How to hit cap a WotLK smite priest
A level 80 smite priest spec demands a hit rating of 446. Sounds a little ridiculous, right?
17% hit rating, according to WoWwiki, is at 446 hit. That’s your magic goal.
In an ideal world, a Dranei will grant you 1%, and a shadow priest or crit chicken will grant you another 3%, so that your soft cap becomes 13%, or 341 hit. Let’s just aim for the soft cap for pre-raiding.
(Note: If you’re interested in hitting the actual 446 hit rating, check out Trienish the Shadow Priest Friend’s WoWHead profile for reaching the hit cap–without the Ebonweave!)
Below you will find gear, along with gem and enchant recommendations (for hit rating only!), that’ll get you to this daunting smite priest hit cap goal without a single Emblem of Conquest or Emblem of Triumph:
Chest
Embrace of Madness from Heroic ToC: no hit rating, but excellent for smite priest spec; you can alternatively start with the Ebonweave Robe as you’re collecting gear and replace that with this as convenient (or use this when you are lacking a shadow priest or crit chicken.)
Boots
Boots of the Crackling Flame from Heroic ToC: +35
Cloak
Kurisu’s Indecision from Heroic ToC: +44
Hands
Handwraps of Sundered Hope from Regular ToC: no hit, but excellent for smite spec; alternatively, Ebonweave Gloves.
Helm
Gaze of the Unknown from Heroic ToC: +57
Legs
Leggings of the Haggard Apprentice from Regular ToC, gemmed with a Rigid Autumn’s Glow: +16
Neck
Brilliant Hailstone Amulet from Regular ToC, gemmed with Rigid Autumn’s Glow: +41
Ring
Sinner’s Confession, heroic ToC: +44
Shoulders
Mantle of Inconsolable Fear, from Regular ToC: no hit rating, but great shoulders for smite spec!
Waist
Belt of the Churning Blaze from Regular ToC: +50
Weapon
Spectral Kris from Heroic ToC, enchanted with Accuracy: +25
Wrist
Wraps of the Astral Traveler from Emblems of Valor or, preferably, the auction house: +28
Your off-hand, second ring, and trinkets are up to you! This will get you to a hit rating of 340 (mighty close to that 341 soft cap!) for only an Accuracy enchant and two Rigid Autumn’s Glows, leaving you with plenty of gem slots and enchants to further customize. If you choose to go for the actual hit cap of 446, this should be attainable through gems, glove enchants, and potential Ebonweave swapping.
If you’re curious how to handle hit rating when you find better gear, I find these epic gems to be attractive for your blue and red slots, respectively:
My motto is that gems for i200 items are blue quality and gems for higher level items are epic quality. Johannah has a daily transmute that makes this relatively painless.
So now you’re hit capped and ready to roll! Did I mention that the gear above, still mostly un-gemmed and un-enchanted, is also granting you a critical rating of 469 (10.2%) and spellpower of 1401 without the off-hand, other ring, two trinkets, gems and enchants? That’s not including the spellpower and crit rating you’re going to glean from your talents and stats, either. This is just a naked skeleton to work with.
So rejoice, smite priests of Wrath of the Lich King—the fun’s about to get started!
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