The first boss in SSC, Hydross the Unstable, requires tanks in frost and nature resistance gear. He does either pure frost or nature damage, depending on the phase. His adds likewise also do pure frost or nature damage. Most strategies call for two main tanks and two off-tanks, one set with frost resistance gear and the other with nature resistance gear.
This guide will help your selected nature tanks to reach their resistance goals in the easiest and cheapest manner possible.
How Much Nature Resistance? | Main Tank Plate Set | Off-Tank Plate Set | Off-Tank Druid Set
Check out the Burning Crusade Classic Phase 2 Quick Start Guide
How Much Nature Resistance Is Needed for Hydross the Unstable?
Hydross the Unstable
How much resistance gear your tanks use is going to vary from guild to guild. It mostly comes down to how much damage (average and spikes) your healers can handle. Early public test realm runs were showing 100 to be a good starting minimum, but consider that is coming from guilds organizing and running 25-man PTR raids. More casual guilds will likely want more resistance, probably closer to 200. Sources from the original Burning Crusade recommended the 365 resistance cap.
The downside to more resistance is tanks generate less threat. The more resistance you use the more your DPS needs to hold back. So consider the balance between tank threat, healer throughput, and DPS patience. The recommended sets below will get you to 341 nature resistance buffed. It is easier to remove resistance pieces you don’t need than it is to gain more resistance in the middle of raid night.
Off-tanks may be fine with no resistance gear, according to early PTR reports. You can hit 170 nature resistance with just two pieces of gear and buffs. Not too bad for some extra insurance. And off-tanks should consider building their own full set to match the main tank, should they be absent one run.
If you want to go for a frost resistance cap you can. But remember anything over the cap is a complete waste, so stay as close to the actual cap as possible. You’re usually better off being a little under rather than a little over.
Recommended Main Tank Plate Nature Resistance Set
This recommended plate set will get you mostly to resistance cap with as little effort and cost as possible.
Wildguard Set
Wildguard Helm = 50 NR
Glyph of Nature Warding = 20 NR
Pendant of Withering = 30 NR
Wildguard Beastplate = 60 NR
Wildguard Leggings = 60 NR
The Natural Ward = 35 NR
Nature Armor Kit x2 = 8 NR
- Apply to the breastplate and leggings
Aspect of the Wild or Nature Resistance Totem = 70 NR
- Requires either a hunter or shaman to be in the same group as the tank
- Aspect of the Wild and Nature Resistance Totem do not stack
- Gift of the Wild’s resistance will not stack with either
Total Nature Resistance = 341
While not at cap, this should be sufficient for many raid teams. It uses the primary items Blizzard provided in TBC content and doesn’t waste any other gear slots.
Materials Needed
- 85 gold
- Felsteel Bar x28
- Adamantite Powder x20
- Heavy Knothide Leather x8
- Primal Earth x5
- Primal Life x46
- Primal Shadow x56
- Primal Nether x3
The blacksmith crafting the Wildguard armor must get the Primal Nethers themselves. But you could always form a guild group to farm them up. Or trade mats and some gold to get a blacksmith to use their nether for you.
Hitting Nature Resistance Cap
You can get the last 24 resistance points needed to hit the nature resistance cap by either enchanting some older tank gear, or by swapping flasks mid raid.
Enchants
- Shoulders: Inscription of Endurance = 7 FR
- Back: Enchant Cloak – Greater Nature Resistance = 15 NR
- Feet: Nature Armor Kit = 8 NR
Do not depend on Flask of Chromatic Wonder to get your last resistance points. The recipe is not currently in TBC Classic, and expectations are it’ll be added in Phase 3 or 4.
Recommended Off-Tank Plate Nature Resistance Set
This recommended plate set will get you to where most guides recommend for off-tanking the nature-based adds. It is also a good starting point toward building a full set so you can be backup for the main tank.
Wildguard Helm = 50 NR
Glyph of Nature Warding = 20 NR
Pendant of Withering = 30 NR
- The neck is cheaper to craft, but if you’d prefer to replace a ring and don’t mind the added cost you can use The Natural Ward instead.
Aspect of the Wild or Nature Resistance Totem = 70 NR
- Requires either a hunter or shaman to be in the same group as the off-tank
- Aspect of the Wild and Nature Resistance Totem do not stack
- Gift of the Wild’s resistance will not stack with either
Total Nature Resistance = 170
Materials Needed
- 85 gold
- Felsteel Bar x10
- Adamantite Powder x4
- Primal Earth x1
- Primal Life x18
- Primal Shadow x16
- Primal Nether x1
Mats above assume Pendant of Withering over The Natural Ward.
The blacksmith crafting Wildguard Helm must get the Primal Nether themselves. But you could always form a guild group to farm them up. Or trade mats and some gold to get a blacksmith to use their nether for you.
Recommended Druid Off-Tank Set for Hydross the Unstable
Druids shouldn’t main tank Hydross the Unstable, as there isn’t enough good nature resistance gear to make them as effective as a warrior or paladin. Blame the Blizzard developers of 2007. But druids can take on off-tank duties.
Random Green of Nature Protection head item (level 60+) = 28-37 FR
- Check the auction house for cloth or leather “of Nature Protection” head items.
- Go with any level 61-70 piece you can find. You only need 15 nature resistance to match the plate-wearing off-tanks, which any 61+ item will more than offer. You’re sticking to the TBC items for the increased stamina.
Glyph of Nature Warding = 20 NR
Pendant of Withering = 30 NR
The Natural Ward = 35 NR
Aspect of the Wild or Nature Resistance Totem = 70 NR
- Requires either a hunter or shaman to be in the same group as the off-tank
- Aspect of the Wild and Nature Resistance Totem do not stack
- Gift of the Wild’s resistance will not stack with either
Total Nature Resistance = 183+
Materials Needed
- 85 gold
- Khorium Bar x2
- Felsteel Bar x2
- Adamantite Powder x20
- Primal Earth x5
- Primal Fire x12
- Primal Water x10
Main Tank Set Options
If you really want to give main tanking Hydross as a feral druid a go you’ll need to put a lot more time and cost into building a good nature resistance set. Unless you happen to have a nature resistance set from AQ40 still in the bank.
- Start with the items above
- Gaea’s Embrace + Enchant Cloak – Greater Nature Resistance
- Bramblewood Belt and Boots + Nature Armor Kit
- Ring a second nature resistance ring
- Other TBC based options are mostly using leather pieces with gem slots and Void Spheres
Check out my old AQ40 nature resistance guide for other pre-TBC ideas.
Do not depend on Flask of Chromatic Wonder to get your last resistance points. The recipe is not currently in TBC Classic, and expectations are it’ll be added in Phase 3 or 4.
In the end, you’ll still end up with less nature resistance than your plate-wearing peers. And likely less stamina than you usually tank with, too.