Tanking GemsFollow

Hi,

In gemming i tend to try to match sockets as it's extra stats and gives you good balance in which stats your upping. I'm under 490 defense atm and around 250 spell damage

In yellow and green sockets i am currently using Enduring Talasite (defence and stam) and will swap to using more Solid Star of Elune once i hit 490 defense.

My problem comes in what to put in red sockets. Glowing Nightseye (spell dmg and stam) seem good but am wondering if i should get more mitigation based gems, such as Shifting Shadow Draenite (agil and stam), Flashing or subtle Living Ruby (8 parry or 8 dodge rating).

What do you put in your red sockets and why?

Also why do people tend not to go much about 490 defense? As defense rating still increases mitigation more than other stats?

Thanks for reading

Unless the gem bonus is really good, don't bother trying to get it and just stick solid star of elunes in every slot. You can get a socket bonus of something like +6 to parry, but is this really worth more than +12 to stam? To a tankadin who is uncrit\uncrushable, it really isn't.

It's a shame, I like it to look nice by having all the right colour gems and bonuses but it just isn't as effective as stacking solid stars in every socket.

Edit: don't look at my armoury because i am clearly not practicing what I preach! I can't afford to destroy gems at the moment so will only be stacking blues in future pieces..

Edited, Jan 18th 2008 9:08am by Chamual

Well, given that you're not even at 490 defense, I'm not going to go on about 12 stam in every slot because, let's be honest, that wouldn't be the best choice.

Gem for what will help you the most. If you're under 490 defense, then get gems that will boost you up to that point. This is really a first priority. Stamina is aways some level of priority, and blue sockets should always have 12 stam in them, but with red slots you can go for either spell damage and stam, or straight +dodge. Those are really the best if you're looking specifically to fill the socket bonus. For yellow slots, stam/def is best, but if you're really desparate for defense, you can get a straight defense gem. It depends on how far below 490 defense you are.

For my red slots, I personally use spell damage and stam combo gems. My spell damage is rather low for where I am, and I need the boost. (there are also several heroic gems that you can pop in red slots for some really good stats)

I'm not sure this is the right mindset. You can use elixirs/food to up your spell dmg more easily than you can use them to up your +def. So you won't have your raid leaders worried about your aggro (which you have MORE than enough Spell dmg for if you know how to play) you'll have them saying "Oh well I guess pallies CAN hold aggro but they go down like they're freaking paper. May as well have the priest tank it."

Don't be stupid. Get thyself to uncrushable or you're going to look useless and make the rest of us look incompetent by extension.

edit: pots != elixirs and their != they're



Edited, Jan 18th 2008 12:45pm by Celcio

Also, you can't OT Moroes. There is no wy to put up that kind of threat without getting hit.

It takes a lot of potions, but between Seal/Judge Righteousness, Avenger's Shield and Exorcism it's possible. Mainly because the DPS spends a good amount of time on the adds, so you have plenty of time to build up that threat.

Now I certainly would prefer a pally be in the main tank spot, but it's not impossible to OT Moroes. I've done it myself.

I like my puppy

On topic: Don't bother gemming for the socket bonuses... Except on VERY rare occasions such as:
Tankatronic Goggles

You can throw in a Meta of your choice and then a Enduring Chrysoprase, and the socket bonus (+6 Stamina) will even out the loss in stamina from the gem... Basically you're getting a free +5 Defense Rating.

Again, these occasions are few and far between. Mainly you're going to be (or should be) ignoring all socket bonuses and gem purely for Stamina (and NOT avoidance). Only gem for avoidance when you HAVE to in order to be uncrushable. Even then, you should be looking at your gear and seeing what can be upgraded.



And to whomever said that his Spell Damage is too high: Whaaaaaaaa? Mine is sitting at 289, should I downgrade my equipment so as to only have 200? Lmao.


Off topic: You must just be a horrible tank if you can't do it, then. I off tank Moroes every week, and I do it flawlessly. You may say "oh well you must be geared out the ***", I sure as hell wasn't when my guild first ran Kara.

Edited, Dec 24th 2012 4:31am by Deevious

Yeah, honestly upping your Spell Damage should be among your last priorities once you've hit a decent amount. You need to get uncrittable and uncrushable, then grab as much STA as possible, and get any Spell Damage that you might get along with that.

Well, here's my armory at the moment http://eu.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Bladefist&n=gally

I'm 6/8 cards for the furies deck. I've almost got the mats together for bracers of the green fortress. I realise i'm a bit stacked up on defense but i will swap these for stamina as i progress.

Any comments?

Don't forget his headpiece: those horns will provide a nice bull-rush for quick aggro at the start of battle.

I figured it must have been a travelling or "around town" set but that's not going to stop me from poking you about it.

You have MORE than enough spell dmg for now with the mace. Pry out the spell dmg gems and replace them with +def or +stam.

You've got a good start but you're going to want to grind for some drops and do some quests to up your block rating - it's sorta crappy.

Ditch the khorium belt and pick up the Sha'tari vindicator's wasitguard (if you haven't already done that quest)
Pick up the Dauntless Handguards from the Shattered Halls quest (again if you haven't already)
Shield from 1st boss in SL

I'd say the Jadeskull breastplate (Mech) and the figurine of the colossus (SH) but good luck getting the freaking things to drop. Nice pieces though if you can get them.

That should have you at uncrit and pretty close to uncrush. but like I said, it's not a bad start.

The badge reward libram is going to be your best. I think until I got that one I was using one that healed me some minor amount on judgements or the one that boost consecration damage. But I can't remember the name of them or where I got them, sorry

The netherwing shield is nice, either or.
I wore the dauntless handguards until I replaced them with my T4 gloves (and I still have them for when i need to downgrade my gear). I liked em but up to you.

The jadeskull breastplate is a great chest but it took me like 900 runs of mech for that stupid bint to drop the thing. Same thing with the figurine. Both are really really nice to have but a serious pain to get.