- Author: Oxykitten
- Date: January 1, 2023
- Expansion: WotLK Classic
Gearing is fairly important when it comes to playing a tank; finding a good balance of threat and mitigation to suit your group will affect every player in your raid. In this guide I will list the best pre-raid and raid items expected to be available in Phase 2 (Ulduar) of Wrath of the Lich King.
The items listed here lean strongly, but not completely, towards survival. There are two lists included below; the standard list simply shows the best item in each slot for Pre-raid (a newly levelled character), Phase 1 (all pre-Ulduar content), and Phase 2 content. The “Progressive” list explains the rationale behind these choices while giving multiple alternatives for each slot. I highly recommend reading on, as there are many strong options for each slot in WotLK, and tunnel-visioning on the best available item is not an efficient way to gear your character!
These lists are made using information, simulation tools and spreadsheets from Nerdegghead and others on the Druid Classic Discord.
Feral Tank Best in Slot List
This tab shows the best gear options available for a player who has just reached level 80 in Phase 2. It only includes gear that can be earned outside of weekly lockouts — that means no raid gear and no gear bought with arena points. It does, however, include gear earned with honor and through heroic dungeons.
Blizzard have said that, in Phase 2, they will move items that previously dropped in 10-man raids to “Heroic Plus” dungeons, which are Heroic dungeons tuned to be more difficult.
This tab shows the best gear options available outside of Ulduar. It includes gear from Naxxramas, Obsidian Sanctum, and Eye of Eternity. It does not include current season arena gear. It does not include Bind on Equip gear that requires materials from Ulduar to craft. The purpose of this tab is to show you how to best prepare your character for Ulduar, which will bring new challenges to the game. Effectively, it shows the best in slot items from Phase 1.
Blizzard have said that in Phase 2, they will move items that previously dropped in 25-man raids to drop in 10-man raids as well. It is assumed that these items will be available from the same bosses, but in either version of the raid.
Feral Tank Progressive Best in Slot list
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
The Oculus (Heroic Plus) – Drakos the Interrogator | |
Any dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss | |
Engineering (440) – Binds on pickup | |
The Oculus (Heroic) – Ley-Guardian Eregos |
Helmofvastlegion, previously from Naxxramas (10), will now drop from The Oculus in “Heroic Plus” mode. This makes it the best non-raid item available for a fresh level 80 Feral to aim for.
Weaknessspecs are a strong option, but require Engineering to craft and use — I personally recommend getting these, as I consider Engineering a “must-have” profession anyway, and they are fairly cheap to craft. Otherwise, Maskofthewatcher is a good alternative from The Oculus (Heroic).
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Gothik the Harvester | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Kel’thuzad | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Gluth, Thaddius | |
The Oculus (Heroic Plus) – Drakos the Interrogator |
Hoodoftheexodus is the best available non-Ulduar helm option for Feral Tanks. It drops from Gothik the Harvester in both 10- and 25-man versions of Naxxramas. Valorousdreamwalkerheadguard and coverofsilence are close in value, with helmofvastlegion from a Heroic Plus dungeon further behind.
Best-in-Slot
Item | Source |
Arena – 2250 points, 1950 rating | |
Ulduar (10) – Mimiron Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Yogg-Saron | |
Ulduar (25) – Thorim |
Furiousgladhelm is the best available helm option for Feral Tanks. PvP items tend to have a lot of stamina, so although the resilience on them is wasted, they are still strong for tanking. Unfortunately for most players, this helm requires a personal arena rating of 1950. In Classic, this is quite difficult to achieve, so do not worry if you aren’t a PvP master; the alternatives listed will serve you just fine.
That said, Mimirongoggles only drop when killing the boss in Hard Mode, and Garonasguise is likely to be a very contested item; Conqnightsonghead should be an easier piece to attain, and is close in value to the other options.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Jewelcrafting – Binds on equip | |
Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom (Heroic Plus) – Jedoga Shadowseeker | |
33180 Honor |
Titaniumearthguardchain is the best non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral. It is bind-on-equip, meaning it can be crafted or bought on the auction house, and is not too expensive. Otherwise, the listed alternatives are suitable.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Kel’thuzad | |
Naxxramas (25) – Sapphiron (via Heroic Key to the Focusing Iris) | |
Jewelcrafting – Binds on equip |
Boundlessambition is the best available non-Ulduar neck option for Feral Tanks. It drops from Kel’thuzad in Naxxramas. Favorofthedragonqueen is also a strong option, which is a quest reward from Heroic Judgement at the Eye of Eternity. For this, you must receive Heroic Key to the Focusing Iris from Sapphiron in Naxxramas (25), then kill Malygos in Eye of Eternity (25). If you cannot get either of these, crafting or buying titaniumearthguardchain is a workable alternative.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – General Vezax | |
Ulduar (25) – Freya Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Hodir Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Freya |
pendulumofinfinity is the best available overall neck option for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. However, Bronzependantofthevanir is the best necklace for pure survival. Additionally, pendulumofinfinity is likely difficult to obtain and contested by physical DPS players. The other two listed options are close in value as well.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Any dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss | |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
Drak’tharon Keep (Heroic Plus) – Novos the Summoner |
Heroesdreamwalkerspauldrons are the strongest non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral. However, I personally recommend going for Trollwovenshoulders, which are nearly as good and can be bought cheaply on the auction house.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Loatheb, Gluth | |
Obsidian Sanctum (10/25) – Sartharion | |
Any dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss |
valorousdreamwalkershoulderpads are the best available non-Ulduar shoulders for Feral Tanks. They drop from Loatheb and Gluth in Naxxramas. Concealmentshoulderpads can drop from Sartharion. Heroesdreamwalkerspauldrons from Heroic Plus dungeons are a suitable alternative as well.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Steelbreaker | |
Arena – 1750 points, 2000 rating | |
Ulduar (25) – Yogg-Saron |
shoulderpadsoftheintruder are the best available shoulder option for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. They drop from Assembly of Iron in Ulduar (25) if you kill Steelbreaker last, which is the “hard mode” version of this boss. As such, they are rare and difficult to obtain, and likely to be contested by your physical DPS dealers. Your two other options are considerably worse, and close in value to each other; unless you are a 2000-rated arena pro, I recommend sticking to conqnightsongshoulderpads.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
The Culling of Stratholme (Heroic Plus) – Meathook | |
33180 Honor | |
Leatherworking – Binds on Equip |
Galeproofcloak is the best non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral. Very close behind is deadlygladcloakofvictory, but I personally recommend going for the cheap and easy icestrikerscloak from the auction house.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Loatheb, Gluth | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Kel’thuzad |
Cloakoftheshadowedsun is the best available non-Ulduar cloak option for Feral Tanks. It drops from Loatheb and Gluth in Naxxramas. Otherwise, platinummeshcloak is easily obtained with emblemofvalor and is close in value. Although drapeofthedeadlyfoe is a decent cloak, it is highly contested by physical DPS and is harder to obtain than the better options listed above.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Mimiron Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Hodir Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Algalon the Observer | |
Ulduar (10) – General Vezax | |
Ulduar (10) – Algalon the Observer |
Titanskincloak is the best available cloak for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. Drapeoficyintent and Drapeoftheskyborn are very close in value, but may be more contested. All three may prove challenging to get, being locked behind Hard Modes and Algalon, so I have included a couple of alternatives from Ulduar (10). These two cloaks are a fair bit worse than the first three, but are still significant upgrades over Phase 1 items.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
The Culling of Stratholme (Heroic Plus) – Chrono-lord Epoch | |
The Nexus (Heroic Plus) – Anomalus |
Polarvest is the best available non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral, and it is cheap to craft or buy on the auction house. I strongly recommend going straight for this, but the alternatives listed work fine otherwise.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Four Horsemen, Gluth | |
Eye of Eternity (10/25) – Malygos | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Grobbulus | |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip |
Valorousdreamwalkerraiments are the best available non-Ulduar chest option for Feral Tanks. It drops from the Four Horsemen and from Gluth in Naxxramas. Chestguardoftherecuse from Malygos is another strong option, but is more contested and harder to obtain. Polarvest is a great, cheap and easily obtained alternative from the auction house.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Thorim Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Hodir | |
Arena – 2250 points, 1600 rating |
Embraceofthegladiator is the best available chestpiece for Feral Tanks in Phase 2, but only drops from Hard Mode Thorim in Ulduar (25). It is also a powerful item likely to be contested by other physical DPS. Conqnightsongraiments is less good, but more easily obtained. Alternatively, Furiousgladrobes is roughly equal to the tier chest, and with a 1600 rating requirement is more attainable than the other listed arena pieces.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
27580 Honor | |
Utgarde Keep (Heroic) – Dalronn the Controller / Skarvald the Constructor | |
Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom (Heroic Plus) – Prince Taldaram |
Deadlygladiatorsarmwrapsoftriumph are the best available non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral. They do not have any arena rating requirement. The honor for them can even be farmed while leveling! If PvP isn’t your thing, the other options listed are perfectly fine as well.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Noth the Plaguebringer | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Maexxna | |
27580 Honor |
Thrustingbands are the best available non-Ulduar bracers for a Feral Tank. They drop from Noth in Naxxramas. The other listed alternatives are close in value, and Deadlygladiatorsarmwrapsoftriumph are easily obtained with no arena rating requirement.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Algalon the Observer | |
Ulduar (10) – XT-002 Deconstructor Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Flame Leviathan |
Solarbindings are the best bracer option for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. They drop from Algalon, and may be contested by DPS dealers. The alternatives listed aren’t as good, but are still significant upgrades over any Phase 1 items.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Any Dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss | |
Utgarde Pinnacle (Heroic Plus) – Svala Shadowgrave | |
Utgarde Pinnacle (Heroic) – King Ymiron | |
Halls of Lightning (Heroic) – Ionar |
Heroesdreamwalkergrips are the best available non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral in Phase 2. Rapidattackgloves are equal in value, but do not contribute to any set bonus (which are decent but not absolutely essential). The other options are considerably less good, but are still perfectly fine for going into Naxxramas.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Obsidian Sanctum (10/25) – Sartharion | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Sapphiron (Binds on equip) | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Grand Widow Faerlina |
Valorousdreamwalkerhandgrips are the best available non-Ulduar gloves for a Feral Tank. They drop from Sartharion. Glovesoffastreactions from Sapphiron are a solid option and are bind on equip, meaning they can be bought on the auction house. However, they can be quite expensive.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (10) – Algalon the Observer | |
Ulduar (25) – Auriaya | |
Ulduar (25) – Mimiron | |
Arena – 1350 points, 1400 rating |
Glovesoftheendlessdark are the best overall glove option for Feral Tanks in Phase 2, and come from Ulduar (10). However, the best gloves for pure survival are Furiousgladgloves, which only require 1400 arena rating and thus aren’t too difficult to obtain. The two others listed from Ulduar (25) are perfectly viable and well balanced options as well.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
Wintergrasp – 15 wintergraspmarkofhonor | |
Utgarde Keep (Heroic) – Ingvar the Plunderer |
Polarcord is the best available option for a fresh 80 Feral. It is craftable and Binds on Equip, so it can be bought on the auction house. It’s quite cheap, so I strongly recommend getting this immediately. Otherwise, the other options are fine as well.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
Wintergrasp – 15 wintergraspmarkofhonor | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Patchwerk, Gluth |
Polarcord is the best available non-Ulduar belt for a Feral Tank. It is craftable and binds on equip, so can be bought on the auction house. It is quite cheap, so I strongly recommend getting this immediately. Otherwise, the listed alternatives are fine as well.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (10) – Yogg-Saron (1 Light) | |
Leatherworking – Binds on Equip | |
Souldevouringcinch is the best available belt for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. Luckily, there are two more easily obtainable alternatives if you aren’t lucky with loot; you can pay for a deathwarmedbelt or use your emblemsofconquest(s) on a beltofthetwilightassassin.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Any Dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss | |
Gundrak (Heroic) – Gul’darah | |
Violet Hold (Heroic) – Trash (Binds on equip) |
Heroesdreamwalkerlegguards are the best available option for a fresh 80 Feral. The other options are less good, but chaingangleggings are Bind on Equip and can therefore be bought cheaply on the auction house. I recommend getting these first.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Obsidian Sanctum (10/25) – Sartharion Bonus Loot (2 drakes) | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Thaddius, Gluth | |
Any Dungeon (Heroic Plus) – Final boss |
Leggingsofthehonored are the best available non-Ulduar legs for a Feral Tank. They can drop from Sartharion if two drakes are kept alive before engaging the boss, but keep in mind that they are quite contested and can be difficult to obtain. Valorousdreamwalkerlegguards are a strong alternative from Naxxramas.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Yogg-Saron | |
Ulduar (25) – Freya Hard Mode |
legguardsofcunningdeception are the best available leg option for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. They drop from Yogg-Saron in Ulduar (25). However, leggingsofwaveringshadow are an easily obtainable alternative and are relatively close in value.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
Wintergrasp – 15 wintergraspmarkofhonor | |
Halls of Lightning (Heroic) – Volkhan |
Polarboots are the best available boots for a fresh 80 Feral. These are cheap to craft or buy on the auction house and I strongly recommend getting them early on. The alternatives listed are fine as well, but less good and harder to get.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Loatheb | |
Leatherworking – Binds on equip | |
Footpadsofviledeceit are the best available non-Ulduar boots for a Feral Tank. They can drop from Loatheb in Naxxramas. However, Polarboots are a very close alternative, and these are cheap to craft or buy on the auction house; I strongly recommend picking these up.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Iron Assembly | |
PvP – 62,000 honor, 1500 arena rating | |
Leatherworking – Binds on Equip |
Runedironhideboots are the best overall boots available for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. However, Furiousgladboots are best for pure survival. These require 1500 arena rating and a lot of honor. Footpadsofsilence can be bought or crafted (though they require multiple RunedOrbs to craft) and are a well-balanced alternative.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
Jewelcrafting – Binds on equip | |
Drak’tharon Keep (Heroic) – The Prophet Tharon’ja | |
Halls of Stone (Heroic Plus) – Sjonnir the Ironshaper | |
Harold Winston – 1,250 gold and ringofthekirintor, which itself costs 8,000 gold | |
Jewelcrafting – Binds on equip |
There are many ring options available for a fresh 80 Feral, the best two being titaniumfrostguardring and keystonegreatring. The former is cheap to craft or buy and very accessible. The latter is from Drak’tharon Keep Heroic. The other options are viable, though I wouldn’t recommend spending 9,000 gold on a Kirin Tor ring for any reason. Titaniumearthguardring is a little bit more pricey than titaniumfrostguardring, but is a solid option nonetheless.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Sapphiron | |
Drak’tharon Keep – The Prophet Tharon’ja | |
Jewelcrafting – Binds on equip | |
Halls of Stone (Heroic Plus) – Sjonnir the Ironshaper |
Gatekeeper and Keystonegreatring are the best two non-Ulduar ring options for a Feral Tank. However, Signetoftheimpregnablefortress bought with emblemofvalor and Titaniumfrostguardring crafted or bought for cheap on the auction house are close in value and more easily obtained. All of these are perfectly reasonable ring choices.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Thorim Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (25) – Flame Leviathan | |
Ulduar (25) – Algalon the Observer | |
Ulduar (10) – Hodir | |
Ulduar (10) – XT-002 Deconstructor |
Fatesclutch and theleviathanscoil are the two best rings for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. Brannssignetring is equal in value, but likely to be contested. The other two listed rings are more easily obtained, but are only slightly better than Phase 1 BiS.
Fresh 80 & Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Darkmoon Faire – Nobles Deck | |
Jewelcrafting (400) – Binds on pickup | |
Azjol-Nerub (Heroic) – Hadronox | |
Jewelcrafting (400) – Binds on pickup | |
Engineering (390 to equip, 420 to craft) – Binds on equip |
DMCG and monarchcrab are the best available options for a fresh 80 Feral (indeed, they are your best trinkets until Ulduar). However, DMCG is expensive and not nearly as impactful for a tank as for other classes. Monarchcrab requires Jewelcrafting, which is the second best profession to have anyway, but is not a “must-have profession.” So, if like me you are poor and not a jewelcrafter, I recommend sticking to EssenceofGossamer from Azjol-Nerub (Heroic) and SonicBooster (requires engineering) until Ulduar.
Unfortunately, if you do not have either profession and cannot afford DMCG, all other available trinkets are far worse than those listed above. In this situation, you could ask some friends for help getting commendationofkaelthas from the level 70 heroic dungeon, Magister’s Terrace.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Ignis the Furnace Master | |
Ulduar (10) – Yogg-Saron |
HeartofIron and Royalsealofkinglane are the best available trinkets for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. In fact, they are the only upgrades available from Ulduar, and are far better than any other options. Until you get them, stick to your best Phase 1 / Pre-raid trinkets.
Fresh 80
Item | Source |
The Nexus (Heroic Plus) – Keristrasza | |
The Oculus (Heroic Plus) – Ley-Guardian Eregos | |
Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom (Heroic Plus) – Elder Nadox | |
Violet Hold (Heroic) – Cyanigosa |
Staffoftheplaguehound is the best available non-raid option for a fresh 80 Feral. Blackice and Staffoftheplaguebeast are close behind. Staffoftrickery is a solid option but is quite a bit worse than the others listed.
Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Grobbulus | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Kel’thuzad | |
The Nexus (Heroic Plus) – Keristrasza | |
Naxxramas (10/25) – Heigan the Unclean |
Originofnightmares is the best non-Ulduar weapon for a Feral Tank. It drops from Grobbulus in Naxxramas. Journeysend from Kel’thuzad is a close second, but you will need to fight hunters over it. The other listed options are considerably worse than these two.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – Yogg-Saron (1 Light) | |
Arena – 4250 points, 2350 rating | |
Ulduar (25) – Algalon the Observer and Freya Hard Mode | |
Ulduar (10) – General Vezax Hard Mode |
Darkedgeofdepravity is the best overall weapon for Feral Tanks in Phase 2. Furiousgladgreatstaff is the best pure survival option, however it requires 2350 rating, making it unrealistic for the vast majority of players. The other listed alternatives are relatively close in value.
Fresh 80 & Pre-Ulduar
Item | Source |
Grizzly Hills – 30 Venturecoin |
There is only one relevant pre-Ulduar tanking idol. It is easy to earn with just a couple of quests in southwest Grizzly Hills.
Best in Slot
Item | Source |
Ulduar (25) – General Vezax | |
Grizzly Hills – 30 Venturecoin |
There are only two relevant tanking idols in Phase 2; Ulduar introduces Idolofthecorruptor, which is an upgrade over the Phase 1 BiS, idolofperspicaciousattacks.
About the Author
Thanks, need to fix the link for Journey’s End.
I’d like to ask why you put Journey’s End on the BiS while it has less stamina, less agility and no armor compared to Origin of Nightmares. It does provide a bit more AP, but according to your own stat priority AP (with which I agree :P) it is way down at the bottom of the list.
It seems to me in every way that Origin of Nightmares is a better item than Journey’s End. Can you explain that choice please?
Hey, thanks for your comment! While you’re absolutely right that the stats on Origin of Nightmares are better optimised for feral tanking than those on Journey’s End, I felt when writing the guide that the overall higher stats (due to higher item level) on Journey’s End made it better overall. While AP is the lowest value stat per point, it’s always a balance, and to take it to the extreme, 1,000 AP will be more valuable than 1 stamina.
All that being said, I made this guide before any of the recent theorycrafting showed just how easy it is to maintain threat, and therefore just how survival-focused our gearing should be. Because of that, I agree that Origin of Nightmares is better, and I’ve updated the guide accordingly. Thanks for pointing it out!
I believe you have the wrong cloak for the BiS. I believe it should be Cloak of the Shadowed Sun. You have Drape of the Deadly Foe for the BiS and the Alternate.