Switching to Prot for the First Time

[DanCole42]

So I've been playing holy for as long as there's been a holy. End of cata I tried out ret on a lark and enjoyed it well enough.

I'm thinking of switching from holy/ret to holy/Prot and giving it a shot for the first time.

What's the best way to do this going into MoP?

Should I spec prot right off the bat and just use my healing and/or dps gear until quests get me some Prot gear, or should I wait until I have the gear before switching?

I don't much feel like putting together a whole mess of 85 Prot gear when it's just gonna be replaced in a couple of weeks anyway.

[Fhi]

With quests giving gear appropriate to your spec, it's probably better to start right off in prot. However, that also means you won't be seeing any holy gear rewards from quests.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a vendor at one of the new start areas (don't know where though, someone else will have to correct me) that sells 372 green gears to jumpstart your questing, so take a look there if they also sell prot gear. You can buy prot gear, quest in prot and receive prot upgrades from quests. Again, you won't have any holy upgrades.

[DanCole42]

So if I quest in Prot the only way to get Holy gear is through dungeon drops?

I hope I don't get rusty...

[Fhi]

So if I quest in Prot the only way to get Holy gear is through dungeon drops?

Or AH. Or the 372 green vendor for the first couple of levels.

[eErike]

With quests giving gear appropriate to your spec, it's probably better to start right off in prot. However, that also means you won't be seeing any holy gear rewards from quests.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a vendor at one of the new start areas (don't know where though, someone else will have to correct me) that sells 372 green gears to jumpstart your questing, so take a look there if they also sell prot gear. You can buy prot gear, quest in prot and receive prot upgrades from quests. Again, you won't have any holy upgrades.

Isn't that vendor just for the Beta so you can try every spec you want?

[Fhi]

Isn't that vendor just for the Beta so you can try every spec you want?

Mm, I hope not. I dug this post up from March:

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/4253971218

For the players that level as X spec but want to also collect gear as Y spec, we have a few solutions:

-- Several of the zones have vendors with decent gear that isn't quite at the quest item level. These help provide coverage if you miss a reward, say gloves or shoulders, since questing is less linear now. However, these vendors also help you gather off-spec gear.

It's not mentioned that it's just for testing purposes, so maybe it's for when Mists goes live too?

[Krekko]

Mm, I hope not. I dug this post up from March:

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/4253971218

For the players that level as X spec but want to also collect gear as Y spec, we have a few solutions:

-- Several of the zones have vendors with decent gear that isn't quite at the quest item level. These help provide coverage if you miss a reward, say gloves or shoulders, since questing is less linear now. However, these vendors also help you gather off-spec gear.

It's not mentioned that it's just for testing purposes, so maybe it's for when Mists goes live too?

I've seen it mentioned as implemented as being there to help players catch up with their alternate specs, and not as just for testing purposes as well, or mention of it's removal.

Perhaps in the end help those "god sent" tanks from needing everything under the sun in dungeons. I really hope it stays.

Go right into it as Prot. It'll be easy and good enough as prot and you'll have your direction and gear set for you!

[MerinPally]

Go in as prot, read my guide which is sticked on this class forum and you're away Enjoy it!