A Worthy Weapon – Titansteel Destroyer

Let me say first, and foremost: This post has nothing to do with the Argent Tournament, also I love the Death Knight class, and moreover I love tanking as a Death Knight. It just feels right. And the class has seen a multitude of buffs and nerfs (tanking and otherwise) since it was introduced with Wrath. However, there’s only one thing about the class that bothers me, and oddly it has nothing to do with the class specifically: itemization. Once upon a time, Blizzard announced they were adding a set of tanking 2 handers to Blacksmithing. DK tanks everywhere dropped a professions and started power levelling smithing. Then, one day… it was announced the 2 handed tanking weapons just would not be happening. The reasoning given was that Blizz didn’t want to actually actively itemize 2 handed tanking weapons for tanking DKs. It wouldn’t make since for items to be made specifically for one class/playstyle (you know like plate armor with healing stats, amirite?) Also, Blizz reps stated they didn’t want DK tanks to be stuck with the same weapon for 6+ months, through entire content cycles.

Fast forward: it’s several months into Ulduar content. My guild’s got everything in Ulduar down except Vez, Yogg, and Algalon. And I’m still using Titansteel Destroyer, a smithed 2 handed mace I had crafted days after the release of Wrath. But the question is why?

When word that Wrath of the Lich King would include the Death Knight, I decided immediately I would be one, and moreover that I would be a tank. At the time, my guild was under manned. We were short specifically on tanks, so the inclusion of the DK was grounds for celebration. Before it was me (as a paladin) and another paladin tanking, not the ideal setup; though finding a way to split mobs was interesting…

Wrath dropped and the race was on, I started the expansion a bit behind. But I had a group of 4 level 70 Shamans to box the new DK with, as well as RAF time to get a quick headstart. I started my DK and began power levelling, I was in my mid 60s before the sun came up and I felt I had to sleep. I wanted to catch up to the Shamans post haste so I could get a look at all Northrend had to offer. Days of grinding later I had a group of 80s, and my DK was hauling around the same weapon he has to this day. It was and still is a great entry level weapon for anyone using 2 handers. For DK tanks; in the absence of any real tanking itemization for our two handers, the Destroyer is a great example of the stats we value. Stamina, Strength (though not absolutely necessary is nice), and Hit. Generally speaking, we end up going for 2 handers with either lots of Sta and Hit or lots of Sta and Expertise. We don’t have much choice in the matter, this is how Blizz made us.

Now the problem is this: Without real tanking itemization on 2 handers for DK tanks, we now have to compete with a slew of melee DPS for our tanking weapons. This is a problem that is somewhat unique to DK Tanks; Druids at most have to roll against 1 or 2 hunters for a staff, or polearm. But even in those cases, I see Hunters passing to Druids because, “that’s all they really get.” Well, wait a second. There’s only one real item type DK tanks are going after too… That’s 2 handers with either hit or expertise on them. But, the DPS want those too, REALLY want them. And for largely the same reasons. They want expertise so that they can knock dodge off the combat table, so they can stay hit capped and gem differently. Which brings me to another thought, what about Warriors and Paladins, well when it comes to tanking weapon itemization they’re the best off of the lot. Who’s going to roll for Last Laugh? The 1 Warrior tank in the raid. If the DW DPS DK tries to roll on it, they’ll get laughed out of the raid.

Conclusion: I really think Blizzard should take another look at the way they’re handling the weapons for DK tanks. We get 1, maybe 2 real options per raid instance. And even then they’re not always itemized in a way that makes you absolutely want it. Inevitable Defeat for instance seems perfectly tuned to DK tanking, but then look at something in Uld which initially appears to be an upgrade, then you notice wasted points on haste. My point is this: I don’t want to be treated like a Paladin, Warrior, or even Druid. I don’t want to start using their weapons to tank. But just one weapon per instance that you think about, and make to be the DK Tank weapon would be nice. As it stands now, I’m thinking of doing Arenas for a PVE weapon. And I think that says a lot about the odd direction that the itemization has taken. In the end, I can’t blame Blizzard or QQ too much, I’ve done quite well for myself despite my weapon handicap. I honestly feel a lot of it is bad luck, either a good tanking weapon doesn’t drop, or I lose it to some DPS who’s only holding it till something better comes along in a few bosses. When the smithed tanking two handers were taken out, one of the reasons given was that Blizzard didn’t want to limit our choices for tanking weapons.. and honestly, that’s how I feel now. They’ve increased our choices by severely limiting them, and I just don’t feel good about it… someone … throw me a friggin’ bone.