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Comprehensive Warrior Raid Tanking Guide in RIFT 1.5

Date: Oct 07 2011 Views: () Comments ()

Author: tordana (Official Forum ID)

1. Introduction and About Me
2. Tanking Builds and Macros
  --- 2.1 51 VK (General/Magical)
  --- 2.2 Paladin Hybrid (Physical)
  --- 2.3 Warlord Hybrid (Special)
3. Guides and Suggested Builds by Boss
  --- 3.1 Drowned Halls
  --- 3.2 Gilded Prophecy
  --- 3.3 Greenscale's Blight
  --- 3.4 River of Souls
  --- 3.5 Hammerknell Fortress
4. Gear Suggestions
5. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Welcome to the guide. This is intended to be a comprehensive source of information on Warrior raid tanking, with my preferred builds as well as specific information for each boss you will encounter in the raids of RIFT. Unlike other guides which may be more detailed in one particular aspect or another, in this guide I hope to provide an overview for all aspects of raid tanking. Do not take my word as law -- I heavily encourage everyone to experiment for themselves and use what works. While I have the utmost respect for noted Warrior contributors such as Ciderhelm and Kruunch, too often I see people assuming that their way is the only correct way to play. In truth, RIFT's soul system is designed such that there are many options that will work equally well depending on playstyle and gear level. What I present in this guide is simply the best way I have found of doing things. It may not agree in all aspects with other guide writers, nor may it agree in all aspects with what you, the reader, use. But it will work. There are no right ways to play, but there are wrong ways and I hope to steer you clear of those. In addition, I hope the tanking breakdowns by boss will be useful. I have not seen any similar guides that do this and thought it a void that needed filling.

Why should you listen to me? I have been tanking for RIFT since Beta 5 when I first played -- I created a warrior immediately and never looked back. I am currently the GM of Affinity on US-Belmont (Guardian Side) and though I didn't start in the GM position, I have been the raid leader and main tank starting with GSB progression in April all the way up to current Hammerknell progession. Affinity is as of October 7 4/11 in Hammerknell, with Murdantix, Zilas, Zamira, and Vladmal Prime dead and currently working on Sicaron. I will not be providing any information on bosses in Hammerknell I have not seen and tanked, for obvious reasons. I do not proclaim to be a guru of tanking, but I consider myself a quality player. While RIFT is my first game as a main tank, I have raid experience in other games, primarily LoTRO, where I was at my peak a healer (minstrel) in the #1 NA guild, Preying Mantis of Elendilmir server. I also have extensive competitive FPS experience, most recently in Team Fortress 2. Now, without further introduction allow me to get to the meat of the guide.

2. Tanking Builds and Macros

2.1 51 VK (General/Magical)

Build: 9 Paladin/51 Void Knight/6 Warlord

Rationale: Taking 51 points in Void Knight grants access to the incredible Accord of Emptiness, which is the primary reason this spec is so powerful. Beyond that, 6 points in Warlord are a must for Battlefield Awareness. The 9 points in Paladin can be rearranged based on preference. 5/5 Defender and 1/1 Shield of the Hero are a must, but the other three points can be moved as you personally see fit. I enjoy having the extra threat generation from 2/2 Aggressive Guardian, but there is also merit in moving those to Stalwart Shield for 3/5 instead of 1/5 if you never have aggro issues and wish for a little extra mitigation. I recommend my listed build for most players, of course.

Macros: There is only one useful macro for this build. AP builder:

Code:
#show Aggressive Block
suppressmacrofailures
cast Aggressive Block
cast Reckless Strike
cast Retaliation

This will maximize your Aggressive Block uptime and generate maximum threat while spamming it. However, you will not use this macro 100% of the time as I will outline below.

Pulling: I usually facepull with this build. Use Ragestorm as melee mobs are running through you towards whatever aura player you have in your group, and follow it up with Spotter's to solidify aggro. Use Rift Summon to get any casters into the mix if possible. Throwing out 3 1-point Spotter's Orders at the start of a pull is very safe and you can go into a normal 3-point rotation after that confident you won't lose any aggro to overzealous DPS players. It is important to know that you can generate Pacts (and therefore stacks of Ravenous Armor/Ravenous Strength) outside of combat by using Ragestorm followed by Pact Conversion. Always try to pull bosses with 10 stacks already running, as well as 3 AP.

Rotation Explanation: This build has a number of important buffs and debuffs to keep active while tanking. You have 4 AP builder buffs/debuffs: Aggressive Block, Pacifying Strike, Empowering Strike, and Leader's Mark. Of the four, the latter three have no cooldown so only one could be placed in a spam macro. However, they all have lower damage than the standard builder Reckless Strike so we'll use that in our spam macro. If you want to simply matters a bit, simply replace Reckless Strike with Pacifying Strike in your macro and have one less buff/debuff to worry about.

Leader's Mark should ONLY be used if there is no Ranger in your raid with Piercing Shot and 3/3 Exposure. That armor debuff is higher and yours will overwrite it. Let's assume we have a ranger with the armor debuff for now, if you don't simply add it in.

Basic Rotation:

Code:
Pacifying Strike -- Empowering Strike -- Spam -- Spotter's Order
Spam -- Spam -- Spam -- Devouring Blow

For higher threat generation, use Spotter's Order every 3 AP rather than only when it needs to be refreshed.

Max Aggro Rotation: For maximum threat generation, simply alternate a builder with Spotter's, using it at 1 point each time. In situations where you are tanking a boss + adds, attempt to keep 3-point Spotter's up on the boss while targeting the adds with your 1-point Spotter's spam for threat. This maximizes DPS on the boss while keeping your threat high on everything.

Passive Buffs: Make sure you have active Shield of the Hero, Aegis of Vitality, Void, Battlefield Distraction, and Battlefield Awareness

Cooldown usage: This build excels in cooldown abilities. You have Touch of Life and Fusion of Flesh that both work well for emergency low-health situations. Singularity needs to be used pre-emptively when you know a large amount of magical damage will be coming. Also, never forget that you have both a purge and a cleanse! Help your healers out.

2.2 Paladin Hybrid (Physical)

Build: 22 Void Knight/26 Paladin/18 Warlord

Rationale: This build has an incredible amount of physical mitigation via blocks and armor, as well as raid utility and massive threat generation. 18 WL is an excellent raid DPS boost with Cutting Distraction, I would not recommended re-arranging points here at all. Void Knight gives a massive defensive boost with Ravenous Strength/Defense, and pact upkeep is not an issue with 5 in both Insatiable Hunger and Blood from a Stone. 2 points in Devourer provide a token amount of magic resistance. Most of the leeway in this build lies in Paladin. What I linked is my personal build, but there are plenty of modifications possible. If you are lacking Hit, moving some points into Graceful Under Pressure will be useful. Taking Martial Shield can be useful, though I personally prefer not to have it as it throws off my rhythm and extra finishers are not nearly as important for tanking as DPSing. Paladin's Devotion and Steely Resolve have minor uses but I would generally advise against them.

Macros: Again, there is only one useful macro for this build. AP builder:

Code:
#show Aggressive Block
suppressmacrofailures
cast Aggressive Block
cast Reckless Strike
cast Retaliation
cast Disarming Counterblow

This will maximize your Aggressive Block uptime and generate maximum threat while spamming it. However, you will not use this macro 100% of the time as I will outline below. Note that all bosses are immune to the disarm effect of Disarming Counterblow, but it's still useful to use for extra threat and damage if you get a block while Retaliation is on cooldown.

Pulling: Charge into a group of mobs with Shield Charge and immediately Riftstorm and Spotter's Order. Like 51 VK, throwing out 3 1-point Spotter's Orders at the start of a pull is very safe and you can go into a normal 3-point rotation after that confident you won't lose any aggro to overzealous DPS players. Again, it is important to know that you can generate Pacts (and therefore stacks of Ravenous Armor/Ravenous Strength) outside of combat by using Ragestorm followed by Pact Conversion. Always try to pull bosses with 10 stacks already running, as well as 3 AP. Using Imposing before a pull can help out.

Rotation Explanation: Like 51 VK, this build has a number of important buffs and debuffs to keep active while tanking. You have 4 AP builder buffs/debuffs: Aggressive Block, Pacifying Strike, Empowering Strike, and Leader's Mark. Of the four, the latter three have no cooldown so only one could be placed in a spam macro. However, they all have lower damage than the standard builder Reckless Strike so we'll use that in our spam macro. If you want to simply matters a bit, simply replace Reckless Strike with Pacifying Strike in your macro and have one less buff/debuff to worry about. In addition, you have two finisher buffs to keep running.

Basic Rotation:

Code:
Pacifying Strike -- Empowering Strike -- Spam -- Spotter's Order
Spam -- Spam -- Spam -- Call to Entrench

Passive Buffs: Make sure you have active Shield of the Chosen, Aegis of Salvation, Void, Battlefield Distraction, Aspect of the Fallen Hero, and Battlefield Awareness

Cooldown usage: This build has only one noteworth cooldown ability: Touch of Life. Save it for when your primary healers are out of commission for a few seconds due to encounter mechanics and you get low HP during that time.

2.3 Warlord Hybrid (Special)

Build: 6 Paladin/32 Warlord/25 Void Knight

Rationale: This build is intended for off-tanking with raid utility. The purpose for the build is access to Aid Command, Rallying Command, and Assault Command, as well as a purge and cleanse and respectable mitigation. This build should not be used for main tanking unless you significantly outgear the content.

Macros: See 51 VK.

Pulling: This is an offtank build, you should not be pulling with it.

Rotation Explanation/Basic Rotation/Max Aggro Rotation/Passive Buffs: See 51 VK. Note that Spotter's should be kept up on the main boss if not using a warrior main tank with it, otherwise use as you see fit on adds.

Cooldown usage: Cooldowns depend on individual encounter mechanics. Figure out the best time to use your Commands based on the fight (more details listed later in the guide in the proper section).

3. Guides and Suggested Builds by Boss

This section is not intended to be a detailed strategy breakdown of each boss, but instead what the TANK needs to know specifically. Look elsewhere for general fight mechanics, I highly recommend Veev's website.

3.1 Drowned Halls

Assault Commander Jorb
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec. There are two methods of tanking this boss based on personal preference, either by kiting him or by flipping him. I prefer to use the flipping method. Whenever he summons a player into melee range, run directly THROUGH the boss (do not run AROUND him) to the other side at the same time as any melee players do the same thing starting from the opposite side. Executing properly will prevent any cleaves from hitting anyone but you.

Joloral Ragetide
Use: 51 VK spec (main tank), Warlord Hybrid spec (off tank). As a main tank, pull the boss to the back of room to start and slowly pull clockwise around the edge staying 180 degrees away from your off tank. Let the off tank lead the movement -- when you see him move you move. As the off tank, pull the add to where you enter the room and wait for the first seacap spawn. After it run 120 degrees clockwise for the second seacap spawn, then again for the third. Watch for extra large adds to spawn and pick them up. Use Commands when appropriate.

Isskal
Use: 51 VK spec. Tank and spank, interrupting at the proper time if you are in the interrupt rotation (since recent nerfs only 2 people in rotation are required). Save Singularity for if you think an interrupter is going to miss -- it will allow you to survive a cast if you have enough gear. Execute the proper movement during the whirlpool and water ring phases. During whirlpool phase you CAN melee the boss to keep your threat up, simply strafe in the proper direction while keeping your camera pointed at the boss. Seacaps are immune to force taunts, just have your DPS kill them.

High Priestess Hydriss
Use: 51 VK spec. At the start, pull when the patrol is at the front to get him and 3 melee mobs. Wait a few seconds before Rift Summoning the caster in one of the two back groups to you and picking up the two melee as they run past. Once you are down to 3-4 mobs alive, face pull the remaining group and Shock Burst to get the caster to follow you back into the melee (Rift Summon will not be off cooldown if your group DPS is high enough). As Hydriss activates, point her to the side of the area. Pick up the dragon when it comes down the stairs and use Singularity to help out the healers while the dragon is alive. On hive phases, adds are immune to force taunts but will respond to threat so spam those Spotter's Orders and Ragestorms.

3.2 Gilded Prophecy

Anrak the Foul
Use: 51 VK spec (either tank). Point the boss in your group's chosen direction (I do it with the head facing into the cliff) and wait for a tail strike. When it starts casting, run straight forward, through the boss, to behind him (he will not turn while casting). When the cast finishes return to your initial position. When the second tail strike begins casting, again run through. At this time the second tank should force taunt the boss and HE returns to your position while you stay behind. Continue alternating tanks every other tail strike in this fashion. IMPORTANT NOTE: Turn off Battlefield Awareness when adds spawn! Accidentally getting an add on either tank will cause a wipe if your group does not over-gear the content due to stacking debuffs. Let the DPS handle the adds.

Guurloth
Use: 51 VK spec. This fight should be solo tanked, contrary to what many people believe. Dodge mechanics with the rest of your raid until the add spawns. When it does, simply pick up the add and move away from the boss with it. The boss will continue casting on you while you tank the add, and since all DPS should be targeting the add you should not lose aggro on the boss during this time. Return to melee range of the boss once the add is dead. When he begins casting a boulder on you, use Singularity.

Thalguur
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec (main tank), Warlord Hybrid spec (off tank). As the main tank, simply tank and spank the boss picking up crystals when appropriate. As the off tank, be sure to grab all adds each phase and hold them until the player with the shovel gets rid of them. Ragestorm and Spotter's Order are your friends. Use Commands when appropriate.

Uruluuk
Use: 51 VK spec. Tank and spank the boss. Interrupt if you are not reflecting his casts, otherwise pray that your reflecting mage doesn't screw up. Singularity is best used when running from place to place on this fight as your healers may not be able to keep you up while moving (especially if one is crystaled at the time). At the last phase of the fight, make sure you are tanking the adds as near to the base of the stairs as possible to stop them from healing the boss. Don't go into melee range to dodge his big AoE nukes, simply pop Singularity and take it like a man. It only deals ~3k damage with Singularity up, ~6k without it.

3.3 Greenscale's Blight

Duke Letareus
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec (main tank), Warlord Hybrid spec (off tank). As the main tank, just remember to get out of the way of his AoE casts and kite through pools at the proper time based on how your raid positions them. As the off tank, pick up all the adds and tank them off to the side somewhere. In later phases you are in charge of interrupting Fae Barrage on the big fairies. My guild only has one big fairy spawn during the fight due to our high DPS, but if you get a second fairy assign a DPS to interrupt the second one that spawns. Pop Commands as necessary.

Infiltrator Johlen
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec. Spank him in the middle and dodge bombs. In the last phase have your raid stack up in the middle, and make sure everyone knows that the boss does not cleave! Standing directly on top of the tank is perfectly fine and in fact beneficial. Make sure you do not ever get hit by bombs in this encounter -- the tank getting punted off to the side a single time can easily cause wipes especially in the last phase.

Oracle Aleria
Use: 51 VK spec (either tank). As either tank, just spank your assigned werewolf. It IS possible for the tank to be called out of the room in this encounter. Save your cooldowns for if this happens, you will be out of range of your healers with the boss attacking you for a few seconds. One Aleria herself activates the two tanks can switch when one of them gets the incoming healing debuff, but most guilds just ignore this debuff altogether.

Prince Hylas
Use: 51 VK spec (main tank), Warlord hybrid (off tank). If your guild is new to this encounter I recommend using 4 tanks for this encounter, but reduce to 3 as soon as you can. 2 tanks is doable but not necessary by any means. As the main tank, just dodge the boss's AoE casts. If you are assigned to the reborn Duke, make sure to hold aggro while kiting out of purple goo on the ground. As any tank make sure to keep the boss and any adds well away from each other. Off-tanks should be assigned one to wolves and one to trees for the second phase of the fight.

Lord Greenscale
Use: 51 VK spec (main tank), Warlord hybrid (off tank). As the main tank, save Singularity and Fusion of Flesh for breaths when needed. On air phases you should be tanking all four small adds (depending on your guild's strategy). As the off tank, stand in a puddle at the start of the encounter and run through Strangling Plants to kill them. Cleanse yourself every time your skill is off cooldown, and MAKE SURE your healers know NEVER to cleanse you during the fight. On air phases you should pick up the large add and position him directly under Greenscale (look for the pets that will invariably still be attacking the boss during the air phase). After Noxious Bracken begin spawning, the off-tank should use Sergeant's Order to move any that spawn under the boss away.

3.4 River of Souls

Warmaster Galenir
Use: 51 VK spec (either tank). At the start of the fight wait for 5 stacks of the debuff then switch. After that tanks should switch whenever their stacks drop off. Whichever tank does not currently have the boss should be sure to pick up the wisp that spawns during transformed phases. This fight can create awkward positioning depending on when the boss finishes teleporting between the two players you should have spread out at range -- just stay cool and adjust positioning of yourself and your raid if need be.

Herald Gaurath
Use: 51 VK spec (main tank), 51 VK spec (off tank), Warlord Hybrid spec (tertiary tank). As the main tank, simply spank the boss. Back up when he goes into the air so he chases you immediately upon landing. As the tertiary tank simply grab the add that spawns every time the boss lands and play with him off to the side. Pop Commands on air phases. As the off tank, you should have the entire raid stacked on you for coffin add spawns. Create a macro:

Code:
#show (skill of your choice)
suppressmacrofailures
target Ancient Defiler
mark 1

As soon as the adds spawn, use Ragestorm (which requires no target and will pick them all up), followed by your targeting/marking macro, followed by Spotter's order. Watch the Defiler you marked as #1 for interrupts on Defiling Storm and have a DPS watch the other for interrupts. Spam a couple 1-point Spotter's initially to be safe, then resume 3-point. If your main tank isn't a warrior it's a bonus to keep 3-point Spotter's up on Herald during this phase. Finally, have a key ready for Rift Summon -- I cannot stress this enough. Sometimes you will be forced to run out of the purple bubble at the same time as your #1 add begins casting Defiling Storm. If this happens, Rift Summon WILL INTERRUPT the cast from 20m range, as well as having the bonus of teleporting the mob back to you. Stay cool -- you have the hardest job of any player in your raid for this fight. Get your job down pat and your guild will score a kill within an hour or two.

Alsbeth the Discordant
Use: 51 VK spec (any tank). Use 3 tanks for this encounter. This fight is fairly complicated to tank so I'll break it down by phase.

Phase 1: Ground 1. Tank #1 on boss. Tanks #2 and #3 on adds, using Rift Summon to bring any casters into the boss. All three tanks should be standing in the same spot to prevent cleaves facing every direction.
Phase 2: Air 1. Tanks split to 3 different circles. Tank #1 to Black add circle, Tank #2 to White add circle, Tank #3 to Grey add circle. Pick up your add if it spawns and any wisps that float near you. The two tanks without big adds should grab any of the add trios that spawn in the middle during this phase as well as any loose wisps and group everything up in the middle for later AoE. Tank #3 remember to interrupt your add's casts!
Phase 3: Air-->Ground Transition 1. Tank #2 should pick up the boss when she lands, Tanks #1 and #3 on any adds. Once stacks of debuff drop off of Tank #1, #1 picks up the boss again and #2 switches back to adds.
Phase 4 to ?: Repeat 1-3 as many times as required to get the boss to 20%.
Phase X: Once she full heals, Tank #2 should pick up the boss. Tank #1 and #2 stay in front, Tank #3 move BEHIND the boss (first time tanks should be split up at all during ground phases). Tank #3 grab all wisp adds -- have your raid run to #3 if they get any on them. Tank #3 should be spamming 1-point Spotter's constantly. Tanks #1 and #2 switch aggro on the boss periodically to keep stacks low. All three watch out for the AoE under her -- it will one-shot tanks if you get hit. Move out as the cast bar nears completion then come back in.

3.5 Hammerknell Fortress

Murdantix
Use: 51 VK spec (either tank). On the pull my guild brings the boss towards the front-left and moves clockwise throughout the fight. Other guilds may start in a different location or move a different direction -- do what you're used to. In any case, tanks should switch at 4 stacks of the debuff and then whenever stacks drop off for the rest of the fight. At 75%, be sure to keep your melee out of purple goo on the ground -- drag the boss backwards more than you think you have to in order to be safe. If you need to move the boss backwards out of tar while he is casting Demonic Blast don't be afraid to leave melee range before the cast finishes. Nobody should be standing near you anyway and a blast hitting you at ranged is mostly harmless. At 50%, watch for interrupts. At 25% use some extra AoE threat to grab as many adds as possible, but your normal Spotter's should get most of it.

Soulrender Zilas
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec. I solo tank this boss - many guilds use two but I find it unnecessary. This boss is definitely doable with one tank and you get a nice raid DPS boost from the extra player you free up. It's certainly challenging, but incredibly fun. Tank the boss so its back is to the add path leading in (so you face the adds as they come in). With force taunts being off cooldown after 1.5 patch, it's simple to pick up adds that are running in. Keep your camera zoomed out as far as possible and just click on anything that comes in followed by a force taunt to grab it. The only tricky spot is when a butcher and imp come in at the exact same time from opposite sides -- prioritize picking up the butcher first. The imp doesn't do much damage so if it gets a hit or two off on a raid member before you can grab it (either from residual Spotter's aggro or a second force taunt after 8 seconds) it's no big deal. On laser beam phases, keep an eye on the road coming in to see if any adds will arrive during the phase. If they do, just position yourself so you're in range to grab them as they come. Spam Ragestorm and Spotter's while running to hold aggro on any adds chasing you. Note that the beam takes about 10 seconds to complete a full rotation and you can run faster than it with bard speed buff up. That means if you are running right behind the beam and see an add coming you can sit in one place for 7-8 seconds, grab the add, build some aggro, and start running again before the beam catches back up to you. As the beam dissipates move to your tanking spot and wait for the skeletons to run up from behind you. This part can be tricky, but in order to minimize damage coming from you at this point, WAIT until the skeletons have run PAST you and then throw Spotter's immediately. If done properly all the skeletons will be in front of you, lined up nicely with the boss/butchers/imps so you can block all incoming attacks and your melee DPS can cleave it all. Stay cool and don't screw up during this fight -- if you're solo tanking one mistake can wipe your raid pretty easily. If you're unsure about your skills there's always the safety net of using a second tank for adds (of course your DPS will need to be higher to compensate).

Vladmal Prime
Use: 51 VK spec (main tank), 51 VK spec (delver tank), ??? (excavator tank). As the main tank, chill out and spank the boss down. You may get feared, just reposition as normal. Other than that it's an incredibly boring boss to tank. As the delver tank things are a little more interesting -- just watch for them to run in, grab them and pull them off to a corner. You should have 1-2 AoE DPS with you to help kill them. As far as excavator tanking goes -- leave that to another class (Clerics work well) or create a gimmicky spec with some Riftblade for Freeze Armor. I haven't done it personally so won't go into detail, but a spec with 6 RB instead of 6 WL should work well here -- throw your slow on them and then stand your ground and tank while they die.

Grugonim

King Molinar

Estrode

Matron Zamira
Use: 51 VK spec (any tank). My guild uses two main tanks and an off-tank. As a main tank, switch at 2 stacks initially and whenever they drop off after that. When you use a tome the tanks should switch immediately after adds spawn so one tank gets most of the adds and the other a few adds + the boss. Pop cooldowns on these add spawns, but save your big ones for sub-30%. At 40% start interrupting the boss's casts. You should use your third tome at about 32-33% so Ichor begins after the final round of adds. Have your tome clicker jump down to help out and hope you can burn the boss before she one-shots your tanks. Save all defensive cooldowns for around 10-15% on the boss -- chain Singularity into Fusion of Flesh and a Touch of Life after an Ichor hit. As the off-tank, simply grab the single adds that spawn continuously and bring them into the middle for your DPS to kill. Interrupt Arc of the Night -- there should never be more than one add alive so the tank should be able to handle interrupts on his own. If you are dying repeatedly on this fight, find more Death Resistance!

Sicaron
DISCLAIMER: Have not killed boss but have spent time on attempts.
Use: Paladin Hybrid spec (either tank). This boss's breath is a fairly gimmicky mechanic where it is a Physical damage Spell. This means you can block it, and Hardened Will (Paladin) and Crest Mastery (Reaver) work to mitigate it, but Void (Void Knight) does not. In addition the damage can be split between two players which is why you should use a second tank. Move the boss as needed to make room for more Contract drops, ending up at the path leading to the boss. The main tank will never be targeted with Contracts, but the off tank can be. Make sure your raid is stacked up enough to keep the two tanks inside the blue Contract bubble, otherwise you will not be able to hold aggro (my guild has a rogue pulling 3.2k DPS and a warrior pulling 3k DPS on the fight). Tanking this fight is heavily RNG-based -- stack as much block as possible and hope for the best.

Hammerknell Upper Floor

Gear Suggestions

With any Warrior raid tanking, the first stats to consider are Toughness and Hit. For Hammerknell you need 200 toughness (which is the cap, but is the minimum) and 300-320 Hit (320 being the cap). For all other raids, the numbers are 150 Toughness and 200-220 Hit. When adding runes to gear, first add a toughness rune to your chest if required, then add Hit runes to gear if required (keep in mind you can get 45 Hit from my Paladin Hybrid spec if you adjust it!), then add stat runes to other pieces.

As a rule of thumb, you should order gear by:

Endurance > Strength > Block > Dexterity > Parry = Dodge. To figure out upgrades between similar pieces of gear, consult a BiS spreadsheet. The best one I know of is found at Google Doc if any readers have a better link please post it and I will update this. The one linked is missing some Hammerknell pieces.

Conclusion

I hope this guide was useful to someone reading it. If anyone has suggestions for changes or things I missed, please feel free to post. I will update this thread based on suggestions, as well as once I get more boss experience in Hammerknell.

Source: Tordana's Comprehensive Warrior Raid Tanking Guide