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#1 Jan 21 2009 at 12:01 PM Rating: Good
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First off, let me say that I am not new to the game... This is just the first time I've decided to try leveling a Warrior.

Secondly... As my main is a resto Shaman, I appreciate all you do for me as a tank, and I enjoy keeping you alive so the group can do their job in taking down mobs and bosses.

Anywayz... I decided to roll an Undead Warrior. I guess mostly to help cut down on food costs for healing up after a fight. Plus, I think a guy who is pretty much just a skeleton wearing big, heavy plate armor is kinda cool...

I'm still not sure on what spec I'll be when or if I make it to end-game with him. Maybe I'll PvP... Maybe tank... I dunno...

I have read that leveling prot isn't so bad, so I have decided to level this way. It may not be the fastest way to kill, but when I get into groups for instances, I won't have to worry about being the wrong spec and trying to hold aggro as much.

As for professions... I took up mining and blacksmithing.

Only questions I can think to ask are:
1) What stats should I look for? Obviously stamina and strength... Anything else? Any particular priorities?
2) What level will I be when I can be called a viable "tank" for instance runs? I mean... When will I have all (or most) of the tools (from talents or learned abilities) that I'll need to be able to tank 5-mans reliably?
3) Any other recommendations or bits of advice? (The FAQs are a bit outdated...)

Thanks for taking a beating for me.
And thanks for the replies...
#2 Feb 11 2009 at 1:20 PM Rating: Good
So you're one of those toons who like to spam water shield cause it looks cool =D

When you lvl as prot you'll want offensive stats to pack a bigger punch; if you ever have to choose between items (which shouldn't have to happen too often, mostly you see a weapon with higher dps, a chest with higher armor etc and pick it) put prio on strength and agility I guess. Low lvl tanking isn't as gear dependant as when you reach lvl 60 and up, and you'll spend most of your time questing anyway as it's the fastest way to lvl.

Being a viable tank at lvl 18-60ish is all about skills assuming you have at least decent gear scaled for your lvl. For example I've got a mainspec prot warr at lvl 80, tanking heroics and OS/Naxx/EoE. You get used to having all those shiny abilities that make tanking pretty easy and mechanical. Then you start over with a new one, get into a party for Deadmines and find out it's a whole lot different. Basically use whatever talents you have at your current level to keep threat. Tanking DM at lvl20 I used thunder clap, revenge, heroic strike, taunt, mocking blow, rend, demo shout. And it worked pretty well, although it was pretty improvised and chaotic.

One great tip I can give is to pick up Glyph of revenge at lvl 15. It'll speed things up _a lot_ and its invaluable in dungeons. Thou being able to tank reliably is more about getting used to keeping threat.

Other recommendations...well make sure to gear up whenever you can. Warriors are extremely gear dependant and you'll notice the difference as soon as you get a new weapon. Use recount to see what abilities cause the most damage and tweak your rotations to max out dps. Revenge-and-free-heroic-strike will be your strongest attack until you get shield slam. And keep shield block up all the time.
#3 Feb 12 2009 at 6:08 AM Rating: Good
yankthetank wrote:
So you're one of those toons who like to spam water shield cause it looks cool =D


We spam water shield because it helps keep our mana up. =)

As to the OP, my main is also a resto Shammy. I just recently got my warrior to 80 as well and am in the process of getting her gear, and I did level as prot all the way.

As Yank had said, at the very early levels, it's not as gear dependant, but once you start tanking instances and whatnot, you'll have to start focusing on certain stats. Strength and agility are good, but also try looking for stam. That bit of health could help give the healer time to throw a heal on you (but if you're taking insane amount of damage due to not enough armor, or whatnot), it won't matter too much.

Being on the Horde side, you'll have access to even lower level dungeons (other than DM). But while you're soloing, you can always practice your abilities on mobs. If you think having one mob on you is easy, try two. And so on and so forth. I tried at an early level to see about what my limit was with the gear I had, that way, when I did start to tank instances, I knew what I could and could not handle.

Ran my first heroic yesterday and the group said I did well (even though we wiped a couple of times due to misfortune). Thunderclap whenever you can, especially if you have multiple mobs on you. Use heroic strike (it's one of your many threat generators).

Glyph of Revenge is good. I prefer Glyph of devastate and/or glyph of sunder, mainly because with me having both, I not only can sunder one target twice with one hit, I can sunder a second target as well. It helps build up threat. Though something like that, you may not have to worry about until later in levels.
#4 Feb 12 2009 at 3:30 PM Rating: Default
You need mana in Orgrimmar/Ironforge?!?! kek
#5 Feb 13 2009 at 3:31 AM Rating: Decent
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1,331 posts
Quote:
2) What level will I be when I can be called a viable "tank" for instance runs? I mean... When will I have all (or most) of the tools (from talents or learned abilities) that I'll need to be able to tank 5-mans reliably?


At any level. The more often you tank, the better you'll get at it. I highly recommend tanking as soon as you can, just let people know your learning the class (but most people at lower levels shouldn't care too much, they probably are learning their class too).

Revenge is by far one of the most useful tanking abilities. Heroic strike and Cleave are also very remarkable, in that they un-remarkably deal good TPS. You get revenge at level 14. You get defensive stance at level 10, if you do the quest at level 10.

Quote:
I have read that leveling prot isn't so bad


It isn't. But it also can be slower than arms or fury are for leveling. Since you have a main toon, you can probably afford buying lower level items from the AH. Keep your gear updated and you wont be finding yourself as lack luster.

Quote:
3) Any other recommendations or bits of advice? (The FAQs are a bit outdated...)


Pickup first aid. Pickup first aid. Pickup first aid. Max it out.

Also, fishing and cooking are nice and very warrior friendly. I neglected to level my cooking and fishing leveling my main, and regretted it. Many of the cooking food is vastly superior to vendor food or drops. Just for the stat buffs alone it is worth it. But keeping your downtime short between pulls is very nice.

I don't recommend leveling up blacksmithing starting out. But I also don't think it's a bad thing either. Getting the 1st part of blacksmithing done and out of the way, makes leveling the rest of it up that much easier. Mining is a lot of money, using your ore to level your skill is lowering your toons ability to make money. But if you already have money on another toon (dailies make a lot of money), leveling up your professions are good too.

Much of what BS can make pre 60, sucks. You will always find better from quests, instances or the AH.
#6 Feb 13 2009 at 7:39 AM Rating: Good
yankthetank wrote:
You need mana in Orgrimmar/Ironforge?!?! kek


You didn't say in a city. You just said spamming it.

I usually refresh my water shield in the city when I'm alternating between gear to check on my mp5.
#7 Feb 13 2009 at 9:23 AM Rating: Decent
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19,369 posts
devioususer wrote:

Quote:
I have read that leveling prot isn't so bad


It isn't. But it also can be slower than arms or fury are for leveling. Since you have a main toon, you can probably afford buying lower level items from the AH. Keep your gear updated and you wont be finding yourself as lack luster.


Leveling prot does suck. It's only in the later levels when you get deeper prot talents that leveling as prot isn't as bad.

I would still level as arms or fury pre 60. Really you won't use the prot talents under 60 as much as you would the dps from arms/fury. I started out as prot when I first made my warrior. Around 35-40 I switched and wish I would have switched sooner. Then at 60 I switched back to tank and stayed prot ever since. 1-60 go arms/fury 60-80 play whichever. You could go prot about 65 to get an idea of your abilities.
#8 Feb 13 2009 at 1:48 PM Rating: Good
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55 posts
Thanks again for the replies everyone. Lots of good info in here... Lemme see if I can give feedback to everything...

1) I did get the Glyph of Revenge. Love it. =)

2) I have understood that Warriors are arguably the most gear-dependent class. As expensive as it is at times, I go to th AH every other level while I am in town to train...

3) I've run into a group of 3 to 5 mobs (unknowingly... thought it was only 2) and came out alive... Scary... But fun! I haven't been able to take 6 at once... Yet...

4) Yes, I do need mana in Orgrimmar.

5) I planning on tanking SFK this weekend. I'm level 21 now, but will be 22 tonight... I'll report back if there were any issues, but I'm looking forward to an easy run...

6) I have already picked up First Aid. I get this and max it with every toon I have.

Aside from all this, I have decided my ultimate route is to be Fury. I'll level fury and switch to prot if needed. Granted, I may have to carry 2 armor sets with me... But I'm used to doing that with my Shaman anywayz... No big deal.

Thanks again for the replies. You've all been a big help!
=)
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