Pre-heroic gear guide

Here is a list of the items I am going to be shooting for to gain enough defense stamina and threat to be able to run Heroic instances.

I have built this list off of Zamach's list found here

And the enchants come from Petrus here


I am only listing one or two items and they are all from non heroic/10 mans. I am doing this as an effort to help ME get ready and to alleviate the multiple threads on "am I ready for heroics". This is not to say you need all the items here to be able to tank in a heroic instance, just that this may be a good list to see if in fact you have enough gear to come close, as this is (or is trying to be) a list of the best gear you can get before stepping foot into a heroic instance.

I am including the BOE epics from blacksmith's and leatherworkers, but I understand that they may be a little out of some peoples price range if they do not have the skill, so I am including the next best thing that can be obtained (again without stepping into a heroic instance). If you are like me and are broke all the time from trying to gear then they may be your only option. In some cases they may even be better than the epic ones, just depends on you other gear you have at the time.



Head
Tempered Titansteel Helm Crafted BOE (Blacksmithing)
other option
Helm of the Ley-Guardian Cache of Eregos, The Oculus
Chant
Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector

Neck
Burning Skull Pendant Heroic Gundrak (but it is BoE)

Shoulders
Crusader's Square Pauldrons The Culling of Stratholme (trash drop BOE)
Chant
This requires a hell of a rep grind, use BC chant if you are not honored/exalted yet
Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle Requires The Sons of Hodir - Exalted
other option
Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle Requires The Sons of Hodir - Honored

Back
Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions Rep Item, Wyrmrest Accord (Honored)
other option (this assumes you have enough defense)
Durable Nerubhide Cape Crafted BOE (Leatherworking)
Chant
Enchant Cloak - Titanweave

Chest
Breastplate of the Solemn Council Rep Item, Wyrmrest Accord (Revered )
Chant
Enchant Chest - Greater Defense

Wrist
Svala's Bloodied Shackles Svala Sorrowgrave, Utgarde Pinnacle
Chant
Enchant Bracer - Fortitude
or
Enchant Bracer - Major Defense

Hands
Daunting Handguards Crafted BOE (Blacksmithing)
Chant
Enchant Gloves - Armsman
or
Enchant Gloves - Major Agility

Waist
Waistguard of the Risen Knight Drak'Tharon Keep trash mob?
Chant
Eternal Belt Buckle

Legs
Daunting Legplates Crafted BOE (Blacksmithing)
I found that the Daunting Legplates served me fine and helped keep my
defense high enough but some will argue that the ones below are better
just use what fits the rest of your gear
Special Issue Legplates Rep Item - Argent Crusade (Honoured)
Chant
Frosthide Leg Armor
unless you are not going to keep them around that long or your server is really expensive then
Jormungar Leg Armor

Feet
Tempered Titansteel Treads Crafted BOE (Blacksmithing)
other option
Sabatons of Draconic Vigor Rep Item, Wyrmrest Accord (Revered )
Chant
Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude

Fingers
Staunch Signet Quest - "The Struggle Persists"
Gal'darah's Signet Gal'darah, Gundrak

Trinkets
This is the only Trinket that I have seen that is an upgrade to what we had in BC that is obtainable for everyone.
Seal of the Pantheon Loken, Halls of Lightning

Weapon
Eternally Folded Blade Volkhan, Halls of Lightning
Chant
Formula: Enchant Weapon - Potency

Shield
Titansteel Shield Wall Crafted BOE (Blacksmithing)
other option
Leeka's Shield Mal'Ganis, CoT: Stratholme
Chant
Enchant Shield - Defense

Glyphs
Chant
Glyph of Hammer of Wrath
Glyph of Seal of Vengeance
Glyph of Righteous Defense

Chant
Glyph of the Wise


I am no good at math and trying to figure out what this comes out to before I am there is something I cannot do, but this is what I am shooting for.

Any and all feedback is welcome.

I would like to get some advice on enchants added to the list. This is how I would chant, but without all of the gear it is hard to say where I need to improve. I have added +defense because I know 540 is gonna be hard to hold up with all of the gear available and some of the sacrifices that were made when putting the list together.

Lets hear it, don't flame me too hard as this is the first list I put together and I am relatively new to the game.

Cheers
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Link to armory

sounds like this belongs one forum up in the gears and advice section since you seem to be looking for confrimation rather than guiding others (which is fine since we all were at the point at some time (except Lore who sprung fully formed from the head of Uther like athena did)).

Some of choices for enchant are curious, you chose AP enchants on your bracers and gloves when there are stronger survival choices. Also you require the use of many drops or BoEs that just aren't needed when there are many great options from BS that can be bought cheaply and prepare you for heroics. A good start that I look forward to you enhancing.
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I reserve the right to refuse service to those that do not read the stickies.

Yes there are quite a few BS things that you can get that will help you get there, but if you armory me now you will see that I have those items and I am not ready for heroics.

The point is, this is a list of the best gear (IMO) that you can get pre heroics. I am currently getting my BS up so I can get the BS BOE epics and then I am going to see where I stand.

I dont know about the rest of you, but the frosthide I got was cheaper than the jormungar in the AH on muradin horde side.
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Warning, sig may be out of date.

Currently, threat is not a problem for tankadins. I'd suggest going for mitigation instead of threat.

For the Shoulder - Aldor/Scryer exalted inscriptions or Sons of Hodir inscription enchant.

For the Wrist - Defense or Fortitude (if you are well above the defense cap).

For the Hands - Strength or Agility or Armsman (not in any particular order of preference)

For the Feet - 22 stamina (there are others too including run speed, etc., but this is my preference)
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Thanks for the help, changes noted in the original post.
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Link to armory

Just a note, the neck only drops in Heroic Gundrak (but it is BoE)
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WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Moonlight Sonata Techno Remix

with 3.0.8 release you will definitely want to fix the Bracers and Weapon Chant
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Hinata of Reverb - 80 - Arygos

Noted some more changes