#0 - April 5, 2008, 4:12 p.m.
Contents:
1: Advised Gear
2: Statistic Requirements
Here's a list of what gear and statistics you need for starting karazhan as a main tank:
HELM:
Felsteel Helm. This is an excellent helm.http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=23519. I'd suggest socketing it with 2x Solid star of Elune and 1x Regal Tanzanite. Enchant: http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29186
NECK:
There's a variety of options. My favourite is the Mark of the Ravenguard from the Sethekk Halls quest. It gives great stamina and some defence. http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29336
Another great one is from cenarion expedition reputation, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29173.
SHOULDERS:
The best here, by far, are Spaulders of the Righteous, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=27739
get whatever tanking inscription you can from either Aldor or Scryer rep. Socket with Regal Tanzanite and Solid star of elune.
CLOAK:
Thre are a few options here, but by common consent, the best is devilshark cloak from Steamvaults. I'm going to recommend enchanting 12 defence, as the amount of defence needed for kara is 490.
Chest:
In my opinion, there are two excellent choices.
Breastplate of the Righteous is pretty good, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=28203, socket with Solid Star of Elune, Enduring Talasite and Regal Tanzanite.
Also, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=28262 is probably the better, although the two-set bonus from the righteous set is good.
Whichever you get, enchant with 150 health.
Bracers:
2 great epic choices:
Bracers of the Green Fortress http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=23538
Bracers of the Ancient Phalanx http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=33516
Enchant with 12 Stamina.
Gloves:
Felsteel Gloves:http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=23517, socketed with Regal Tanzanite and Solid Star of Elune.
Gauntlets of the Righteous http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=27535, undoubtedly the worse of the two.
12 Stamina enchant.
Waist:
Best choice here is from the key to the arcatraz quest chain, Shattrath Vindicator's Waistguard, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=31460
Legs
By far go for Timewarden's Leggings, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29184. I'd advise just socketing with 3x Solid Star of Elune unless you feel you need more defence or dodge.
Enchant: Unless you're low on spelldamage (under 170) get Nethercleft Leg Armor, otherwise get Runic Spellthread.
Boots:
Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29325, enchanted with 12 stamina.
Rings:
Here, there are a variety of options, but I will only list the best.
Andormu's Tear, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29323
Violet Signet. http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29276. (others may start better, but this does improve)
If you are an enchanter, enchant both with 4 stats.
Trinkets
Adamantine Figurine http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=27891#1:0:-4.
Dabiri's Enigma http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=30300
Figurine of the Colossus http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=27529.
Also, either of the jewelcrafting trinkets, or guardian's alchemist stone.
If you can get it, Darkmoon Card Vengeance.
Weapon
Since the introduction of 2.4, you've gained access to an excellent weapon.
Cudgel of Consecration http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=34611, socketed with 12 stamina
Any of the gladiator's gavels.
If you can't get either of these, get yourself Crystalforged sword.
Enchant all of them with 40 Spelldamage.
Shield
Either of the shields from Shattered Sun Offensive reputation are the best you can get.
Otherwise, a gladiator shield, the shield from badges, or the shield from Sha'tar reputation will serve you well. 18 stamina ftw!
Libram
Get two. Get Libram of Repentance from badges, http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=29388
Also, you will want: Libram of the eternal rest. http://www.wowdb.com/item.aspx?id=27917
Statistics pre-kara. (Still in the works)
Generally, there are two ways to go. If you follow my guide exactly, I feel you'll have a good balance of statistics for karazhan. However, your other options are plainly to either stack a ton of stamina, or to aim for uncrushable, which I believe you will be following my advice.
Following my gear advice choices, a Blood Elf using the cookie cutter 0/49/12 build can have 12627 health, 13869 armor, 500 defence, 309 spellpower, and a combined avoidance value of 62.31%. Add Holy Shield to this, and you have about 98% avoidance. Fully buffed and using Elixir of Major Agility and Elixir of Fortitude, you should be uncrushable. This puts you on a much better footing than most paladin tanks entering karazhan, as you have very very high threatgen, along with uncrushability and reasonable amounts of health.
