How important is Icy Talons?

Post by Seranox

I am in a small guild, once we get more people to level 80, we will be able to do 10-man raids.

We have one Shaman, and she is Restoration.
From as far as I've read Windfury Totem will only overwrite Icy Talons if the Shaman has the Improved Windfury Totem talent, which she doesn't beeing Restoration and all.

So with that information, my question is. How important is Icy Talons as a deep Frost tank?

Important enough to drop Tundra Stalker?

Post by 218960

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Post by Seranox

Alright, here are my two personal choices:

Without Icy Talons / With Tundra Stalker
With Icy talons / Without Tundra Stalker

There are some other differences which have to do with getting to the fourth tier in the first build.

PS. This may be misposted since this is a Spec thread now.

Post by 218960

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Post by Seranox

Tanking that 5 expertise in Tundra Stalker is invaluable

Why is that 5 expertise so good? Couldn't you just get it from gear?

I moved some of your talents..

I understand how Killing Machine can be useful, but if I have the 5 talent points for that, couldn't I better put it in Icy talons, or is the crit threat more important than limiting a melee boss' attacks?

Endless Winter is not that great in PVE

Really? I'd imagine it would be pretty dandy to be able to interupt a boss' spell at any time.

with the new HB, frost should be replacing Obliterate.

Doesn't that limit my options when I need to target a single mob, for example just the boss, or if I'm off tanking an add?

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Post by robinhood36

5 Expertise is 41 expertise rating, the talent gives you 1 expertise per rank not rating, hence why its so good. 41 Expertise would be 2 epic gem equivalents, that could go into other stats, like stam or dodge/parry.

Icy Talons doesn't limit the bosses attacks, it ups yours. Haste for tanking I wouldn't say is good until you capped expertise to prevent parry gibbing.

As for the spell interruption, even for trash I'd be surprised if you can stop their casting, in raid environments, the only mobs that can be stopped casting are the spells Blizzard allows (High King Mulgars mage anyone?) You don't really need spell interrupts.

The idea of using Howling Blast on one mob might not sound good atm but it goes along with your other skills I presume. The same idea goes along with a paladin using consecrate for only one mob. If its trash then yeah thats stupid. But a boss you need to punch out as much dps/tps you can to give the dps in your raid more room to kick the bosses ass.

Post by Seranox

You are right, I misread Icy Talons =)
And if it is 41 expertise rating (at level 80 I asume), it is too good to pass on.

With the change in Howling Blast and the extra range in Dark Command, I think the change you made in my build is pretty good.

However, is it viable to take the two points from Two-Handed Weapon Specialization, and put two points in Morbidity? (Or take the points from Epidemic)

Post by 186549

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Post by Seranox

Thank you, that was very useful =)

Post by 1909

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Post by 218960

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How important is Icy Talons?

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