Need tank advice for Mixed team in Cata

[jethro16]

Hi Guys, I've been boxing mixed teams for a couple years. I've always used my prot pally for tanking but for Cataclysm, I'm planning to run 2 groups of 5 for leveling to 85 and I wanted to get some opinions on the tank for the second group. I'm either using DK or a warrior.

I've seen some good prot warrior macros in the macro section but I haven't seen that many good DK macros (for 4.0 that is). I'm using isboxer and using Mercurio's "setup" he describes in his Catacylsm Macro thread. I guess my main question is which class between the two would be more friendly (and effective) to boxing using cast sequence macros.

Thanks!

[BrothelMeister]

For DK Tanks with a 4 dps+ 1 tank set-up, with the dps using off heals, I never worried about the DK's damage much.

That said, my combination of spells WAS (before 4.0.1) Icy Touch for the frost runes; Plague Strike for the Unholy Runes; and Blood Boil/ Rune Tap for the Blood Runes. Death and decay was what brought 90% of the threat in anyway. Keeping Diseases up was impossible, and unnecessary.

Wtih 4.0.1, my plan is to continue with no focus what so ever on Diseases, and this time since Icy touch brings no threat to the table, to not use Icy Touch or Unholy Strike. Only spells needed are Death and Decay, Death Strike, Heart Strike and Rune Strike (Or Death Coil if they are out of Range). this should be easy as hell to make a rotation for, and should be a no-brainer.

[Ualaa]

Really it is a preference call.

I personally go with Paladin or Druid tanks, as I find them easier to tank based on the spam of fewer buttons.

Generally a Pally is my top choice.
But for teams which are predominantly casters, especially PvP teams, I like that a Druid can both be a Bear tank and a Balance (ranged) DPS.

From what I've heard of beta, DK's have been the top tank so far.
Warriors are superb tanks, if you micro them; click this ability in this situation, click that in another -- if you can manage that (procs) they're a good choice too.

Encounters are balanced against the average group of players.
And boxers are generally better players, as you can be sure your DPS won't stand in puddles of acid or the like.
So whatever you go with, will likely work.
We need to learn the mechanic, such as how to move the slaves independently of the main.
But once we do, no one in our groups (vs half a pug) make stupid mistakes.

[Littleburst]

DK is easier to manage then Warrior.

Personally, i like feral tanks. Warrior would be my last choice.

[jethro16]

Thanks for the info all. That is exactly what I needed to know. I haven't played either class in quite a while but I remember having a lot to mange with the warrior vs my pally so he's been sitting for the majority of WotLK. I was reading another thread talking about not having to use diseases anymore for dk tanking so I think that is the way I will go. My DK is only 74 right now so I want to have him 80 by the end of the weekend so I can work out the rotations and get used to him. Brothel, you're right, it should be easy to make a rotation for the needed abilities.

Thanks again!

[Mokoi]

You should consider the roles of the tanks at more end-game, too. DKs have always been proactive tanks, like warriors, abusing cooldowns before you take big dmg, and making sure you avoid as much dmg as possible. (fort / reflect / etc) whereas a druid and a pally are a little more reactive (take dmg, and then use cooldown, argent defender USED to be auto-cast etc)

I think I would go for a pally or druid still, because of the great toosl both bring to the table, and a DK just before a warrior as last place. Druids and pallies also have 3 roles to play, where a DK can only really do 2 (with similar gear, mind you) and a warrior... well.