Frost Tanking in 3.1

[Dr.Dipset]

Hi, i've been reading that in ulduar there will be alot less "AOE down all the mobs" and more CC and such. I've played Unholy for the majority of my time tanking and it seems like its aoe may become less of a factor in tanking, so Frosts high single target tps may be the way to go for 3.1. I'd like to know basically how does Frost tanking work, like how does it play, rotations, and if you guys are feeling generous then maybe you could provide me with a frost tanking spec for 3.1.

[Underbr]

Same issue here! What is better to tank Unholy or Frost? Why??? Very very people will tank 25man with unholy! Why??? Bone Shield owns? And in 3.1??? OMG! SOO MANY QUESTIONSSS! =(

[Granpa]

I like this tanking spec:

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

If anyone feels that they can make any improvements to it, please do.

[Lollygagger]

I like this tanking spec:

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

If anyone feels that they can make any improvements to it, please do.

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

something like that would be better

sent of blood can be replaced with chill of the grave, morbidity is not needed imo if your deep frost because of howling blast, merc combat isnt such a good talent for a tank, picking up glacial riot is a huge threat booster.

[Yohassakura]

I quite like the look of this spec & these glyphs myself: http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

aoe pack: D&D -> IT -> Pest -> runestrike & BTap -> HB (hopefully KM procs for a crit! :P) ftw

@ Granpa - Scent of blood could be used elsewhere tbh, like 2h spec, Icy talons could be used for improved spell hit seem as frost is based around spells and other players will probably bring this (points at shammies, or 16% at least), + glacier rot (and 5/5 black ice) is a big increase for threat.

And i've picked epidemic because i think it's pretty good, as you can get another HB/Obliterate off before refreshing your diseases.

@ Lollygagger - I'd prefer lichborn & improved frost pres as 2% damage reduction is fairly decent, mobs in ulduar will be hitting for 8k+ and 2% damage reduction is 160damage - not much but better than icy talons again :| and then you have an extra 3 spare talent points, which you could put in virulence or imp D&D
And again, i'd prefer virulence/imp d&d over bladed armor for threat, which leaves 2 points over which can be put into 2h spec

[arshadow8s9]

My biggest concern about 3.1 as a frost tank is the so called changes to Blessing of sanc - Blessing of Sanctuary: Now only grants mana on dodge/parry/block.In addition, will only grant mana if that is the active power type of the friendly target (Bears and Cats wont gain mana).

If those changes are real then our threat as a dk is gonna drop a ton, So to make up for it at least what i am planning to do is pick up Scent of blood. I have also been looking at Chills of the grave also to help with the rp loss from blessing of sanc. To me with glyph of disease the extra time with epidemic is pointless so i will no longer need that. So here is my spec with glyphs.

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...6&version=9767

The few things i might change are blades armor for killing machine. I also might take out chills of the grave if i am having a ton of rp alone just from scent of blood. The last thing i might be changing is glyph of disease. I only have 1 dk in my guild besides myself so he might be able to refresh my diseases when he uses his pestilence. But as always letting someone else refresh your diseases can cause issues...

[fail2die]

here is my build= http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...4&version=9767

i chose deathchill for the snap agro for when u need the crit howling blast and cant rely on KM. i also chose morbidity over epidemic not for raiding but heroics. since the diseases are increased to 15 seconds base i am more than comfortable with that. I chose icy touch and frost strike glyphs as it prety much allows u to spam frost strike/runestrike more often for single target threat. however obliterate is an excellent alternative to icy touch, especially since it is the new attack to proc rime.

@yohassakura lichborne in 3.1 is pretty much completely useless for tanking in a raid setting. as it only removes fear, sleep and charm, does not have chance to miss anymore.

[Lollygagger]

@ Lollygagger - I'd prefer lichborn & improved frost pres as 2% damage reduction is fairly decent, mobs in ulduar will be hitting for 8k+ and 2% damage reduction is 160damage - not much but better than icy talons again :| and then you have an extra 3 spare talent points, which you could put in virulence or imp D&D
And again, i'd prefer virulence/imp d&d over bladed armor for threat, which leaves 2 points over which can be put into 2h spec

ok lets look at some things you just said that make me want to cry.

I'd prefer lichborn - you to realize that in 3.1 the 25% miss chance is gone and all it is now is a PVP ability...

i'd prefer virulence/imp d&d over bladed armor for threat - virulence and imp d&d? why? if you are deep frost your main RP dump should be frost strike this alone makes that talent only reduce the cooldown on your dnd because why would you ever use deathcoil? add in the fact that they buffed bloodboil and you have howling blast so really you do not need a 15second reduction on your dnd. virulence is ok but passing up bladed armor, all that attack power from all that armor is way bigger threat booster than those two talents put together.

my build was based on the IMP ICY TALONS buff, if i was to spec without this buff it would look something like this.

http://ptr.wowhead.com/?talent=j0EMZhxx0AbI0f0iost0g

[Xacez]

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

I get everything I want, I know Hungering Cold do nothing for tanking, but I can't seem to pass it.

[Cottenmouth]

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733

something like that would be better

sent of blood can be replaced with chill of the grave, morbidity is not needed imo if your deep frost because of howling blast, merc combat isnt such a good talent for a tank, picking up glacial riot is a huge threat booster.

Mine is something like yours, cept i refuse to take Imp Icy talons and whatnot, i picked up scent of blood and deathchill, along with chill of the grave for more Frost strike

[Yohassakura]

ok lets look at some things you just said that make me want to cry.

I'd prefer lichborn - you to realize that in 3.1 the 25% miss chance is gone and all it is now is a PVP ability...

/sigh... didn't notice it >_>

i'd prefer virulence/imp d&d over bladed armor for threat - virulence and imp d&d? why? if you are deep frost your main RP dump should be frost strike this alone makes that talent only reduce the cooldown on your dnd because why would you ever use deathcoil? add in the fact that they buffed bloodboil and you have howling blast so really you do not need a 15second reduction on your dnd. virulence is ok but passing up bladed armor, all that attack power from all that armor is way bigger threat booster than those two talents put together.

my build was based on the IMP ICY TALONS buff, if i was to spec without this buff it would look something like this.

http://ptr.wowhead.com/?talent=j0EMZhxx0AbI0f0iost0g

Virulence - hit = good :P & imp D&D for trash. enough said about those really. Although, if bladed armor does give as much threat from AP -> SP as everyone seems to think, it may be worth speccing into it :P as 28k in frost / 180 * 5 = 777.777 recurring AP gain, this is without buffs and without exactly great gear :P So yeah, i would probably use the non-talons spec that you linked, as it has the must haves and the great threat talents... can't really change it much... or maybe to something like: http://ptr.wowhead.com/?talent=j0EZhxx0AbIoc0iostcg

[Guamy]

Quick question, I've been frost tanking for a little while (like maybe two weeks) and i just gotta ask about the whole annihalation talent for tanking. To me it seems like it was kinda useless post 3.1 for single target (since frost strike can't be dodged, blocked or parried) that it seemed like a no brainier for SINGLE TARGET mobs (i caps it just to be sure that we all know that's what i mean not trash mobs lol) that it was smarter to just have more runic power. I realize the change they've done to RIME (NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) makes it so you kinda have to use obliterate to blow out more HB's. Still though i question if it's worth using in a tanking rotation? I suppose my question is...........is annihalation and rime really worht the points ne more? Just curious because i've never found a need for obliterate in my tank rotation so why would i now besides the change to rime (/sniffle).

Thank you for the help on the matter.

[failoth]

use of obliterate is essential as a frost tank or dps. pre and post 3.1

[panentheos]

use of obliterate is essential as a frost tank or dps. pre and post 3.1

Pre 3.1, not necessarily. It's possible to skip it entirely and use a tight rotation with 2 Howling Blasts in 10 seconds.
Post 3.1, yes. With the 8 second cooldown and the Rime changes, frost tanking is changing from a fixed rotation to a priority queue with proc watching.

[Guamy]

Thanx for the replies on the matter. Personally felt that 2 HB were better seeing as how it's magic damage and can't be dodged, parried or blocked and takes up the same runes.....and hits everybody lol. Other then that yeah i can see how it is absolutely essential to have annihalation and the new rime in 3.1. Very well appreciated personally i find the link http://ptr.wowhead.com/?talent=j0EMZhxx0AbI0f0iost0g


to be the best for frost tanking from here on after the patch hits. gonna miss that 5% haste all the time but it is not absolutely needed.

[Raledon]

I'm just wondering- what do you think about http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...5&version=9733 as a DW DK tanking spec?

While at it, I would be happy if you guys could comment about how is tanking/dpsing with DW compared to with 2h weapon.

3rd thing about TPS: I don't think that threat is a serious issue nowadays with a decent spec/gear/skills, so I dont think we should suddenly worry about it.

[Sykom]

Frost's TPS for single-target is certainly good, but I think that the change to BoSanc makes blood a better choice for boss fights (not to mention the passive/active health regeneration). I'm going to try an AoE tank spec with frost that basically spams HB and DnD when available, plus frost strike/rune strike. With dual-spec implemented with the patch, I can switch to DPS or single-target threat for the boss. Anyway, here's the spec.

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...6&version=9767

[gurber]

http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...0&version=9767

Thoughts, Comments, Modifications?

[Rea]

Im thinking about: http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?deat...1&version=9767

It is almost the same as what i use at the moment.
Currently i dont use Acclimation, but when i look at all the spelldmg on most of the Ulduar bosses, ive the feeling that it can be usefull.

[Narshe]

ok lets look at some things you just said that make me want to cry.

I'd prefer lichborn - you to realize that in 3.1 the 25% miss chance is gone and all it is now is a PVP ability...

i'd prefer virulence/imp d&d over bladed armor for threat - virulence and imp d&d? why? if you are deep frost your main RP dump should be frost strike this alone makes that talent only reduce the cooldown on your dnd because why would you ever use deathcoil? add in the fact that they buffed bloodboil and you have howling blast so really you do not need a 15second reduction on your dnd. virulence is ok but passing up bladed armor, all that attack power from all that armor is way bigger threat booster than those two talents put together.

my build was based on the IMP ICY TALONS buff, if i was to spec without this buff it would look something like this.

http://ptr.wowhead.com/?talent=j0EMZhxx0AbI0f0iost0g

Since Frost Fever and Blood Plague now last 15 seconds untalented, do you think 21 seconds is really needed (2/2 Epidemic)?

Was thinking of using those 2 points elsewhere, like on Rune Tap and Deathchill. I guess all 3 talents could be considered "personal preference" just curious on your thoughts.