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Unexpectedly, the Blizzard team has decided to let us in on the little secret of how things will be changing Tier-wise in the next minor patch.

Gloves Breakdown

(Old) Ymirjar Lord’s Handguards
1579 Armor
+81 Strength
+148 Stamina
Yellow Socket
Socket Bonus: +6 Stamina
Equip: Increases defense rating by 71.
Equip: Increases your dodge rating by 63.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 54.

(New) Ymirjar Lord’s Handguards
2461 Armor
+81 Strength
+148 Stamina
Yellow Socket
Socket Bonus: +6 Stamina
Equip: Increases defense rating by 71.
Equip: Improves hit rating by 54.

Change
+882 Armor
- 63 Dodge rating

The gang at Blizzard HQ had this to say recently regarding the Tier 10 tanking sets:

We recognize that many plate tanks are making their gear choices based on the amount of armor they’re provided, as this is currently the most preferred stat. In order to make the tier-10 plate tanking sets more desirable, we will be adjusting the stats on the gloves and chest pieces in order to inflate the amount of armor they provide in the next minor patch. This will apply to all item levels of the tier-10 death knight, warrior, and paladin tanking gloves and chest pieces.

I have a theory. Tanks are creatures of habit. We do our tank thing at our tank pace. So, the LFG Tool throwing us into a million different types of pugs on a regular basis has come to something of a rude awakening to those of us that like to smell the roses while tanking.

The Need for Speed

Whether or not you should have to pull fast is a topic for another day. What we’ll look at today is how to pull fast. What makes those of us that can pull at a fast pace able to and what we’re doing different to stay comfortable while completing instances at pug friendly paces.

Entering Icecrown, we’ve got a number of interesting weapons to choose from and if you’ve kept up with the content, I think you’ll be hard pressed to not have something usable. The larger question though isn’t what is usable, but instead what’s desirable. What didn’t drop for me that should have. Is anything worth still running pre-Icecrown instances for? You bet. Let’s begin.

Heroics

Red Sword of Courage
Upon launch this was the must have weapon that you ran Utgarde Pinnacle for over and over again for and if you’ve just hit 80, it’s still a great first item to pursue.

When analyzing the encounters, both Festergut and Rotface clearly have a lot of magic damage to dole out, but does that really matter?

A bit. Not a lot.

What you give up for Bonus Armor

I’ve been raving about Bonus Armor and the often counter argument is it does nothing against magic damage.

Which is true.

However, what does Avoidance do against magic damage? What does Expertise and Hit rating do? How about Block?

Nothing.

Which is what you give up to get Bonus Armor.