Ask a Rhino: Pre-Raid Tanking Gear

Today’s “Ask a Rhino” concerns what gear is available at the cap, before raiding. And now, without ventriloquism or further ado, we begin.

Mr. Ohta Rhino sir, I recently hit 80 and I was wondering what gear is available to me to improve pet tanking

Ohta: Northrend provides such a dizzying array of gear choices at 80, its hard to sort things out. So we need to make some assumptions to narrow things down to something manageable.

-First, we will exclude leather entirely. You have so many options with mail, there is no need to look at leather, but should you come across some, I wont stop you from using it.
-Second, Although you may be able to get into some raids, this list will be a strict pre-raid list
-Third, Priority is placed on Stamina, Hit rating, and Attack Power.
-Fourth, Everyone has a different playstyle, so items will be categorized by source, each category containing the top choices from that category.
-Fifth, Links are grouped at the end of each slot, and compare all items in the category in order that they appear. Links also contain T5 pieces for comparison.

We begin.

Head
BOE – Helm of the Broken Ram
Dungeon – King Dred’s Helm, Plunderer’s Helm, Headgaurd of Westrift
Crafted – Swiftarrow Helm, Truesight Ice Blinders
Reputation – Toothslice Helm
Badge – N/A
Quest – Helmet of Just Retribution
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Helms

Neck
BOE – Draconic Choker of Ferocity
Dungeon – Necklace of Arcane Spheres
Crafted – Jade Dagger Pendant, Titanium Impact Choker
Reputation – N/A
Badge – Pendant of the Outcast Hero
Quest – Severed Noose of Westwind, Choker of the Betrayer
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Amulets

Shoulders
BOE – Nixod’s Chain-Threshed Spaulders
Dungeon – Massive Spaulders of the Jormungar, Spaulders of the Abomination
Crafted – Virulent Spaulders
Reputation – Spaulders of the Black Arrow
Badge – N/A
Quest – Spaulders of Lost Secrets
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Spaulders

Back
BOE – Cloak of the Agile Mind
Dungeon – Cloak of the Gushing Wound
Crafted – Ice Striker’s Cloak
Reputation – Cloak of Holy Extermination
Badge – Hammerhead Sharkskin Cloak
Quest – Bloodbane Cloak, Shroud of Fluid Strokes
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Cloaks

Chest
BOE – Condor Bone Chestguard
Dungeon – Aviary Guardsman’s Hauberk, Hauberk of Arcane Wraith
Crafted – Razorstrike Breastplate
Reputation – Cuttlefish Scale Breastplate, Polished Regimental Hauberk
Badge – N/A
Quest – Gilded Ringmail Hauberk, Lightningbringer’s Hauberk
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Chestguards

Wrist
BOE – Bracers of Accurate Fire
Dungeon – Raging Construct Bands, Interwoven Scale Bracers
Crafted – Eaglebane Bracers, Giantmaim Bracers
Reputation – N/A
Badge – N/A
Quest – Iskalder’s Fate
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Bracers

Hands
BOE – N/A
Dungeon – Grips of the Beast God, Gauntlets of the Plundering Geist
Crafted – Swiftarrow Gauntlets
Reputation – N/A
Badge – N/A
Quest – Grips of Chronological Events
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Gauntlets

Waist
BOE – Girdle of Unerring Flight
Dungeon – Belt of Tasseled Lanterns, Sovereign’s Belt
Crafted – Swiftarrow Belt
Reputation – Giant Ring Belt
Badge – Vereesa’s Silver Chain Belt
Quest – Ranger’s Belt of the Fallen Empire
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Belts

Legs
BOE – N/A
Dungeon – Hollowed Mandible Legplates, Leggings of the Stone Halls
Crafted – Dark Frostscale Leggings, Giantmaim Legguards
Reputation – N/A
Badge – N/A
Quest – Jormungar Hide Legguards
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Leggings

Feet
BOE – Boots of the Terrestrial Guardian
Dungeon – Dragon Slayer’s Sabatons
Crafted – Dragonstompers
Reputation – Boots of Twinkling Stars
Badge – N/A
Quest – Husk Shard Sabatons
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Boots

Finger
BOE – Stained Glass Shard Ring, Signet of Edward the Odd
Dungeon – Mobius Band, Prospector’s Prize
Crafted – Savage Titanium Ring, Titanium Impact Band
Reputation – N/A
Badge – N/A
Purchasable – Band of the Kirin Tor
Quest – Frog Toe Band, Jagged Ice Band, Signet of Bridenbrad, Kurzel’s Rage
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Rings

Pocket? (Trinket)
BOE – N/A
Dungeon – Essence of Gossamer, Sphere of Red Dragon’s Blood
Crafted – Boar or Ruby Figurine (JC only)
Reputation – N/A
Badge – N/A
Quest – Fezzik’s Pocketwatch, Fury of the Encroaching Storm
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Trinkets

Melee Weapon
BOE – N/A
Dungeon – The Interrogator x 2
Crafted – Savage Cobalt Slicer x 2
Reputation – Whale-Stick Harpoon
Badge – N/A
Quest – Icier Barbed Spear
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Melee Weapons

Ranged Weapon
BOE – N/A
Dungeon – Drakkari Hunting Bow, Titanium Compound Bow
Crafted – N/A
Reputation – Sawed off Hand Cannon / Sin’dorei Recurve Bow
Badge – N/A
Quest – Polished Zombie Exterminator, Dragon Slayer’s Shortbow
Wowhead Item Comparison Tool – All Ranged Weapons

Phew, I’m out of breath. Next time, ask about something simple, eh?

Thanks for asking,
Ohta

If you have any questions for Ohta, email them to me!