So you want to DK tank?

[tipsytipsy]

So there's been some interest to tanking as a DK. As a DK tank for the past couple of months I'm here to present you a guide to DK tanking. Note that this guide is meant for 5 man runs and is by no means a guarantee to work in Raids 10-25 man.

First off gear. In Wrath, its easier than ever to hit the 540 Def cap. For a DK with a 2H weapon, you're soft cap with armor is 515. This is because DKs now have a rune sword ability that gives their weapon +25 defense. Not rating, just straight up Defense. As for gear, The tempered Saronite and Daunting sets are good places to start.

Tempered saronite helm +83 def rating (about 21 defense)
Tempered saronite shoulders +48 def rating (about 12 defense)
Tempered saronite breastplace +56 def rating (about 14 defense)
Tempered saronite Bracers +48 def rating (about 12 defense)
Tempered Saronite Belt +57 def rating (about 14 defense)
Tempered saronite boots +36 (about 9 defense)

Daunting Legplates +88 def rating (about 22 defense)
Daunting Handguards +71 def rating (about 17 defense)

Rune of the fallen Crusader <requires>(I think thats the name of it) +25 defense

This is a pretty good starting point for gear. All this, non-gemmed and not enchanted, SHOULD be about 540+ defense. Its all estimates at this point. Anyways, once you obtain these basic and easy to get commodities, you should focus on getting better pieces of gear. Here some easy pick ups from running dungeons:

Seal of the Pantheon- Trinket, +65 def rating. Getting this trinket will free up alot of space on primary armor and allow you to gear more towards stamina and dodge. This awesome trinket drops in Regular Halls of Lightning off of Loken.

Wyrmrest accord- These guys are loaded with great tanking rep reward gear. Get this reputation to revered as quickly as possible to take advantage of the upgrades here, especially at the cape slot.

Emblems- There's two really good pieces here but the more important one, Chained Military Gorget, should be bought as soon as you have 25 heroic emblems. This'll cover your Neck slot for all pre-naxx events. The other really good trink here is a Dodge trinket for 40 badges. Not a necessity but its nice to have.

Essence of Gossamer- Assuming you can beat H Azjol Nerub, This nice trinket is a massive boosts in hp (+111 stamina) and will help with mitigation of damage with its 2ndary passive effect.

Icebane set: If you're like me, you use the some of the Icebane gear for the rediculous amounts of health it grants you. Currently Manlaw only uses the Icebane boots, but at one point I was also sporting the Icebane belt (till I sacked too much defense off my other gear and had to pick up a defense belt to compensate)

Thats a quick guide to gear. Once you start running dungeons you'll begin to understand how to balance defense with other stats such as health, armor, and dodge.

On to Spec. This is actually not my place of expertise and I would HIGHLY recommend heading over to WOWhead.com and checking out the DK forums on tanking. With the 3.1 patch I've stayed with Frost spec but the immense disadvantages (such as the 8 sec CD on Howling Blast... which is annoying) are driving me towards possibly going unholy soon.

Even with my reluctance to stay frost, This is my current rotation.

For single mobs, such as bosses:

Taunt (no Death Grip here. no threat)
Icy Touch
Plague Strike
Blood Strike
Blood Strike
Obliterate
Obliterate
Frost Strike

You should proc Howling Blast whenever its up.

For multi mob pulls:

Death grip the ranged mob to you (If there are two ranged mobs, run up to the first one then DG the 2nd ranged one to you)

death and decay
Icy touch
Plague strike
Pestilence
Horn of Winter
Frost strike (if its up)
Howling Blast

Rinse and Repeat

Note that Horn of winter is in here because after pestilence, your runes will still be on CD. Plus Horn of winter gives you 10 runic power so why wouldn't you use it?

Anywayz thats all I have for now. I'll post more if I remember more. Have fun DK tanking