Am I Crazy For Stacking Hit In This Gear

[kelvin]

To Start here is my armory:
The World of Warcraft Armory

I am not wearing my Bracers of The Herald and I am going to get the Waistguard of Living Iron once I get 2 more emblems.

I noticed that my dps was low for a protection warrior tank despite having fairly good gear. It was in the 1100-1150 range normally. My hit was only 91 so I added a few enchantments to get it up to 148. I also added expertise to get it to 25 which I hear is an acceptable level. My dps is now in the 1250-1300 range.

I figured out I could get my hit up to 196 by swapping out some gems in my gear while only losing 12 stamina and 4 strength. I am wondering if it is worth stacking hit on the gear I have because most of it doesn't come with hit or if I should wait until my guild begins raiding naxx to see what I can get. I noticed the 2 pieces of emblem tier 7 don't have hit either though.

Also is the SB+40 worth it or should I just get the shield spike(I have another shield with heavy defense).

I have been reading the forums and trying to make the most sense of this. I thought getting some advice from the more seasoned warrior tanks would let me know the best way to go. Thanks for the help. Kelvin.

[Dreg]

what are you trying to do? heroics or 10 mans?

you're dps is decent for your gear right now, a fast weapon will increase dps a bit.

expertise> hit imo i don't have any numbers on that though. also the spike will be better for damage and threat than 40 sbv.

[kelvin]

So far I have just done heroics but, I would like to be prepared to do 10-mans once my guild is ready.

[Dreg]

if i were you, i would focus on living in your current gear. unless threat is an issue, then work around that 10 mans are easy mode and your dps is plenty to do it.

[Dunmail]

Given blocking was nerfed Pre-WOTLK with the timer being heavily extended you'll get more use out of the 40BV as that will count on all your shield slams, than the piddly damage boost from a spike when you are blocking.

Given tweaks to healing, and supposedly Naxx also being tweaked according to a blue on MMO, if you are defcapped, have decent exp/hit I'd personally make sure you have the basic survivability for job in hand, then look at this more seriously later when you've farmed some 10/25 gear. Not much point blowing cash on gear that will probably get upgraded, if it ain't broke and all that.

[Angry Grimace]

Shield Spike is good for level 78 when you need something cheap, not for heroics or 5 mans. Run 20 Def rating.

Be aware your DPS will vary wildly throughout a dungeon. For example in H-Nexus, I'll average 1500 DPS; but on a boss that stands perfectly still, i.e., Keristraza, I will pull 2350 on just her. DPS doesn't always mean something in a 5 man or 10 man because there are lots of times when you are in combat and unable to hit things; because you're a tank.

[kelvin]

Thank you for all the responses. I think I am going to stay with the gear I have for now. I got the belt last night and popped 2 +16 hit gems in it. I also got a nice pair of guantlets in a heroic last night. I think I will just upgrade my gear through drops, I know Heroic UP has a really nice sword so that's my next goal until raiding. With all the new gear in place this is how I stand

548 Defense
26011 Health
23577 Armor
31 Expertise
188 Hit

I spent all my money on gems though so I will have to wait on the Shield Block Buff, I am also having trouble finding players on my server to do it. I have +20 defense on my Titanium Shield which I carry as an alternative Shield.

[Rein]

You can free up about 5 expertise skill for other stats. Prob want to boost your stam and possibly your def rating since most 10man upgrades have less +def on them.

[kelvin]

Rein all my expertise is actually coming from my gear. I am not using any expertise gems or enchantments. I can still add +20 defense to the shield I am using now though. I am an enchanter so that is not a big deal. Would you recommend a +24 stamina gem in my helm over the one I have now which is +8 hit and +12 stamina?