Suggested socketing for Heavy Clefthoof set?Follow

Long story short, I'm coming up awfully close to my first 70 as a Feral druid, and I figure it's about time I started paying attention to getting a proper entry-level tanking set together. First on my list is Heavy Clefthoof since I've gone with Leatherworking and I've been working on my Cenarion rep for Earthwarden anyway so I've already got the patterns.

The shopping list featured suggested enchants, but I'm not really sure what to do about the sockets, and I was wondering if I could get some opinions from more experienced Druid tanks about what to stick in them. Obviously I'm not looking for top-end epic gems here, but something that is at least respectable.

Now correct me if I misunderstood, or if it's out of date, but according to the tanking guide listed in the Druid 101 thread I need +65 defense to reach uncrittable level (with 3/3 SotF), which is covered by the base stats of the Heavy Clefthoof gear itself - does this mean I should ignore +def gems entirely in favour of something else, or is it still worth sticking some in?

Also, regarding +resilience, how much of an effect does this have in PvE when tanking? Although I'm on a PvP server, and I do occasionally join in on some PvP, my main focus for now is PvE tanking so I'm more interested in optimising performance there.

Apologies if this is asked a lot, but I couldn't find any info in either the sticky or the first few pages of threads.

Resillience do the same as +defense, which is makes you uncritablle. One you have reached that mark, go for +sta and + agi (better than +dodge). Maybe some +hit so you don't miss much.

I would recommend you read this topic:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/class.html?wclass=6;mid=119670821386514657
There is a bunch of link that will be interesting for you.

Edit.
There is a particular link on that topic that will have most of your answers:
http://www.gurgleblaster.net/forum/index.php?topic=328.0

Edited, Jan 16th 2008 10:48am by Brisin

No, No, No!

Don't confuse Defense with Defense Rating! You need 415 DEFENSE (350+65) to hit crit immunity with the talent Survival of the Fittest. To get this extra 65 Defense, you need either 156 Defense RATING or 103 Resilience.

The Heavy Clefthoof gets you 74 Defense Rating, meaning you need to find 82 more through gems, enchants, and other armor pieces. I have never even had to enchant or gem defense (other than the Keepers of Time head enchant & Scryers Shoulder enchant). There are plenty of rings, cloaks, necks etc that give you defense, so it is not too hard to do.

Throw in a few PvP items and it is amazingly easy to hit crit immunity. It is only once you start getting your Tier gear that it becomes more of a challenge.


Here is a fantastic guide to gearing up for tanking and which items are good to get and where they are from etc.