Druid Tanking Resistance Gear List (Burning Crusade)

[Shadowwolf]

I found this on the forums, I thought I would post for all our Druid tanks since we are now working into bosses where Resistance to certain schools is highly important.

At least every other day there's a thread up here about the lack of resistance gear available to druids. There may not be anything that drops for us but there certainly is gear out there for the job. Druids can get some really nice resist sets, we may take 16% more damage but properly geared we will have at least 20-30% more HP than a warrior in resist gear. This may not make us preferable, but if spike damage is an issue it might be something to consider and it at least makes us viable resist tanks. We will require more healing, but are harder to kill in a short period of time.

If you look for the right stuff you should be able get 15-16,000 HP, 365 resistance (with appropriate buffs), uncrittable, and still have 15-20k AC for each set. I will include what I am using for each of my resist sets. Each of these sets can be gathered by mostly solo means, and though it may take some time and gold your guild will love you for doing it.

You may want to start by collecting Season 1 chest and shoulders and put Void Spheres in all sockets and 7 resists on the shoulders. These 2 items with Veteran's Dragonhide bracers alone will get you to uncrittable as well as provide some resists. The S1 or S2 Head piece would be a good idea to get too since for FR you cant use the S1 Chest you'll need to make up for the Resilience. Timelapse Shard (27 Stam/24 Resil trinket), Earthwarden, Veteran's Belt, or Resolute Cape (w/resist enchant) could also be considered. If you're willing to spend the gold get Darkmoon Card: Vengeance (Furies Deck) and/or Madness (Lunacy Deck) as well.

Arcane - 342 AR, 16,195 HP, Uncrittable

Head: Lvl 68 Arcane Protection green w/20 AR enchant
Neck: [item]Pendant of the Null Rune[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Cloak of Arcane Evasion[/item] w/15 AR enchant
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: [item]Enchanted Clefthoof Gloves[/item] w/ 8 AR kit (12 Stam gems)
Waist: [item]Belt of Natural Power[/item] (4 Agi 6 Stam gems)
Legs: [item]Enchanted Clefthoof Leggings[/item] w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit (12 Stam gems)
Feet: [item]Enchanted Clefthoof Boots[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (12 Stam gems)
Ring: [item]Ring of Arcane Shielding[/item]
Ring: [item]Violet Signet of the Great Protector[/item]
Trink: [item]Violet Badge[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

For AR you'll need to farm Primal Mana. There's a lot of craftable stuff for you to get, JCs, Tailors, Enchanters, and LWs will all help you. If you've been through Kara enough times you probably have a Violet Badge which is really handy since it can also be used as a Stam trinket for your other sets. Keep in mind that you need 340 AR, but only 295 of any other resist type.

Fire - 299 FR, 17,854 HP, Uncrittable

Head: [item]Merciless Gladiator's Dragonhide Helm[/item] 17 Str/16 Int enchant (18 Stam Meta)
Neck: [item]Amulet of the Torn-heart[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Gilded Thorium Cloak[/item] w/12 Agi enchant
Chest: [item]Inferno Hardened Chestguard[/item] w/150 HP enchant
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: [item]Inferno Hardened Gloves[/item] w/8 Stam kit
Waist: [item]Blastguard Belt[/item] (12 Stam gems)
Legs: [item]Inferno Hardened Leggings[/item] w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: [item]Inferno Hardened Boots[/item] w/12 Stam enchant
Ring: [item]Phoenix-fire Band[/item]
Ring: [item]Violet Signet of the Great Protector[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

For FR there is a set of gear available from the Heroic Badge reward vendor. All 4 pieces cost a total of 100 Badges. There's also some blue crafted pieces as an alternative option, the belt can be used with the Badge Rewards. There is a neck that you'll get from the Cipher of Damnation quest chain (also a craftable neck) and the ring comes from the Trials of the Naaru chain (also requires a Magtheridon kill)

Frost - 296 FrR, 15,933 HP. Uncrittable

Head: Lvl 70 Frost Protection green w/20 FrR enchant
Neck: [item]Pendant of Thawing[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Gilded Thorium Cloak[/item] w/12 Agi enchant
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: Lvl 66 Frost Protection blue w/8 FrR kit
Waist: Lvl 70 Frost Protection green
Legs: Lvl 68 Frost Protection green w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: Lvl 69 Frost Protection green w/12 Stam enchant
Ring: Lvl 70 Frost Protection green
Ring: [item]The Frozen Eye[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

I found FrR to be the hardest set to build. The S1 shoulders and chest There is a craftable neck and ring, other than that you'll have to scan the AH for high level Frost Protection greens. I try not to use anything below level 67 but sometimes it can be hard to find the right piece. Get the 20 FrR head enchant and use resist kits as needed to hit 295 unbuffed resists while using as few pieces as possible. Some people may go for the Naxx frost resist set, but due to its low stamina I would not recommend it.

Nature - 298 NR, 16,017 HP, Uncrittable

Head: Lvl 70 Nature Protection green w/20 NR enchant
Neck: [item]Pendant of Withering[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Gilded Thorium Cloak[/item] w/12 Agi enchant
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: Lvl 70 Nature Protection green w/8 NR kit
Waist: Lvl 70 Nature Protection green
Legs: Lvl 67 Nature Protection green w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: Lvl 67 Nature Protection green w/12 Stam enchant
Ring: Lvl 70 Nature Protection green
Ring: [item]The Natural Ward[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

S1 chest and shoulders, crafted neck and ring, the rest is going to be AH greens. Remember the head enchant and resist kits, try to find the highest level greens/blues as possible. The Eternium Prisons in Netherstorm can drop some nice resist pieces too.

Shadow - 296 SR, 16,184 HP, Uncrittable

Head: Lvl 67 Shadow Protection green w/20 SR enchant
Neck: [item]Pendant of Shadow's End[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Dark Cloak[/item] of Agility (from Eternium Prisons) w/15 SR enchant
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: Lvl 69 Shadow Protection green w/8 Stam kit
Waist: Lvl 70 Shadow Protection green
Legs: Lvl 69 Shadow Protection green w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: Lvl 68 Shadow Protection green w/12 Stam enchant
Ring: Lvl 70 Shadow Protection green
Ring: Lvl 70 Shadow Protection green
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

For SR, like FrR and NR you'll be almost completely reliant on AH greens and your S1 shoulders/chest and crafted neck until you're in Hyjal/BT. When you get there you'll need to farm Primal Shadow and Life to get your pieces crafted. Keep in mind there is the 15 SR cloak enchant which will help a great deal.

Hyjal/BT Shadow Set - 300 SR, ~16,700 HP, Uncrittable

Head: [item]Merciless Gladiator's Dragonhide Helm[/item] 17 Str/16 Int enchant (18 Stam Meta)
Neck: [item]Pendant of Shadow's End[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant
Back: [item]Night's End[/item] w/15 SR enchant (Void Spheres)
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: [item]Nordrassil Handgrips[/item] w/15 Agi enchant
Waist: [item]Redeemed Soul Cinch[/item]
Legs: [item]Redeemed Soul Legguards[/item] w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: [item]Redeemed Soul Moccasins[/item] w/8 SR kit
Ring: [item]A'dal's Signet of Defense[/item]
Ring: [item]Violet Signet of the Great Protector[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Pillar of Ferocity[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

Hydross Add Tanking - 127 NR/134 FrR, 16,353 HP, Uncrittable

Head: [item]Merciless Gladiator's Dragonhide Helm[/item] 17 Str/16 Int enchant (18 Stam Meta)
Neck: [item]Pendant of Withering[/item]
Shoulders: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Spaulders[/item] w/7 Resists enchant (Void Spheres)
Back: [item]Gilded Thorium Cloak[/item] w/12 Agi enchant
Chest: [item]Gladiator's Dragonhide Tunic[/item] w/15 Resilience enchant (Void Spheres)
Wrists: [item]Veteran's Dragonhide Bracers[/item] w/12 Stam enchant (4 Agi 6 Stam gem)
Hands: Hands: Lvl 66 Frost Protection blue w/8 FrR kit
Waist: [item]Belt of Natural Power[/item] (4 Agi 6 Stam gems)
Legs: Lvl 68 Frost Protection green w/40 Stam 12 Agi kit
Feet: Lvl 67 Nature Protection green w/12 Stam enchant
Ring: [item]The Frozen Eye[/item]
Ring: [item]The Natural Ward[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Madness[/item]
Trink: [item]Darkmoon Card: Vengeance[/item]
Weap: [item]Wildfury Greatstaff[/item] w/35 Agi enchant

The S1 Chest/Shoulders are especially nice for this since they are adding to both resist types you need. With them I use the Natural Ward and Frozen Eye with my Frost legs/gloves and Nature neck/boots. I also use Stam trinkets and the rest would just be normal tanking gear. With a Hunter and a Pally in the group this is about 200/200 resists with plenty of HP and uncrittable to boot. If you want more than 200/200 buffed you could switch out your bracers and belt for a nature and a frost piece.

[Arcdelad]

thanks shadow! good stuff...

[fiere redfern]

Wow, that's a great list - thanks tons, Shadow!