Tanking 3.3.5 PVE

2019.02.21

Introduction

Tank death knight is a must have for 10man and 25man! You can have many variations of talents and can use even other specs, depending on your gear, content and boss fight, and of course your preferences. Blood is the strongest tanking spec in the last content with the last patch, but frost can have it's advantages on fights like Sindragosa against her massive frost damage, feel free to make talent variations, but I am going to show a couple of talents that I find useful.

Talents

Talent 1.

- This is the main talent you should usually use. great aggro, great damage and great survivability.

Talent 2.

- This talent can be useful in 10man raids when you don't have anyone to give +20% melee haste, but don't use it in any other case. The important thing here is the +20 haste, I personally hate this spec.

Talent 3.

- This talent have great defensives with good aggro! I recommend to use this or the 1st talent.

Talent 4.

- This talent is only useful if you solo tank on Sindragosa 25hc or 10hc with resist gear, you can be really resistent against frost damage. It is a two-handed spec to avoid the parry-haste mechanic on the boss. It's around 950+ frost resi with the talent 3stacks (Acclimation), full frost resi gear, flask, buffs, auras and you can even add the Onyxia resistance ring as well. There is no resistance cap in wotlk (there was in TBC), it is just worth less the more you have. With aura mastery 1000+ frost resistance.

Glyphs

1. Major

- Glyph of Dark Command Increases the chance for your Dark Command ability to work successfully by 8%.

- Glyph of Vampiric Blood Increases the duration of your Vampiric Blood by 5 sec. (Glyph of Unbreakable Armor Increases the total armor granted by Unbreakable Armor to 30%. for frost)

- Glyph of Disease Your Pestilence ability now refreshes disease durations and secondary effects of diseases on your primary target back to their maximum duration.

2. Minor

- Glyph of Pestilence Increases the radius of your Pestilence effect by 5 yards.

- Glyph of Raise Dead Your Raise Dead spell no longer requires a reagent.

- Glyph of Blood Tap Your Blood Tap no longer causes damage to you.

Stat Priorities

1. Defense Cap 540

2. 8% hit (7% with draenei)

3. Expertise cap, needed versus parry-haste bosses (Halion,Sindragosa)

4. Armor/Stamina Get extra armor gear and armor enchantments, after that stamina above all

5. Agility / Strength / Parry / Dodge :

- Agility gives you armor

- Strength gives you parry and damage for more threat

- Parry / Dodge avoidance

Gems

Meta: Austere Earthsiege Diamond +32 Stamina and 2% Increased Armor Value from Items

Red: Guardian's Dreadstone +10expertise +15 stamina, this is the best usually to have your expertise cap
  Shifting Dreadstone +10 agility +15 stamina
  Regal Dreadstone +10 dodge +15 stamina
  Defender's Dreadstone +10 parry +15 stamine
Generally you would use only the Guardian's Dreadstone +10 expertise +15 stamina then filling other sockets with Solid Majestic Zircon +30 stamina

Blue: Solid Majestic Zircon +30 stamina

Yellow: Solid Majestic Zircon +30 stamina
Unless you need defense or hit for your caps.

Professions
More stamina and armor!

1. Jewelcrafting 3 big gems, +63 stamina

2. Engineering +885 armor hands enchant, 885-240 = +645 armor

3. Leatherworking +62 stamina

3. Blacksmithing +60 stamina

4. Mining, Enchanting +60 Stamina

Enchants

Head - Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector +37 stamina +20 defense

Shoulders - Greater Inscription of the Gladiator +30 stamina +15 resilience
Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle +20 dodge +15 defense

Cloak - Mighty Armor +225 armor