tanking gear choices need help

[KingCrab]

I've made 3 profiles for you guys to comment.

(tank set with 4 PC T10.5)
http://www.wowhead.com/?profile=20983819

HP: 47179
AC: 65.05%
def: 549 (5.96% miss)
dodge: 33.54%
parry: 27.00%

total avoidance: 66.5%

(tank set with maxed unbuffed armor)
http://www.wowhead.com/?profile=20983818

HP: 47209
AC: 66.00%
def: 551 (6.04% miss)
dodge: 31.66%
parry: 26.92%

total avoidance: 64.62%

(tank set with greatest HP)
http://www.wowhead.com/?profile=20983815

HP: 47719
AC: 65.05%
def: 573 (6.92% miss)
dodge: 32.93%
parry: 26.23%

total avoidance: 66.08%


I'm probably choosing the 3rd setup. For the following reasons:
- highest HP
- armor is decent (nearly identical to the 1st setup)
- 2nd highest avoidance
- highest def (means more HP gained from ardent defender talent)

[Aedh]

Don't match socket bonuses that aren't for stam, or require more than one non-blue gem to meet.
Don't match socket bonuses less than 9stam. Don't even bother if it requires a yellow gem to meet.

Use that advice and redo you max health set.

[Cardolan]

If you gem the maximum armor set correctly, you'll find it's also the highest health set. The shoulders from 25 man Gunship, assuming they're an option, are also better than the 264 T10 ones for health (though it's a pretty small difference).

Also important to point out that defense over 540 doesn't provide additional healing from Ardent Defender; you get the full 30% once you reach 540, and will only ever get 30% regardless of how much above 540 you are.

I'm slightly curious about how you went about constructing these gear sets; you're using pieces of 264 T10, but no other 264 items. If you're only using emblem bought items and ICC 10 drops, then the best you can hope for is 251 T10 pieces.

[bonix]

I agree with last poster, the gear choices seem odd. your "max armor set" is missing pretty nice armor pieces, the neck off of rotface/fester i forget which plus a nice ring off of dreamwalker. and your cheapset has 3pc?!?! you can easily make the pillars of might instead of the crappy t10 pants since you dont need all that expertise.

[KingCrab]

I agree with last poster, the gear choices seem odd. your "max armor set" is missing pretty nice armor pieces, the neck off of rotface/fester i forget which plus a nice ring off of dreamwalker. and your cheapset has 3pc?!?! you can easily make the pillars of might instead of the crappy t10 pants since you dont need all that expertise.

hah, yeah. I didn't create this BiS toon sheet based on what is available before lich king. But rather based on what I can personally obtain based on my current progression with PuGs and 10man ICC.

I'll need your advices though. I'm looking for some great upgrade to beef up my EH while maintaining my avoidance.

Here's my revised gemming for my max armor set based on my current progression
http://www.wowhead.com/?profile=20983818

25man ICC pug, up to saurfang.
10man ICC guild run, rotface/fester on farm. At prince.

http://www.wowhead.com/?item=50023 (bile-Encrusted Medallion is really really sexy, but I haven't downed rotface in 25man yet....) My guild can, but I won't have access to it cos I'm a healer in 25man

but yeah Bonix, thx. I think I still have to work on getting my primordial saronites... I current don't have any T10 tanking pieces yet. So I haven't wasted any frost on bad pieces.

[bonix]

based on that progression i dont see much more you can do past whats in that set you linked. if you can afford the defense loss get the pvp shoulder chant and put in pure stam gems. thatd be the only hp gains i can see available. find a 25man raiding guild imo!!

edit. just saw the bottom of your post that said you heal 25mans. kudos for such a nice tanking offset!

[KingCrab]

based on that progression i dont see much more you can do past whats in that set you linked. if you can afford the defense loss get the pvp shoulder chant and put in pure stam gems. thatd be the only hp gains i can see available. find a 25man raiding guild imo!!

edit. just saw the bottom of your post that said you heal 25mans. kudos for such a nice tanking offset!

lol. thx! My current tank set has 41k HP unbuffed, 574 def, 27% dodge, 23% parry and 13% block. But guild tanks are stronger, but don't have all the pieces yet. So it turns out I'm better off pugging. lol. I'm tanking the 10man ICC with RL friends and we all want to down lich king. So your advices are gonna be precious!


I already have the belt, boot, ashen verdict ring (converted healing to tanking), and the trinket. The rest are all 245 gear. this coming week, I'll have 60 badges and I'll grab the glove. But I have 0 primordial saronites and only 4k gold..

[KingCrab]

so cheap set VS armor set. (check for new updates)


(510 HP + 1.46%) VS 0.95% physical dmg reduction, which one is better?

[Cardolan]

so cheap set VS armor set. (check for new updates)


(510 HP + 1.46%) VS 0.95% physical dmg reduction, which one is better?

The armor set with the correct gems will have more health and more physical damage mitigation than your "max health" set will. Chest and legs need all stamina gems, shoulders need the stamina PvP enchant and a stamina gem.