Gems for a feral druid

[Bob]

As I'm now finally done with my exams, I have time to start looking into something I've delayed for too long - get some gems socketed into my gear. Have 11 sockets in my tanking gear to fill atm...

I have had some conversations with various persona about this, but I got some different answers (and it's quite long since as well), so I thought I should ask here to get some extended advice


So, it's my tanking gear I'm gonna focus at first, as that's whats most important for now. You can see what I'm currently wearing here at my profile at the armory.
In bear unbuffed, I have the following stats with this: 16511 AC, 10684 HP, 398 defense and 18.63% dodge.

So this is what I have that is gem-able, what sockets the items have, and the socket bonuses:

[item]Exorcist's Dragonhide Helm[/item]
1 meta
Bonus: +4 AP

[item]Shoulderpads of Assassination[/item]
2 yellow
Bonus: +4 sta

[item]Heavy Clefthoof Vest[/item]
2 yellow
1 blue
Bonus: +4 dodge rating

[item]Heavy Clefthoof Leggings[/item]
1 yellow
2 blue
Bonus: +4 dodge rating

[item]Heavy Clefthoof Boots[/item]
1 yellow
1 blue
Bonus: +3 dodge rating


So, the "simple" question is than, what would be the best gems for me to get for these things, taking my current stats and gear into account? I've been told that I really shouldn't think too much about the socket bonuses, but if there are some nice combos that cove them as well, I guess it wouldn't hurt.

Was hoping to get this done during one of the next day, so I preferably have it all ready for Sunday's raid

And btw, while I'm at it; I'm gladly taking some enchanting advice for those things as well

[TeaLeaf]

This is easy.  For a feral druid who might tank there is an obvious choice.  Get the MAXIMUM stamina gear you can.

[itemico]24033en[/itemico] [item]24033en[/item]

[itemico]25896en[/itemico] [item]25896en[/item]

Forget the socket bonuses, the stamina is worth more.  Just fill every slot you got with +12 Stamina gems.  The Meta gem slot should have +18 stamina.  Example of a good feral tank with such socketed gems: here.

TL.

[Bastet]

Tanking yes, what TL said, and btw 16k armor is very low, i am at 26,000 and whats your resilience rating? You should be at about 415 defense equivelent (use the mod Tank Points to calculate) if you want to avoid critical hits at all.
 
And woot, i got my profile linked, 5 min of fame here i come

[Sandrion]

Currently I got Solid Stars of Elune (+12sta) in all my blue slots and Enduring Talasites (+6sta, +4def) in all my yellow slots. This way you also the the bonus.
 
But I have to admit, the bonusus are very minor and overall you're better off if you put Solid Stars of Elune in everything, like TL and Bastet said.
 
About the enchants, I'd suggest these:
+12 sta on bracers.
+150 HP on chest.
+15 agi on gloves (Kreuz can do this one).
+12 agi on cloak.
+12 agi on boots (this enchant is still fairly rare though).
Clefthide Leg Armor on legs (+30 sta, +10 agi).
+dodge/+def enchant from the keepers of time on head.
+dodge/+def enchant from Aldor (or Scryers) on shoulders.
 
I also use tankpoints, it's a great mod that shows all kinds of information about your tanking stats. It makes it easier for you to see what a gear change would do to your survivability. Currently I got 22.5k armor, 12.5k HP, 30% dodge and +crit immunity (all unbuffed), which is pretty easy to obtain since most of the stuff I have are craftables and quest/rep rewards.

[Bob]

Tanking yes, what TL said, and btw 16k armor is very low, i am at 26,000 and whats your resilience rating? You should be at about 415 defense equivelent (use the mod Tank Points to calculate) if you want to avoid critical hits at all.

According to the profile I linked I should have 52 resilience.

About the gear, I've been working my way through that list you mentioned for me some time ago only thing I'm missing now, is the Verdant Gloves (I'm somewhere in the start in that quest line), and the Earthwarden (won't see the needed rep for that in the next week, but I'll be working on it). I also haven't seen that nice tanking ring drop from the first boss in Durnholde, so I'll have to do some more runs there as well.
So other than that, I'm mostly missing out on enchants and gems I would guess.

And thanks for the enchant tips Sandrion :thumbsup2:

[Bastet]

+150 HP on chest.

I went for +15 resiliance enchant here to remain crit immune, which becomes harder once you start swopping out the clefthoof set.

[Soulbringerx]

If needed SoulbringerX can make all the gems you want gimme a /w ingame and ill make em for ya if ya got the gems offcourse

[Bob]

[item]Earthstorm Diamond[/item] is available at AH atm, and compared to Allakhazam, the price ain't that bad either.
There were some [item]Star of Elune[/item] as well, but not nearly enough. As I'll need 10 to fill all my empty sockets, I would be very glad if somebody have some they would like to sell to me for a nice price

[Gorion]

i usually use the +9 blue gems, atleast for blue gear, once you get your epics you could invest in the 12 ones, theres a minimum of 40g difference for 30hp per gem

[Nefertem]

As I got a lock to do my farming, and Im not counting on getting full epics straight away, Im usually going for the +12 one.. I got the defense sorted, but still needs some more hp..

[Bob]

I've got it all sorted out now. Had some stars of elune, so I filled my Heavy Clefthoof west with three of those - the rest of the sockets got willed with the 9sta one (aszure moonstone or something).
Also have all the enchants sorted out, so now I'm approaching a really respectable tanking gear

Only thing I miss from right now, is the [item]Earthwarden[/item] - 300 away from revered with CE atm, so a bit of grinding left there before I hit exalted.
I also would like to have one of [item]Iron Band of the Unbreakable[/item], but I have yet to see it drop from Lieutenant Drake in Old Hillsbrad :sideways:

[Bastet]

save for a +35 agi enchant for that earthwarden.