Gear Choices Pt. I – Gearing up for Naxx UPDATE

Gearing up is, and always will be a huge topic. No site on this blog gets visited at often, as Gear Choices Pt. I – Gearing up for Naxx. Obviously, the list got quite out-dated over time, so here comes the updated version. This list is meant for every new shaman, who doesn’t raid and gears up mostly through heroics. I will include Emblem of Triumph gear as well, even if I know it will take a very long time to get to the items which cost 45-75 Emblems. I left the Emblem of Heroism items in the list, for all you guys there who might still have some Emblems left. In most cases you might want the Emblem of Conquest items though, so please don’t downgrade your Emblem of Conquest. Emblem of Triumph items are all Horde version, strange blue shamans, you will find out which is the according item for yourself easily.

Again. If you make a little plan on getting a nice set of resto gear together through heroics: don’t concentrate on that Emblem of Triumph gear too much. It might take a pretty long time to get a decent amount of Emblems, take those items as a very nice bonus. If you don’t raid yet, but raiding is your goal, try to get into a raid/nice guild as soon as possible.

Run Trial of the Champion as often as possible.

I also included some newer crafted items. If they’re worth it largely depends on the economy of your server or the amount of Emblem of Conquest you have left to buy Runed Orbs. On my realm, Runed Orbs are around 180-200g, Crusader Orbs around 1800-2000g. The items are pretty good, then again, if you don’t raid, they’re just wasted money in my eyes.

For additional information on stat weights and reasoning behind this list, visit the old version of the list here.

Head

1. Headguard of Inner Warmth (75 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Thrall’s Headpiece of Conquest (50 Emblem of Triumph)
   
3. Conqueror’s Worldbreaker Headpiece (58 Emblem of Conquest)
4. Gaze of the Unknown or Gaze of the Somber Keeper (Trial of the Champion Heroic and non Heroic, not itemized for Shamans, still better than Battlemap Hide Helm though)
5. Battlemap Hide Helm (Utgarde Keep Heroic)
6. Brood Plague Helmet (Ahn’Kahet Heroic)
7. Helm of the Lightning Halls (World Drop, check the AH)
8. Battle Mender’s Helm (Agent Crusade – Revered)
9. Horned Helm of Varos (The Oculus)

Neck

1. Symbol of Redemption (Trial of the Champion Heroic)
2. Frozen Tear of Elune (19 Emblem of Conquest)
3. Lattice Choker of Light (25 Emblem of Heroism)
4. Titanium Spellshock Necklace (JC – crafted)
5. Amulet of Dazzling Light (The Nexus Heroic)
6. Amulet of the Crusade (Quest Item)
7. Choker of Betrayal (Quest Item)

Shoulder

1. Shoulders of the Groundbreaker (45 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Thrall’s Spaulders of Conquest (30 Emblem of Triumph)
3. Pauldrons of the Deafening Gale (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Hit)
4. Mantle of Inconsolable Fear (Trial of the Champion – Cloth)
5. Mantle of the Tribunal (Halls of Stone Heroic) or Dark Runic Mantle (World Drop) – both cloth :\
6. Spaulders of the Violet Hold (Violet Hold)
7. Mantle of Discarded Ways (Utgarde Pinnacle Heroic)
8. Epaulets of Market Row (World Drop)
9. Duskweave Shoulders (crafted)

Back

1. Cloak of Kea Feathers (25 Emblem of Valor)
2. Kurisu’s Indecision (Trial of the Champion Heroic – with Hit, don’t Ninja-loot it!)
3. Wispcloak (crafted)
4. Ancient Dragon Spirit Cape (The Oculus Heroic)
5. Shroud of Resurrection (Utgarde Pinnacle)
6. Shroud of Dedicated Research (Kirin Tor – Honored)
7. Bloodbane Shroud (Quest Item)

Chest

1. Ensorcelled Nerubian Breastplate (Crafted, 8 Crusader Orbs, which is just too much money)
2. Conqueror’s Worldbreaker Tunic (58 Emblem of Conquest)
3. Thrall’s Tunic of Conquest (50 Emblem of Triumph)
4. Embrace of Madness (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Cloth)
5. Heroes’ Earthshatter Tunic (80 Emblem of Heroism)
6. Robes of Crackling Flame (Kirin Tor – Exalted, but srsly, shaman in robe?!)
7. Carapace of Grim Visions (Trial of the Champion)
8. Revenant’s Breastplate (crafted by leatherworker. I personally don’t like grinding reagents)
9. Dalronn’s Jerkin (Utgarde Keep Heroic)
10. Runic Cage Chestpiece (The Oculus)

Wrist

1. Black Chitin Bracers (crafted, 4 Crusader Orbs – not worth the the money, might be an option in some months)
2. Cuffs of the Shadow Ascendant (60 Emblem of Valor – Cloth)
3. Azure Cloth Bindings (The Violet Hold Heroic/cloth) or Limb Regeneration Bracers (Drak’Tharon Heroic)
4. Bands of Channeled Energy (The Nexus Heroic)
5. Ancestral Sinew Wristguards (The Wyrmrest Accord – Revered)
6. Wound-Binder’s Wristguards (Knights of the Ebon Blade – Revered)

Hand

1. Thrall’s Handguards of Conquest (30 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Gloves of Augury (25 Emblem of Conquest)
3. Gloves of Dismal Fortune (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Leather)
4. Heroes’ Earthshatter Handguards (60 Emblem of Heroism)
5. Grips of Fierce Pronouncements (Wyrmrest Accord – Exalted)
6. Fiery Obelisk Handguards (Ahn’kahet Heroic)
7. Cracked Epoch Grasps (Stratholme Past Heroic)
8. Gauntlets of Dark Conversion (Stratholme Past)

Waist

1. Blue Belt of Chaos (crafted – 6 Runed Orbs, farming TotC Heroic is cheaper though)
2. Girdle of the Dauntless Conqueror (Trial of the Champion Heroic)
3. Windchill Binding (28 Emblem of Conquest)
4. Beadwork Belt of Shamanic Vision (40 Emblem of Heroism)
5. Mail Girdle of the Audient Earth (Halls of Lightning Heroic)
6. Sash of Blood Removal (Gun’drak Heroic – just one of 3 (!) solid caster/healer belts in Gun’drak)

Legs

1. Thrall’s Legguards of Conquest (50 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Leggings of the Weary Mystic (39 Emblem of Conquest)
3. Leggings of the Snowy Bramble (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Leather)
4. Kilt of Dark Mercy (Knights of the Ebon Blade – Exalted)
5. Leggings of the Bloodless Knight (Trial of the Champion)
6. Skirt of the Old Kingdom or Legguards of Nature’s Power (Ahn’kahet/Stratholme Past Heroic, first one is cloth)
7. Frozen Forest Kilt (The Nexus Heroic)
8. Giant-Friend Kilt (Sons of Hodir – Revered)

Feet

1. Lightning Grounded Boots (crafted – 6 Runed Orbs)
2. Treads of Coastal Wandering (40 Emblem of Valor)
3. Boots of the Crackling Flame (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Cloth and Hit)
4. Barkhide Treads (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Leather and Hit)
5. Sandals of Crimson Fury (The Wyrmrest Accord – Exalted, cloth but you’ll have to grind rep for head enchantement anyway and there’s nice gauntlets too)
6. Revenant’s Treads (LW – crafted)
7. Cleric’s Linen Shoes (Nexus Heroic) or Stone-Worn Footwraps (Azjol’Nerub Heroic) if you don’t mind cloth
8. Treads of the Life Path (Remember? There are better choices than those, be it cloth or pvp boots but there’s no rush to change those out)

Finger

1. Heartmender Circle (35 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Renewal of Life (25 Emblem of Valor)
3. Sinner’s Confession (Trial of the Champion Heroic – Hit!)
4. Titanium Spellshock Ring (JC – crafted)
5. Signet of Hopeful Light (Argent Crusade – Exalted)
6. Band of Guile (Stratholme Heroic)
7. Ring of Temerity (Quest)
8. Annhylde’s Ring (Utgarde Keep Heroic)
9. Flourishing Band (Quest)

Trinket Slot

Fill it with whatever you get around to round up your healing set. Talisman of Resurgence is a fantastic piece, but costs 50 Emblem of Triumph. Don’t forget to farm for Tears of the Vanquished in Trial of the Champion non-heroic. The Egg of Mortal Essence (if you have spare Emblems of Heroism), Mercurial Alchemist Stone, Soul Preserver or Tome of Arcane Phenomena are good starting options. Keep a set of various trinkets and implement them in different healing sets as mentioned in the beginning of this post. Spark of Life, Forge Ember or Winged Talisman can be found in heroic dungeons.

MH

1. Mariel’s Sorrow (Trial of the Champion Heroic)
2. Spectral Kris (Trial of the Champion – This should go to caster DPS first)
3. War Mace of Unrequited Love (The Nexus Heroic)
4. Titansteel Guardian (BS – crafted)
5. Flameheart Spell Scalpel (Kirin Tor – Revered)
6. Totemic Purification Rod (Kalu’ak – Revered)

OH

1. Protective Barricade of the Light (35 Emblem of Heroism)
2. Zom’s Crackling Bulwark (World Drop)
3. Facade Shield of Glyphs (Azjol-Nerub Heroic)
4. Bulwark of Redemption (Quest)

Totem

1. Totem of Calming Tides (25 Emblem of Triumph)
2. Steamcaller’s Totem (19 Emblem of Conquest)
3. Totem of the Bay (Get this! Insanely easy to get.)
4. Totem of Forest Growth (15 Emblem of Heroism)

On gemming: If your main focus is on 5 man dungeons, focus on SP and mp5. If you want to get into raiding, start gemming for INT. If you you never run out of mana, go SP and haste all the way.

On glyphs: I consider Glyph of Chain Heal, Glyph of Lesser Healing Wave and Glyph of Earth Shield and you’re all set. For minor glyphs take Glyph of Water Shield and then anything that suits your needs.