Phat Loot Phriday: Ironmender
by Mike Schramm 
Jun 5th 2009 at 9:00PM
- Like a few items we've done lately, this is an item made for healer casters, so basically Priests. The Stamina hints at Warlocks, and they could probably use it if nothing else came along, but the name "mender" and the Spirit definitely points this item towards Priests.
- And while you can't see it in the pic above, the art on this one glows orange and kicks off sparks. It's pretty good-looking, which isn't a huge surprise, given where it comes from.
Getting Rid of It: It's an excellent offhand if it fits the specs you're looking for, so you may have it for a while. There are a few other better offhands to be found in Ulduar, but especially if Spirit is your thing, this is probably the one you'll want. If not, you can vendor it for 7g 56s 23c, or disenchant it off into an Abyss Crystal.
Filed under: Priest, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Cheats, Odds and ends, Phat Loot Phriday
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ramen Jun 5th 2009 10:32PM
Works just as well for resto druids.
Jahgang Jun 6th 2009 9:04AM
Word! I view it as BiS off-hand for us trees, and am very proud to tote this book around with me.
liu Jun 5th 2009 10:42PM
Though they wouldn't be wild about the Stam (would who be, really?), this seems equally good for Mages, especially now that they can get hit capped easily without needing to spend points on the off-hand. Remember that they need Spirit too since 3.1
frdmg Jun 5th 2009 10:52PM
Regardless of "mender" in name - this is a caster offhand ( dps or healer ) i honestly can't think of any caster who wouldn't want this. Stam, int, mana regen. Not to mention the haste and SP. Hmmmm, how you can say this is a priest item when those stats fit every caster class?! and your comment "and the Spirit definitely points this item towards Priests.", do you think ONLY priests need spirit? Great item, IMO, bad write-up however.
Jhestor Jun 5th 2009 10:55PM
This is definitely an incredible OH for most casters, regardless of DPS/Heals. Arcane mages love to stack haste, and use spirit now.... also, my Resto Druid would take this in a heartbeat.
Celldweller Jun 5th 2009 11:11PM
I have to agree, saying it's 'especially good for priests' is a rather ill-informed statement. Any caster benefits from this, mages and locks get more SP from spirit (fel armor and molten lava) not to mention the lock glyph of life tap. As for healers, paladin and shammy are pretty much the only ones I can see passing on this since neither receive any real benefit from spirit aside from the mp5 it can offer.
Celldweller Jun 5th 2009 11:12PM
Can't edit the comment but doesn't add SP for mages, but crit. After looking at it realized I was in error.
Alkaios Jun 6th 2009 12:08AM
Paladins and shamans wouldn't be caught dead with an offhand normally, considering shields are itemized far better and add to your armor bonus =).
Also: paladins and shamans receive no mp5 bonus from spirit or int...only the craptastic, non-casting regen, but any healer playing those classes worth his salt would stay away from it.
Wyred Jun 6th 2009 5:06AM
@Alkaios. All casters get regen from int if they're running with replenishment, and I'm imagining any 25 man raid in ulduar is. However overall you're correct, it's not itemised for shammies or pallies. Personally I'd also argue it's not great for mages, they may get crit from spirit, but not a huge amount. It's not something they would stack, it just means that the spirit they inevitably get from caster gear isn't entirely wasted. Locks, priests and resto druids would benefit the most from this item.
Dyoni Jun 16th 2009 3:58AM
I'm using it now for my arcane mage. It's great, the haste really makes it worthwhile for arcane, and the chuck of spirit helps my molten armor.
eblume Jun 6th 2009 12:02AM
I have this on my resto druid. It's best in slot - nothing beats it. At least, nothing did when it dropped my first time in Ulduar, maybe some new items have been revealed that I missed.
Rich Jun 6th 2009 12:12AM
That's an awesome OH for any caster. Lock's who have the LT glyph will like it since it's extra SP from the spirit.
Prudelas Jun 6th 2009 1:47AM
/sigh Sure would be a nice replacement for Handbook of Obscure Remedies
Gothia Jun 6th 2009 2:49AM
Any caster can use this item and while it is an upgrade, the haste is a low priority, for a Priest. This may be true for other casters who would want to see crit vice haste on their gear. I, as others, would rank equipment stats Sp, Crit, Int, Stam, Haste, Spirit. (Hmm, did I put Stam infront of haste and spirit?) Spirit is last because, other than a marginal Sp and Regen boost, it has been devalued so much by the last couple of patches. Look, it is such a crappy stat that they had to throw Mages a bone after being crushed by the Arcane Nerf Hammer - as we all know that a Mage buff pretty much spells doom of any stat, class, spec, ability, buff, debuff, pet, rating, ...etc - Here's the love Mages, see we give you food, water, dalaran, and now spirit so stop worrying about those little changes we have in store for you in 3.2.
Spriesty Jun 6th 2009 5:22AM
LOL You are so wrong.
Tickle Jun 6th 2009 6:40AM
Why doesn't this surprise me that the writer is once again bit lost when it comes to classes and their needs. After all, he's the same fellow who recommended strength and 2-handers for shamans, and axes for druids..
Moketronics Jun 6th 2009 10:09AM
I'm a priest and I have one!
Now just need another 17 shards of Val'anyr to have an awesome main hand to go along with it.
Vogie Jun 6th 2009 10:17AM
I'm a Warlock and I approve this Offhand. This'd be an awesome upgrade...
KillerKarl Jun 6th 2009 12:11PM
BIS for a mage until one can get their hands on Cosmos.
Averna Jun 6th 2009 12:40PM
Let me edit this juuuust a wee bit. =P
"Like a few items we've done lately, this is an item made for healer casters, so basically Priests and Resto Druids. The Stamina hints at Warlocks, and they could probably use it if nothing else came along, but the name "mender" and the Spirit definitely points this item towards Priests and Resto Druids.
There we go =D
The other castery-spirit offhand from Ulduar is the Igniter Rod. It's got less spell power, and crit instead of haste, so for healers (like priests and druids), the Ironmender is the BiS offhand.