The times they are a-changin' -- 3.1 announcementsFollow

4% Parry is obvious, a flat 4% avoidance. I think bliz either messed up their math or just figure 2% stam accommodates the lower avoidance, because 25 Defense skill grants you 1% each in Dodge, Parry, and Miss, so only 3% avoidance.

I guess it'd depend on what you're planning to tank (assuming of course you don't need the Defense as a stopgap from your gear), something where you expect to take magic damage (sarth breaths) might warrant the extra stamina over the avoidance.

Defense avoidance is not affected by DR.

It boils down to 3% avoidance and 2% Stam to 4% parry (which isn't affected by DR either).

I stick with Gargoyle because it frees up my gem choices and enchant choices, simply because I think gemming and enchanting for defense is just stupid once you get t7+ gear.

Miss is subject to DR, and it only comes from Defense. Miss also doesn't proc Rune Strike or Blessing of Sanctuary. I think I'd take 4% parry if I were already crit-immune.

2% stamina on a DK can be pretty significant as far as benefit from a weapon enchant goes. Generally speaking, in a game where there is now no set avoidance goal beyond crit immunity (compared to uncrushable goals in TBC), it gives a bit of opportunity to itemize based on preference. You'd have to be in bleeding-edge progression content before the difference between +2% stamina and +4% parry would yield a large enough discrepancy in effective health that one or the other would emerge as the de-facto standard for all DK tanks.

That's a big part of the enjoyment I'm getting out of TBC is the flexibility given to tanks with their builds. A lot of tanks (too many, imo) favor the heavy stamina build. I currently lean towards more of an avoidance/threat build with my pally, and if I decide to gear my DK to tank raid content, I've got some room to play based on what my guild needs the most. If your guild is stalled on a particular raid boss, you can break down the fight and determine which stats would give the most benefit to a tank in terms of survivability.

If, for example, your guild is stalled on Patchwerk, 4% parry would likely do more for tank survivability than 2% stamina. If you're a DK MT struggling to get through phase 1 of heroic Malygos, stamina might be a better alternative in terms of weapon runes. It's all situational, and despite what a lot of DK I've talked to seem convinced of, the Stoneskin Gargoyle rune is not and was never intended to be the best all-around tanking rune for DKs regardless of gear.