Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsBreakfast Topic: Lamented Mechanics
by Matthew Rossi 
Dec 27th 2009 at 8:00AM
For instance, I wish there were tanking fist weapons. I love, love, love fist weapons. I'd settle for a fist that had hit and expertise on it, even. But while I'm willing to switch to a slow main hander when I have a full rage bar to dump as Devastate threat (or for huge Cleaves when tanking lots of trash) it's just not really suitable for a good 80 to 90% of my time tanking. And yet, how I love fist weapons. I have an enhancement shaman, of course, and yet fists almost never drop for him (he's using axes at the moment) while they rain from the heavens and are almost constantly sharded when I'm tanking. I've taken to just picking them up and using them for fun. I understand there will most likely never be a dedicated tanking fist, as the only class that could use it would be a warrior (Paladins and DKs can't use fist weapons, Druids can but would almost never use one over a staff since they can't use shields).
Similarly, whenever I go elemental I always end up drooling over caster swords, and there have been a few times I've heard paladin healers sigh at a dagger drop. So what I turn to ask you is, what do you wish you could use? What drop can you either not equip or just can't effectively use?
Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Shaman, Warrior, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Breakfast Topics, Death Knight
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 7)
ben Dec 27th 2009 8:07AM
I wish my shaman could use an SP sword with an SP shield. There, I said it.
Razortooth Dec 27th 2009 11:59AM
I think i speak for shaman everywhere when i say this: spirit.
Caelin Dec 27th 2009 8:07AM
On my Lock, I really wish I could use staves. Alot of the new ones look incredibly BA, but it really just isn't as helpful as a MH/OH combo...
bmiller Dec 27th 2009 9:01AM
You just need to train staves, there's even a warlock class quest that offers a staff as a quest reward.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=15105
jbodar Dec 27th 2009 9:15AM
@bmiller
Of course Locks can USE staves (lol. Caelin's just remarking that dagger/sword + offhand are just better, stats-wise. I guess that's just the tradeoff for only needing 1 drop to upgrade. Staves can be good if you've got nothing better.
nieboh Dec 27th 2009 9:19AM
While I can't read minds, I am assuming Caelin's issue is not the lack of training. I have a feeling the issue is that staves just don't provide enough of an edge over the stats and ability gains you can make with a main hand/offhand combination.
On my mage, I was able to pick up a staff that was an improvement over my old sword/hanging thing-a-ma-bob. However, I'm pretty sure I don't get to use the staff forever and I'm carrying a new sword in my inventory to swap out just as soon as a quality offhand drops for me (and I can win the roll).
Rubella Dec 27th 2009 11:59AM
I dont like to stress the fact that the warlock rocks, but he jus does,So, for all you staff users out there, feel free to come in and post, my staff is a good one, but here is how it goes
1. post message in the room
2. LOOK IT OVER
3. dont report anything, i might get in trouble :)
and 4. Have fun!!!
--http://www.wowwiki.com/Kralnor
Eisengel Dec 27th 2009 8:37PM
I entirely agree. On my Priest I've run across many staffs that I really wanted to use because they looked so awesome, but the stats were just not there. Honestly I think Blizz should make MH/OH combos and staffs at the same ilvl have the same spellpower and comparable gem slots, but MH/OH should have slightly more haste and int, and staffs more crit and spirit, to give them both some distinctiveness, but to make either choice viable.
The Long Man Dec 27th 2009 8:07AM
Good lord I wish my DK could use fist weapons
Kal Dec 27th 2009 11:55AM
Ditto
InsiderFan Dec 27th 2009 8:09AM
Didn't I read somewhere on WoW Insider in the past about the ability in Cataclysm to be able to "retool" weapons and/or armor with more class desirable stats?
Tim Dec 27th 2009 10:59AM
Yeah. I forget what its called but you can. For example: you have a sword with 100 STR and 100 Crit. You could trade one of those stats for 50% of the other. It takes the specific type of profession to do it though.
I'm pretty sure thats right.
Nascair Dec 27th 2009 1:34PM
Actually you can only change items to stats they dont already have.
Fletcher Dec 27th 2009 8:12AM
I read somewhere - can't recall where - that that'd entail taking off a stat already on the item (say, +28 int) and replacing it with a different stat not already on the item (such as +28 def). Who knows if you can do it more than once to the same weapon ...
Valorum Dec 27th 2009 8:43AM
...except that +def will be gone then.
Shima Dec 27th 2009 8:18AM
I wish the DK would never been born D:
and swords for shami's; and, of course, the reforged feature; described as above.
Martin Dec 27th 2009 8:20AM
I wish holy/ret pallies could use staffs at times, if not for anything other then looks. That tentacle staff from Kara is still on my fav weapon models in the game.
jbodar Dec 27th 2009 9:19AM
Yeah, nothin says "Servant of the Light" like a good, old-fashioned tentacle staff. ;)
Cadaverus Dec 27th 2009 10:08AM
jbodar's comment is pure win. :)
Zalandris Dec 27th 2009 1:01PM
Yeah, in my guild we call that the "Hentai Staff".