I spend a lot of time looking at gear. I’m sure most of you do, too. Post 70 it’s really the only way to “progress” your character any further. (At least until Wrath!) One thing I’ve found in my time as a Resto Druid is that though there are plenty of resources for gear, none really FOCUS on what’s good for a Resto Druid. So I’ll do my best to occasionally break down some gear choices for you. Since I’ve been spending my time in SSC (now at 4/6), I thought this was a good place to look next. On to the gear.
Tier 5 Drops
Ohhh, exciting. SSC and Tempest Keep house the various tokens for the Tier 5 armor sets. In SSC you can get your token for the helm, gloves and leggings. Let’s take a look at the healing T5 set pieces.
The token for these guys drops off of Leotheras the Blind. If you’re wearing [Handguards of Malorne], these are a nice, though minor, upgrade. You get a boost of 4 to stamina, 2 to intellect, 15 to healing and 2 to MP5. Sounds fair enough. The thing is this. I’m not even wearing the Tier 4 gloves, though I have them. I’m wearing [Mitts of the Treemender], and I expect to continue doing so for the forseeable future. The Mitts give me the flexibility of gem slots that neither the T4 nor T5 gloves do. After gemming, they actually have more +heal than either as well. I am losing both spirit and MP5 by hanging onto them, but, frankly, there are other things I’d rather spend my DKP or SK spot on.
Another good upgrade over the T4 equivalent, the [Legguards of Malorne]. The good things about these legs over the T4 is that they not only have higher overall stats, they also have a gem slot for flexibility. Find the spirit lacking? Gem for it. Need more raw heal? Gem for it. Now, when all is said and done, you’re certainly better off if you already have the [Pants of Splendid Recovery] or [Grovewalker's Leggings] (like yours truly – yes, I got over the fact that the 2.4 legs are really not legs at all, but a skirt.) If you don’t have either of those, however, these are a solid choice in legs.
Let’s get one thing straight about the head piece. The token drops off the big gal naga herself, Lady Vashj. I don’t know when I’ll see these personally, but it doesn’t hurt to dream! This is a VERY BIG upgrade over the T4 headpiece, the [Crown of Malorne]. A healthy boost to stamina and spirit, a nudge to intellect, and a sizable jump in +Heal. The only real drop is in MP5, which can be made up for if you gem to make the socket bonus. Personally, I pay VERY little attention to MP5 nowadays. Since the changes to mana regen in 2.4, I find I RARELY run out of mana, even though I don’t have any huge number personally. (Around 175 while casting, I believe.) I’d use my SK slot or DKP for this in an instant. Not only because it’s a great upgrade over T4, but also because, IMO, helms are one of the most difficult areas to upgrade. Heck, I wore the [Hallowed Crown] for roughly, well, ever. When you see a slam dunk like this, you take it. All you have to do is take down Lady Vashj, how hard could it be? 
Other Armor
- [Soul-Strider Boots] (Cloth) – This is one great pair of boots. The boot slot is also one of the more difficult slots to fill, IMO. Good stats including high spirit, high raw +heal, and a couple of gem slots. Don’t let the fact that they’re cloth turn you off. You go down as fast as any clothie anyhow!
- [Wraps of Purification] (Cloth) – These are nice bracers, but if you’re sporting the anything like the [Windhawk Bracers], I’d stick with those.
- [Gnarled Chestpiece of the Ancients] - Basically, whenever I come across a piece of armor for the chest, belt or bracers slot, I wonder if it’s worthing picking up and breaking up my Windhawk set. If I’m going to waste my spot or points on a piece, I want it to be significantly better than the Windhawk. I don’t think this is such a piece…greater raw +heal, a big boost to stamina…but nary a gem slot.
- [Grove-Bands of Remulos] – See above. These are a good, but not great upgrade over the Windhawk. I like the nice spirit bump, and there is a decent +heal bump as well, even taking into account the lack of a gem slot.
- [Orca-Hide Boots] – These are very close to the aforementioned cloth boots, though I might give the [Soul-Strider Boots] the nod over these due to the spirit. Still a solid choice for the foot slot.
- [Runetotem's Mantle] – I’m going to compare these shoulders to the [Gnarled Ironwood Pauldrons], and I think they come out a little ahead of those badge shoulders. You do lose a bit of +heal based on gemming, and some flexibility, but you gain in the important stat categories. Of course, you have to take down Lady Vashj if you want to get your hands on these.
Other Stuff
- [Pendant of the Lost Ages] – Not much of a healing number, I know. But that bonus affect to combat silence could be golden in some situations.
- [Idol of the Crescent Goddess] – Meh. I do use Regrowth, and more now than before, but this will not replace my Lifebloom trinket.
- [Lightfathom Scepter] - Wow. This is one of the pieces I’m most excited to see drop. The problem is it drops of Lady Vashj. I wonder what will happen first: me saving up 150 badges for the [Gavel of Naaru Blessings] or being in a group that takes down that blasted Naga, and can beat out the other healers should it drop. Hmmm.
- [Wildfury Greatstaff] – Because some day you may be in the raid where the ferals all have it. And at that time, why not pick it up just for show?
- [Coral Band of the Revived] – Darn you Lady Vashj! You have all the best stuff! Anyhow, what a ring! Huge spirit number AND huge +heal number. They may as well call it the Coral Band of the Restoration Druid. (Yes yes, I know holy priests will like it too!)
Phew! You know when you have what you THINK is a great idea, and it will be easy to pull off, but then it snowballs on you? Well, that’s what just happened to me with this post! Now I can only pray that someone, somewhere out there will get SOME use out of it! Thanks for reading!
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