Cider's Easy 540 Defense Gear Guide

[CKaz]

These kinds of lists are invaluable for those of us coming back to the game after a period away.
[snip]
Thanks Cider. Your work is greatly appreciated.

Agreed - very useful for any tank just hitting 80, at any time.

I'm guessing I have a level 79 time-spent record myself
Got a bit carried away with jousting and WGs with my limited gametime

This is EXACTLY what I needed as go on the path to Heroic-Up, tyvm!

[CKaz]

Few updates in the thread and a few I haven't seen, summarizing here
[More for the recently levelling/levelled]

Head:
Tempered Saronite Helm - Item - World of Warcraft
The Crusader's Resolution - Item - World of Warcraft

Neck:
Chain of the Sovereign - Item - World of Warcraft

1H Weapon:
Argent Tournament 25 Champ Seals
Allies - Teldrassil Protector - Item - World of Warcraft
Horde - Axe of the Sen'jin Protector - Item - World of Warcraft
Just noting it may/or may not be worthwhile for you
+ Can start @level 78, - takes many days

Chest:
Regular UP quest with 74 Def (nice if you dont have Wyrm to Revered)
Silver-Plated Battlechest - Item - World of Warcraft

Trinkets: Dig into your bank, you may even be headed to Outland
Trinkets - Items - World of Warcraft

Rings: Same thing, you might have some already/can get started easily
Rings - Items - World of Warcraft

[taobok]

well hope this doesnt piss ya all off but i'm 20 points from def cap at lvl 79 and all i have is most of the crafted tempered saronite gear...check out my profile on armory...his name is skulldozer on darkspear/cyclone.

[CKaz]

...well its not really hard to get, at all. Just needs a bit of focus.
I'm 5 away and I don't have my Tournament Axe nor Titansteel shield yet.

Tempered Saronite is a good leg up but not the best equipment either.
e.g. I have a Green belt that's arguably better, but I'll get cap done first.

Couple things to note
- 20 defense is close to about 100 defense rating you need yet
- You'll 'lose' more defense (not defense rating) when you hit 80

I doubt you'll piss anyone off

[Gilfanon]

I just wanted to say that your guide is great, if a person comes here to find info on starting out I dont really think heroic gear listed is the way to go. Im new to tanking and your thread made it very nice for a warrior starting out to get the easiest gear to START into heroics with the right amount of defense rating, ty.

[Fusik]

Maybe I missed something but if the Def Cap is 535 for Heroics, and 540 for Raiding then why is our goal 689!

Great guide none the less and it's gonna help me but just wondering that part!

[Kazeyonoma]

689 is the defense RATING you need to get 540 Defense SKILL.

[Fusik]

Cool thanks for clearing that mate!

[Helldawg]

just curious i just hit 80 with my DK my Def rating is right at 528 how can i raise my def up with out losing some of my DPS in the process. Great post by the way very informative i have only been on WOW since the first of the year so im still learning and studying the game to become a better player.

[Kazeyonoma]

you have to survive the encounter before you worry about threat/dps.

You're gonna lose some DPS to gain tanking stability, then once you're at that baseline, you slowly upgrade your gear and work your way towards bigger and better numbers, both in survivability and in outgoing damage.

[Gugonix]

considering dk has stonskin gargoyle i used salive encrusted pike which has 132 stam,
and although it does little damage your diseases and dnd should keep threat while youe stam stack works a charm.

[Helldawg]

you have to survive the encounter before you worry about threat/dps.

You're gonna lose some DPS to gain tanking stability, then once you're at that baseline, you slowly upgrade your gear and work your way towards bigger and better numbers, both in survivability and in outgoing damage.

Tks for the info

[Tackytucks]

Great list. But don't some of the instances were the items drop, almost require this level of gear to run though. "Heroic" gear is almost the same as "easy 10 man" gear no? Sort of the chicken before the egg no?

[Influence]

I've had this opened for about 2 days now and i just broke 541 defense with help from this and redlite.
so i has to say thanks and gj