So Many Tanks, Not Enough Raids

Managed to get the DK into LFR on opening day. Unfortunately I did not have time to queue until the evening. Apparently there were many, many tanks and not many healers. Took almost three hours for the queue to finally pop. So, of course, I get one that already had the first boss killed. *sigh*

I was pretty anxious going in opening day. My hope was that only the hard-core people would be level 90 and have the gear score to get in. Thankfully it mostly worked that way as we face-rolled the two bosses and ate/ignored the salient mechanics. Like with Feng the stupid tank I was with kept him in the middle and didn't pick up a crystal. Then on Gara'jal no DPS went down into the Shadow Realm unless they were forced. Oh well.


Was able to get the first boss early afternoon on Friday and the Druid done Saturday morning (only an hour in queue!). Spent a few coins yet only got gold. The Druid did manage to pick up Netherrealm Shoulderpads while the DK got Bracers of Six Oxen. The rest of the bosses today. And looks like I'll be raiding 10-man with a different guild. More on that later.

LFR Opens Today... To Queue or to QQ

The Druid and the Death Knight are both at around iLevel 460 so I believe they will be able to queue for LFR. Not sure I will today. As a tank I have a lot more looking around and learning to do. And if I'm clueless, I'm sure 90% of the people that queue will be worse. I've been seeing DPS roll on healing items just to bump up their iLevel. *sigh*

Will try another round of manually q'ing for gear. Thankfully both have their weapons. The DK picked up a Goresoaked Headreaper last night. Not optimal but I kept losing the ones with Mastery to DPS. The Druid lucked out. All the pain of leveling Archaeology finally paid off as she managed to assemble a Spear of Xuen. Apparently it's pretty common as three other people in guild already have it. Pretty powerful weapon that will be great to hand down to a monk at level 85.

While Sco, GM of Method, claimed, "What's the easiest class/spec in the game? Guardian Druid" on his stream I would disagree. Sure, as a Warrior he has a lot of tricks available. And when he was able to face-roll heroics with a cast sequence macro it's understandable. Yet that's not how the druid works anymore. Savage Defense is completely revamped and requires active thought since it's for melee tanking while Frenzied Regeneration helps mitigate non-melee damage. The official forms and Tank Spot went over this pretty well.

Definitely enjoy both yet the tanking DK is still my favorite. Rage tanking mechanics are still pretty flakey compared to runic power generation. Rune Strike is also a guaranteed follow-up after a taunt. I do miss the mobility yet the DK's positioning is still wonderful with Death Grip and Gorefiend's Grasp along with dropping Death and Decay ranged. Admittedly tanking without a shield is still novel.

Speaking of novelty... going to level a Brewmaster monk. Dizzying Haze... seriously!?

4.2 Blood Tanking Set

Finally took the time to map out what I'm aiming for in the short-term:

Head: Helm of Blazing Glory (Firelands - Baleroc)
Neck: Stoneheart Necklace (Valor Points Reward - 1,250)
Shoulders: Spaulders of Recurring Flame (Firelands - Alysrazor)
Back: Durable Flamewrath Greatcloak (Avengers of Hyjal - Friendly)
Chest: Carapace of Imbibed Flame (Firelands - Beth'tilac)
Wrist: Bracers of the Fiery Path (Firelands - Majordomo Staghelm)
Hands: Elementium Deathplate Handguards
Waist: Girdle of Indomitable Flame (Avengers of Hyjal - Honored)
Legs: Elementium Deathplate Legguards
Feet: Cracked Obsidian Stompers (Firelands - Lord Rhyolith)
Fingers: Lylagar Horn Ring (Firelands Invasion) | Deflecting Brimstone Band (Valor Points Reward - 1,250)
Trinkets: Moonwell Phial (Firelands Invasion) | Scales of Life (Firelands - Trash Drop)
2H: Skullstealer Greataxe (Firelands - Shannox)
Ranged: Deathclutch Figurine (Valor Points Reward - 700)

Much thanks to Ice Veins for their easily browsed list. Not sure what I'm going to do for the four piece bonus. Thinking the Beth'tilac chest would round things out the best.

Leather Tanking

All stuff I've known or deduced, but nice to see clearly. Going to have the fifth spec be tanking for sure:

Any Raid Riftstalker Tanks?
Artemis, Today 02:56 PM

Yes I am my guilds "Main Tank", and currently I main tank Greenscale Blight every weekend. And I am also able to main tank Raid Rifts with ease. Here is my build/breakdown.

Finisher's To Rotate
Rift Guard (Most Important)
Guarded Steel
False Blade

Abilities & Buffs/DeBuffs To Keep On
Phantom Blow (x3)
Rift Disturbance
Planebound Resilience
Combat Pose
Predatory Instincts

Taunt Abilities
Instigate (Single Target - 3 Seconds)
Planar Attraction (Multiple Targets - 3 Seconds)
Planar Strike (Single Target High Threat Ability)

AOE Abilities
Shadow Blitz (Begin fights with this ability.)
Rift Disturbance (Great follow up ability for additional threat, and damage.)

Tank Abilities
Side Steps
Planar Refuge

Simple Guide to Pulling

1. Blink in using your AOE ability: Shadow Blitz.
2. Force taunt, and warp in all enemies using: Planar Attraction.
3. Follow up with an AOE damage ability, which also reduces enemy damage: Rift Disturbance.
4. Immediately activate tanking ability: Side Steps to compensate for low armor / damage reduction.
5. Acquire 5 combo points using three Phantom Blows, and 2 Planar Strikes.
6. Immediately finish with Rift Guard.
7. Activate Planar Refuge if necessary.

Further comments mention using Blade Dancer's Twin Strike to spread more threat around, which I need to try.

The only thing that surprises me about his spec is that he didn't put the final point in Rift Stalker for Scatter the Shadows. Clearing all cleanseable debuffs and going damage immune for three seconds seems ridiculously good, even in a raid setting. Is the 2% damage reduction from the Ranger's Bolster really worth the trade? Going to post a reply.