Hybrid PVP / Tank Spec
 

My primary role in raids is DPS so I have a full dps spec. I tank Hodir and random other things so my two specs have been full tank and full dps. Over the weekend I had to respec one to healing for a naxx run (wtb tri-spec!).... Anyways, I've gotten a little interest in PVP again so I was trying to come up with a hybrid PVP/tank spec.

Here is what I've come up with--
Talent Calculator - World of Warcraft

Sacrifices to tanking are 1 point in Natural Reaction for 2% less dodge and 1 less rage per dodge, only 1 point in Feral Instinct which will only effect AoE tanking a little bit, and no Master Shapeshifter for 4% less damage overall. Threat will be a little lower without Master Shapeshifter but I do have Rend and Tear and Primal Gore . My tanking gear is good so I'm still looking at 40% dodge with just MotW.

Then sacrifices as far as pvp is concerned, only 2/3 Improved Mangle so 2 more energy per mangle, again no Master Shapeshifter so 4% less crit, and finally no King of the Jungle so no instant energy regen. I thought about sacrificing 1 point in Primal Tenacity in order to get full Improved Mangle but I would think that 10% less damage while stunned is important.

Glyphs I chose are Barkskin, Survival Instincts, and Maul.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I haven't PVP'd in awhile, and even less as feral.

Thanks,
sin

In my experience, pvp as a cat is not succesful without KotJ. The 60 energy from TF is the reason for most of the burst. It also enables me to stun with maim and then do 2-3 shreds with the help of TF.

I'm not a friend of mixed specs. I have PvP or Tank -> Sacrificing Talents for gold is not what I would call optimizing.

Agreed, I simply cannot imagine feral PVP without KotJ. With our burst toned down some in these past few patches KotJ is one of the big tools we have remaining for bursting someone down. TF is important in openers and other Maim combos as Murna points out and is great to top off before a Berserk. I'd argue its more important than Imp Mangle, since KotJ means 60 extra energy every 30 seconds (you'd need to use 3/3 Imp mangle 10 times in that span to save 60 energy!), but without Shredding Attacks it looks like you have no choice but to maximize the Mangle side of the build. I just personally don't find that Mangle has the oomph to get people down. Maim is so cheap with the PVP gloves that just that can get you many Shred opportunities.

I'm not a fan of bearform and its related talents in PVP any longer. It feels like there has been a major shift away from physical damage due to the sheer popularity of DK's and ret paladins in WotLK PVP, leaving only warriors and rogues as the primary physical damage dealers that bear can mitigate. I run 2's with a priest and 2/2 Nurturing Instinct, and staying in cat while the healer is around seems to work best, using Barkskin and Surv Instincts to weather any burst. Bear I tend to use just for the tools - Bash, Charge, and Surv Instincts + Frenzied Regen is a good self-heal particularly when your healer needs to drink.

Just an average Arena'r here still climbing up the ratings, so take this opinion for what its worth.

I would have put this in the Feral questions thread personally. It's not worthy of a new topic. Generally speaking trying to get a spec that covers 2 different roles leaves you lacking a little bit in both. I'd suck up the 50g and respec when necessary.