!! 4.0.1 tanking guide coming soon...
!! Videos
!!! Tank Spot's guide to Feral Tanking Threat Rotation
{video:url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HciHmfncLc0,type=youtube,width=605,height=350}
Mechanics of Feral Tanks
Bears rely heavily on large health pools, dodge, armor, and absorption. Basically, we're tough and meaty; we can suck up hits that make the tin-can tanks cry, and not even blink at them.
Mastery
Bears make use of a passive feral skill called [url:Savage Defense|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=62600], which absorbs 35% of the next physical attack. Each point of Mastery adds 4% damage absorption to Savage Defense.
Stats
Agility - Grants dodge, crit, and AP, all in one nice tidy package.
Critical strike - Increases your damage, giving you better threat per rage. More importantly, every crit has a 50% chance of proccing Savage Defense.
Dodge - On its own, or via Agility, allows you to dodge incoming hits entirely.
Expertise rating - Counters the target's dodge and parry. The cap for both is currently 26 points, or 780 rating.
Haste - Increases melee swing speed, more chances for critical strikes and other hit-based procs.
Hit rating - Counters misses. Melee hit cap is currently 8%. Blizzard plans to scale this upward with higher bosses, requiring more hit to cap.
Mastery - Buffs Savage Defense by 4% per point, increasing damage absorption.
Stamina - Health.
Strength - 2 AP per point. It's not typically a stat to choose for, but bears may have to consider it on non-leather tanking gear.
Talent Builds
[url:Level 80 build|http://www.wowhead.com/talent#0ZfMGbRubzrck0c:q0r]
[url:Level 85 build|http://www.wowhead.com/talent#0ZfMGbkubzrckMcu:q0r]
Talent Discussion
On the level 85 build, you get basically everything you want to get, minus one point. In the build above I've shorted Stampede. It's fully possible to pull that point from somewhere else depending on the need of the moment, and your gear and skills. You might want to look at Fury Swipes or Feral Aggression to be short on, or Perseverance (Resto tree) if you're not expecting magic damage.
Predatory Strikes, Nurturing Instinct, and Blood in the Water are all cat talents.
King of the Jungle and Primal Madness are sub-optimal for PvE tanking. Enrage is not safe for a bear to use in combat without the 4T10 set bonus, and the remaining use of Primal Madness is very small.
Prime Glyphs
[url:Berserk|http://www.wowhead.com/item=45601]
[url:Lacerate|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67484]
[url:Mangle|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40900]
Major Glyphs
[url:Faerie Fire|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67485]
[url:Feral Charge|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67486]
[url:Frenzied Regeneration|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40896]
[url:Maul|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40897]
Minor Glyphs
[url:Challenging Roar|http://www.wowhead.com/item=43334]
Meta Gems
[url:Austere|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52294]
[url:Fleet|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52289]
JC Gems
[url:Solid Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52261]
[url:Fractured Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52269]
[url:Precise Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52260]
Best non-JC Gems
[url:Shifting Demonseye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52238]
[url:Adept Ember Topaz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52204]
[url:Puissant Dream Emerald|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52231]
[url:Regal Dream Emerald|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52233]
Second-choice Gems
[url:Solid Ocean Sapphire|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52242]
[url:Delicate Inferno Ruby|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52212]
[url:Fractured Amberjewel|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52219]
[url:Keen Ember Topaz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52224]
Economy Gems
Perfect Shifting Nightstone
[url:Shifting Nightstone|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52096]
Perfect Adept Hessonite
[url:Adept Hessonite|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52115]
Perfect Puissant Jasper
[url:Puissant Jasper|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52126]
Perfect Regal Jasper
[url:Regal Jasper|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52119]
Enchants
Head
[url:Arcanum of the Earthen Ring|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62366] Earthen Ring (revered)
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
Shoulders
[url:Inscription of the Earth Prince|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=86402] Inscription only
[url:Swiftsteel Inscription|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=86375] Inscription Only
[url:Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62333] Therazane (exalted)
[url:Lesser Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62321] Therazane (honored)
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
Back
[url:Protection|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74234]
[url:Swordguard Embroidery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=75178] Tailoring only
[url:Greater Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74247]
[url:Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74230]
[url:Major Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=60663]
Chest
[url:Greater Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74251]
[url:Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74200]
[url:Peerless Stats|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74250]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
[url:Mighty Stats|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74191]
Wrists
[url:Draconic Embossment - Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85007] Leatherworking only
[url:Draconic Embossment - Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85008] Leatherworking only
[url:Greater Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74248]
[url:Greater Speed|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74256]
[url:Dodge|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74229]
[url:Precision|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74232]
[url:Greater Expertise|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74239]
[url:Major Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=62256]
Hands
[url:Quickflip Deflection Plates|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=82177] Engineering only
[url:Greater Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74255]
[url:Greater Expertise|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74220]
[url:Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74132]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
Waist
[url:Grounded Plasma Shield|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=84427] Engineering only - beware of side effects
Legs
[url:Charscale Leg Reinforcements|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85068] Leatherworking only
[url:Charscale Leg Armor|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56551]
[url:Twilight Leg Armor|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56503]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
Feet
[url:Assassin's Step|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74252]
[url:Lavawalker|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74253]
[url:Major Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74213]
[url:Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74238]
[url:Earthen Vitality|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74189]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
Finger
[url:Greater Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74218] Enchanting only
[url:Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74216] Enchanting only
Rotation
[url:Analysis|http://elitistjerks.com/f73/t105117-cataclysm_bear_theorycraft/p2/#post1798250] by Astrylian, founder of Rawr.
[url:Analysis of the analysis|http://eaoexcursions.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/bear-rotations-at-level-85/] by Eao.
An actual rotation will likely have to wait for experience at endgame. However, the basic priority list:
Mangle
Demoralizing Roar if needed
Lacerate
Thrash
Pulverize with 3 stacks of Lacerate
Feral Faerie Fire
Lacerate is the main filler. Maul is used when you have rage to spare and a bleed on the target(s) from Lacerate or Thrash.
Sources
[url:Eao's Excursions|http://eaoexcursions.wordpress.com]
_Coming soon: This, but prettier and more complete-ish_
|
!! Mechanics of Feral Tanks
Bears rely heavily on large health pools, dodge, armor, and absorption. Basically, we're tough and meaty; we can suck up hits that make the tin-can tanks cry, and not even blink at them.
!! Mastery
Bears make use of a passive feral skill called [url:Savage Defense|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=62600], which absorbs 35% of the next physical attack. Each point of Mastery adds 4% damage absorption to Savage Defense.
!! Stats
* Agility - Grants dodge, crit, and AP, all in one nice tidy package.
* Critical strike - Increases your damage, giving you better threat per rage. More importantly, every crit has a 50% chance of proccing Savage Defense.
* Dodge - On its own, or via Agility, allows you to dodge incoming hits entirely.
* Expertise rating - Counters the target's dodge and parry. The cap for both is currently 26 points, or 780 rating.
* Haste - Increases melee swing speed, more chances for critical strikes and other hit-based procs.
* Hit rating - Counters misses. Melee hit cap is currently 8%. Blizzard plans to scale this upward with higher bosses, requiring more hit to cap.
* Mastery - Buffs Savage Defense by 4% per point, increasing damage absorption.
* Stamina - Health.
* Strength - 2 AP per point. It's not typically a stat to choose for, but bears may have to consider it on non-leather tanking gear.
!! Talent Builds
[url:Level 80 build|http://www.wowhead.com/talent#0ZfMGbRubzrck0c:q0r]
[url:Level 85 build|http://www.wowhead.com/talent#0ZfMGbkubzrckMcu:q0r]
!! Talent Discussion
On the level 85 build, you get basically everything you want to get, minus one point. In the build above I've shorted Stampede. It's fully possible to pull that point from somewhere else depending on the need of the moment, and your gear and skills. You might want to look at Fury Swipes or Feral Aggression to be short on, or Perseverance (Resto tree) if you're not expecting magic damage.
Predatory Strikes, Nurturing Instinct, and Blood in the Water are all cat talents.
King of the Jungle and Primal Madness are sub-optimal for PvE tanking. Enrage is not safe for a bear to use in combat without the 4T10 set bonus, and the remaining use of Primal Madness is very small.
!! Prime Glyphs
[url:Berserk|http://www.wowhead.com/item=45601]
[url:Lacerate|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67484]
[url:Mangle|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40900]
!! Major Glyphs
[url:Faerie Fire|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67485]
[url:Feral Charge|http://www.wowhead.com/item=67486]
[url:Frenzied Regeneration|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40896]
[url:Maul|http://www.wowhead.com/item=40897]
!! Minor Glyphs
[url:Challenging Roar|http://www.wowhead.com/item=43334]
!! Meta Gems
[url:Austere|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52294]
[url:Fleet|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52289]
!! JC Gems
[url:Solid Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52261]
[url:Fractured Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52269]
[url:Precise Chimera's Eye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52260]
!! Best non-JC Gems
[url:Shifting Demonseye|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52238]
[url:Adept Ember Topaz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52204]
[url:Puissant Dream Emerald|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52231]
[url:Regal Dream Emerald|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52233]
!! Second-choice Gems
[url:Solid Ocean Sapphire|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52242]
[url:Delicate Inferno Ruby|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52212]
[url:Fractured Amberjewel|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52219]
[url:Keen Ember Topaz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52224]
!! Economy Gems
Perfect Shifting Nightstone
[url:Shifting Nightstone|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52096]
Perfect Adept Hessonite
[url:Adept Hessonite|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52115]
Perfect Puissant Jasper
[url:Puissant Jasper|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52126]
Perfect Regal Jasper
[url:Regal Jasper|http://www.wowhead.com/item=52119]
!! Enchants
* Head
[url:Arcanum of the Earthen Ring|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62366] Earthen Ring (revered)
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
* Shoulders
[url:Inscription of the Earth Prince|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=86402] Inscription only
[url:Swiftsteel Inscription|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=86375] Inscription Only
[url:Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62333] Therazane (exalted)
[url:Lesser Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz|http://www.wowhead.com/item=62321] Therazane (honored)
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
* Back
[url:Protection|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74234]
[url:Swordguard Embroidery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=75178] Tailoring only
[url:Greater Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74247]
[url:Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74230]
[url:Major Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=60663]
* Chest
[url:Greater Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74251]
[url:Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74200]
[url:Peerless Stats|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74250]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
[url:Mighty Stats|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74191]
* Wrists
[url:Draconic Embossment - Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85007] Leatherworking only
[url:Draconic Embossment - Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85008] Leatherworking only
[url:Greater Critical Strike|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74248]
[url:Greater Speed|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74256]
[url:Dodge|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74229]
[url:Precision|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74232]
[url:Greater Expertise|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74239]
[url:Major Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=62256]
* Hands
[url:Quickflip Deflection Plates|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=82177] Engineering only
[url:Greater Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74255]
[url:Greater Expertise|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74220]
[url:Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74132]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
* Waist
[url:Grounded Plasma Shield|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=84427] Engineering only - beware of side effects
* Legs
[url:Charscale Leg Reinforcements|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=85068] Leatherworking only
[url:Charscale Leg Armor|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56551]
[url:Twilight Leg Armor|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56503]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
* Feet
[url:Assassin's Step|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74252]
[url:Lavawalker|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74253]
[url:Major Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74213]
[url:Mastery|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74238]
[url:Earthen Vitality|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74189]
[url:Heavy Savage Armor Kit|http://www.wowhead.com/item=56517]
* Finger
[url:Greater Stamina|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74218] Enchanting only
[url:Agility|http://www.wowhead.com/spell=74216] Enchanting only
!! Rotation
[url:Analysis|http://elitistjerks.com/f73/t105117-cataclysm_bear_theorycraft/p2/#post1798250] by Astrylian, founder of Rawr.
[url:Analysis of the analysis|http://eaoexcursions.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/bear-rotations-at-level-85/] by Eao.
An actual rotation will likely have to wait for experience at endgame. However, the basic priority list:
* Mangle
* Demoralizing Roar if needed
* Lacerate
* Thrash
* Pulverize with 3 stacks of Lacerate
* Feral Faerie Fire
Lacerate is the main filler. Maul is used when you have rage to spare and a bleed on the target(s) from Lacerate or Thrash.
Sources
[url:Eao's Excursions|http://eaoexcursions.wordpress.com]
[url:WoW Insider Feral Tanking 101|http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/shifting-perspectives-feral-druid-tanking-101/]
[url:Elitist Jerks Feral-Bear|http://elitistjerks.com/f73/t114069-feral_bear_cataclysm_release/]
_Coming soon: This, but prettier and more complete-ish_
|