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Beginning Level 80 Plate Tank Gear

At level 80, a tank needs 540 Defense Skill to be uncrittable (5 x Player Level + 140). It takes a minimum of 689 Defense Rating to reach 540 Defense Skill. (Defense Rating is the stat found on gear, which converts to Defense Skill as you see in your character panel at a little less than 5:1.)

This list contains only items that can be crafted, are non-dungeon reputation rewards, or are quest rewards. There are a number of items that may be better, but are drops from bosses, so obtaining them is unpredictable. Be sure to replace pieces and get upgrades once you're able to head into the heroics and Naxx with this stuff! The idea is that if you build an uncrittable set from these pieces, you can do it quickly and efficiently, then start going after improved gear from drops (see the Advanced gear guide).

Simply choose an item from each category, add up the Defense Rating of each item, and create a set that is at least 689 Defense Rating.

Equipment Slots

Head

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Head	The Crusader's Resolution	Rare	174	60	Quest	BoP	"The Crusaders' Pinnacle", Icecrown
Head	Tempered Saronite Helm	Rare	167	83	Crafted	BoE	400 Blacksmithing (12x Saronite Bars, 1x Crystallized Earth)
Head	Greathelm of the Titan Protectorate	Rare	162	40	Quest	BoP	"Reclamation", Sholazar Basin
Head	Greathelm of the Unyielding Bull	Rare	154	46	Drop	BoE	Any level 74-80 Trash Mob. (0.1%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Head Enchant	Arcanum of the Stalwart Defender	Rare	N/A	20	Reputation	BoP	Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard, Argent Crusade Quartermaster, Requires Argent Crusade - Revered (150g)

Neck

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Neck	Burning Skull Pendant	Rare	200	28	Drop	BoE	Various Trash Mobs, Zul'Drak / Gundrak (0.5%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Neck	Reinforced Titanium Neckguard	Rare	174	26	Quest	BoP	"The Admiral Revealed", Icecrown NOTE: Has a red gem socket, with +6 Stamina socket bonus. Either use a yellow +Defense gem for maximum defense, or a red gem to get the socket bonus.
Neck	Torta's Oversized Choker	Rare	174	25	Drop	BoE	Various Trash Mobs. (0.1%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Neck	Betrayer's Choker	Rare	171	17	Quest	BoP	"Betrayal", Zul'Drak NOTE: Has a yellow gem socket, with +6 Stamina socket bonus.
Neck	Blood Infused Pendant	Rare	162	26	Quest	BoP	"A Hero's Burden", Sholazar Basin

Shoulders

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Shoulders	Wapach's Spaulders of Solidarity	Epic	200	58		BoE	Various Trash Mobs. (0.1%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Shoulders	Crusader's Square Pauldrons	Rare	187	29	Drop	BoE	Various Trash Mobs, Tanaris / Culling of Stratholme (0.8%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Shoulders	Glimmershell Shoulder Protectors	Rare	187	0	Reputation	BoP	Geen, Oracles Quartermaster, Requires The Oracles - Revered (35g37s50c)
Shoulders	Pauldrons of Reconnaissance	Rare	175	46	Quest	BoP	"Halls of Stone", Storm Peaks/Halls of Stone
Shoulders	Tempered Saronite Shoulders	Rare	171	32	Crafted	BoE	405 Blacksmithing (12x Saronite Bars)
Shoulders	Tundra Pauldrons	Rare	155	24	Quest	BoP	"Have They No Shame?", Borean Tundra/The Nexus

Back

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Back	Tattered Castle Drape	Rare	200	25	Drop	BoE	Trash Mobs, Howling Fjord/Utgarde Keep (0.5%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Back	Cloak of Peaceful Resolution	Rare	187	43	Reputation	BoP	Cielstrasza, Wyrmrest Accord Quartermaster, Requires Wyrmrest Accord - Honored (23g80s)
Back	Cloak of Eternity	Rare	112	23	Crafted	BoE	350 Tailoring (6x Bolt of Imbued Netherweave, 6x Primal Earth)
Back Enchant	Enchant Cloak - Titanweave	N/A	N/A	16	Crafted	N/A	435 Enchanting (20x Infinite Dust, 10x Greater Cosmic Essence, 2x Titanium Bar)
Back Enchant	Enchant Cloak - Steelweave	N/A	N/A	12	Crafted	N/A	375 Enchanting (8x Greater Planar Essence, 8x Primal Earth)

Chest

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Chest	Breastplate of the Solemn Council	Rare	200	76	Reputation	BoP	Cielstrasza, Wyrmrest Accord Quartermaster, Requires Wyrmrest Accord - Revered (52g82s14c)
Chest	Ivory-Reinforced Chestguard	Rare	166	56	Reputation	Bop	Sairuk / Tainaka, Kalu'ak Quartermaster, Requires Kalu'ak - Honored (43g6s64c)
Chest	Tempered Saronite Breastplate	Rare	167	56	Crafted	BoE	400 Blacksmithing (6x Cobalt Bars, 5x Saronite Bars, 1x Crystallized Earth) [Blacksmith: Tempered Saronite Breastplate]
Chest Enchant	Enchant Chest - Greater Defense	N/A	N/A	22	Crafted	N/A	400 Enchanting (10x Infinite Dust, 1x Eternal Earth)
Chest Enchant	Vindicator's Armor Kit	Common	65	8	Crafted	Use	325 Leatherworking (3x Heavy Knothide Leather, 1x Primal Earth) NOTE: Requires Leatherworker to be exalted with Aldor to purchase plans.

Wrists

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Wrists	Tempered Saronite Bracers	Rare	175	48	Crafted	BoE	410 Blacksmithing (13x Saronite Bars)
Wrists	Bracers of Reverence	Rare	175	34	Quest	BoP	"A Wing and a Prayer", Borean Tundra / The Oculus
Wrists	Polished Tusk Shackles	Uncommon	174	0	Quest	BoP	"Ample Inspiration", Storm Peaks
Wrists Enchant	Enchant Bracer - Major Defense	N/A	N/A	12	Crafted	N/A	320 Enchanting (2x Small Prismatic Shards, 10x Arcane Dust)

Hands

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Hands	Refined Ore Gloves	Rare	200	42	Drop	BoE	Trash Mobs, Storm Peaks/Halls of Stone. (0.5%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Hands	Daunting Handguards	Rare	187	71	Crafted	BoE	420 Blacksmithing (12x Saronite Bars, 1x Eternal Earth)
Hands	Giant-Sized Guantlets	Rare	187	0	Reputation	BoP	Tanak, Frenzyheart Quartermaster, Requires Frenzyheart Tribe - Revered (25g12s13c)
Hands	Tempered Saronite Gauntlets	Rare	179	78	Crafted	BoE	415 Blacksmithing (14x Saronite Bars)
Hands Enchant	Vindicator's Armor Kit	Common	65	8	Crafted	Use	325 Leatherworking (3x Heavy Knothide Leather, 1x Primal Earth) NOTE: Requires Leatherworker to be exalted with Aldor to purchase plans.

Waist

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Waist	Waistguard of the Risen Knight	Rare	200	42	Drop	BoE	Trash Mobs, Zul'Drak / Drak'Tharon Keep. (0.4%) NOTE: Available in AH.
Waist	Gutbuster of Aldur'thar	Uncommon	174	40	Quest	BoP	"Not a Bug", Icecrown
Waist	Tempered Saronite Belt	Rare	163	57	Crafted	BoE	395 Blacksmithing (6x Cobalt Bars, 5x Saronite Bars)
Waist Gem Socket	Eternal Belt Buckle	Rare	80	N/A	Crafted	BoE	415 Blacksmithing (4x Saronite Bars, 1x Eternal Earth, 1x Eternal Water, 1x Eternal Shadow)

Legs

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Legs	Daunting Legplates	Rare	187	88	Crafted	BoE	425 Blacksmithing (14x Saronite Bars, 1x Eternal Earth)
Legs	Special Issue Legplates	Rare	187	69	Reputation	BoP	Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard, Argent Crusade Quartermaster, Requires Argent Crusade - Honored (46g36s29c)
Legs	Tempered Saronite Legplates	Rare	163	32	Crafted	BoE	395 Blacksmithing (5x Cobalt Bars, 5x Saronite Bars, 1x Crystallized Earth)
Legs Enchant	Vindicator's Armor Kit	Common	65	8	Crafted	Use	325 Leatherworking (3x Heavy Knothide Leather, 1x Primal Earth) NOTE: Requires Leatherworker to be exalted with Aldor to purchase plans.

Feet

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Feet	Sabatons of Draconic Vigor	Rare	200	58	Reputation	BoP	Cielstrasza, Wyrmrest Accord Quartermaster, Requires Wyrmrest Accord - Revered (37g12s85c)
Feet	Toxin-Tempered Sabatons	Rare	187	34	Reputation	BoP	Duchess Mynx, Ebon Blade Quartermaster, Requires Knights of the Ebon Blade - Honored (35g10s37c)
Feet	Tempered Saronite Boots	Rare	167	36	Crafted	BoE	400 Blacksmithing (3x Cobalt Bars, 8x Saronite Bars)
Feet Enchant	Vindicator's Armor Kit	Common	65	8	Crafted	Use	325 Leatherworking (3x Heavy Knothide Leather, 1x Primal Earth) NOTE: Requires Leatherworker to be exalted with Aldor to purchase plans.

Finger (Choose 2)

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Finger	Solid Platinum Band	Rare	175	25	Quest	BoP	"For Posterity", Zul'Drak / Gundrak
Finger	Staunch Signet	Rare	175	25	Quest	BoP	"The Struggle Persists", Borean Tundra / The Oculus
Finger	Kurzel's Warband	Rare	171	19	Quest	BoP	"Search and Rescue", Grizzly Hills / Drak'Tharon Keep
Finger	Ring of Misinterpreted Gestures	Uncommon	162	26	Quest	BoP	"Fortunate Misunderstandings", Sholazar Basin
Finger	Stoneguard Ring	Uncommon	162	16	Crafted	BoE	390 Jewelcrafting (2x Eternal Earth) NOTE: Unique-equipped. Has a blue gem socket, with +4 Defense Rating socket bonus. Either use a yellow +Defense gem for maximum defense, or a blue +Stamina gem to get the socket bonus.

Trinket

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Trinket	Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch	Epic	115	0	Drop	BoP	Moroes, Deadwind Pass / Karazhan (13%)
Trinket	Adamantite Figurine	Rare	112	32	Drop	BoP	Blackheart the Inciter, Terokkar Forest / Shadow Labyrinth (12%)
Trinket	Regal Protectorate	Rare	88	26	Quest	BoP	"Overlord", Hellfire Peninsula

NOTE: Tank trinkets that don't come from dungeons are scarce in WotLK. These are just a couple options from BC, that should be easy to get for level 80 players.

Main Hand (Weapon)

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
1h Axe	Crescent of Brooding Fury	Rare	175	26	Quest	BoP	"Wanted: Ragemane's Flipper", Zul'Drak
1h Mace	Hammer of Quiet Morning	Rare	175	19	Quest	BoP	"Wanted: Ragemane's Flipper", Zul'Drak
1h Sword	Blade of the Empty Void	Rare	174	19	Quest	BoP	"Tirion's Gambit", Icecrown
1h Sword	Quickblade of Cold Return	Rare	174	0	Quest	BoP	"Banshee's Revenge", Icecrown
2h Axe	Axe of Bloodstained Ice	Uncommon	174	53	Quest	BoP	"Sindragosa's Fall", Icecrown
1h Mace	Hammer of the Alliance Vanguard	Rare	166	0	Reputation	BoP	Logistics Officer Brighton / Logistics Officer Silverstone, Alliance Vanguard Quartermaster, Requires Alliance Vanguard - Revered (61g69s1c)

Off Hand (Shield)

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Shield	Saronite Bulwark	Rare	175	31	Crafted	BoE	410 Blacksmithing (14x Saronite Bars)
Shield	Shield of the Lion-Hearted	Rare	166	32	Reputation	BoP	Logistics Officer Brighton / Logistics Officer Silverstone, Alliance Vanguard Quartermaster, Requires Alliance Vanguard - Honored (39g19s33c)
Shield Enchant	Enchant Shield - Defense	N/A	N/A	20	Crafted	N/A	420 Enchanting (10x Infinite Dust, 10x Greater Cosmic Essence)

Gems

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Yellow Gem	Thick Autumn's Glow	Rare	80	16	Crafted	Socket	390 Jewelcrafting (1x Autumn's Glow)
Yellow Gem	Perfect Thick Sun Crystal	Uncommon	70	14	Crafted	Socket	350 Jewelcrafting (1x Sun Crystal) NOTE: These are not purposely made. They are a random chance to be made while making Thick Sun Crystal.
Yellow Gem	Thick Sun Crystal	Uncommon	70	12	Crafted	Socket	350 Jewelcrafting (1x Sun Crystal)

NOTE: The rare quality gems are often many times more expensive than the uncommon quality ones. Unless there are issues meeting uncrittability, avoid using the rare quality gems until gear is aquired that will be kept for a longer time. For example, it would be wise to wait until the item is an iLvl 200 rare quality piece before socketing a rare gem.
High level blacksmiths should always add bonus gem sockets to their own equipment using Socket Bracer, and Socket Gloves.
For a complete list of gems of all colors, visit WoWWiki's Gem page.

* iLvl refers to Item Level, a hidden statistic that is used to compare the quality of items. To read more about iLvl visit WoWWiki's Item Level page.

Thanks to Petrus for the original basis of this info.

Slot	Item	Quality	iLvl *	+DEF	Loot Type	Bind	Aquired From
Thrown	Weighted Throwing Axe	Rare	174	19	Quest	BoP
Thrown	Dorian's Prybar	Rare	162	0	Quest	BoP

Posted by Awesomeness Dec 11, 2008 Last Updated: Feb 24, 2009

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