Should I switch tank trinkets?Follow

This is me currently:

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Emerald+Dream&n=Arthang

I love my Lavanthor's Talisman. 74 Shield block rating and an extra 440 block value for 20 seconds every two minutes is really nice. I have been putting off getting the 40-emblem trinket (84 dodge rating) because I like Lavanthor's talisman so much.

As you can see, with my current equipment I am not block capped (about 97.2% with Holy Shield up if I did the math right), so is now a good time to switch out Lavanthor's for the Valor Medal of the First War, or should I keep what I have until some of my other equipment improves a bit?

Repelling Charge dropped off of Thaddeus in my last Naxx-10, which would have been a nice upgrade to the Seal of the Pantheon, but unfortunately I didn't win the roll on that one.

I know that at a certain point it is better to replace block rating with dodge, but am I at that point yet?

I favor avoidance over mitigation in most everything. I've been block capped for a little over a month now and swapping around gems (including my beloved def/block value meta D:) was painful for me. Levanthor's Talisman is a fantastic threat item, but as far as mitigation goes it's sub-par for raids. I could be off on my math, but you'll end up with about the same boost to dodge % from the emblem trinket as you will block % from Levanthor's...the main difference is, dodge = 0 damage, block = mitigation that may or may not be worthwhile. For small hits, it's fine...for larger ones (ie. Patchwerk OT) it's not so great. Not only that, but the Use bonus from the emblem trinket is more appealing to me, again because 0 damage is better than simply reduced damage.

I'd keep Levanthor's Talisman for a threat set that you can throw on when you're block capped or running reg dungeons and even lesser heroics, but for higher difficulty heroics and raids, I much prefer the Valor Medal of the First War.

Uhh, yeah. Block is the cheapest way to get to 102.4% combined avoidance(otherwise known as block capped), but raid buffs generally give between 2-3% dodge, which means if you were already block capped without buffs then you'd essentially have 3% extra block you could drop.

The OP stated he was aprox 5% short of block cap, so even with raid buffs he'll still be short and if he swaps trinkets he'll actually lose another 2% of combined avoidance depending what is used to replace said trinket. Swapping to pure avoidance could still be better in some cases, but in general blocking 2k off of every hit guaranteed is preferable imo.

39.35 dodge rating = 1% dodge
16.29 block = 1% block

74 block = 4.54% block
84 dodge = 2.13% dodge




Its really not a good threat trinket. A 2min on use that effects 1 ability? Find an ap or crit trinket with a nice ap proc or use a Nobles str deck. This trinket is good for one thing, getting pallys block capped for Naxx. Haven't looked at mine in 6weeks as once you're block capped without it there are very few situations in which more passive block is good for anything.

As far as accessible tank trinkets go that could help in any way with threat, Levanthor's Talisman is at the top of the list. (I don't consider the Northrend epic decks to be accessible given their cost). 440 block value for 20 seconds every 2 minutes sill represents a substantial boost to block value for any shield wearing tank in WotLK. It's not game-breaking bonus threat, but it's something. Sure, you could use a dps trinket for more threat, but I'm referring exclusively to tank trinkets.

Currently my pally is still using her Seal of the Pantheon and the Valor Medal. My guild wasn't running Naxx10 so there was no opportunity for me to yoink a Repelling Charge and the tank trinkets from Naxx25 are bleh for shield tanks. Unless the next guild I join does regular efficient Naxx10 farm runs, I probably won't be upgrading my Seal of the Pantheon until Ulduar. That push to being block capped involves a lot of choices and sometimes just gunning for block capped at the expense of all else is not the best idea. A lot of it depends on the content a person is running.