The ONLY way to Spec: 2 Protection Specs or 1?

Posted by riverstonecamp on 07 13th, 2009

Categories: Tanking & Cooldown Rotation Tips | no responses

Like most, I absolutely loved the idea of Dual specs the second they mentioned it would be happening. Unlike most, I was pumped about it because I wanted to use 2 Protection specs. Why shouldn’t I?

1 Spec to Protect

There’s no denying that if you’re utilizing a single Protection spec with a DPS spec then you’re giving your Raid more options. You aren’t forcing them into using you as a tank nor are you hindering them by doing inferior DPS when you do have to DPS. It makes a lot more sense to be able to Tank well and DPS well especially since Protection DPS when not tanking is pretty ugly.

It takes 2 to Tan(k)go

On the flip side though, 2 Protection specs gives you more options. You aren’t forced to make the decision to spec exclusively for progression or to spec in such a way that’s okay at everything. Your DPS is going to be bad, but you very easily could end up tanking a lot better than “well” due to more options. You’re also able to test any kind of Protection spec you want because you can always fall back on your other spec.

Wait… aren’t you only using 1 Prot Spec, right now!?

Yup, but I’m not always.

That’s the beauty of being the raid leader. I know what role I’m going to play during a raid ahead of time. I know every fight we’re going to do and I know who is going to tank and who isn’t going to tank and I can spec accordingly. Which isn’t to say that 2 Protections specs is only for raid leaders, but it is to say that if you aren’t the raid leader that you better have a pretty great relationship with your raid leader so that you know what you’ll be doing too. (and so that your raid leader knows how you’ll be specing)

What has been lost in the Debate?

Spec for the Encounter.

Just because you have access to 2 specs doesn’t mean that you should only be using those 2 specs. Just because you are only using a single tanking spec doesn’t mean it has to be a general, “average at everything” spec.

Spec for the Encounter.

Spec for the Encounter?

Whatever fight your guild is focusing it’s progression on, that’s what you spec for. This may mean that some of the farm content you’ll be doing won’t be quite as easy as you’d like it to be or it may mean you’ll have to carry multiple stacks of different Glyphs to cater your spec to even the farm content you’re doing that night. And this may all mean that you spend a whole lot more money on progression than the average tank, but then…

We really aren’t doing this to be Average. Are we?

9 Questions to ask yourself before Specing

Do you have any idea what you’ll be doing today?

If no, talk to your raid leader.

Will I be DPSing today?

If yes, settle on 1 Protection spec.

Is there a Progression boss today?

If yes, spec for that boss.

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If no, is there a farm boss you have trouble with?

Spec for the tough farm boss.

Are you going for a Speed clear?

Spec to accommodate clearing trash faster.

Do you have a crazy spec you want to try?

Make sure you have a 2nd Prot spec that potentially doesn’t suck to fall back on.

Are you doing a fight that requires a lot of threat today?

Have a spec that can do a lot of threat.

Are you doing a fight that you’re worried about dieing on today?

Have a survival oriented spec.

Do you have time to Spec?

If no, don’t do it. Nothing unfocuses a raid more than having to wait on someone respecing. It’s even worse when it’s you because you’re the tank. People have to trust you and believe they you’re always ready because you have to always be ready in order to do your role properly. Not to mention, the last thing you want to do is rush the respecing process and end up forgetting something you really needed. That said, I’m not endorsing walking into a raid with 2 non-tanking specs and trying to tank. Just do yourself a favour and always allow yourself enough time to respec.

Where’s the Specs in this Article!?

Yes, I could link you a 15/5/51 build and say that it’s the greatest single Prot build you can use. (even though that’s not true) Or, I could link you the combination of 15/3/53 and 5/10/56 and tell you that’s the best 2 Prot specs together. (even though that’s not true either) But, I’m not going to because that’s not the point. The point is that you could use a 15/5/51 spec, a 15/3/53 spec, a 5/10/56 spec, a 5/15/51 spec, a 37/0/34 spec, a 37/2/32 spec, a 5/0/61 spec or any of a million different specs with different talent combinations.

The point is that it’s about communicating with your raid leader so that you know how to spec for the encounter.

And if it makes sense, you use 2 Prot specs. And if it makes sense, you use 1 Prot spec. And that’s it.

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