Feral druids are very flexible, being able to tank and DPS by switching their gear without a need to change talents. Able to assist on the DPS when a off tank is not needed. They are most of the time the preferred off tank or even main tank. Their high HP allows them to mitigate both physical and magical damage. Unfortunately, they lack the big cooldowns like warriors and paladins, and can only rely on trinkets to survive high damage spikes. Barkskin is a good cooldown, but can only be used out of bear form. If well itemized, feral can take the least damage out of all tanks.

Stats for Feral Druid TBC classic

Tank stats priority

2.6% crit immunity > Armor > Stamina > Hit > Expertise > Agility > Strength = AP

DPS stats priority

Hit > Expertise > Agility > Strength = AP > Intellect > Spirit

Feral Druid TBC Classic Stats Overview

2.6% Crit Immunity

Feral druid needs 2.6% extra crit immunity to not receive crits from mobs 3 levels above. This stat is crucial to tank, as the damage spike is hard to heal and the tank will die. The talent [Survival of the Fittest] already gives 3% of the 5.6% needed. Both resilience and defense rating provide the crit immunity needed.

Armor

Feral druids mitigate the most damage with their high armor, the multiplier from Dire Bear Form increases the value of the stat. Armor cannot mitigate magical damage, however it ranks above stamina for mitigation because most of the items with armor all include high amounts of stamina.

Stamina

Stamina is increased by Dire Bear Form, it’s multiplier increases the value of stamina. Druids rely on their high stamina to soak damage and give their healers time to top them up.

Hit

When survival is no longer the issue, threat becomes the main objective. Hit is easier to stack and will provide the most value all throughout, has reaching near the 6.5% expertise would require to drop survival and other threath stats.

Expertise

Mobs can parry and dodge attacks from the front, 6.5% expertise reduces this chance to 0%. Expertise can generate the most threat but the stat is harder to get.

14.9 expertise rating ~ 1% expertise

Agility

Agility like the druid is a versatile stat, it increases crit, armor and contributes to both survival and threat.

Strength & Attack power

Strength can only increase attack power, and does not contribute in terms of survival like agility does.

Intellect & Spirit

Intellect and spirit can come in some of the gear for ferals, the only reason for this being listed is for powershifting. Having some mana regen will help in a longer fight where mana will become an issue from the action of shapeshifting constantly. No value for tank or without powershifting. This stats should never be pursued, or the items swaped if any other stats are traded.