Unbearably HoT

With the impending Feral changes, Blizzard’s desire to homogenize the tanking crew, and unsolved itemization fears lurking sixty days out, I took comfort knowing that the armor I worked so hard for would provide a safety net. A week ago, however, MMO-Champion announced that Blizzard changed already existing Paladin and Warrior armor in beta to account for game mechanic changes. Soon after, I wrote up an article detailing why I thought similar changes would be devastating for the seemingly unrealized Feral Druid class. I perused the diatribe multiple times, decided it sounded too negative, even for me, and slid it to the side.

There’s no need to tell me the obvious: T6 won’t last forever. I don’t cling to any illusions that T6 will be viable for extended lengths of time, but even pre-BC endgame gear provided a substantial leg up into Burning Crusade content—well into Karazhan, in fact. Maybe not for Feral Druids. 

I hate to point out the obvious, but we used to function as primary tanks at Burning Crusade’s release. Once Blizzard discovered that Druids were occupying the coveted “main tank” position with enormous health pools as fresh 70s,  that Mangle was only slightly overpowered, and that they’d conveniently forgotten to scale Warrior’s threat generating abilities for Level 70, Druids were swiftly kicked back to #2. Our particular niche has always been a little indecisive, the subject of many tweaks, tunings, and nerfs, and once again, Blizzard has decided we need to move back to #1 (conveniently forgetting that Druids do MT much of Burning Crusade’s endgame content). Does that necessitate that we change our currently implemented gear as well?

Blizzard thinks so. I admittedly haven’t been on the PTR yet, but according to the WoW Forums, all bonus armor from Druid items has been removed. For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at the Heavy Clefthoof Vest we know and love for entry level tanking as it stands now:

Burning Crusade

Heavy Clefthoof Vest
Binds when equipped
Chest
500 Armor
+45 Stamina
Yellow Socket
Yellow Socket
Blue Socket
Socket Bonus: +4 Dodge Rating
Equip: Increases defense rating by 24. 

On the PTR:

Heavy Clefthoof Vest
Binds when equipped
Chest
290 Armor
+45 Stamina
Yellow Socket
Yellow Socket
Blue Socket
Socket Bonus: +4 Dodge Rating
Additional +15 Dodge Rating (not AGI, Dodge)

Defense rating becomes irrelevant. The change to Dodge Rating over Agility is less than obvious, but may be explained as the need to scale back a Druid’s ability to stack AGI like a champ and gain an extraordinary amount of defensive and offensive stats all at once. So why does WotLK gear stack AGI in spades then? Consider this:

At Level 70, Druids need approximately 19.5 AGI to equal 1% Dodge.
At Level 80, Druids need approximately 40.5 AGI to equal 1% Dodge. 

Potentially, straight up Dodge Rating might earn you more initial benefits (for avoidance) than a similar amount of AGI. Thus, our armor and AGI scaling will be much, much similar to a Warrior’s and a Paladin’s—but we’ll remain unable to Block and Parry. What does this have to do with the nerf to our Burning Crusade armor? I have a feeling that the developers will be forced to address the Block and Parry “issue” at some point in the near future, especially if they want to streamline tank classes. 

While I admit that a flat 12%-15% damage reduction (from Protector of the Pack) coupled with our current armor and avoidance would feel a tad overpowered (nevermind adding Natural Reaction into the equation), I’m still not convinced that 12%-15% equals the combined defensive stats of Block and Parry. Essentially, while Blizzard dicks around trying to balance tanks, we’re potentially sitting in gimped armor that we had hoped would get us through the rough spots. 

What does this mean for the upcoming content patch? Maybe nothing. Blizzard might not implement any itemization changes until Wrath actually goes live, and there will be absolutely zero to worry about (other than going down like a paper sack). What if the itemization changes and boss abilities remain the same? Say goodbye to tanking until WotLK. Worrisome? Perhaps, but how much tanking are you be planning on doing between mid October and early November? To be fair to Blizzard (for once) I can’t imagine that they’d implement those kinds of itemization changes pre WotLK and rob Bears of their raid slots. I think there’ll be enough chaos. 

Regardless, even changing our current armor stats day one in Wrath of the Lich King forces all Druids to start from scratch; there’s no familiarity territory to fall back on. I can only speculate what will replace the bonus armor and Defense rating on all my rings, necklaces, and trinkets—especially because Warriors and Paladins still use some similar items. Dodge rating? Agility? Expertise? The magical ability to Block and Parry attacks? I’d start reevaluating rings and trinkets especially, and consider replacing (NOT vendoring) standbys such as:

Rings (listed in order of easiest to obtain to most difficult):

A’dal’s Signet of Defense

Violet Signet of the Great Protector

Band of the Eternal Defender (great, if you want STA, an on-equip bonus, and a multitude of other stats that will be useless to you)

Ring of Hardened Resolve (the Expertise and STA is great, but the other stats are a waste)

Trinkets (listed in order of easiest to obtain to most difficult):

Badge of Tenacity

Shadowmoon Insignia (Defense rating, yes, but also Dodge rating and an on-use effect, which still make it useful)

with items bearing stats with a little more longevity (i.e. not just Defense rating and Bonus Armor):

Rings (listed in order of easiest to obtain to most difficult):

Ring of the Stalwart Protector (has Bonus Armor, but also Dodge and STA)

Band of the Eternal Champion (STA, AGI, AP—might want to go exchange your old one)

Band of the Abyssal Lord (has Defense Rating, but also STA and Hit Rating)

Stormrage Signet Ring (STA, Hit rating, AP, Armor Ignore)

Trinkets (listed in order of easiest to obtain to most difficult):

Shard of Contempt 

Commendation of Kael’thas

Moroes’ Lucky Pocket Watch

Steely Naaru Sliver

Many of you probably use some of the above items already, but for those folks who don’t make a point in stockpiling extra gear, you might want to start. Here’s to hoping that Blizzard has the foresight to slide some useful stats in there to fill in the gaps. 

Note: Supposedly the bonus armor is only being removed from leather items. If that’s the case, great! I still recommend getting ahold of any extra set pieces you can put your paws on, and remember that DEF rating will still be a (mostly) useless stat.