Warrior Tank Stuffs

Rotation

We don’t have a skill rotation, just priorities: Shield Slam, Devastate, Revenge (for single target) or Thunderclap (for groups), Shockwave, Concussion Blow, then Heroic Strike if you have over 50 rage.

I like to keep Shield Slam, Thunderclap, Shockwave, Concussion Blow, and Shield Block on there cool downs as much as possible.

Base Stats

Stamina – this will determine how much health you have.  For every1 point of stamina you gain 10 health.  Its impossible to have too much health.  As a tank this is one of your most important stats.

Strength - The amount you have determines your Attack power and your block value.

For every 1 point of strength you have you gain 2 attack power.  The more attack power have the more damage Shield Slam, Shockwave, Thunder Clap, Revenge, and Concussion Blow.  All very valuable skills to a warrior tank.  Without AP these skills would generate very little threat.  The more strength you have the better. IE 1554 STR = 3088 AP

Don’t worry about block value at this point.  It will be removed in the Cataclysm expansion.  But if you are curious, block value determines how much of a hit will be blocked.  For every 2 points of strength you will get 1 block value. IE 1554 STR = 77 BV

Defense Rating

There is no defense cap just a minimum, this is a common misconception.  The goal of the defense rating is to be uncrittable.  At level 80 to only do heroics you’ll need a minimum of 535 defense rating to be uncrittable.  To raid at level 80 your defense rating must be a minimum of 540.  The reason is because the bosses of the raids and heroics are at different levels.  Heroic bosses are level 82 while raid bosses are at level 83.  Its acceptable to have more that the minimum but don’t gem or enchant for defense unless you are under the 540 minimum.

Hit/Expertise

You’ll want to aim for about 200 hit and at least 26 expertise to avoid being dodged.  Each time your attacks are missed, dodged, or parried your missing on good quality threat.  Keeping you expertise and at those levels will help avoid lost threat.

Gems

As for gems use the Austere Earthstorm Diamond for your meta socket.  It requires at least one red gem and 2 blue.

These are the only gems to be concerned with for the rest of your gear:

• Blue Sockets always use Solid Majestic Zircon
• Red Sockets you have 2 options.  If you are short of 26 expertise use Guardians Dreadstone.  If you have 26 or more Expertise use Regal Dreadstone or Shifting Ametrine.  The agi from the Shifting Ametrine will provide a little crit and armor increase.  1 AGI= 2 Armor and 1 AGI = .016 Crit
• Yellow Sockets usually I will put a Solid Majestic Zircon unless the bonus is worthwhile.  If the bonus is worthy of matching the socket then use a Enduring Eye of Zul.

You can choose to match all the socket colors or not.  I choose to only fulfill the socket bonuses that gave 9+ or more stamina.  Also never gem for straight hit, defense (unless you are under 540), or parry.

Enchants

Head
Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector

Shoulders
Inscription of the Greater Pinnacle (<540 Def)
Greater Inscription of the Gladiator (≥540 Def)

Back
Titanweave (<540 Def)
Mighty Armor (≥540 Def)

Chest
Greater Defense (<540 Def)
Super Health (≥540 Def)

Wrist
Major Stamina
Expertise (<26 Expertise)

Hands
Heavy Borean Armor Kit
Armsman (if your having threat problems)

Belt
Eternal Belt Buckle – Gem it according to what you need.  If you are above all the recommendations use the Solid Majestic Zircon

Legs
Frosthide Leg Armor

Feet
Enchant Boots – Tuskarr’s Vitality

Weapon – Personal preference really there is no clear cut winner
Enchant Weapon – Blood Draining
Enchant Weapon – Blade Ward
Mongoose
Titanium Weapon Chain

Shield
Enchant Shield – Defense (<540 Def)
Enchant Shield – Major Stamina (≥540 Def)

The head and shoulder enchants are rep items.  The head enchant is purchased from the Argent Crusade Quartermaster.  He is located just north of Dalaran at the Argent Vanguard.  you must be Revered with the Argent Crusade to purchase it.

One of the shoulder enchants is purchased from the Sons of Hodir quartermaster.  There are 2 versions one if you are revered with them and one if you are exalted with them.  If you need the defense make sure you get the correct one.

The other shoulder enchant is purchased from the Horde Expedition quartermaster.  He/she is located in the starting towns of Northrend.   You must be revered with them to purchase it.

Glyphs

There are a number of different combinations to use.  I use Revenge, Blocking and Shield Wall for my majors.  The way I look at it is a free heroic strike from the Revenge glyph is free threat.
Glyph of Blocking could potentially have a 100% up time giving you 10% more block rating (different than block value) for more mitigation.  As long as you are speced into Sword and Board, which you should be.  Just by spamming Revenge and Devastate you could proc Sword and Board.  It will give you a free Shield Slam and will in turn trigger the Glyph of Blocking.

The Shield Wall glyph is pretty self explanatory.  Without talent points or a glyph of Shield Wall will reduce 60% of all incoming damage for 12 seconds with a 5 minute cool down.  This glyph reduces the effectiveness and the cool down.

Some others to consider are Devastate, Cleaving ( only really useful for groups), and Last Stand.  Vigilance and Taunt are very situational.

The only Minors that are a must are useful are Bloodrage, Command, Charge and Thunder Clap.

* professions coming soon*

Links

Leveling a prot warrior – talent and glyph choices to level as a tank.

New Warrior Tanks – This is a pretty good run down to just about everything a warrior tank does.

Aggs Prot Warrior Guide – This is a good guide for gemming, enchanting, and also has a list of easy to get gear to start tanking heroics and raids.

Basic Prot build – this is a pretty basic build that includes the absolute essentials w/ glyphs.  I think this is the build I used when I hit 80.  Its provides a balance of threat and survivability without being too rage starved