Help a DK noob!

[darsynia]

So I have created a DK (gasp, really? But Qisa, your subject line told them that already!), and I'm really tempted to go tank, for many reasons. I am having a heck of a time finding good online guides and the like, though! It's a mixed blessing, because so much has changed and I don't have to worry about incorrect information, but I also have

Comments

[sorcha_ruel]

Hmm I dunno, i have 2 DKs and not sure if my set up is out of date or not. Buuut, my 66 is blood/unholy and I basically tank 99% of the time. Love it. My 80 is basically my inscription wench and she's unholy. I use 2-handers on both of them but I'm not sure if that's the way these days so I'll be looking for advice too I guess, lol.

Other than Deathgripping when you're not the tank there are no DK-specific annoying things that I can think of.

Um, other advice... get something other than starter gear before you tank UK. Nothing I hate more on my healers than the 68 DK with no tank gear who thinks UK will be a breeze.

[happeningtolife]

I think you'll be fine as Blood going through the starter zone. It doesn't make a HUGE difference at the lower talent point levels. I have 5 dks spread across different servers, and most of them are frost. But aaanyway.

Um, so yeah. I have a 67 frost/blood dual-specced dk. I've started tanking on her but I am kinda pissed that she doesn't get to use Howling Blast in Blood spec. I miss frost tanking... because Blood Boil is currently a Blood dk tank's only "snap AOE" ability and it's an ability that ALL death knights get. Pet peeve that Blood dks don't have, y'know, a special tanking AOE, like frost dks have Howling Blast. But anyway, /rant, haha. >_<

Pet peeves for dk tanks... umm... not wearing proper gear? Haha... that one really bugs me. You'll be fine in the dk starter gear for quite a few levels (I LOVE that the starting gear is compiled of all blue gear!!), but do NOT EVER equip anything that has spell power (it does nothing for you except make you look stupid >_<), intellect (same - obvs :P), or spirit. Oh right,

[majinoverdrive]

[rowanf]

Don't start tanking until 60 when you get Death & Decay. Then have a blast tanking to 80 (now perhaps 85 though I don't have any DKs there yet).

My biggest beef was that I was a great tank until I hit 80 and then getting geared up to keep tanking made me be dps because I just could not get enough health so that healers didn't drop when they saw me. DKs just don't get the health and mitigation stats that, say, a warrior does. (My warrior at 80 had half again the health of my DKs and at 85 he is still tanking just fine. Part of it is the huge armour & stat buff of the shield vs the DK's two-hander.)

I love DK tanking though I am still getting used to blood. With blood being easier to heal will help with the losing healers part. Rune of the Stoneskin Gargoyle is awesomesauce.

[divinite]

I agree with don't start tanking until you get DnD at 60. However, on the same note, learn how and when to use it! You won't have any problems through WotLK content, but as soon as you hit Cata you need to be very careful not to break the CC! It's a good habit to get into while leveling (even though instances don't really need it till Cata ones), but that's one of my biggest pet peeves from any tanking class. Don't break my CC damnit! This is why you wait for CCs then death grip any remaining caster to you so you're far enough away from the CC mobs not to break it with DnD or BB.

If you haven't tanked before, just the general stuff: pay attention to your cool-downs (learn how and when to use them), proper gear, pick up what you can with dodge/parry. At 70, pick up the Cobalt set. It's great for tanking and not that expensive to make. Be mindful of your healers mana (and the dps to a lesser extent).