Now that Dual-Wield dps is viable again, many people also want to extend the dual-wield happiness to tanking. There are many myths and misconceptions about dual-wield tanking throughout the wow community. When I heard dual-wield tanking, the next word that immediately pops into my head is deathn00b. The vast majority of death knights which I’ve run into while leveling tend to dps as dual-wield, many don’t understand the trees and assume they can just dual-wield with anything.
On the contrary, as of 3.3, Dual-Wield Frost tanking is a viable, though niche, option. Patch 3.3 adds new runeforges and allows Frost to attain above average threat performance.
The Spec: Frost DW Tanking
10/54/7
Deathn00bs aside, what’s the big problem with Dual-Wield tanking? The traditional issue is a mechanic known as parry-haste. When a boss parries one of your attacks, it gets a haste, or weapons speed, bonus to its next attacks. Keeping in mind that a dual-wield tank will probably be using a fast\fast combination of weapons; faster and more attacks equals a greater chance to be “parry-gibbed” (parry-gibbed = the chance your healers won’t be able to burst heal you through a parry-haste damage spike). You can’t eliminate the chance of being parry-hasted, but you can reduce the frequency by ensuring you have enough Expertise (Expertise reduces the chance that your target will be able to parry you). The numbers I’m seeing are in the order of 26-30 Expertise (note Expertise; not Expertise Rating).
Here is my checklist for Dual-Wield tanking viability:
1. Have excellent healers, above-average.
2. Have at least 26 Expertise, don’t try it without full raid gear.
3. Have two balanced high-level tanking weapons.
4. Don’t be a Deathn00b
So should you Dual-Wield tank? The official DKT ruling is POSSIBLY.