TBC Classic Protection Warrior Phase 1 / Tier 4 Gear and Best in Slot

In this guide we go over the different gear available for Protection Warriors in Phase One of TBC (Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and Magtheridon's Lair). We will offer multiple different pieces as some can be rather expensive or very hard to obtain. In addition to that, we will show you different gear to look at for threat and for pure tankiness.

If you are starting out as a freshly-leveled Protection Warrior, our pre-raid best in slot list is meant to give you an idea of non-raid items you can chase as a solo / pug player in preparation for raids.

Do note that items from Heroic dungeons or that require Primal Nethers (which are obtained from Heroics) can be harder to get than raid items due to their daily lockout. Some Heroic dungeons are also harder than most of Karazhan.

If, however, your character is ready to take on the content of Tiers 5 and 6, then please utilize our updated lists instead.

Finally, there may be times where you may want to stack resistance to a particular damage type. For these moments we have created separate lists detailing the best gear to maximize your Fire, Frost, Nature, or Shadow resistances.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Warbringer Greathelm	1 x Powerful Earthstorm Diamond, 1 x Solid Star of Elune	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Defensive	Faceguard of the Endless Watch	3 x Solid Star of Elune	Doomwalker
Option	Eternium Greathelm	3 x Solid Star of Elune	Opera Event — Karazhan

Warbringer Greathelm is your best in slot, offering a strong mix of offensive and defensive stats. Faceguard of the Endless Watch is a very strong defensive option but is very difficult to obtain as it drops from a world boss.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Barbed Choker of Discipline	no sockets	Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan
Option	Necklace of the Juggernaut		25 x Badge of Justice

Barbed Choker of Discipline is a very strong necklace, offering high defensive stats. Necklace of the Juggernaut is still a nice mixture of offense and defense and can be used for higher threat.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Warbringer Shoulderguards	2 x Solid Star of Elune	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair
Option	Mantle of Abrahmis	2 x Solid Star of Elune	Netherspite — Karazhan

Warbringer Shoulderguards are well above any other available shoulders.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Devilshark Cape	Warlord Kalithresh — The Steamvault
Option	Gilded Thorium Cloak	Terestian Illhoof — Karazhan

Devilshark Cape is still very strong and is your recommended cloak. Gilded Thorium Cloak is a great alternative, offering very high armor, but you should let your Feral Druid Tank get the first one.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Warbringer Chestguard	3 x Solid Star of Elune	Magtheridon
Option	Panzar'Thar Breastplate	3 x Solid Star of Elune	Nightbane — Karazhan
Threat	Breastplate of the Warbringer	no sockets	Forge Camp: Annihilated
Threat	Gladiator's Plate Chestpiece	3 x Solid Star of Elune	Arena PvP

Warbringer Chestguard is an amazing chest, loaded with both offensive and defensive stats, making it a clear winner. Breastplate of the Warbringer can still be used as a threat option as it offers high Defense Rating and a ton of Hit Rating.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Vambraces of Courage	1 x Solid Star of Elune	Attumen the Huntsman — Karazhan

There is really only one option for tanking bracers from Phase One raids, Vambraces of Courage.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Topaz-Studded Battlegrips	2 x Solid Star of Elune	Doomwalker
Recommended	Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden	2 x Solid Star of Elune	Maiden of Virtue — Karazhan
Threat	Grips of Deftness	no sockets	Trash mobs in Karazhan

Topaz-Studded Battlegrips are your best in slot glove option, but are very difficult to obtain as they drop from a world boss. Iron Gauntlets of the Maiden are a very close second, offering slightly less defensive stats. Grips of Deftness while these are leather, the expertise offered by these cannot be beat for pure threat generation.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable	2 x Solid Star of Elune	Moroes — Karazhan

Crimson Girdle of the Indomitable is the only option available during Phase One raiding.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Wrynn Dynasty Greaves	3 x Solid Star of Elune	The Curator — Karazhan
Threat	Clefthoof Hide Leggings	no sockets	Showdown

Wrynn Dynasty Greaves are a great upgrade from your pre-raid BiS. Clefthoof Hide Leggings still remain a massive threat piece to be worn when more threat is needed.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Battlescar Boots	2 x Solid Star of Elune	Chess Event — Karazhan
Option	Boots of Elusion	no sockets	Trash Mobs — Karazhan

Battlescar Boots are a nice upgrade, offering very high defensive stats.

Rank	Item	Source
Defensive	Violet Signet of the Great Protector	The Violet Eye — Exalted
Defensive	A'dal's Signet of Defense	The Fall of Magtheridon
Threat	Shapeshifter's Signet	Lower City — Exalted
Threat	Crystal Band of Valor	Tavarok — Mana Tombs (Heroic)

By now there is a clear choice for the rings you want to carry. Swap around accordingly between your defensive and threat generation rings.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch	Moroes — Karazhan
Best	Goblin Rocket Launcher	Goblin Rocket Launcher — Engineering
Best	Gnomish Poultryizer	Gnomish Poultryizer — Engineering
Best	Timelapse Shard	Keepers of Time — Exalted

Depending on the fight and your gear you will want to swap around between these trinkets. Typically you will want to use Moroes' Lucky Pocket Watch most of the time except when you are not taking enough damage to maintain your Rage, or you're taking a high amount of magic damage.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Latro's Shifting Sword	Aeonus — The Black Morass
Option	King's Defender	Chess Event — Karazhan

While King's Defender is a great sword, it falls behind Latro's Shifting Sword in terms of pure threat generation. That being said, Kings Defender can be used when you want a good mixture of offense and defense.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Aldori Legacy Defender	1 x Solid Star of Elune	Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Option	Gladiator's Shield Wall	no sockets	Arena

Aldori Legacy Defender is an amazing shield that will last you all the way until Tier 6. If you do not have one yet Gladiator's Shield Wall is still your best option.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Recommended	Mark V's Throwing Star	no sockets	Mark V is Alive!
Option	Starbolt Longbow	no sockets	Pandemonius — Mana Tombs (Heroic)

There are not really many Ranged options available in Phase 1. Mark V's Throwing Star makes for a decent option, offering a high mixture of offensive and a little bit of defensive stats. If you find yourself needing more Defense Rating, look for "of the Champion" ranged weapons, as these will have Stamina, Strength, and Defense rating.

For a list of recommended enchants, check out our Protection Warrior Enchants guide.