I recently acquired Footwraps of Wild Encroachment (http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=33582) to replace Zierhut's Lost Treads (http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=30674) but undecided what gems to socket them. Do I ignore the socket bonus and lose +5 str from the Zierhut's Lost Treads and socket them with 2 +12 stamina gems? Or get Shifting Nightseye (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24055) and Enduring Talasite (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24062) to receive the socket bonus and gain +1 str? Will the stamina be better than the str?

I am over the 415 defense cap.

Thanks in advance.

I'd go for 2 +12 sta.

The 3 str do not make that much difference IMO.
You could also go for +4 agi +6 sta if you need more dodge/crit.

If they are for tanking, the choice is obvious that you should go with AGI/Stam or pure Stam gems. Which one should be obvious based upon your role in raids: If you MT, get the pure Stam. If you offtank, the AGI/Stam will probably give you more bang for your buck.

If you are using them for DPS, I'd say throw in one agi and one agi/hit gem.

If you're going to use it for both, *always* socket for tanking. If you fail as a tank, everyone notices. If you fail at DPS, you have several other people to make up the shortfall.

I just got those boots today, but I'm using them for pve cat dps. :> I went with 8 str, 8 hit rating, and cats swiftness enchant. swift cats ftw !

Personally I find those boots not much better for tanking than the heavy clefthoof boots. Defense skill gives you dodge chance as well, remember :> The difference in armor isn't huge either.
Buuutt.. if you really want to use them for tanking... here's what I'd suggest.
Red and yellow sockets. Set bonus: +3 str
So get:
[Shifting Nightseye] (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24055) +4 Agility, +6 Stamina (counts as red and blue)
[Jagged Talasite] (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24067) +4 Critical Strike Rating, +6 stamina (counts as yellow and blue)



This gives you:

12 Stamina
4 Critical Strike Rating
4 Agility
3 Strength.



Instead of:

24 stamina.



That's what I'd do, anyway...


-Annikk

I just got those boots today, but I'm using them for pve cat dps. :> I went with 8 str, 8 hit rating, and cats swiftness enchant. swift cats ftw !

Personally I find those boots not much better for tanking than the heavy clefthoof boots. Defense skill gives you dodge chance as well, remember :> The difference in armor isn't huge either.
Buuutt.. if you really want to use them for tanking... here's what I'd suggest.
Red and yellow sockets. Set bonus: +3 str
So get:
[Shifting Nightseye] (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24055) +4 Agility, +6 Stamina (counts as red and blue)
[Jagged Talasite] (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24067) +4 Critical Strike Rating, +6 stamina (counts as yellow and blue)



This gives you:

12 Stamina
4 Critical Strike Rating
4 Agility
3 Strength.



Instead of:

24 stamina.



That's what I'd do, anyway...


-Annikk

Why did you get the footwraps of wild encroachment for kitty DPS as opposed to the Nyn'jah's Tabi Boots? 29 str/29 agi < 60 AP/29 AGI/22hit, IMO. I have mine slotted with 4agi/6 stam and an 8 agi gem and a 12 AGI enchantment, giving me:

54 AGI,
60 AP (plus the 54, yeilding 114 total AP or 125 with HotW),
25 to-hit.

Your's is giving:
37 str (74 base AP)
29 AGI (yeilding 29 AP, 103 total AP or 113 with HotW).
18 to-hit
+8% run speed

I'd consider using the wild encroachment for tanking and get the Tabi boots for DPS. You're giving up 1% crit, 7 to-hit and 12 AP. Even if you switch out the +12 AGI enchant for a swiftcat's, your're still gaining 1/2% of crit, 17 to-hit and break even AP. I'd say that 1/2% of crit makes the boots worth while all by itself.

I wrote out a massive post intended to show how wrong you were. Much to my chagrin an hour's theorycrafting showed the two boots to be basically the same, with only extremely minor variances.


The differences:

Yours gives more crit chance, dodge chance, and hit rating.
Mine give more armor, stamina, +healing, spell crit, intellect, and movement speed.

The AP difference between the two in a raidbuffed situation is less than 1AP.


-Annikk