Post by Thror
Jondare, the last two are exploits, not "handy tricks". Recommending exploits to newbie tanks is not very wise. It is much better when they get through the content the normal, mildly difficult way. Simplifying everything to the point of "just AoE/tank&spank everything then" might make them suck at raid tanking.
Iralima, props to you for the awesome guide. I noticed you highlight leather drops too! Makes my druid heart happy. If i may, though, there are a few rather decent items that you left out. Not like they cant be replaced by far far better epix for emblems, but you already listed most of the tanking ilvl 200 blues, so...
Bindings of the Tunneler - Utgarde keep second boss. Best pre-raid (or pre-craft, meh) tanking bracers for a feral druid.
Mask of the Watcher - Oculus, drops off Ley Guardian Eregos. A very decent tanking helmet, back in the times it has only been beaten by the T7 and the ultimate leather helmet from Naxx 25.
You mentioned The Black Heart (normal drop) next to ToC heroic. I think you should mention the
back and
shield that drop in Hallf o Reflection (normal) in the same fashion. The shield is the best shield you can get outside of a raid, and the back can only be replaced by the expensive back for emblems of frost (by tanks that do not attend to raids).
A few additional tips that came to my mind:
-On Herold Volazj, it is good to ask the party members to stack on the tank (you). On all of my tanking chars (druid, pally, DK), when the party does this, i can get rid of my set of clones within 4-6 globals. Tanks have powerful AoE. Paladins Avenger Shield + Hammer of the Righteous, DKs Howling Blast, or Druids Maul. Do i need to say more? Warriors would also get the greatest effect from Shockwaving.
-On Mal Ganis. If there are any DKs in the group, tell them to NOT pop Army on that boss. I know, that should be said for every single boss with a frontal cone attack, but popping Army on MalGanis seems to be the new black these days. Ive definitely seen it at least 10 times already >_>
-On every boss that switches phases and keeps his threat table, warriors might be able to
Intervene any DPS that are getting too close to them in aggro. To reduce their threat. It might work on bosses like the Black Knight or Ingvar. I have not tested this yet, i had that idea some time ago... and i just recently got Intervene on my low lvl warrior and didnt try yet.
-On Gal'darah ... if the tank is not very well geared, or if the healer is not very good, the tank should definitely run away from his Whirlwind... it stacks a rather nasty DoT. Sure better geared tanks can totally ignore it, but i have seen a bunch of people die there.
-It could be mentioned next to the trash in Nexus, the Alliance/Horde hallway... after the Berserk knockbacks, the melee DPS will pull the other group 99% of the times. It is also very likely that someone will pull new groups after a fear. Tanks should be on the lookout for newcomming mobs in this passage, and always ready to start aggroing a new group.
-On Keristrasza, a paladin can get rid of chains by Hand of Freedom or Cleanse. A druid can shift out of bear and back into bear to get rid of the chains of ice (can be done very fast by doubleclicking the bear button. you never eat a large hit while doing this, zero danger). A little tip for Rage based tanks. Keristrasza hits like a pussy. You do not get a whole lot of rage, you might have trouble holding aggro even. Do not jump at all, let the DoT stack up. It is extremely easy to heal through, and will provide you with extra rage.
-On Krystallus: Do not panic when the entire party dies xD. Theres plenty of stories of tanks being the only survivor on this boss and soloing him no problem, and i have done that a couple times myself.
-On Ingvar: You can run from his Smash while he casts it. When he starts casting, strafe a few steps left or right. After he finishes casting, he will stand still for a second or so, and you can strafe back to your original spot before he even moves, so you do not even have to turn him around while doing this maneuver. Needs some practice to pull of well. In the second phase, you can still strafe away to avoid most of the damage dealt by his Shadow Smash, but you will also get knocked back even if you do avoid it, so you will not manage to come to him while he stands still. Its better to not move at all in P2, so you do not move the boss redundantly.
Anyway, thanks a lot again for this awesome guide. Wish i could point my friends to this thread, if only they spoke english at least half as well as i do. I wonder, would you mind if i translated this guide into my language (slovak) and posted it somewhere on my guilds forums or so? I would credit you and include a link to this thread of course.