Special Thanks:
Once again Cowtarus on Stormscale-US helped me out in producing this list. He did all of the data entry for the ICC gear saving me a lot of time and sanity. So if you appreciate the existence of this list please send him thanks as well. I know I appreciate it.
A few comments:
- This list is a tool, not a blue print for how to gear. I’ve never intended these lists to be the definitive guide on how to gear a raiding moonkin. I don’t want to see any comments anywhere that say “item X is the best because it’s ranked number one on Graylo’s list.”
- The use of this list requires some thought. It is a general ranking intended to give you an idea on how items relate to each other.
Please realize that these values are estimates based upon my gear level. Two items with a similar value, can be assumed to be relatively equal. Also, realize that if you are at a different gear level then me, you may value the stats differently. I highly suggest you look at this post to determine how you value stats and weigh your options accordingly. - It is up to you to manage your Hit, Haste, and Crit caps. Do not take every number one item on the list.
- PvP gear is by definition not good PvE gear for moonkin. So no, I will not put PvP item X on the list. By the same token, I will not include any item that has a mana regen component because it is Healing gear. So no, I will not include Purified Lunar Dust on the list.
None of this is to say you can't or shouldn't use these items in your own set depending on your situation. However, I refuse to compile the list for every potential situation. If you want to know where item X would fall, figure it out yourself. I've given you the stat weights below. - These rankings are purely based upon DPS. Yes, Stamina and mana regen have value, but there is no way to directly translate them into DPS. By the same token Intelligence and Spirit have both mana and DPS benefits, but only the DPS is considered.
- Procs are particularly hard to quantify. Trinkets and other items that have procs or on use abilities are estimated in the list. However, it is likely that some of them are wrong given that we know very little about some of the procs. I will update them if I can, but I make no guarentees.
- Names: The list will only include the Alliance names for the ToC gear. I apologize if anyone has a huge problem with that, but you’re going to have to deal with it. I will not be producing a separate Horde list. At this point in time you should already know what gear you want out of ToC and ToGC. If you don’t, the old lists should be ok for helping you find the available gear.
Assumptions:
- To rank these items I used the following weights Hit Rating - 2.5245, Spell Power - 1, Haste Rating - 0.7849, Crit Rating - 0.6922. These are the weights that WrathCalcs spit out for Graylo. It assumes you are over both the haste cap and the crit cap, and a gear level around a full set of 264 ilevel.
- I assume that all socket bonus will be met using Eqic quality gems. This is how I socket each gem: Meta = [Chaotic Skyflare Diamond], Red = [Runed Cardinal Ruby], Yellow = [Reckless Ametrine], Blue = [Purified Dreadstone]. Yes, ignoring socket bonus will improve some of the items. However, the shifts would be small and it's easier manage this way.
We all know that the primary reason for using our Tier Sets in the past has been for the set bonuses. They have always been good enough for us to ignore poor itemization. However, you only need 4 peices to complete the set. So, in the past we have always been able to pick a slot that is poorly itemized and find a better itemized not tier piece to up grade our gear but still have the Tier bonuses.
I don't think this situation holds for ICC. It depended on some of our gear to be poorly itemized, but the entire T10 gear set is very well itemized. Finding an upgrade out side of the tier set is much more difficult this time around. Most people say that they want to drop one of the hit pieces for something without hit, but even then you're causing yourself to lose DPS stats some where else. In the end, I'm infavor of using all 5 tier pieces, because the gain for going off set in tier 10 is very small if it exists at all. That is just my opinion though.
Ranking Legend:
Black - DPS stat ranking
Red - DPS stat ranking minus Hit rating
Legs:
There will be some debate on what is best from this slot. As I said before I prefer the Tier pieces. If you are able to get the Heroic legs and are a Night Elf then this gives you a really easy way to get hit capped. Even if you can only get the 264 ilevel set, Night Elfs can easily hit cap with a couple of Vieled gems. Others will say that the Crafted legs are best, because they are very well itemized. However, they do not have a heroic equivalent, and it forces you to pick up the hit else where.
Head:
The tier helms are a clear choice again. I don't think anyone will debate that.
Shoulders:
Pretty much the same thing I said for the head slot.
Chest:
The tier set’s itemization wins again.
Hands:
The Changeling Gloves from 10man Halion are very nice. I haven't explored to possibility fully but there may be a way to improve your overall stats by going off-tier in this slot and picking up the Hit you lose from another item. However, if that is possible, I think the gain will be small. Due to ilevel, the Changeling Gloves aren't a huge improvement over the tier Gloves. In my opinion they are not worth the effort of rearranging your hit.
Wrists:
There weren't any good bracers in ICC, because they all had either Spirit or Hit Rating. The Ruby Sanctum has a couple of very nice Bracers though. Technically Bracers of Fiery Night are BiS since they favor Haste and have a Red socket. However, the Phaseshifter's Bracers are what you should shoot for. It's not worth fighting the Cloth vs Leather battle over such a minor difference, and it's also important to remember that the leather bracers will likely be better in Cataclysm while you level. This is not a fight worth fighting.
Belt:
| Crushing Coldwraith Belt (H) | Marrowgar - 25H | 346.7 | 346.7 |
| Professor's Bloodied Smock (H) | Putricide - 25H | 324.9 | 324.9 |
| Belt of Petrified Ivy | 60 EoF | 312.7 | 312.7 |
| Lingering Illness (H) | Festergut - 25H | 310.9 | 310.9 |
| Crushing Coldwraith Belt | Marrowgar - 25 | 309.7 | 309.7 |
| Cauterized Cord (H) | Putricide - 10H | 309 | 309 |
| Circle of Ossus | 60 EoF | 287 | 287 |
| Misbegotten Belt (H) | Halion 10H | 434.2 | 285.3 |
| Professor's Bloodied Smock | Putricide - 25 | 284.5 | 284.5 |
| Cord of the Patronizing Practitioner (H) | Marrowgar - 10H | 281.6 | 281.6 |
| Lingering Illness | Festergut - 25 | 278.3 | 278.3 |
| Cauterized Cord | Putricide - 10 | 275.6 | 275.6 |
| Cord of Pale Thorns | Twin Valkyrs 25 - H | 269.5 | 269.5 |
| Cord of Dark Suffering (H) | Gunship - 10H | 265.7 | 265.7 |
| Cord of the Tenebrous Mist | Northrend Beasts 25 - H | 265 | 265 |
| Belt of Omission | 60 EoF | 419.6 | 258 |
| Misbegotten Belt | Halion 10 | 382.3 | 256 |
| Cord of the Patronizing Practitioner | Marrowgar - 10 | 250.8 | 250.8 |
| Cord of Biting Cold | Faction Champs 25 - H | 389.3 | 242.9 |
| Cord of Dark Suffering | Gunship - 10 | 241.2 | 241.2 |
| Cord of Pale Thorns | Twin Valkyrs 25 | 232.2 | 232.2 |
| Cord of the Tenebrous Mist | Northrend Beasts 25 | 227.7 | 227.7 |
| Belt of the Winter Solstice | Jaraxxus 10 - H | 225.8 | 225.8 |
| Icehowl Cinch | Northrend Beasts 10 - H | 378.8 | 224.8 |
| Cinch of the Undying | Anubarak 10 - H | 224.1 | 224.1 |
| Cord of Biting Cold | Faction Champs 25 | 344.4 | 215.6 |
| Cinch of the Undying | Anubarak 10 | 200.1 | 200.1 |
| Belt of the Winter Solstice | Jaraxxus 10 | 199.8 | 199.8 |
| Icehowl Cinch | Northrend Beasts 10 | 334.1 | 190.2 |
The 10man version of Halion drops a cloth Hit belt, but I think you are unlikely to want it. Crushing Cold Wraith Belt will likely remain BiS until the Expansion because there is not a leather option at the same ilevel. Belt of Petrified Ivy if best if you are not doing ICC hard modes.
Boots:
| Plague Scientist's Boots (H) | Festergut - 25H | 346.7 | 346.7 |
| Boots of Unnatural Growth (H) | Gunship - 25H | 316.5 | 316.5 |
| Plague Scientist's Boots | Festergut - 25 | 309.7 | 309.7 |
| Boots of the Frozen Seed (H) | Deathwhisper - 10H | 307.5 | 307.5 |
| Boots of Unnatural Growth | Gunship - 25 | 284.7 | 284.7 |
| Blessed Cenarion Boots | Crafting | 284.7 | 284.7 |
| Boots of the Mourning Widow | Faction Champs 25 - H | 281.3 | 281.3 |
| Sandals of Consecration | Crafting | 275.2 | 275.2 |
| Boots of the Frozen Seed | Deathwhisper - 10 | 273.9 | 273.9 |
| Pale Corpse Boots (H) | Blood Princes - 10H | 271.4 | 271.4 |
| Boots of the Unrelenting Storm | Northrend Beasts 25 - H | 266.5 | 266.5 |
| Icecrown Spire Sandals (H) | Saurfang - 10H | 395.3 | 259 |
| Deathfrost Boots | Crafting | 419.6 | 258 |
| Footpads of the Icy Floe | Anubarak 25 - H | 403.5 | 252 |
| Pale Corpse Boots | Blood Princes - 10 | 239.9 | 239.9 |
| Icecrown Spire Sandals | Saurfang - 10 | 348 | 231.9 |
| Boots of the Unrelenting Storm | Northrend Beasts 25 | 229.6 | 229.6 |
| Boots of the Mourning Widow | Faction Champs 25 | 227.7 | 227.7 |
| Sandals of the Silver Magus | Faction Champs 10 - H | 346.3 | 227.7 |
| Boots of the Grieving Soul | Twin Valkyrs 10 - H | 226.9 | 226.9 |
| Footpads of the Icy Floe | Anubarak 25 | 360.4 | 211.5 |
| Sandals of the Silver Magus | Faction Champs 10 | 294.4 | 193.4 |
| Boots of the Grieving Soul | Twin Valkyrs 10 | 192.9 | 192.9 |
The Plague Scientist's Boots are the best boots available, but Boots of Unnatural Growth and Boots of the Frozen Seed are ver nice as well. You will ultimately want the cloth boots, but keep an eye out for the leather ones because they are likely easier to get.
Back:
| Cloak of Burning Dusk (H) | Halion 25H | 280.1 | 280.1 |
| Frostbinder's Shredded Cape (H) | Valithria - 25H | 258.9 | 258.9 |
| Jaina's Radiance | Tribute Chest 25 - H | 251.1 | 251.1 |
| Cloak of Burning Dusk | Halion 25 | 249 | 249 |
| Frostbinder's Shredded Cape | Valithria - 25 | 230.6 | 230.6 |
| Greatcloak of the Turned Champion (H) | Saurfang - 25H | 230.3 | 230.3 |
| Bolvar's Devotion | Tribute Chest 25 - H | 228 | 228 |
| Drape of Bitter Incantation | Tribute Chest 10 - H | 221.8 | 221.8 |
| Volde's Cloak of the Night Sky | 50 EoF | 204.5 | 204.5 |
| Shawl of Fervent Crusader | Tribute Chest 10 - H | 201.6 | 201.6 |
| Greatcloak of the Turned Champion | Saurfang - 25 | 199.7 | 199.7 |
| Shawl of the Refreshing Winds | Northrend Beasts 25 - H | 198.4 | 198.4 |
| Lich Wrappings (H) | Valithria - 10H | 318.2 | 186.9 |
| Cloak of Displacement | Faction Champs 25 - H | 309.2 | 185.5 |
| Lich Wrappings | Valithria - 10 | 285.8 | 172.2 |
| Flowing Sapphiron Drape | Onyxia25 | 171.8 | 171.8 |
| Shawl of the Refreshing Winds | Northrend Beasts 25 | 167.3 | 167.3 |
| Cloak of Displacement | Faction Champs 25 | 276.7 | 150.5 |
| Fluttering Sapphiron Drape | Onyxia10 | 150.4 | 150.4 |
The Cloak of Burning Dusk out of Ruby Sanctum is excellent and BiS if you can complete the Hard Mode. The Frostbinder's Shredded Cape is also very nice from ICC.
Neck:
| Blood Queen's Crimson Choker (H) | Queen Lanathel - 25H | 256.8 | 256.8 |
| Bone Sentinel's Amulet (H) | Marrowgar - 25H | 230.3 | 230.3 |
| Soulcleave Pendant (H) | Saurfang - 10H | 229.7 | 229.7 |
| Blood Queen's Crimson Choker | Queen Lanathel - 25 | 229.4 | 229.4 |
| Amulet of the Silent Eulogy (H) | Gunship - 25H | 369.6 | 218.1 |
| Wail of the Val'kyr | Twin Valkyrs 25 - H | 214 | 214 |
| Soulcleave Pendant | Saurfang - 10 | 205.1 | 205.1 |
| Bone Sentinel's Amulet | Marrowgar - 25 | 204.8 | 204.8 |
| Amulet of the Silent Eulogy | Gunship - 25 | 326.7 | 195.4 |
| Pendant of Split Veins (H) | Putricide - 10H | 316.2 | 185 |
| Wail of the Val'kyr | Twin Valkyrs 25 | 181.2 | 181.2 |
| Pendant of Split Veins | Putricide - 10 | 273.7 | 160.1 |
| Darkbane Pendant | Twin Valkyrs 10 - H | 261.2 | 155.1 |
| Darkbane Pendant | Twin Valkyrs 10 | 228.2 | 137.3 |
The Heroic Blood Queen's Crimson Choker is clearly the best option. The normal version is basically tied for #2, and it's even BoE so you may be able to find it on your Auction House but I wouldn't expect it. These are clearly the best necks for a lot of classes, and there will be a fight for it. If you’re running the 10mans, the Soulcleave Pendant is very nice, or you may want to consider picking up one of the multiple spirit necks if you can do so cheaply.
Trinket:
Trinkets are very hard to value. There are still a few unknowns with the Charred Twilight Scale, but based upon past experiance we can make some good guesses. I've assumed a 45 sec Internal Cooldown and a 10% proc rate, which if probably the base value for this trinket. As you can see it if fairly equivalent to DFO and PotNL if my assumptions are correct. That makes me a little disappointed given it's ilevel I expected it to be better, but what can you do.
# The value of the Onyxia trinkets is the value of the set divided by 2. If you do not have the set, these trinkets are virtually worthless in terms of DPS. On top of that I don't have any hard numbers on the damage proc. I assumed the DoT has a 25% uptime.
Rings:
| Ring of Rapid Ascent (H) | Gunship - 25H | 254.4 | 254.4 |
| Memory of Malygos (H) | Sindragosa - 25H | 234.7 | 234.7 |
| Ashen Band of Endless Destruction | Ashen Verdict Exalted | 362.8 | 234.1 |
| Cerise Coiled Ring (H) | Blood Princes - 10H | 230.4 | 230.4 |
| Ring of Maddening Whispers (H) | Deathwhisper - 25H | 229.2 | 229.2 |
| Ring of Rapid Ascent | Gunship - 25 | 226.2 | 226.2 |
| Valanar's Other Signet Ring (H) | Blood princes - 25H | 332.6 | 221.5 |
| Loop of the Endless Labyrinth (H) | Marrowgar - 25H | 342.1 | 210.8 |
| Ashen Band of Unmatched Destruction | Ashen Verdict Revered | 336.2 | 210 |
| Memory of Malygos | Sindragosa - 25 | 209.3 | 209.3 |
| Cerise Coiled Ring | Blood Princes - 10 | 200.1 | 200.1 |
| Band of Deplorable Violence | Anubarak 25 - H | 194.3 | 194.3 |
| Ring of Maddening Whispers | Deathwhisper - 25 | 194.2 | 194.2 |
| Runed Signet of the Kirin Tor | 10,750 Gold | 193.8 | 193.8 |
| Loop of the Endless Labyrinth | Marrowgar - 25 | 302.4 | 188.8 |
| Valanar's Other Signet Ring | Blood princes - 25 | 302.7 | 186.6 |
| Ashen Band of Greater Destruction | Ashen Verdict Honored | 301.2 | 175 |
| Band of the Invoker | 35 EoT | 167.3 | 167.3 |
| Band of Deplorable Violence | Anubarak 25 | 163.4 | 163.4 |
| Ashen Band of Destruction | Ashen Verdict Friendly | 280.8 | 162.1 |
| Polished Dragonslayer's Signet | Onyxia Head | 159.3 | 159.3 |
| Firestorm Ring | Jaraxxus 10 - H | 294.8 | 153.5 |
| Firestorm Ring | Jaraxxus 10 | 249.1 | 122.9 |
I feel like half of this choice was made for us with the introduction of the Rep rings. It sucks to some extent because I hate having to pick up Hit or Mp5, but it is also clear that these rings are pretty awesome. They have a gem socket, an awesome proc, and they are relatively easy to get.
For the second ring it’s pretty clear that the Ring of Rapid Ascent is the best choice. It’s the only ring without Spirit or Hit rating on it.
Off Hand:
| Shadow Silk Spindle (H) | Blood Princes - 25H | 249.3 | 249.3 |
| Sundial of Eternal Dusk (H) | Sindragosa - 25H | 225.2 | 225.2 |
| Shadow Silk Spindle | Blood Princes - 25 | 221.1 | 221.1 |
| Sundial of Eternal Dusk | Sindragosa - 25 | 199.7 | 199.7 |
| Chalice of Searing Light | Twin Valkyrs 25 - H | 183.6 | 183.6 |
| Scourgelord's Baton (H) | Deathwhisper - 10H | 346.7 | 182.6 |
| Chalice of Benedictus | Twin Valkyrs 10 - H | 274.5 | 166 |
| Symbol of Transgression | Jaraxxus 25 - H | 308.3 | 164.4 |
| Chalice of Searing Light | Twin Valkyrs 25 | 162.7 | 162.7 |
| Scourgelord's Baton | Deathwhisper - 10 | 293.8 | 149.9 |
| Chalice of Benedictus | Twin Valkyrs 10 | 241 | 147.6 |
| Symbol of Transgression | Jaraxxus 25 | 272.1 | 145.8 |
| Antediluvian Cornerstone Grimoire | Onyxia25 | 115.8 | 115.8 |
| Antique Cornerstone Grimoire | Onyxia10 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
A MH/OH combo is clearly a better choice if you have access to Arthas weapons. Therefore, going after the Shadow Silk Spindle should be a priority. However, a case can be made for Nibelung, and you may be dening a great offhand to another raider without upgrading yourself much. Be careful how you make this choice.
Main Hand:
| Royal Scepter of Terenas II (H) | Lich King - 25H | 1058.4 | 1058.4 |
| Frozen Bonespike (H) | Marrowgar -25 | 941.9 | 941.9 |
| Tel'thas, Dagger of the Blood King (H) | Lich King - 10H | 936.3 | 936.3 |
| Royal Scepter of Terenas II (H) | Lich King - 25 | 912.3 | 912.3 |
| Frozen Bonespike | Marrowgar -25 | 827.4 | 827.4 |
| Bleak Coldarra Carver (H) | Sindragosa - 10H | 998.4 | 824.2 |
| Tel'thas, Dagger of the Blood King | Lich King - 10 | 812.2 | 812.2 |
| Misery's End | Anubarak 25 - H | 808.6 | 808.6 |
| Blade of Terasque | Northrend Beasts 25 - H | 910.8 | 782 |
| Hammer of Purified Flame | 5man Quests | 763.3 | 763.3 |
| Heartcrusher | Tribute Chest 10 - H | 738.5 | 738.5 |
| Blade of the Silver Disciple | Faction Champs 10 - H | 736.7 | 736.7 |
| Misery's End | Anubarak 25 | 715.8 | 715.8 |
| Bleak Coldarra Carver | Sindragosa - 10 | 866.9 | 712.9 |
| Blade of Terasque | Northrend Beasts 25 | 802.4 | 688.8 |
| Blade of the Silver Disciple | Faction Champs 10 | 655.2 | 655.2 |
The Arthas weapons are awesome, but that fight is not a push over. Expect a lot of competition. The Frozen Bonespike is the only good MH option that doesn't drop off of Arthas if you are ignoring the staff options.
Two Handed Weapon:
| Archus, Greatstaff of Antonidas (H) | Lich King - 25H | 1206.1 | 1206.1 |
| Nibelung (H) | Deathwhisper - 25H | 1153.3 | 1153.3 |
| Halion, Staff of Forgotten Love (H) | Lich King - 10H | 1153.3 | 1153.3 |
| Dying Light (H) | Queen Lanathel - 25H | 1136.6 | 1136.6 |
| Archus, Greatstaff of Antonidas (H) | Lich King - 25 | 1096.4 | 1096.4 |
| Mag'hari Chieftain's Staff (H) | Saurfang - 10H | 1024.9 | 1024.9 |
| Nibelung | Deathwhisper - 25 | 1013.4 | 1013.4 |
| Halion, Staff of Forgotten Love | Lich King - 10 | 1006.5 | 1006.5 |
| Dying Light | Queen Lanathel - 25 | 997.7 | 997.7 |
| Abracadaver (H) | Festergut - 10H | 1274.4 | 994.1 |
| Sister Svalna's Aether Staff (H) | Valithria - 10H | 1342.3 | 963.6 |
| Clemency | Tribute Chest 25 - H | 939.8 | 939.8 |
| Enlightenment | Twin Valkyrs 10 - H | 916.1 | 916.1 |
| Cold Convergence | Anubarak 10 - H | 898.2 | 898.2 |
| Mag'hari Chieftain's Staff | Saurfang - 10 | 866.2 | 866.2 |
| Abracadaver | Festergut - 10 | 1090.5 | 835.5 |
| Enlightenment | Twin Valkyrs 10 | 806.2 | 806.2 |
| Sister Svalna's Aether Staff | Valithria - 10 | 1137.3 | 794 |
| Cold Convergence | Anubarak 10 | 785.5 | 785.5 |
Obviously the Arthas staff is great, but it is difficult to get. We all know that most of the staff debate will center around Nibelung.
Let me put this up front. I am pro-Nibelung, but it is really hard to accurately model. The Val'kyr put out significant damage, but there will always be a little debate about their survivability. I haven't had a big problem with them dying. Their healing mechanic will even keep them up during BQL, but they are stupid. They will stand in fires and die. Therefore, eventhough the simulations say it is an upgrade for me, I have a hard time trusting them entirely.
That said, here is why I like Nibelung. Due to our scaling issues, Moonkin is just about the only spec that Nibelung is good for. Simulations say that it is it is at least equal to MH/OH combos of a similar item level. This means that we can get a decent weapon that no one else will want for very cheap. It's not ideal in the long run, but the other options will be significantly more difficult to obtain.
Relic/Idol:
At this point you should only be thinking about two idols. The [Idol of Lunar Eclipse] is the best and it is purchasable with Emblems of Frost. However, you may be saving your Emblems for your Tier Set or another item. In such a case you should at least have the [Idol of Lunar Fury]. It is purchase able with Emblems of Triumph. Since it is incredibly easy to farm EoTs at the moment, using anything less then the Idol of Lunar Fury is pretty stupid.
Notes:
Once again, as you can see there are a lot of links and values in this post. It is quite possible that some of them are incorrect. If you find an incorrect link or a valuation just doesn't look right, please let me know so that I can correct it.
