I'm not understanding gear needed

[Aunstic]

Alright, so I have multiple questions in one. I understand that tank are obviously wanting to be defense stacked at max level, but what's the priority on weapons, shields, and gear while leveling as prot and at max level?

Someone suggested that stacking stamina while leveling is better than stacking defense which honestly confused me. That's basically the reason for questioning gear.

Main hand weapon: What's the priority on it while leveling and at 60? Speed > Damage while leveling and Dmg > Speed at 60? Assuming I need to quickly grab aggro during non-60 dungeons, a faster wep seems viable. Just not a dagger unless mobs die too fast to build rage.

Shield: +% block vs higher block stat. Which one would I want to get while leveling?

Any insight for leveling would be pretty nice. I got a main to basically gather enchants and BoEs for me so prot leveling isn't a big deal. I'm basically a masochist when it comes to grinding mobs though.

[Rhinzual30]

Alright, so I have multiple questions in one. I understand that tank are obviously wanting to be defense stacked at max level, but what's the priority on weapons, shields, and gear while leveling as prot and at max level?

Someone suggested that stacking stamina while leveling is better than stacking defense which honestly confused me. That's basically the reason for questioning gear.

Main hand weapon: What's the priority on it while leveling and at 60? Speed > Damage while leveling and Dmg > Speed at 60? Assuming I need to quickly grab aggro during non-60 dungeons, a faster wep seems viable. Just not a dagger unless mobs die too fast to build rage.

Shield: +% block vs higher block stat. Which one would I want to get while leveling?

Any insight for leveling would be pretty nice. I got a main to basically gather enchants and BoEs for me so prot leveling isn't a big deal. I'm basically a masochist when it comes to grinding mobs though.

You don't really need to stack a lot of +defense while leveling, but the extra hp from Stamina is far more useful. It's only when you hit the endgame dungeons and raids that you'll need to stack defense to avoid those crushing blows and monstrous critical hits. If you get +defense on gear that's part of it by default, then cool, just don't put any +defense enchantments on it while leveling unless it's an outdated piece of gear and if that's the case, you've got bigger problems.

[DEDRICK]

Avoidance number possiblities are so low before 60 that it is better to focus on HP and Armor while leveling. You're going to get hit, a lot, so you need stam and armor to mitigate that. Any mail/plate "of the Bear"
Imperial Plate set is great if you can craft it or get someone to craft it, you can start wearing some of the pieces around 47/49, but most are 54-56.

Around this time though you will also have some defence gear coming in too

[Antipatra]

Keep in mind that it takes 25 defense to equal 1%.

If you're dual wielding, most warriors seem to go with a slow main hand and a fast off hand. This lets your off hand poke for dodges that you are penalized with for dual wielding (in that inherent miss chance), which then can be turned into a free hit using Overpower.

I typically ignore most bonuses to Shields. Higher # of blocks and higher armor, along with whatever applicable stats, like stamina, that it comes with are all that matter to me. The # of blocks, and correct me if I'm wrong, I think is the amount of blocks you are capable of performing during a single encounter. Any place that this matters (like instances where you're tanking), you are most likely hitting the cap with just your bonus to blocking in the protection tree. It may be more important for raiding, but it has been too long.

[Elvira]

Speed for a weapon is very important in end-game tanking, which is why Alcors>Finkles>>everything else.

Some warriors say different things for everything but def cap is pretty important to have and typically the number one priority in end-game for now.

[Armilus]

Keep in mind that it takes 25 defense to equal 1%.

If you're dual wielding, most warriors seem to go with a slow main hand and a fast off hand. This lets your off hand poke for dodges that you are penalized with for dual wielding (in that inherent miss chance), which then can be turned into a free hit using Overpower.

I typically ignore most bonuses to Shields. Higher # of blocks and higher armor, along with whatever applicable stats, like stamina, that it comes with are all that matter to me. The # of blocks, and correct me if I'm wrong, I think is the amount of blocks you are capable of performing during a single encounter. Any place that this matters (like instances where you're tanking), you are most likely hitting the cap with just your bonus to blocking in the protection tree. It may be more important for raiding, but it has been too long.

There is no such thing as a cap on the number of blocks per encounter. The only stats that effect block are block chance (show as X%), which increases your chance to block and Block value (shown as Block # or Increases Block Value by #) which increases the amount of damage blocked.

When you are leveling, you do not need to worry about block chance or block value at all. If you are using a shield, go for the highest armor/stam available.

Leveling as prot is basically insane. You will level MUCH faster as arms or fury and still be able to tank any instances by putting on your shield. Keep any pieces of gear that have high armor/stam on them, put these on when you are tanking an instance. While you are questing or solo, use gear that has strength and stam.

The most important item while leveling is your weapon. Try to keep it up to date as much as possible and it is worth spending a fair bit on good blue weapons from the AH. Just make sure you are buying weapons that are current. Don't buy a level 34 two handed axe at level 40.

[Rhinzual30]

Keep in mind that it takes 25 defense to equal 1%.

If you're dual wielding, most warriors seem to go with a slow main hand and a fast off hand. This lets your off hand poke for dodges that you are penalized with for dual wielding (in that inherent miss chance), which then can be turned into a free hit using Overpower.

I typically ignore most bonuses to Shields. Higher # of blocks and higher armor, along with whatever applicable stats, like stamina, that it comes with are all that matter to me. The # of blocks, and correct me if I'm wrong, I think is the amount of blocks you are capable of performing during a single encounter. Any place that this matters (like instances where you're tanking), you are most likely hitting the cap with just your bonus to blocking in the protection tree. It may be more important for raiding, but it has been too long.

There is no such thing as a cap on the number of blocks per encounter. The only stats that effect block are block chance (show as X%), which increases your chance to block and Block value (shown as Block # or Increases Block Value by #) which increases the amount of damage blocked.

When you are leveling, you do not need to worry about block chance or block value at all. If you are using a shield, go for the highest armor/stam available.

Leveling as prot is basically insane. You will level MUCH faster as arms or fury and still be able to tank any instances by putting on your shield. Keep any pieces of gear that have high armor/stam on them, put these on when you are tanking an instance. While you are questing or solo, use gear that has strength and stam.

The most important item while leveling is your weapon. Try to keep it up to date as much as possible and it is worth spending a fair bit on good blue weapons from the AH. Just make sure you are buying weapons that are current. Don't buy a level 34 two handed axe at level 40.

Are you calling me insane?

[Aunstic]

Just gonna read the incoming replies now. Thanks for all the good advice and answering my questions.

[riq and snog]

Your best bet is to keep your weapon always up to date when itt comes to warrior lvling.
Since you are a selfstated masochist and want to lvl in prot get all gear with stamina.
Def rating etc is not available enough on pre 60 gearz to make a difference so no point in keeping it over stamina.
I also advise you to spec into piercing howl(11 fury) in order to have the aoe kite when charge pull adds more then u can:-):-)
Also dont use rend or thunderclap when solo just spam heroic strike.
Actually never use rend its just fail...

Tanking tipps in dungeons:
- mark targets, skull. X . Cc star or moon or whatever
- Range pull+ bloodrage> charge when u have noob grp:-)
- Charge when u have good grp
- Sunder tab sunder tab sunder tab heroic thunderclap demo shout/ piercing howl for fleeing mobs
- at bossfights use shieldblock etc
- Have fun
- Tanking works best with weed for me im superfast then:-)
-

[Armilus]

Are you calling me insane?

Basically insane.

Depends on your goals. I knew a guy in retail that level a rogue to 40 without wearing any armor or using any weapons. That was absolutely 100% insane, but also kind of awesome and he had fun doing it.

So ya, I'm calling you insane but don't take it the wrong way

If you want to take forever leveling by just tanking dungeons the whole time, power to you. I would have way more fun leveling that way as well but it would take me 8+ months to hit 60 and I'm here for end-game.