There was a post on the Paladin forums giving you pre-Kara gear to get to reach 11k HP unbuffed and uncrushable. I'll have to see if I can dig it up. This is what my Paladin will be outfitted in when he's ready for Karazhan (currently he's in pure spellpower gear, primarily Lamellar PvP gear, for 5-mans.) Note that I've already factored in gem bonuses, socket bonuses, and enchant bonuses where applicable.
Head: Tankatronic Goggles
1296 Armor
+97 STA
+58 DefR
+39 DodgeR
+13 HitR
Enchant would be Glyph of the Defender (Keepers of Time revered), while the gems would be Powerful Earthstorm Diamond (+18 STA and +5% stun resist) and Enduring Talasite (+6 STA and +4 DefR.) You get an additional 6 STA for socket bonus. If you aren't an Engineer, Felsteel Helm is the next best choice, or you could farm Heroics and get the helm from the badges.
Neck: Strength of the Untamed
+27 STA
+19 DefR
+18 DodgeR
You get this from Cenarion Expedition revered. There are other necks with more STA, but this one has a great combination of Defense and Dodge, which helps you reach uncrushable status that much faster:)
Shoulders: Spaulders of the Righteous
873 Armor
+46 STA
+22 INT
+35 DefR
+15 Spellpower
+10 DodgeR
Drops from Lag, in Botanica. Socket it with two Solid Stars of Elune (+12 STA each), or with two Solid Azure Moonstones if you need to save some cash (+9 STA each.) Add Greater Inscription of the Knight (+15 DefR and +10 DodgeR) or Inscription of the Knight, depending on your status with the Aldor.
Back: Devilshark Cape
78 Armor
+22 STA
+20 DefR
+30 DodgeR
+29 BlockV
Drops from Warlord Kalithresh, in Steam Vaults. Add a Dodge enchant (+12 DodgeR) to it, and you're ready to go. +12 AGI and +120 Armor are also options, but the Dodge enchant will help you reach uncrushable faster.
Chest: Vindicator's Hauberk
1164 Armor
+39 STA
+150 HP
+46 DefR
+19 DodgeR
This chestplate is pretty much the reason to be Aldor for tanks. If you're Scryer, the Jade-Skull Breastplate out of Mechanar is a suitable substitute. Swap in Breastplate of the Righteous for trash and take advantage of the -15% Consecration MP cost 2-piece bonus. Add +150 HP to your boss tanking chestpieces, and +6 to all stats to your trash/spellpower chestpieces.
Shirt: Rich Purple Silk Shirt
Bosses will laugh you out of the instance if you're wearing anything but this:)
Wrists: Bracers of the Green Fortress
581 Armor
+51 STA
+17 DefR
+10 DodgeR
Crafted by Blacksmiths. Mats are a little steep, but you won't find better avoidance bracers for some time. Bracers of Dignity out of Heroic Arcatraz or Vambraces of Courage are suitable substitutes until you can gather the mats to get these crafted. Get +12 STA on them regardless. You may want to opt for +15 Spellpower on your trash/spellpower bracers (I'd suggest either Veteran's Lamellar or Bracers of Dignity for that set.)
Hands: Felsteel Gloves
943 Armor
+59 STA
+25 DefR
Crafted by Blacksmiths, and fairly cheaply at that. Like all sockets, you're going to want to use Solid Stars of Elune or Solid Azure Moonstones. I prefer +8 STA from a Knothide Armor Kit, but +15 AGI is a viable alternative, or you could even shell out for +2% Threat if that's your sort of thing.
Waist: Sha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard
655 Armor
+33 STA
+20 DefR
+24 BlockR
+29 BlockV
Acquired by completing the quest, How to Break Into the Arcatraz. You'll be needing exalted Sha'tar reputation for your shield, anyway, so this is a quest well worth doing, and it's not particularly hard, either. You even get an Arcatraz Key for your efforts.
Legs: Timewarden's Leggings
1019 Armor
+133 STA
+12 AGI
+18 DefR
+11 DodgeR
From Keepers of Time Revered status. If you're a Blacksmith and want the Felsteel bonus for some reason, Felsteel Leggings are a sidegrade to these. Give them three Solid Stars or Solid Moonstones and a Nethercleft kit and you're set.
Feet: Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves
680 Armor
+37 STA
+18 DefR
+28 DodgeR
From the quest, Someone Else's Hard Work Pays Off. Get +12 STA on them and you're set.
Ring: Elementium Band of the Sentry
+24 STA
+20 DefR
+19 DodgeR
Off Harbinger Skyriss in Arcatraz. You'll have to kill him for a quest, anyway, so you might as well get this ring in the process:)
Ring: Andormu's Tear
+10 DefR
+26 DodgeR
+15 BlockR
From the quest, Hero of the Brood. The lack of STA hurts, but this ring has absurd avoidance stats. If you chose a different ring for the quest reward, you can have a Delicate Eternium Ring crafted for you, or you could pick up Dath'Remar's Ring of Defense out of Mechanar. There are many options to this ring, but none are as good at pure avoidance as this one.
Trinket: Figurine of the Colossus
+32 BlockR
Dropped by Warchief Kargath Bladefist, in Shattered Halls. Other options include Adamantine Figurine and Dabiri's Enigma. You DO generate threat for the heals during the use portion of this trinket, which makes it fantastic for fast-attacking enemies like Prince and Moroes.
Trinket: Goblin Rocket Launcher
+45 STA
Crafted and usable only by Goblin Engineers:) The huge STA helps compensate for Pallies' naturally lower HP. Other options include Argussian Compass, off The Black Stalker in Heroic Underbog, or Darkmoon Card: Vengeance (which you should get after you reach uncrushable status, anyway), which comes from collecting and completing the Furies deck of Darkmoon cards.
Weapon: Crystalforged Sword
+30 STA
+8 INT
+11 BlockR
+161 Spellpower
Created via Apexis Crystal Infusion, in the Blade's Edge Mountains Ogri'la areas. It's a random drop off pretty much any mob in the area. Shartuul has the highest droprate for this item, but it's probably more likely you'll see it in the AH from time to time, usually for about 100-200g. Get +40 Spellpower on it. If you can't get one, Continuum Blade from Keepers of Time revered is a suitable substitute.
Shield: Crest of the Sha'tar
4465 Armor
132 Block
+61 STA
+13 DefR
+3 DodgeR
Acquired via Sha'tar Exalted status. Azure-Shield of Coldarra is better, but also requires a fair number of Heroic badges, and you'll need Libram of Repentance before anything else. It's a great shield to have, and allows you the option of spending your Badges on other things. Two Solid Stars or Solid Moonstones and +18 STA enchant make it complete.
Libram: Libram of Repentance
+42 BlockR while Holy Shield is active.
Essentially adds +5.30% Block while Holy Shield is up, for a total of +35.30%. Absolutely critical for reaching uncrushable status, and should be the very first thing you buy with Heroic badges.
EDIT: The cookiecutter Paladin tank build is 0/49/12. Once you start moving beyond Karazhan, you'll generally want to drop Reckoning for Weapon Expertise, since Reckoning won't proc as often due to you avoiding many hits, and Weapon Expertise will end up as being more threat overall. You could probably drop some points out of Anticipation when you no longer need the extra defense and move them around as you see fit; Guardian's Favor might be a good idea.
Head: Tankatronic Goggles
1296 Armor
+97 STA
+58 DefR
+39 DodgeR
+13 HitR
Enchant would be Glyph of the Defender (Keepers of Time revered), while the gems would be Powerful Earthstorm Diamond (+18 STA and +5% stun resist) and Enduring Talasite (+6 STA and +4 DefR.) You get an additional 6 STA for socket bonus. If you aren't an Engineer, Felsteel Helm is the next best choice, or you could farm Heroics and get the helm from the badges.
Neck: Strength of the Untamed
+27 STA
+19 DefR
+18 DodgeR
You get this from Cenarion Expedition revered. There are other necks with more STA, but this one has a great combination of Defense and Dodge, which helps you reach uncrushable status that much faster:)
Shoulders: Spaulders of the Righteous
873 Armor
+46 STA
+22 INT
+35 DefR
+15 Spellpower
+10 DodgeR
Drops from Lag, in Botanica. Socket it with two Solid Stars of Elune (+12 STA each), or with two Solid Azure Moonstones if you need to save some cash (+9 STA each.) Add Greater Inscription of the Knight (+15 DefR and +10 DodgeR) or Inscription of the Knight, depending on your status with the Aldor.
Back: Devilshark Cape
78 Armor
+22 STA
+20 DefR
+30 DodgeR
+29 BlockV
Drops from Warlord Kalithresh, in Steam Vaults. Add a Dodge enchant (+12 DodgeR) to it, and you're ready to go. +12 AGI and +120 Armor are also options, but the Dodge enchant will help you reach uncrushable faster.
Chest: Vindicator's Hauberk
1164 Armor
+39 STA
+150 HP
+46 DefR
+19 DodgeR
This chestplate is pretty much the reason to be Aldor for tanks. If you're Scryer, the Jade-Skull Breastplate out of Mechanar is a suitable substitute. Swap in Breastplate of the Righteous for trash and take advantage of the -15% Consecration MP cost 2-piece bonus. Add +150 HP to your boss tanking chestpieces, and +6 to all stats to your trash/spellpower chestpieces.
Shirt: Rich Purple Silk Shirt
Bosses will laugh you out of the instance if you're wearing anything but this:)
Wrists: Bracers of the Green Fortress
581 Armor
+51 STA
+17 DefR
+10 DodgeR
Crafted by Blacksmiths. Mats are a little steep, but you won't find better avoidance bracers for some time. Bracers of Dignity out of Heroic Arcatraz or Vambraces of Courage are suitable substitutes until you can gather the mats to get these crafted. Get +12 STA on them regardless. You may want to opt for +15 Spellpower on your trash/spellpower bracers (I'd suggest either Veteran's Lamellar or Bracers of Dignity for that set.)
Hands: Felsteel Gloves
943 Armor
+59 STA
+25 DefR
Crafted by Blacksmiths, and fairly cheaply at that. Like all sockets, you're going to want to use Solid Stars of Elune or Solid Azure Moonstones. I prefer +8 STA from a Knothide Armor Kit, but +15 AGI is a viable alternative, or you could even shell out for +2% Threat if that's your sort of thing.
Waist: Sha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard
655 Armor
+33 STA
+20 DefR
+24 BlockR
+29 BlockV
Acquired by completing the quest, How to Break Into the Arcatraz. You'll be needing exalted Sha'tar reputation for your shield, anyway, so this is a quest well worth doing, and it's not particularly hard, either. You even get an Arcatraz Key for your efforts.
Legs: Timewarden's Leggings
1019 Armor
+133 STA
+12 AGI
+18 DefR
+11 DodgeR
From Keepers of Time Revered status. If you're a Blacksmith and want the Felsteel bonus for some reason, Felsteel Leggings are a sidegrade to these. Give them three Solid Stars or Solid Moonstones and a Nethercleft kit and you're set.
Feet: Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves
680 Armor
+37 STA
+18 DefR
+28 DodgeR
From the quest, Someone Else's Hard Work Pays Off. Get +12 STA on them and you're set.
Ring: Elementium Band of the Sentry
+24 STA
+20 DefR
+19 DodgeR
Off Harbinger Skyriss in Arcatraz. You'll have to kill him for a quest, anyway, so you might as well get this ring in the process:)
Ring: Andormu's Tear
+10 DefR
+26 DodgeR
+15 BlockR
From the quest, Hero of the Brood. The lack of STA hurts, but this ring has absurd avoidance stats. If you chose a different ring for the quest reward, you can have a Delicate Eternium Ring crafted for you, or you could pick up Dath'Remar's Ring of Defense out of Mechanar. There are many options to this ring, but none are as good at pure avoidance as this one.
Trinket: Figurine of the Colossus
+32 BlockR
Dropped by Warchief Kargath Bladefist, in Shattered Halls. Other options include Adamantine Figurine and Dabiri's Enigma. You DO generate threat for the heals during the use portion of this trinket, which makes it fantastic for fast-attacking enemies like Prince and Moroes.
Trinket: Goblin Rocket Launcher
+45 STA
Crafted and usable only by Goblin Engineers:) The huge STA helps compensate for Pallies' naturally lower HP. Other options include Argussian Compass, off The Black Stalker in Heroic Underbog, or Darkmoon Card: Vengeance (which you should get after you reach uncrushable status, anyway), which comes from collecting and completing the Furies deck of Darkmoon cards.
Weapon: Crystalforged Sword
+30 STA
+8 INT
+11 BlockR
+161 Spellpower
Created via Apexis Crystal Infusion, in the Blade's Edge Mountains Ogri'la areas. It's a random drop off pretty much any mob in the area. Shartuul has the highest droprate for this item, but it's probably more likely you'll see it in the AH from time to time, usually for about 100-200g. Get +40 Spellpower on it. If you can't get one, Continuum Blade from Keepers of Time revered is a suitable substitute.
Shield: Crest of the Sha'tar
4465 Armor
132 Block
+61 STA
+13 DefR
+3 DodgeR
Acquired via Sha'tar Exalted status. Azure-Shield of Coldarra is better, but also requires a fair number of Heroic badges, and you'll need Libram of Repentance before anything else. It's a great shield to have, and allows you the option of spending your Badges on other things. Two Solid Stars or Solid Moonstones and +18 STA enchant make it complete.
Libram: Libram of Repentance
+42 BlockR while Holy Shield is active.
Essentially adds +5.30% Block while Holy Shield is up, for a total of +35.30%. Absolutely critical for reaching uncrushable status, and should be the very first thing you buy with Heroic badges.
EDIT: The cookiecutter Paladin tank build is 0/49/12. Once you start moving beyond Karazhan, you'll generally want to drop Reckoning for Weapon Expertise, since Reckoning won't proc as often due to you avoiding many hits, and Weapon Expertise will end up as being more threat overall. You could probably drop some points out of Anticipation when you no longer need the extra defense and move them around as you see fit; Guardian's Favor might be a good idea.
ArrayPaladins were not meant to sit in the back of the raid staring at health bars all day, spamming heals and listening to eight different classes whine about buffs.[/quote]
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The original Heavy Metal Cowâ¢. USDA inspected, FDA approved.