I am trying to figure out where to look for an upgrade to The Black Heart . I am currently running with that and the Corroded Skeleton Key . I main tank ICC10, we have not cleared ...
As some of the other posters have said, get your Defense cap up first. Defense cap does not directly affect how often you are hit, it directly affects being hit by a critical hit. ...
I am trying to figure out where to look for an upgrade to The Black Heart. I am currently running with that and the Corroded Skeleton Key. I main tank ICC10, we have not cleared to the Lich King yet and I don't do 25 mans, though I have been considering trying to jump in some pugs for ToC25 man.
As some of the other posters have said, get your Defense cap up first. Defense cap does not directly affect how often you are hit, it directly affects being hit by a critical hit. Crits are what will kill you faster than anything else. Once you are at 535 Defense, start doing heroics. If you are doing regular ICC5, you can probably already tank most of the heroics other than H ToC and H ICC5. Here is a fairly concise list of pre-raid gear for Prot pallies
Here is a basic strategy for gearing that I use in the prot pally guide for my guild.
Heroics: 535 Defense At least 25k health unbuffed Defense > Dodge = Parry > Block Gems: Stamina > Defense > Dodge = Parry*
Raids (i.e. starting Naxx): 540 Defense 29K Health unbuffed Defense > Dodge = Parry > Block Gems: Stamina > Defense > Dodge = Parry* When you get to ICC raids, just stack stamina while maintaining a 540 Defense. Anything else is bonus.
Heroics are becoming really elitist these days, if they see someone with less than a 4K GS(according to the GS addon, not WOW-Heroes) they get fussy. I have seen people laughing at new toons with less than 1500K dps (which is really all that is needed). The truth is, Heroics (except ToC and ICC5) don't have huge gear requirements. As long as you follow what I posted above you will be fine, despite what trolls may try to say.
