A macro for stacking parry or dodge
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 16th 2009 at 4:00PM
Fortunately, HC's macro (written by Theck of Maintankadin, apparently) is foolproof. Just plug this macro in, and hit it every time you're choosing gear:
/script DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("If ratio above 1.88 start getting Parry. Currently at: "..string.format("%.2f", (GetDodgeChance()-10)/(GetParryChance()-10)))
If your ratio of Dodge to Parry rating is above 1.88, you can start picking up Parry gear to balance them back out, or if not, keep working on your Dodge rating. Like I said, foolproof.
Tanks who know what they're doing might have other insights (and feel free to share those in the comments below), but as an easy and simple guide to what you can start stacking when, I like the way this macro works. I'll definitely have it on the bar as my pally moves towards endgame.
Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Warrior, Tips, How-tos, Death Knight
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dapip Oct 16th 2009 4:04PM
As a DW dk tank honestly I don't worry about parry at all. I have 22% from nothing but gear, while my dodge is at around 28~29& by stacking 15 stam 10 dodge gems, I find it harder to keep them level as a DW tank over just letting my weapons and gear give me my parry and stock dodge and stam.
Karilyn Oct 16th 2009 4:05PM
I've seen this macro recently. While it sounds useful, it's not so handy in practice.
It's very difficult to achieve such a high difference in ratio between Parry and Dodge (In practice, it would be something like 21% Parry and 30% Dodge).
Furthermore, you don't have much control over whether you get Parry or Dodge gear; typically one is simply stronger than the other. And even if you do manage to tip the scales in favor of Parry, the differences we are now talking about are measured in thousands of a percent, and odds are the very next item you pick will tilt it back in favor of Dodge. AND EVEN BEYOND THAT, you shouldn't be gemming or enchanting for Dodge/Parry anyone, so the one place where it would have potentially been useful, is irrelivant anyway.
It's a macro in search of a purpose.
Gnosh Oct 16th 2009 4:12PM
Kind of like that old macro I still have kicking around that estimates how much honor you'd have to spend when the honor was calculated (for real) and rolled over at night.
ZMES_Matt Oct 16th 2009 4:34PM
Just wondering, because I'm not a tank, and I honestly don't know much about them; but why shouldn't you gem/enchant for Dodge or Parry? It's my (little) understanding that avoidance is king for tanking, because if the gems/enchants helped you dodge even one attack from the now massively hitting bosses, then it'd have saved you much more health than the tiny bit of stamina you could have gotten instead.
MikeB Oct 16th 2009 4:42PM
ZMES_Matt: In short, because of diminishing returns. The more dodge and parry rating you get, the less effective it is at improving your dodge and parry skill. Adding more over what your gear comes with on its own with gems or enchants doesn't give you as much bang for your buck as other stats like raw Stamina, which adds health regardless of how much of it you have (and scales much better with buffs and talents that increase stamina by a certain percentage).
Karilyn Oct 16th 2009 4:52PM
In addition to diminished returns, nearly half of all damage which is being thrown around in ToGC is damage which CANNOT be Dodged or Parried.
Whether that is magical damage, or physical DoTs, or simply "Overpower" style melee attacks.
...
In other words, while avoidance is useful, you'll get much better survivability out of gemming and enchanting for Stamina.
Clint Oct 16th 2009 5:06PM
This macro is still relevant.
At minimum, this macro will tell you if your should use +10parry/+15stam, or +10dodge/+15stam to fulfill your meta gem requirements.
(extremely) Small gains are still gains.
Angus Oct 16th 2009 6:35PM
"At minimum, this macro will tell you if your should use +10parry/+15stam, or +10dodge/+15stam to fulfill your meta gem requirements."
The answer to that question is "+30 stam"
If you need that red gem for a meta gem, then it becomes "+10 Agility/+15 Stam"
Agility gives better dodge rating than dodge rating at higher gear levels and adds a small portion to armor. The crit is a bonus for threat.
I have a dodge/stam gem just because finding an agi/stam gem in the AH is near impossible on my server.
I know someone will mention the socket bonus. To this I point out that less than 12 stamina as a bonus is not worth the less of the stam on a 30 stam gem.
Being able to eat those hits that get through is important.
Taladan Oct 16th 2009 6:40PM
@Angus: On my tests (i.e., I put a gem there to test it), agi/stam provided less dodge than dodge/stam gem.
Chris M Oct 16th 2009 7:21PM
@Taladan
The aforementioned Theck of Maintankadin and MATLAB whoring fame did some extensive research regarding the bonus to dodge + EH a Shifting Dreadstone [http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40130] gives vs a Regal Dreadstone [http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40138].
While, obviously, pure dodge gives more dodge than a Agi gem of the same stat weight, his MATLAB work boils down to the fact that in terms of avoidance + EH, an agi gem is 97.something% as good as a dodge gem. On top of that, you get the crit from agi translating directly to epic threat.
In short, for those still curious- socket Shifting Dreadstone to make your meta. Solid Majestic Opal everywhere else. Shifting Dreadstone if your red socket bonus is good enough (ie 12 stam +) but otherwise, nothx, more stam pl0x.
Justin Oct 16th 2009 4:15PM
Bear tank here. I don't block or parry.
I TANK WITH MY FACE!
Lidodger Oct 16th 2009 4:23PM
True meaning of MeatShield.
Zoe Oct 16th 2009 5:18PM
There's a thread on tankspot that has macro's for all types of tanks.
Druidski Oct 16th 2009 5:39PM
A simple adjustment can be made in order to make this applicable for bear tanks. Just replace the entire macro with;
/y RAWR!
Picviewer Oct 17th 2009 1:14AM
No you tank with your nose/snout.
velutina Oct 17th 2009 2:41PM
Rawr works for warrior, paladin, and DK tanks too. (As well as many other class/talent combinations.) Awesome program.
Killrah Oct 16th 2009 4:15PM
Slow news day I see.
Chukie Oct 16th 2009 4:32PM
Heh Theck does a very good job of answering what if questions. He figures things out for the sake of having the information not because it's all necessarily practical.
But this number has been known for weeks hardly needs a macro and is also barely ever relevant.
*shrug*
ZMES_Matt Oct 16th 2009 4:37PM
I like how that's the same response from anyone that isn't interested in an article but took the time to read and comment on it anyways...
Kesh Oct 16th 2009 5:07PM
As any tank doing any current heroic content knows, there's only one thing that matters, and that' effective health. Avoidance doesn't save anyone against bleeds, stuns, magic. Stamina is King.