Warriors Tank Preparation Guide to Level 80 Raiding

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One of the concerns that faces many tanks when they finish the leveling grind is the gear grind necessary to be raid ready. This guide is designed to streamline this process and to help you, the tank, be ready for your encounters in Naxxaramas and the Obsidian Sanctuary. I am working to lay out the pre-WotLK steps, items to look for as you level, and items that you should pick up at level 80 in preparation for the raid content. Recommended items come from a mix of PvE and PvP content available in Wrath of the Lich King.


Getting Prepared Early

Prior to WotLK, there are a few things to consider in getting ready. In getting raid ready as quickly as possible it is essential that any and all preparations that can be made before the level grind starts are done. I highly recommend the following:

• Reach the honor cap of 75000 honor points with 100 of each type of token saved up
• If you are a Blacksmith, cap it out at 375 if you can and make sure you have at least one toon that is 375 mining, I’ve opted to have two with 375 mining so that I can churn out Titansteel for myself and my guildies
• Spend free time farming to build up your gold supply. Unfortunately as tanks, we can’t “slide” by with subpar gear. We need to work as hard as we can so that the instances are as easy as possible for our guild and raid. You won’t be able to farm everything and you’ll need enchants and gems asap, so ensure that you have the necessary funds to buy the items that you need.

What Stats Do I Need?

At level 80, the defense cap is 540 versus a level 83 mob. Level 80 tanks need roughly 4.9 defense rating per point of defense. This sets the cap at 688 defense rating as you need 140 more defense than your natural defense will give you. With the removal of crushing blows, this offers tanks the option of resilience to push crits off of the combat table.

Evaluate your Current Gear

If you are geared out in SWP/T6 gear, many of those pieces will last you awhile. However, due to the combat rating system, you’re going to be hurting for defense. To combat this, save your defense trinkets. The shadowmoon insignia, Dabri’s Engima, Adamantite Figurine, etc. are all very good items that may have great value to you. If you aren’t in T6+ gear, you’re going to replacing nearly everything to get raid ready. Chances are any piece of gear that doesn’t have defense on it will have to be replaced as the requirement is high enough to be problematic.

Gearing Up Quickly

The whole goal of all of this is to be able to gear up fast and get in to the content that matters—the raid content. To do this, it is important to focus on the instances that yield the greatest gains first and secondly, save yourself some time where you can. Use your honor for a pvp cloak, trinket, and ring. This means you need to have 62,000 honor saved in advance. Do yourself a favor and do it now.

With this out of the way, focus on your weakest slots first OR if you’re in dire need of multiple pieces of gear, focus on those instances with the best chance for upgrades. Using this list below, you can quickly find some of the best in slot items and where to pick them up. 

The Gear List

Tanking Weapons
• Normal Mode-- Eternally Folded Blade
• Heroic Mode-- Red Sword of Courage

Tanking Shield
• Crafted-- Titansteel Shield Wall
• Normal Mode-- Leeka's Shield
• Heroic Mode--Bulwark of the Noble Protector

Tanking Helm
• Crafted-- Tempered Titansteel Helm
• Quest Reward— Greathelm of the Titan Protectorate
• Heroic Mode-- Arcane-Shielded Helm
• Heroic Mode (alternate)-- Ground Tremor Helm

Tanking Neck
• Crafted-- Titanium Earthguard Chain
• Normal-- Amulet of Deflected Blows
• Heroic-- Pendant of the Nathrezim

Tanking Shoulders
• Crafted-- Tempered Saronite Shoulders
• Normal-- Pauldrons of Reconnaissance
• Heroic-- Iron Dwarf Smith Pauldrons

Tanking Chest
• Crafted-- Tempered Saronite Breastplate
• Normal-- Reanimated Armor
• Heroic-- Sun-Emblazoned Chestplate

Tanking Cloaks
• Reputation—Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions
• Normal—Flowing Cloak of Command
• PvP—Hateful Gladiator's Cloak of Victory

Tanking Belt
• Crafted-- Tempered Saronite Belt
• Normal-- Girdle of Obscuring
• Heroic-- Ancient Aligned Girdle

Tanking Bracers
• Crafted—Tempered Saronite Bracers
• Normal—Svala's Bloodied Shackles
• Heroic— Bracers of the Herald

Tanking Gloves
• Crafted—Daunting Handguards
• Quest Reward—Gauntlets of Vigilance
• Heroic—Horn-Tipped Gauntlets

Tanking Legs
• Crafted—Daunting Legplates
• Normal—Void Sentry Legplates
• Heroic—Bolstered Legplates

Tanking Boots
• Crafted—Tempered Titansteel Treads
• Normal—Slaughterhouse Sabatons

Tanking Rings
• Crafted—Titanium Earthguard Ring
• Normal—Gal'darah's Signet
• Normal—Dragonflight Great-Ring
• Quest Reward--Solid Platinum Band
• Heroic—Band of Torture
• Heroic--Nerubian Shield Ring
• PvP--Hateful Gladiator's Band of Triumph

Tanking Trinkets
• Crafted—Figurine - Empyrean Tortoise (BoP)
• Normal—Seal of the Pantheon
• PvP--Medallion of the Horde

[radek-SiN]

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