Now that all of the 3.2 weapons have been discovered, I've run the weapon analysis again, including nearly every relevant weapon we'd be interested in.
3.2 Weapon Analysis - CompleteIf you haven't read the
earlier version of this calculation, here's the short short version:
- Slow weapons are good for us, because SoV 5-stack proc rewards weapon speed, at roughly 28 TPS per 0.1 weapon speed.
- The only spec-related choice that can change the outcome is Reckoning. Each point in Reckoning will add 24-28 TPS for a 1.5-1.6 speed weapon, while it will add 40-45 TPS for a 2.5-2.6 speed weapon.
This means that for a weapon with equal DPS but a 2.6 weapon speed, it will be about 280 TPS ahead of a tank weapon with 1.6 weapon speed, and the swap will give you an additional 16-17 TPS for each point you have in Reckoning.
This time around, I'm not going to investigate as many specs, since it doesn't make much difference outside of Reckoning. Since most tanks will likely go the 53/18 route, we'll just look at a 1V+3C spec, as well as a 3R+1V+3C spec for those who choose to pick up Reckoning with their discretionary points. If you spec 5 into Reckoning somehow, you'll have to add 56 or 80 TPS to these numbers as appropriate to get an accurate comparison.
I've included all of the 2.6-speed melee DPS weapons from Coliseum, as well as Vulmir from Ulduar for a benchmark. There's no point in adding the 1.6-speed melee DPS weapons, as we'd be better off using a tanking weapon if we're going with a fast weapon. In addition, the difference in TPS between fast tank weapons and fast DPS weapons is very small.
Since there are different names for many of the items, I've generated tables and plots for both Alliance and Horde versions of the weapons. Note that this list is not incorporating racial expertise bonuses - in a close race, the expertise bonus will probably tip the scales in favor of the race's preferred weapons. Be sure to factor that in for yourself if you're using this to gauge an upgrade.
SetupRotation: 969
Seals: SoV
Glyphs: V
Talents: 1V+3C and 3R+1V+3C (see the
Glossary or the
talent analysis if you don't know what these mean)
Gear:
Theck's 8.5 Progression SetWeapons: Too many to list, basically every tank weapon in WotLK as well as all 2.6-speed melee DPS weapons from Coliseum and Vulmir from Ulduar.
MMO-Champion data used for the Coliseum weapons, wowhead for the rest.
The data table and first plot will be sorted both by instance and type. The top group on the graph is all slow DPS weapons, the middle group is Coliseum tanking weapons, and the bottom group is Ulduar and Naxx tanking weapons. The table is inverted (DPS weapons at the bottom, tank weapons at the top).
- Code: Select all
Alliance List (scroll down for Horde)
TPS
Weapon ilvl 1V+3C 3R+1V+3C
Broken Promise 213 7770 7887
Peacekeeper Blade 219 7558 7630
Stoneguard 219 7631 7709
Legacy of Thunder 219 7697 7780
Last Laugh 226 7694 7773
Titanguard 232 7749 7830
Shiver 232 7752 7832
Sorthalis 239 7819 7901
Crusader's Glory (232) 232 7703 7779
Crusader's Glory (245) 245 7835 7913
Honor of the Fallen 245 7853 7935
Silverwing Defender 258 7999 8084
The Grinder (232) 232 7924 8048
The Lion's Maw (232) 232 7938 8063
Vulmir 239 8029 8154
The Grinder (245) 245 8063 8192
The Lion's Maw (245) 245 8082 8210
Stormpike Cleaver (245) 245 8125 8254
Remorseless 258 8224 8357
Stormpike Cleaver (258) 258 8275 8410
Horde List
TPS
Weapon ilvl 1V+3C 3R+1V+3C
Broken Promise 213 7770 7887
Peacekeeper Blade 219 7558 7630
Stoneguard 219 7631 7709
Legacy of Thunder 219 7697 7780
Last Laugh 226 7694 7773
Titanguard 232 7749 7830
Shiver 232 7752 7832
Sorthalis 239 7819 7901
Ardent Guard (232) 232 7703 7779
Ardent Guard (245) 245 7835 7913
Blood and Glory 245 7853 7935
Orgrim's Deflector 258 7999 8084
Blackhorn Bludgeon (232) 232 7924 8048
Frostblade Hatchet (232) 232 7938 8063
Vulmir 239 8029 8154
Blackhorn Bludgeon (245) 245 8063 8192
Frostblade Hatchet (245) 245 8082 8210
Hellscream Slicer (245) 245 8125 8254
Cudgel of the Damned 258 8224 8357
Hellscream Slicer (258) 258 8275 8410
Horde NamesAgain, we see BP is a strong contender in the pre-Coliseum group, ahead of everything but Sorthalis in the pre-Coliseum division. Interestingly, the entry-level Coliseum-10 weapon (
Crusader's Glory for Alliance,
Ardent Guard for Horde) also falls short of BP as well as Shiver and Titanguard due to the lack of hit rating. The Tribute versions of the 10-man weapons and the entry-level Coliseum-25 weapons (
Honor of the Fallen,
Blood and Glory) edge out Sorthalis, and the Tribute-25 weapons (
Silverwing Defender,
Orgrim's Deflector) beat the pants off of any tanking weapon available, as well as edging out the weaker 232-ilvl DPS weapons.
The strength of 2.6-speed weapons is evident immediately though, as even the 232-ilvl DPS weapons have a solid lead over all but the highest-end fast tanking weapon.
Probably the most amusing part of all of this is that a Naxx-25 item is faring so strongly that it's completely feasible for a tank in a fairly high-end progression guild would walk into Coliseum hard modes wielding it.
The next plots are just sorted differently, with all weapon types mixed together and sorted by TPS.
Horde NamesFinally, here's another "sorted by TPS" plot with only the tanking weapons on it.
Horde NamesTLDR version:
- Slow weapons are good for threat. If you have a Broken Promise in the bank still, it may be time to dust it off if you haven't had much luck in Ulduar hard modes.
- If you really want to dish out the TPS, grab a 2.6-speed melee DPS weapon for those threat-heavy fights.