[top] End Game Gear
For gear choices in 2.4, many of us have been considering T6 vs the Sunwell drops (for end-game raiding). This is an attempt to compare the options, and decide which is the better path for each slot.
Neck:
[Brooch of Nature's Mercy] *or*
[Amulet of Flowing Life]: my preference lies with the former, for boosting OO5SR regen amounts, and because I'm a spirit whore
Ring #1:
[Ring of Harmonic Beauty]
Ring #2:
[Ring of Harmonic Beauty] *or*
[Ring of Flowing Life]
(I'm planning on using 2x
[Ring of Harmonic Beauty] once the drops cooperate)
Cloak:
[Shroud of Forgiveness] *or*
[Shroud of the Highborne]
(preference goes to Forgiveness, as I'll be picking up haste in other slots)]
Wand:
[Wand of Cleansing Light] (there's really no competition; this beats the RoS wand hollow)
Weapons:
[Hammer of Sanctification] +
[Scepter of Purification] *or*
[Golden Staff of the Sin'dorei]
Boots:
[Boots of Absolution] (nothing comes close)
Belt:
[Belt of Absolution] (same)
Bracer:
[Cuffs of Absolution] (same)
So it basically comes down to Helm, Shoulders, Chest, Gloves, and Pants. Everything else is an easy call, and actually
'matches' if you will (i.e. is part of a consistent set, or doesn't show up on the character model).
Pants:
[Pantaloons of Calming Strife].
Shoulder:
[Shawl of Wonderment] vs
[Mantle of Absolution]
This is basically the same kind of argument. +3 stamina, -4 intellect, -29 spirit, +4 healing S&E, +2 Mp5 and +33 Haste. Chunk of spirit for a chunk of haste. Not a sufficiently compelling reason to upgrade, so this piece becomes a logical 4th piece for our set bonus.
Helm:
[Cowl of Light's Purity] vs
[Cowl of Absolution].
Same type of argument, one that Light's Purity wins by sheer virtue of being an ilvl 164 item. Comparison is +15 stam, +10 intellect, -5 spirit, -6 Mp5, +37 healing S&E and 30 Haste. Stick with T6 until KJ dies and this drops.
Gloves:
[Handguards of the Dawn] vs
[Gloves of Absolution] vs
[Hands of Eternal Light]
Total change: -6 stamina, +1 intellect, +9 spirit, -5 Mp5, 24 healing S&E, 24 Haste. Reasonable upgrade. If you'd rather have healing over haste, take the crafted gloves over T6. I plan on sticking with T6 for a little while, as I'm not up for bracer/belt/boot upgrades, and I need to keep a 4-piece bonus going as long as possible.
Chest:
[Robe of Eternal Light] vs
[Robes of Faltered Light] vs
[Vestments of Absolution] (one crafted, one drop)
It's clear the T6->Faltered Light is a definite upgrade, assuming that you don't desperately need the ~ 5 Mp5 differential. It's not a *huge* upgrade unless you consider the haste, though -- 10 int and 8 healing is not enough to justify an immediate OMG.
Conclusion
Worst-case, assuming you don't take all-new gear in Sunwell, and keep some old T6-equiv items, you will gain the haste from neck, wand, boot, belt, bracer, helm. You can also add haste in your shoulder, chest, gloves, rings and weapon slots if you see fit. Minimum amount gained: 145 haste (or roughly 9%). This will drop our GH down to 2.26 seconds, and our CoH down to 1.36 seconds. Realistically, by the time you're done gearing in Sunwell, you should be approaching 300 Spell Haste, without actively seeking it out. If you choose to stack it (trinket, rings, etc) you can easily break 400.
[top] Alt Gear (5-mans / 10-mans / Mag + Gruul)
I'm basically going to assume you don't do Arenas. If you do, there's a lot of options (especially the Brutal S4 pieces) that are actually better than anything else you can get before Black Temple. Gem and enchant for PvE, and they're pretty solid. However, honor gear is fair game, and will be included in this list, since anyone can AfkV.
Helm: [Light-Collar of the Incarnate] ->
[Hood of the Third Eye] ->
[Cowl of the Avatar]
As your progression allows, get the helm from Prince (T4), then the helm from Malacress (ZA), and then finally T5 from Lady Vashj.
Neck: [Brooch of Nature's Mercy] or
[Guardian's Pendant of Salvation]
Brooch is BiS, but has no stam; if you'd rather go the stam/Mp5 route, Guardian's is actually BiS before Sunwell.
Shoulders: [Light-Mantle of the Incarnate]
Shoulder slots suck. Unfortunately, Blizzard has chosen to
not put good cloth shoulders on the badge vendor, and equally has no put any solid drops in ZA to help 5/10-man raiders get shoulders. You basically need to kill Maulgar or do Arenas to get a solid pair of shoulders. Of course, this is assuming you aren't a tailor ...
[Primal Mooncloth Shoulders] are very good.
Cloak: [Kharmaa's Shroud of Hope] (BoJ) or
[Stainless Cloak of the Pure Hearted] (Kara)
Chest: [Gown of Spiritual Wonder] (BiS before Illidan)
Bracer: [Wristguards of Tranquil Thought] (BoJ) or
[Guardian's Mooncloth Cuffs]
Basically the same item; depends if you have more honor than badges. The extra stam is nice as well on Guardian's.
Gloves: [Light-Blessed Bonds]
Very solid badge gloves; get a pair until you get access to T6.
Belt: [Belt of the Long Road] (not replaced until Illidari Council+)
Legs: [Adorned Supernal Legwraps] (BiS before Kalecgos; alts rejoice!)
Boots: [Slippers of Dutiful Mending] (BoJ)
Ring#1: [Anveena's Touch] (BoJ)
Ring#2: [Violet Signet of the Grand Restorer] or
[Signet of the Quiet Forest]
If your alt can get into a 3-chest ZA clear, Signet is an amazing ring, and well worth having.
Trinket#1: [Essence of the Martyr] or
[Direbrew Hops] (only during the Brewfest)
Trinket#2: [Lower City Prayerbook] or
[Scarab of the Infinite Cycle] or
[Darkmoon Card: Blue Dragon] or
[Bangle of Endless Blessings] or ... (you get the picture)
Weapon: [Rod of the Blazing Light] or
[Dark Blessing] or
[Merciless Gladiator's Salvation]
Note that Rod of Blazing Light is ridiculously good for a heroic dungeon drop, and every priest should be using it at a
bare minimum. If you have access to better, sure ... but don't use worse. Please.
Offhand:Voodoo Shaker[/item] or
[Merciless Gladiator's Reprieve]
Wand: [Brutal Gladiator's Baton of Light] or
[Blue Diamond Witchwand]