really happy…even if I have plans to do it all over again on my Paladin! I loves me some PvP and I need a Ret set for running around by myself and since the PvP items are better then a lot of PvE items for a Ret Paladin (or so my research tells me) it seems like a solid plan.
Speaking of the Paladin, here’s my pre-heroic wish list.
To be clearer, this is the gear I want to have before I even think about stepping foot into a heroic. Note this is my plan, probably not everyone’s. I’m a firm believer in Effective Health, rather stacking pure avoidance, so you’ll see more choices for pure stam rather then gearing up to be uncrushable. Why? Because in Heroics you can’t be crushed and I have no plans of raid tanking yet. So on to the list!
Head
Tankatronic Goggles – Pretty Sweet Helm better then Tier 4 by far tons of Stam and Avoidance everything I could possibly want in a helm. I slapped a Enduring Talasite(4 Def & 6 Stam) in the yellow gem slot, and the Powerful Earthstorm Diamond, and slapped the Glyph of Defender Enchant from Keepers of Time on it.
Neck
Shattered Sun Pendent of Resolve – Just got to hit Exalted with SSO and it will be mine, Huge Stam, Hit to help with my Avenger’s Shield hitting and Righteous Defense to land which I’m in intrested in. The Expertise isn’t going to help me much but it’s still valuable for any tank, and not to mention since I’m Aldor the Dodge proc is going to be very useful.
Shoulders
Spaulders of the Righteous - Drop from Laj in Bot “shouldn’t” give to many problem getting them to drop with a little bit of determination. Want this for the 2 piece set bonus for the reduced mana cost on Consencration, which will help with mana issues. I’ll slap a Regal Nightseye(4 Dodge & 6 Stamina) and a Soild Star of Elune to get the 3 Defense bonus. With the Exalted Aldor Enchant.
Back
Devilshark Cape – Drop from Warlord Kalithresh in Steamvaults. This is the tanking cape till you can get a raid drop or Slikk’s from badges. It has everything you could possibly want. Slap a Dodge Enchant for a little more Avoidance. And I’m set till I can get my hands on Slikk’s.
Chest
Chestguard of the Righteous – Drop from Warlord Kalithresh in Steamvaults the second drop from him I need, I shall be visiting him a lot. Not to mention this will be giving my 2 piece set bonus. Slapping a 150 Health Enchant, and 3 Soild Star of Elune gems as I don’t value the 2 mana per 5 socket bonus.
Wrist
Bracers of the Green Fortress – Crafted. Almost have the 20 lifes needed to make these sweet bracers, very other pre-raid options for me especially because I’m willing to dish out the cash to make em happen. Tons of Avoidance, and Stam what more can ya ask for besides a little spell power? Which you could slap the enchant on em to solve. But I’ll prefer the 12 stamina enchant.
Hands
Felsteel Gloves – Crafted. 6 Felsteel Bars is easy mode especially because of how strong of an option these guys provide. I don’t care for the socket bonus as its only 3 parry, so I’ll be slapping 2 Solid Star of Elunes in them and a 20 Spell Damage enchant, for tons of Health and a little bit of threat.
Waist
Belt of the Guardian – Crafted. A little spendy as you need two Nether Vortexs but I will unlikely be replacing this belt ever as I don’t see any upgrades till the Tier 6 level from the little bit of poking around I have done. I chose to slap 2 Solid Star of Elune in here as I feel the Red Socket and Yellow socket for a 4 Stamina bonus is worth it. I could find that I might need to regem if I get into raids but this is for Heroics as much Stam and Spell Damage I can get while keeping uncritable is all I care about.
Legs
Timewarden’s Leggins – Rep Reward. I was already revered right at 70 with Keepers of Time, so I bought these slapped 3 Soild Star of Elunes and a 40 Stam leg patch on em right away for a huge Stam upgrade. Far as I’ve heard these are the legs a lot of tanks use for some time and I plan on being one of them.
Feet
Flesh Beast’s Metal Greaves – Quest reward from Mana Tombs. As far as avoidance goes theres not very many other options pre heroic or pre raid so I’m kinda stuck with them till I can get something from Badges. Enchanting them with Fortitude cause I loves me some stamina.
Ring
Going with the combo of:
Iron Band of the Unbreakable: Drop from Lieutenant Drake in Old Hillsbrad, as I need the defense it provides and it still has a decent chunk of Stamina on it.
Elementium Band of the Sentry: Drop from Harbringer Skyriss in The Arcatraz, as I need the defense and it provides a bit of avoidance which is always nice, while giving me my precious stamina.
Trinkets
Went with Double Stamina Trinkets right away.
I have the Darkmoon Fair deck, Vengeance: 51 Stam and another reflective threat aura that scales with Spell Power and Righteous Fury? Yes Please.
And since I’m an engineer I also have a 45 Stam trinket which doesn’t server much other use then it’s 45 stam.
Weapon
Merciless Gladiator’s Gavel – Honor. I’m currently grinding out the honor for this hammer as I’ve read on several sites it wont be replaced for pretty much ever for me. Tons of Spell Damage and Stam what more could I ask for? Slap a 40 Spell Damage enchant on it and I’m set till Hyjal or so? Way worth it, I recommend anyone grinding this out even if you hate PvP.
Shield
Sunward Crest – Shattered Sun Offensive Exalted. Stam and Spell Damage with Block Value, everything I need for 5 mans to keep my threat up. Yes please slapping a 18 Stam enchant on it and I’m set till I need the avoidance later.
Libram
Since this is my pre heroic list, I’m going with Libram of Etenral Rest. More threat from my Consencration spell, which will help me keep my threat up and my DPS happy, which I’m all about. It’s not the libram I really want but it will do.
Summary
So currently, I have to farm 4 Drops, hit exalted with SSO, and grind some honor before I’m ready for heroics. Could it be sooner? Prolly, but I’d like to get used to the normal versions of the dungeons as a tank before just jumping into heroic mode going “oh wait this mob does does this now? Whups!”
If you guys notice something glaring in my plans please point it out. But from my calculations I’m uncritable due to the Resilience on the Gavel as I’m one defense short of 485. Should be at 14.5k HP unbuffed sitting around looking cool. And I’ll have 370 Spell Damage. I should be pretty set for heroics, unless I’m off in my calculations (which would make me sad).
A funny thing that I’ve noticed is my Stam doesn’t really climb - I just gain a ton of spell damage and avoidance. Which kinda bums me out I want the insane amount of health so I can just go crazy pulling lots of mobs.
Well, perhaps next week you’ll hear my stories of pugging on Nyisa good or bad. Till then!
July 9th, 2008
Quick Note: To get the proc off of the Shattered Sun Pendants you have to be exalted with Aldor/Scryer.
July 9th, 2008
@Esoth
Very good point, didn’t even think to mention it.
July 9th, 2008
As a Protection Paladin they gear list you have looks very good as a list for starting heroics or pre Kara. Since i’ve been through that process before here are a few gear pieces you may want to consider.
Waist: Sha’tari Vindicator’s Waistguard (Quest reward item selection from Quest from Adal Quest: How to break into Arcatraz.
Ring: Andormu’s Tear (Quest Reward from doing BM attunement the starter quest from the Time Keeper guy. Easy to get as long as you complete BM). You will want to get it as one the best avoidance rings anything pre kara for tanking.
***Boots: Ascendant’s Boots (Only recommending this boot “IF” your Paladin have a Epic Mount
already! It can be much easier to get than the one from MT since its a quest reward at Netherwing. But its one the best Boot you can pick up for defense and stats even though its green its a solid piece. I had these boots starting all the way through heroics and lasted a while till i got plenty of badges. Again only optional if your paladin already have a Epic Mount so easy to get to the Netherwing Quest.
For Heroics You only need 485 Defense so you cannot be Critted in Heroics! 490 defense you need for Kara and beyond. To be uncrushable which is for anything Kara and beyond you will need 102.4 combined stat avoidance. But for Heroics all you need to worry about is getting to 485. Expertise is not a required stat others are more important but it helps as it lowers your ability of your hits to be dodged or parried.
Its nice to have loads of Stamina, but in starting heroics you really want to have a healthy amount of defense (At least 485) with as much blockrating and blockvalue as possible. Everything else is a bonus after that start adding Stamina. Never the other way around.
If your starting Heroics, I would not recommend trying to pull lots of mobs just starting heroics. You want to start with what you know you can handle and test what your gear can handle and what damage it can stand up against. Experience eventually in time with show you what you can or cannot handle and what stupid things you can do and get away with doing. But that comes with experience. A new Tank in Heroics never looks good face down inspecting the floor. So pull only want you know you can handle at first. However overall your list looks solid!
Ardent Defender
http://ardentdefender.blogspot.com/
July 9th, 2008
The Proc off the Shattered Sun Pendant of Resolve does require being Exalted with either Scryers or Aldor indeed.
July 9th, 2008
@ Esoth/Galo… funny this is mentioned today, for only this morning did I learn of that. I’ve never seen my SSO pendant proc (with good reason, I’m not Exalted with Scryers yet), but always just thought I was eitherblind or too life-bar-focused to see it. Good to know!
July 9th, 2008
@Galoheart
I’ve already been known to pull a bit to many but I don’t know my limit or my healers limit till, I push it. I’m never one to play it safe. And like I said, I wasn’t shooting for uncrushable as I have no plans on raid tanking currently. This is mearly my starting point for 5 mans and all I care is how well I can tank a 5 man. I’m only concerned with that nothing more currently. I’m already having mana issues and my gears only getting better, so I figure max out the stam as much as possible means I’ll be able to pull a lot more mobs.
As far as the belt is concerned it would be a good belt if I didn’t already have my Belt of the Guardian crafted
I do indeed have the ring from BM attunement, I was tanking it at level 68, I just don’t favor the avoidance currently. My tune may change eventually but right now I’m pretty happy with the direction I’m currently taking. We shall see if I manage to pug anything this week, as I’m weary of doing so.
July 9th, 2008
Sounds fair.
As a Tank that likes to PuG just because well thats how i learned by being in the “Trenches” of PuGs and doing it allot more than one ever should I’ve learned what one can do as a Tank depends not so much on the DPS but more so on the Healer you have in the group.
Since I’ve Tanked with more healers than I can count How I Tank depends entirely on what I’ve analyzed my Healers ability are from a few initial pulls. But of course I’ve never had or ever run with a regular healer of any kind. I took whatever healer I got. However you may be more fortunate to have a regular and good healer on your heroic runs. So wish you the best there.
July 10th, 2008
I still rock the BM quest ring in my Uncrushable gear sets. I’d rather wear that and be able to gem and enchant more stam instead of more avoidance personally.
I just recently went through the exact same gearing process as you so feel free to hit me up on Mok’ Nathal (faüst or feíst) or in a BG
if you have any questions.
July 10th, 2008
You said, “SPENDY”.
Where in Oregon are you from?!?
<~~~ just outside Salem, but living in Northern VA.
July 10th, 2008
@Faust
Haha, you might see Nyisa around if your still doing the grind
@Citabria
I was not aware it was tied to Oregon. I did indeed live in Oregon for a whopping 3 months when I was around the age of 1. And it was Portland. Other then that I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life, so sorry to crush your dreams.
July 10th, 2008
Not being a palidin I can only rely on some of the gear that a new mt palidin in our guild went with.
Surprisingly its very much the same as your list
One thing you might consider is the Oathkeepers Helm, its an epic boe blacksmith item. The helm is a bit pricy mat wise but it gives you +40 stam and +20 int along with 3 sockets for gems (no pesky meta gem requirements) along with +mp5 +def and +spell dmg.
I won’t say the helm is the best selection, but its a piece that can easily be customized around your other gear.
The most common gripe I hear from prot pallys is OOM especially when they aren’t playing MT and getting the heals. So you may want to have a few pieces in your bag for generating mana for those odd fights where you arent taking big damage. IE any fight where the mob’s have no agro table or they really just can’t hit you hard enough or worse yet mobs that have mana burn.
July 10th, 2008
Interesting about WI using “spendy” also. I had never met anyone not from the Pacific NW that used it (instead, they typically say “pricey”).
I think you guys use “pop” too.
PS - Great column!
July 10th, 2008
Eh, oathkeepers sucks. Nysia is like any good protadin an engineer. Goggles ftmfw.
As for ot duty, learn to love - I mean loooove -chugging mana pots. Its the only way to do anything resembling OT threat - seal of wisdom helps too, but it fucks up threat gen pretty bad. As to going oom because you can’t take enough damage - just start cssting holy lights or avengers shield in combat.
July 10th, 2008
@Weta
I dunno, about the helm it may indeed help out mana wise but I’ve grown rather attached to my Tankatronic Goggles that I’ve had since level 62
@Citabria
I dunno if all of Wisconsin uses it, but I do. Also everyone I’ve met in Wisconsin says Soda, I’m in the Southeastern corner so it might just be where I am.
And thanks for the compliment.
July 10th, 2008
Oh and one additional note - the biggest problem I have with mana is healers who don’t understand how paladin mana/threat works. The worst offenders are actually priests. PW:shield is lovely on the pull or to buy time for a big heal. It is not a heal. It will keep me alive but it will not give me mana and I will stop building threat. Paladin tanks, more than any other need to be topped off. I’m at 80 percent and taking damage slowly. For a warrior tank that says to a healer - relax, maybe dps a bit, get ready for a big heal when he hits 50. For warriors this mentality is fine. It maximizes the time before any healing threat is created, and the tank doesn’t die. Swell. For a paladin tank though we’d really really love a cheap HoT or flash heal to get us topped. That 3k health you give us is 300 mana. That’s a judge/reseal on our current target for several hundred spike TPS. That’s threat from the mana we regen. More ceiling for dps to go all out and make the fight shorter.
July 11th, 2008
Here’s my advice, after healing LOTS of heroics:
Lots of health is a great protection against spike damage. In raids, this is fantastic. In heroics, though, it isn’t spike damage that kills tanks, it’s sustained damage. Usually it starts with “crap, the CC broke early” or “we got the pat”, and the tank starts taking too much damage to keep up with.
When you stack health at the expense of avoidance, you’re essentially guaranteeing that you’ll NEED that extra health, since you’ll be taking more hits. This puts the burden on the healer to keep up with the increased throughput. Push them to the limit, and any extra unexpected mob will push the damage over the threshold of what’s manageable.
Don’t neglect good gear because it has “too much defense”. A good heroics starter kit might even put you up around 500 or 510. I’d much rather heal someone with 11k health and a good chunk of avoidance than someone with 13k and the bare minimum avoidance. If we get that pat, I’ll start spamming max rank greater heal, and if I can’t keep you alive, then that extra 2k wasn’t going to help you anyway.
July 11th, 2008
@Fiest
Yep, I know a lot of Warriors who don’t like PW:Shield less it’s needed to keep them alive. And I’ll agree it’s a whole different game healing a Paladin then say a Druid or a Warrior.
@Defensivecat
While Defense is important, its not avoidance. I mean sure every point past 490 gives, if I remember right .04% Block,Dodge, and Parry. It’s not something you stack on purpose past 490, it just happens to increase on a lot of gear set ups. I mean I’m not avoiding Defense pieces I just don’t happen to need them currently. I’m going for heroics and nothing more really.
Another thing to note in this set up. I’m 6 Defense Short, and .68% Avoidance away from Uncrushable once I get my first 15 Badges assuming I can do math again. While maintaining a 14.5k hit point pool. And again this is no buffs. So I should be super easy to heal in heroics. I know avoidance is important and not something I overlooked just to keep my Hit point pool really big.
July 11th, 2008
1) uncrishability != avoidance. Until you build up a nice block value set (which you should be!) block does very little to reduce incoming dmg and very much to reduce your crushability.
2) defense rating is, point for point the best uncrishability stat — enchant for avoidance/defense (steelwrave on cloak 15 def ok chest 12 def on braver etc.) to give you the ability to gem for Stam.
July 11th, 2008
@Feist
I run a tree for healing so I very rarely hear complaints about not getting enough heals. That’s probably due to trees excelling at keeping people topped off with small cheap hots. My priest is at 64 and she is shadow at the time, Ill keep it in mind about pally’s and their healing needs. Priests are usually trying to find a way to stay outside the 5 second rule so they try to avoid doing exactly what you need. Being a shadow priest Im expected to be a mana pot chugging maniac but I think our holy counterparts aren’t.
@Zasp
Since pally tanks are mana sensitive I have had more than one pally swap out to healing gear for those fights that just don’t favor a pally. The idea behind the helm was more to point out another piece of starting gear that also provided great flexibility without having to force you to swap gear.
Of course this is all a moot point since you have stated that your only goal is heroics and nothing beyond that. Not that heroics arent challenging but I think badges only stack to 200 so you have to spend them on something
@alltanks
Just because you can take on 50 mobs without a break doesnt mean that your healer can, or worse yet doesn’t mean that your dps can. There are precious few tanks and classes of tanks that can sit in the pocket and take down a boss or a big mob with just a healer (avoidance based tanks can get away with this, there’s a video of a rogue tanking gruul through 30 growths) The fastest runs are the runs without a wipe so plan your pulls around not only your healer but your dps.
July 11th, 2008
Zasp:
Defense also gives you extra chance to be missed, which people often forget about. For comparison:
1 dodge rating = 1/18.9231 = .0528% pure avoidance
1 defense rating = (1/2.36) * (.04 + .04 + .04) = .0508% pure avoidance
Pure dodge is still the best for pure avoidance, but depending on what’s hitting you, the extra .04% block from the defense often makes it better for overall damage reduction.
I haven’t run the numbers on your gear list, but I’m highly skeptical that you’re able to get so close to uncrushable with that much stam. The stats just aren’t there.
July 11th, 2008
@Defensivecat
I missed the fact that Defense also adds to the chance to miss past 490 for whatever reason. Thanks for point that out.
And I was accidentally double adding the chance to be missed, like an idiot. So you were right to be skeptical.
August 18th, 2008
[...] - bookmarked by 3 members originally found by GreenMermaid4ever on 2008-07-24 Nyisa’s Pre Heroic Gear List http://egotisticalpriest.com/2008/07/nyisas-pre-heroic-gear-list/ - bookmarked by 4 members [...]