I thought I’d put this out here to show that it is possible to def cap without setting foot in a normal instance. It will require a fair amount of gold which most should have obtained from leveling and picking your quests carefully. This list only includes non-epic items due to the cost vs. reward ratio of buying epics that you may replace very quickly once you start doing heroics.

1. Reputation factions you should focus on
2. Crafted items.
3. Quest items
4. Bind on Equip drops
5. The gear before enchants and gems
6. Enchants and gems
7. Final words

Reputation factions

As a DK tank there are 3 primary factions you should focus on gaining rep with; Sons of Hodir for Lesser inscription of the Pinnacle (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44132)

The Argent Crusade for Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector(http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44150) and Special Issue Legplates (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44240)

The Wyrmrest Accord for Cloak of Peaceful resolutions (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44188) at honored. Breastplate of the Solemn Council (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44198) and Sabatons of Draconic Vigor (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44201) both at revered.

Crafted Items

Blacksmiths can craft the Tempered Saronite “set” http://www.wowhead.com/?search=Tempered+saronite) (which all together gives: 410 defense rating which is roughly +83.33 defense skills at level 80.

They can also craft Daunting Handguards (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41357) and Daunting Legplates (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41345)

Jewelcrafters can make Stoneguard band (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43248)

Leatherworkers can make Cloak of Tormented Skies (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43248)


Quest Items

Since items such as the stoneguard band are bind on equip and there is no non-epic crafted neck we need to look at quest rewards to fill all the slots.

Betrayer’s choker (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=39655)is a reward from a fairly easy quest that most classes should be able to solo in Zul’drak and is one of the better necks that can be obtained before doing instances for DK tanks especially if you’re trying to def cap.

Ring of Misinterpreted Gestures (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=39482#reward-from) is a reward from a quest in Sholazar Basin and works until you get something better such as one of the blues from quests in instances.
Everyone should consider getting these items unless you have something better already.

Bind on Equip items

For some reason Blizzard decided to add some instance drops that are bind on equip, this is a brilliant time to take advantage of this in order to get yourself some instance drops without the suffering of doing instances in pugs.

One of these items happens to be Waistguard of the Risen Knight (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37801) a trash drop from Drak’tharon keep

Crusader’s Square Pauldrons (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37115)

There are a few others but I choose not to include them because they are either epic, or have stats that Death Knight’s do not benefit from such as Block Value and Block Rating.

The gear before enchants and gems

Head: Tempered Saronite Helm (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40673)
1581 Armor
+46 Strength
+52 Stamina
Equip: Increases defense rating by 83

Neck: Betrayer’s Choker (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=39655)
+24 Strength
+49 stamina
Yellow Socket
Socket bonus +6 stamina
Equip: Increases defense rating by 17
Equip: Increases hit rating by 19

Shoulders:

Tempered Saronite Shoulders (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40675)
1460 Armor
+41 Strength
+84 Stamina
Durability 80 / 80
Requires Level 76
Equip: Increases defense rating by 32

OR

Crusader’s Square Pauldrons (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37115)

1570 Armor
+50 Strength
+78 Stamina
Durability 80 / 80
Requires Level 78
Equip: Increases defense rating by 29
Equip: Increases your dodge rating by 37

Cloak:
Cloak of Tormented Skies (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41238)
337 Armor
+31 Strength
+48 Stamina
Requires Level 75
Equip: Increases defense rating by 24

OR

Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44188)
140 Armor
+31 Strength
+64 Stamina
Requires Level 78
Requires The Wyrmrest Accord - Honored

Equip: Increases defense rating by 43
Equip: Improves hit rating by 25

Chest:

Tempered Saronite Breastplate (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40672)
1898 Armor
+49 Strength
+90 Stamina
Durability 135 / 135
Requires Level 75
Equip: Increases defense rating by 56

OR

Breastplate of the Solemn Council (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44198)
2166 Armor
+49 Strength
+117 Stamina
Durability 135 / 135
Requires Level 80
Requires The Wyrmrest Accord - Revered

Equip: Increases defense rating by 76 (15.45 @ L80).
Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 56 (6.83 @ L80).


Wrist:

Tempered Saronite Bracers (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41116)
873 Armor
+27 Strength
+30 Stamina
Durability 45 / 45
Requires Level 77
Equip: Increases defense rating by 48

Gloves:
Daunting Handguards (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41357)
1308 Armor
+30 Strength
+60 Stamina
Durability 45 / 45
Requires Level 78
Equip: Increases defense rating by 71

Waist:

Tempered Saronite belt (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40669)
1040 Armor
+24 Strength
+49 Stamina
Durability 45 / 45
Requires Level 74
Equip: Increases defense rating by 57

Legs:
Daunting Legplates (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41345)
1831 Armor
+54 Strength
+93 Stamina
Durability 100 / 100
Requires Level 78
Equip: Increases defense rating by 88

OR

Special Issue Legplates (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44240)
1831 Armor
+30 Strength
+102 Stamina
Red Socket
Socket Bonus: +4 Strength
Durability 100 / 100
Requires Level 78
Requires Argent Crusade - Honored

Equip: Increases defense rating by 69
Equip: Improves hit rating by 46

Boots:
Tempered Saronite Boots (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40671)
1305 Armor
+42 Strength
+69 Stamina
Durability 65 / 65
Requires Level 75
Equip: Increases defense rating by 36 (10.55 @ L75).

OR

Sabatons of Draconic Vigor (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44201)
1489 Armor
+44 Strength
+85 Stamina
Durability 65 / 65
Requires Level 80
Requires The Wyrmrest Accord - Revered

Equip: Increases defense rating by 58
Equip: Improves hit rating by 29

Ring 1:
Stoneguard Band (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43248)
Finger
+20 Strength
+39 Stamina
Blue Socket
Socket Bonus: +4 Defense Rating
Requires Level 77
Equip: Increases defense rating by 16

Ring 2:
Ring of Misinterpreted Gestures (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=39482)
+26 Strength
+39 Stamina
Equip: Increases defense rating by 26

Trinkets:
I’m somewhat torn on the issue of trinkets because there are hardly any of them available unless you have a specific profession in which case you’re pretty much set or if you get an instance drop.
When I first started gearing for tanking I was shocked that unlike in TBC where you could get tanking trinkets from quests, it seemed that there were none out there. The only two I could find to make sure I was crit immune were:

Trinket 1
Dabiri’s Enigma (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=30300) A quest reward from Netherstorm

Equip: Increases defense rating by 30
Use: Increases block rating by 125 for 15 sec. (1 Min Cooldown)

Trinket 2:
Regal Protectorate (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=28042)

Trinket 2
Equip: Increases defense rating by 26
Use: Increases maximum health by 900 for 15 sec. (5 Min Cooldown

It blows that fresh tanks either have to get their trinkets from quests about 15 levels below the current maximum or from professions but it seems we were forgotten when blizzard itemized the quests

With the current setup we have 737 defense rating in the setup which includes no reputation rewards or as I like to call it the pure AH and quest set. This becomes roughly +149.79 defense rating which puts you at 549.79 defense which is 9 points over the cap.
With the rep rewards which are better used we are at 754 defense rating which puts you at +153 defense which means you are at 553 defense which is 13 defense skill above crit immune.

This has been added to the compilation atop the Death Knight forums. :)

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Great work!