Here we are again, a new expansion so time for a new set of gems! Here are the level 90 tanking gems for Mists of Pandaria!
Gem set for survivability:
- Austere Primal Diamond – (+324STA/+2%Armor) – Meta
- Solid Serpent’s Eye – (+480STA) – Blue, Jewelcrafter Only
- Subtle Serpent’s Eye – (+480 Dodge) – Yellow, Jewelcrafter Only
- Solid River’s Heart – (+240 STA) – Blue
- Defender’s Imperial Amethyst – (+160PAR/+120STA) – Red/Blue
- Regal Wild Jade (+160DOD/+120STA) – Blue/Yellow
- Puissant Wild Jade (+120MAS/+160STA) – Blue/Yellow
Gem set for threat:
- Austere Primal Diamond – (+324STA/+2%Armor) – Meta
- Rigid River’s Heart – (+320HIT) – Blue
- Guardian’s Imperial Amethyst -(+120EXP/+160STA) – Red/Blue
- Retaliating Imperial Amethyst – (+160PAR/+160HIT) – Red/Blue
- Accurate Imperial Amethyst – (+160EXP/+160HIT) – Red/Blue
- Resolute Vermilion Onyx – (+160EXP/+160DOD) – Yellow/Red
- Fine Vermilion Onyx – (+160PAR/+160MAS) – Yellow/Red
- Keen Vermilion Onyx – (+160EXP/+160MAS) – Yellow/Red
- Nimble Wild Jade – (+120STA/+160HIT) – Blue/Yellow
Again, early in the expac, I would suggest you lean more towards survivability vs. threat unless you just absolutely have to. We’ll update the list when the level 90 epic gems come out!
I would just like to note that for a lot of tanks the stat weights are such that it isn’t a clear cut Surv vs threat when choosing hit and expertise, all tanks currently have some form of active mitigation that can have higher uptime based on the amount of successful swings you have at the boss.
Also mastery has varied waits depending on you class, for example most DK tanks will want the 432+Mastery and runspeed meta over the Austere