TBC Classic Protection Warrior Phase 1 / Tier 4 Gear and Best in Slot

Last updated on Sep 19, 2021 at 02:18 by Abide 14 comments

On this page, you will find the best Tier 4 PvE gear and best in slot items for your Protection Warrior in TBC Classic Phase 1.

1.

Protection Warrior Phase 1 / Tier 4 Best in Slot Gear

In this guide we go over the different gear available for Protection Warriors in Phase One of TBC (Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and Magtheridon's Lair). We will offer multiple different pieces as some can be rather expensive or very hard to obtain. In addition to that, we will show you different gear to look at for threat and for pure tankiness.

1.1.

Other Protection Warrior Best in Slot Lists

If you are starting out as a freshly-leveled Protection Warrior, our pre-raid best in slot list is meant to give you an idea of non-raid items you can chase as a solo / pug player in preparation for raids.

Do note that items from Heroic dungeons or that require Primal Nether Icon Primal Nethers (which are obtained from Heroics) can be harder to get than raid items due to their daily lockout. Some Heroic dungeons are also harder than most of Karazhan.

If, however, your character is ready to take on the content of Tiers 5 and 6, then please utilize our updated lists instead.

Finally, there may be times where you may want to stack resistance to a particular damage type. For these moments we have created separate lists detailing the best gear to maximize your Fire, Frost, Nature, or Shadow resistances.

2.
Rank Item Gems Source
Best Warbringer Greathelm Icon Warbringer Greathelm 1 x Powerful Earthstorm Diamond Icon Powerful Earthstorm Diamond, 1 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Defensive Faceguard of the Endless Watch Icon Faceguard of the Endless Watch 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Doomwalker
Option Eternium Greathelm Icon Eternium Greathelm 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Opera Event — Karazhan

Warbringer Greathelm Icon Warbringer Greathelm is your best in slot, offering a strong mix of offensive and defensive stats. Faceguard of the Endless Watch Icon Faceguard of the Endless Watch is a very strong defensive option but is very difficult to obtain as it drops from a world boss.

3.

Necklace

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Barbed Choker of Discipline Icon Barbed Choker of Discipline no sockets Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan
Option Necklace of the Juggernaut Icon Necklace of the Juggernaut 25 x Badge of Justice Icon Badge of Justice

Barbed Choker of Discipline Icon Barbed Choker of Discipline is a very strong necklace, offering high defensive stats. Necklace of the Juggernaut Icon Necklace of the Juggernaut is still a nice mixture of offense and defense and can be used for higher threat.

4.

Shoulder

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Warbringer Shoulderguards Icon Warbringer Shoulderguards 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune High King MaulgarGruul's Lair
Option Mantle of Abrahmis Icon Mantle of Abrahmis 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Netherspite — Karazhan

Warbringer Shoulderguards Icon Warbringer Shoulderguards are well above any other available shoulders.

5.

Back

Rank Item Source
Best Devilshark Cape Icon Devilshark Cape Warlord KalithreshThe Steamvault
Option Gilded Thorium Cloak Icon Gilded Thorium Cloak Terestian Illhoof — Karazhan

Devilshark Cape Icon Devilshark Cape is still very strong and is your recommended cloak. Gilded Thorium Cloak Icon Gilded Thorium Cloak is a great alternative, offering very high armor, but you should let your Feral Druid Tank get the first one.

6.

Chest

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Warbringer Chestguard Icon Warbringer Chestguard 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Magtheridon
Option Panzar'Thar Breastplate Icon Panzar'Thar Breastplate 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Nightbane — Karazhan
Threat Breastplate of the Warbringer Icon Breastplate of the Warbringer no sockets Forge Camp: Annihilated
Threat Gladiator's Plate Chestpiece Icon Gladiator's Plate Chestpiece 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Arena PvP

Warbringer Chestguard Icon Warbringer Chestguard is an amazing chest, loaded with both offensive and defensive stats, making it a clear winner. Breastplate of the Warbringer Icon Breastplate of the Warbringer can still be used as a threat option as it offers high Defense Rating and a ton of Hit Rating.

7.

Wrist

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Vambraces of Courage Icon Vambraces of Courage 1 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Attumen the Huntsman — Karazhan

There is really only one option for tanking bracers from Phase One raids, Vambraces of Courage Icon Vambraces of Courage.

8.

Hands

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Topaz-Studded Battlegrips Icon Topaz-Studded Battlegrips 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Doomwalker
Recommended Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden Icon Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan
Threat Grips of Deftness Icon Grips of Deftness no sockets Trash mobs in Karazhan

Topaz-Studded Battlegrips Icon Topaz-Studded Battlegrips are your best in slot glove option, but are very difficult to obtain as they drop from a world boss. Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden Icon Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden are a very close second, offering slightly less defensive stats. Grips of Deftness Icon Grips of Deftness while these are leather, the expertise offered by these cannot be beat for pure threat generation.

9.

Waist

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable Icon Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Moroes — Karazhan

Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable Icon Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable is the only option available during Phase One raiding.

10.

Legs

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Wrynn Dynasty Greaves Icon Wrynn Dynasty Greaves 3 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune The Curator — Karazhan
Threat Clefthoof Hide Leggings Icon Clefthoof Hide Leggings no sockets Showdown

Wrynn Dynasty Greaves Icon Wrynn Dynasty Greaves are a great upgrade from your pre-raid BiS. Clefthoof Hide Leggings Icon Clefthoof Hide Leggings still remain a massive threat piece to be worn when more threat is needed.

11.

Feet

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Battlescar Boots Icon Battlescar Boots 2 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Chess Event — Karazhan
Option Boots of Elusion Icon Boots of Elusion no sockets Trash Mobs — Karazhan

Battlescar Boots Icon Battlescar Boots are a nice upgrade, offering very high defensive stats.

12.

Finger

Rank Item Source
Defensive Violet Signet of the Great Protector Icon Violet Signet of the Great Protector The Violet EyeExalted
Defensive A'dal's Signet of Defense Icon A'dal's Signet of Defense The Fall of Magtheridon
Threat Shapeshifter's Signet Icon Shapeshifter's Signet Lower CityExalted
Threat Crystal Band of Valor Icon Crystal Band of Valor TavarokMana Tombs (Heroic)

By now there is a clear choice for the rings you want to carry. Swap around accordingly between your defensive and threat generation rings.

13.

Trinket

Rank Item Source
Best Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch Icon Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch Moroes — Karazhan
Best Goblin Rocket Launcher Icon Goblin Rocket Launcher Goblin Rocket Launcher IconGoblin Rocket LauncherEngineering
Best Gnomish Poultryizer Icon Gnomish Poultryizer Gnomish Poultryizer IconGnomish PoultryizerEngineering
Best Timelapse Shard Icon Timelapse Shard Keepers of TimeExalted

Depending on the fight and your gear you will want to swap around between these trinkets. Typically you will want to use Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch Icon Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch most of the time except when you are not taking enough damage to maintain your Rage, or you're taking a high amount of magic damage.

14.

Weapon

Rank Item Source
Best Latro's Shifting Sword Icon Latro's Shifting Sword AeonusThe Black Morass
Option King's Defender Icon King's Defender Chess Event — Karazhan

While King's Defender Icon King's Defender is a great sword, it falls behind Latro's Shifting Sword Icon Latro's Shifting Sword in terms of pure threat generation. That being said, Kings Defender can be used when you want a good mixture of offense and defense.

15.

Shield

Rank Item Gems Source
Best Aldori Legacy Defender Icon Aldori Legacy Defender 1 x Solid Star of Elune Icon Solid Star of Elune Gruul The DragonkillerGruul's Lair
Option Gladiator's Shield Wall Icon Gladiator's Shield Wall no sockets Arena

Aldori Legacy Defender Icon Aldori Legacy Defender is an amazing shield that will last you all the way until Tier 6. If you do not have one yet Gladiator's Shield Wall Icon Gladiator's Shield Wall is still your best option.

16.

Ranged

Rank Item Gems Source
Recommended Mark V's Throwing Star Icon Mark V's Throwing Star no sockets Mark V is Alive!
Option Starbolt Longbow Icon Starbolt Longbow no sockets PandemoniusMana Tombs (Heroic)

There are not really many Ranged options available in Phase 1. Mark V's Throwing Star Icon Mark V's Throwing Star makes for a decent option, offering a high mixture of offensive and a little bit of defensive stats. If you find yourself needing more Defense Rating, look for "of the Champion" ranged weapons, as these will have Stamina, Strength, and Defense rating.

17.

For a list of recommended enchants, check out our Protection Warrior Enchants guide.

18.

Changelog

  • 19 Sep. 2021: Page restored.
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