LEVELING

What talent build should I be playing?

This is a bit over simplified but basicly it comes down to this flow chart

The best leveling spec for you will depend on how you want to level:

• Solo questing: SM/DS, UA/Demonic Aegis,  Felguard
• Solo slave pens: SM/DS, UA/Demonic Aegis
• Dungeon grind: DS/Emberstorm (fire), Shadowfury (fire or shadow), Felguard
• Mix of solo and dungeons: UA/Shadowburn, Felguard.

For full examples of these builds please refer to this collection.

What changes compared to drain tanking in classic?

Drain tanking is a playstyle (no longer a single spec), and in TBC there are at least two specs that can drain tank. Both sm/ds and ua builds are highly suitable for drain tanking, but your quality of gear and difficulty of opponent will determine whether you should do it.

Assuming you have the proper spec (fel conc minimum, either sm/ds or ua preferred): you should drain tank if you don't have enough spell power to kill the mob with dots alone. You should not drain tank if your dots are sufficient, because you could be doting up more mobs instead. Drain tanking is a good way to kill some elite mobs as well (though fear spam is preferred if possible).

Ua/aegis spec is the natural evolution of the classic drain tank spec. Sm/ds plays the same but uses voidwalker sac instead of dark pact. Both are valid for drain tanking.