Death Knight mitigation vs. warrior/paladin
Posted 08-14-2008 at 02:31 PM by Armstrong
Today is 8/14/08. WotLK is in beta. By the time the expansion is released much may have changed regarding the post below.
I've been running into a lot of discussions mentionning how DKs have the worst survivability of the three tank classes, much of which is tied to them having lower armor. I was curious to figure out exactly how big the difference was, and decided to approach the issue using familiar examples of gear available at level 70.
Below is a breakdown of armor values using same-level (except where noted) items with comparison between Warrior (or paladin) and Death Knight. I've also included separate comparisons when using items with extra armor, as DKs will benefit slightly more from those and I felt it would be useful to see how much so.
All three classes have other options to increase their armor, such as agility and armor enchants. However I've decided not to incluse those since they are not affected by armor multipliers, providing the same flat amount of armor (~600-700 at best) regardless of class.
What we find is that Death Knights' Frost Aura (+45% armor) doesn't quite bridge the armor gap caused from the inability to equip a shield. This even after factoring in DKs Toughness talent which provides a slightly higher armor increase than the warrior / paladin version.
However, the high armor modifiers do allow DKs to lead the pack when wearing items with added armor such as rings, cloak, trinket and weapons. At lower levels of progression in classic WoW and in TBC some plate items with added armor value have been available also, and are included in the first example below.
Ultimately though, Defensive Stance and Imp. Righteous Fury put the warriors and pallies back on top by a significant margin. To top it off, the use of a shield gives both classes a chance to further reduce incoming physical damage after all percentage modifiers have been applied.
Are Death Knights truly at a disadvantage? Difficult to say in their current state. Their "active" defenses are easily the most powerful of all tank classes at the moment, and assuming they don't get nerfed, may provide enough "on demand" mitigation to compensate for the lack of Defensive Stance / Imp RF, something that encounter design will play a large part in determining.
This only covers mitigation. Avoidance is also being adjusted and the lastest changes lead me to beleive that Death Knights may very well have the highest pure avoidance of all three plate classes given equal stats. If this is by design, then lower mitigation may end up being an acceptable compromise.
WTB beta key. :P
ilevel 115 Rare items
Warhelm of the Bold 946
Shoulderguards of the Bold 873
Devilshark Cape 78
Breastplate of the Bold 1164
Vambraces of Daring 509
Gauntlets of the Bold 728
Sha'tari vindicator's Waistguard 655
Legplates of the Bold 1019
Obsidian Clodstompers 800
Total: 6772
Aegis of the Sunbird 3806
100 / 6772 * 3806 = 56.2
Shield provides an additional 56.2% of armor value from other items combined.
Add ilevel 115 Rare cloak, rings and trinket
Substitute items with high armor values
Felsteel Helm 338
Thoriumweave Cloak (390) +312
Felsteel Gloves 215
Felsteel Leggings 238
Violet Signet 294
Band of Determination 252
Badge of Tenacity 308
Total: 1957
ilevel 115 Epic items
Eternium Greathelm 1178
Mantle of Abrahmis 1087
Royal Cloak of Arathi Kings 97
Panzar'thar Breastplate 1450
Vambraces of Courage 634
Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden 906
Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable 816
Wrynn Dynasty Greaves 1269
Battlescar Boots 997
Total: 8434
Shield of Impenetrable Darkness 4872
100 / 8434 * 4872 = 57.8
Shield provides an additional 57.8% of armor value from other items combined.
Add ilevel 115 Epic cloak, rings and weapons
Gilded Thorium Cloak (385) 288
Shermanar Great-Ring 223
Violet Signet 350 (ilevel 110)
King's Defender 182
Total: 1043
ilevel 141 (Hyjal / BT) Epic items
Helm of the Illidari Shatterer 1434
Pauldrons of Abyssal Fury 1324
Pepe's Shroud of Pacification 118
Chestplate of Stoicism 1765
Eternium Shell Bracers 772
Gauntlets of Enforcement 1103
Girdle of Stability 993
Sunguard Legplates 1544
Myrmidon's Treads 1213
Total: 10266
Kaz'rogal's Hardened Heart 5930
100 / 10266 * 5930 = 57.8
Shield provides an additional 57.8% of armor value from other items combined.
Add ilevel 141 Epic (mostly) cloak, rings and weapons
Gilded Thorium Cloak (385) 267 (ilevel 115)
Violet Signet of the Great Protector 392 (ilevel 130)
Ring of the Stalwart Protector 392
The Unbreakable Will 308
Total: 1359
I've been running into a lot of discussions mentionning how DKs have the worst survivability of the three tank classes, much of which is tied to them having lower armor. I was curious to figure out exactly how big the difference was, and decided to approach the issue using familiar examples of gear available at level 70.
Below is a breakdown of armor values using same-level (except where noted) items with comparison between Warrior (or paladin) and Death Knight. I've also included separate comparisons when using items with extra armor, as DKs will benefit slightly more from those and I felt it would be useful to see how much so.
All three classes have other options to increase their armor, such as agility and armor enchants. However I've decided not to incluse those since they are not affected by armor multipliers, providing the same flat amount of armor (~600-700 at best) regardless of class.
What we find is that Death Knights' Frost Aura (+45% armor) doesn't quite bridge the armor gap caused from the inability to equip a shield. This even after factoring in DKs Toughness talent which provides a slightly higher armor increase than the warrior / paladin version.
However, the high armor modifiers do allow DKs to lead the pack when wearing items with added armor such as rings, cloak, trinket and weapons. At lower levels of progression in classic WoW and in TBC some plate items with added armor value have been available also, and are included in the first example below.
Ultimately though, Defensive Stance and Imp. Righteous Fury put the warriors and pallies back on top by a significant margin. To top it off, the use of a shield gives both classes a chance to further reduce incoming physical damage after all percentage modifiers have been applied.
Are Death Knights truly at a disadvantage? Difficult to say in their current state. Their "active" defenses are easily the most powerful of all tank classes at the moment, and assuming they don't get nerfed, may provide enough "on demand" mitigation to compensate for the lack of Defensive Stance / Imp RF, something that encounter design will play a large part in determining.
This only covers mitigation. Avoidance is also being adjusted and the lastest changes lead me to beleive that Death Knights may very well have the highest pure avoidance of all three plate classes given equal stats. If this is by design, then lower mitigation may end up being an acceptable compromise.
WTB beta key. :P
---------------------------------
ilevel 115 Rare items
Warhelm of the Bold 946
Shoulderguards of the Bold 873
Devilshark Cape 78
Breastplate of the Bold 1164
Vambraces of Daring 509
Gauntlets of the Bold 728
Sha'tari vindicator's Waistguard 655
Legplates of the Bold 1019
Obsidian Clodstompers 800
Total: 6772
Aegis of the Sunbird 3806
100 / 6772 * 3806 = 56.2
Shield provides an additional 56.2% of armor value from other items combined.
Warrior/Paladin, 5/5 Thoughness: (6772 + 3806) * 1.1 =
11636 armor (52.43% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 57.19%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 55.28%
Death Knight, 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: 6772 * 1.15 * 1.45 =
11292 armor (51.68% mitigation vs. L70)
Add ilevel 115 Rare cloak, rings and trinket
Substitute items with high armor values
Felsteel Helm 338
Thoriumweave Cloak (390) +312
Felsteel Gloves 215
Felsteel Leggings 238
Violet Signet 294
Band of Determination 252
Badge of Tenacity 308
Total: 1957
Warrior/Paladin, 5/5 Thoughness: (6772 + 3806 + 1957) * 1.1 =
13789 armor (56.64% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 60.98%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 59.24%
Death Knight, 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: (6772 + 1957) * 1.15 * 1.45 =
14556 armor (57.96% mitigation vs. L70)
---------------------------------
ilevel 115 Epic items
Eternium Greathelm 1178
Mantle of Abrahmis 1087
Royal Cloak of Arathi Kings 97
Panzar'thar Breastplate 1450
Vambraces of Courage 634
Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden 906
Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable 816
Wrynn Dynasty Greaves 1269
Battlescar Boots 997
Total: 8434
Shield of Impenetrable Darkness 4872
100 / 8434 * 4872 = 57.8
Shield provides an additional 57.8% of armor value from other items combined.
Warrior/Paladin, 5/5 Thoughness: (8434 + 4872) * 1.1 =
14637 armor (58.10% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 62.29%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 60.61%
Death Knight, 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: 8434 * 1.15 * 1.45 =
14064 armor (57.12% mitigation vs. L70)
Add ilevel 115 Epic cloak, rings and weapons
Gilded Thorium Cloak (385) 288
Shermanar Great-Ring 223
Violet Signet 350 (ilevel 110)
King's Defender 182
Total: 1043
Warrior/Paladin, 5/5 Thoughness: (8434 + 4872 + 1043) * 1.1 =
15784 armor (59.92% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 63.93%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 62.32%
Death Knight DWing a second King's Defender, 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: (8434 + 1043 + 182) * 1.15 * 1.45 =
16106 armor (60.41% mitigation vs. L70)
---------------------------------
ilevel 141 (Hyjal / BT) Epic items
Helm of the Illidari Shatterer 1434
Pauldrons of Abyssal Fury 1324
Pepe's Shroud of Pacification 118
Chestplate of Stoicism 1765
Eternium Shell Bracers 772
Gauntlets of Enforcement 1103
Girdle of Stability 993
Sunguard Legplates 1544
Myrmidon's Treads 1213
Total: 10266
Kaz'rogal's Hardened Heart 5930
100 / 10266 * 5930 = 57.8
Shield provides an additional 57.8% of armor value from other items combined.
Warrior/Paladin w/ 5/5 Thoughness: (10266 + 5930) * 1.1 =
17816 armor (62.79% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 67.54%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 65.02%
Death Knight w/ 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: 10266 * 1.15 * 1.45 =
17119 armor (61.85% mitigation vs. L70)
Add ilevel 141 Epic (mostly) cloak, rings and weapons
Gilded Thorium Cloak (385) 267 (ilevel 115)
Violet Signet of the Great Protector 392 (ilevel 130)
Ring of the Stalwart Protector 392
The Unbreakable Will 308
Total: 1359
Warrior/Paladin, 5/5 Thoughness: (10266 + 5930 + 1359) * 1.1 =
19311 armor (64.65% mitigation vs. L70)
With Defensive Stance: 68.19%
With Imp Righteous Fury: 66.77%
Death Knight DWing a second The Unbreakable Will, 5/5 Toughness and Frost Aura: (10266 + 1359 + 308) * 1.15 * 1.45 =
19898 armor (65.34% mitigation vs. L70)
Total Comments 4
Comments
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I thought DK's were supposed to tank with a 2H sword and would have 2H's itemized like [item]Unyielding Maul[/item] and other armor bearing 2Hs?Posted 08-14-2008 at 05:34 PM by Alent
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I went with DW itemization because it made it easier to keep all the various comparisons about "warrior/paladin vs DK with the same exact gear except the shield". Now because 1Hers get fewer stats than 2Hers, I gave the DK a second one since in theory they could equip it and get close to what armor could exist on an equivalent quality 2Her.
That said, the main reason DK tanks will likely prefer using a 2Her is to reduce the likelyhood of boss parry haste. DKs don't have an "on next swing" abilities such as Heroic Strike which benefits from fast weapon speed. In fact many of their special strikes are based on weapon damage, making a 2H a better choice for most specs.
Also with Blizzard trying to make as much loot as possible useable by multiple classes, 2Hers with tanking stats are probably going to be a rare oddity, if they make any at all.Posted 08-14-2008 at 06:12 PM by Armstrong - I think it's quite possible you'll see 2 handers that have stats that make it for many 2 hander classes but clearly best for a Death Knight.
An extreme example in TBC concering one handers is http://www.wowhead.com/?item=34164. I mean that really is a prot blade, however, technically there are no necessarily pure defensive stats on it. I think that will be the pattern of 2handers for Dks.
Pure defensive stats will be rare, especially in leveling to 70. It's likely you should be able to tank a regular 5 man with just a dps weapon. In raiding though, each raid instance will probably drop some tanking DK 2hander, either through trash drops and patterns to boss loot.
They were putting tanking stats on 2 handers long before they even did TBC, though. Looting this baby off a murloc in Southshore will have you scratching your level 30 head for a good long while http://www.wowhead.com/?item=13049#comments.Posted 08-14-2008 at 10:08 PM by SuperFlounder - Too early in the morning for me, but assuming that all block value and block rating gear (apart from shield) no longer exists and those stats budgets are converted into something else, does this make any difference or is it just that shields have a larger percentage of amour on than DKs get from talents?Posted 08-15-2008 at 01:23 AM by Shortypop
