Stat Priorities
Stat Ranking
Generally with most tanks you want Item level over all stats as more stamina and main stat will always be good. However when you are look at the same item level then the priority to look for should be:
- Item Level
- Haste
- Versatility
- Critical Strike
- Mastery
As to what you should be running when you’re looking at min maxing your dps then you should sim yourself as your weights will change based on your current gear.
Stat Outline
Strength: This is your primary stat as a BDK and does a bit of everything. It increases your damage, the armor bonus granted by Bone Shield, it increases your chance at parrying attacks and due to the high amount of leech abilities BDK has in its tool kit it also provides a minor increase to our self healing.
Versatility: This just increases all your damage and healing done while reducing all damage taken.
Haste: This is extremely important for BDK, as a reactive tank you’d want to death strike back up before your healers throw a spell on you, having more haste makes this more effective. Additionally, it not only increases your attack speed but your rune regeneration as well, this will give you more resources to Heart Strike and extend your Dancing Rune Weapon.
Critical Strike: This increases the chance for your spells to deal double damage. Additionally, as a tank, all critical strike grants you bonus parry chance which is really good for Blood Death Knight as it is your primary passive mitigation.
Mastery: Mastery grants you a small physical shield for a percent of the healing done by your Death Strike through Mastery: Blood Shield. Additionally it increases your attack power, slightly increasing the damage dealt by your abilities.
Races
Horde
Vulpera: Nose for Trouble has some decent value in regular add fights and Bag of Tricks is a nice on demand bit of damage.
Undead: Touch of the Grave provides a nice amount of passive damage and healing on a single target. Will of the Forsaken gives you another version of Lichborne which allows you to remove sleep, charm and fear effects.
Blood elf: Arcane Torrent is nice to have as DK’s don’t have a way to purge.
Goblin: Goblin Jump adds a really nice mobility button to a very immobile class.
Alliance
Lightforged Draenei: Light’s Judgement is a very strong on demand AoE dps cooldown.
Dwarf / Dark iron: Stoneform / Fireblood Is very nice to remove nasty debuffs you may be afflicted with.
Night elf: If you’re interested in M+ Shadowmeld is invaluable at creating new ways to skip mobs.
Enchants
Rings: You will enchant your rings with Enchant Ring - Tenet of Haste if you are looking to be defensive other than that you should sim yourself to see which would be the largest dps upgrade for you.
Cloak: Enchant Cloak - Fortified Avoidance
Gloves: Enchant Gloves - Eternal Strength
Chest: enchant chest eternal stats
Boots: Soul Treads - Useful for Sire Denathrius and Halondrus.
Weapon: Rune of the Fallen Crusader - This will most likely be the rune you run in all content as a BDK as it’s the best all around enchant for our weapon, being good both offensively and defensively.
Gems
Similar to ring enchants you will gem for Haste if you are looking to be defensive and will sim yourself to find out which stats would be best for you offensively, otherwise.
Consumables
Flasks: Spectral Flask of Power will be your go to choice for pretty much all content. Spectral flask of stamina can be used if you feel like you need a larger health pool to survive the content you are doing.
Weapon Stones: Shaded Sharpening Stone or Shaded Weightstone
Potions: Potion of Spectral Strength
Food: Feast of Gluttonous Hedonism as your all around option. Tenebrous Crown Roast Aspic is a cheaper option if you prefer more Haste.
Armor Kit: Heavy Desolate Armor Kit
Healing Potion: Spiritual Healing Potion
Augment Runes: Veiled Augment Runes