This is a write-up on how to tank efficiently and effectively in instances.

In order to be optimal at being the tank, you need to have the right gear, and have at least 31 points into Protection Talents. Below is the talent setup I use to tank.

Talent setup:

Arms (13 points):

Tier 1
[5/5] Deflection

Tier 2
[2/2] Improved Charge
[5/5] Tactical Mastery

Tier 3
[1/1] Anger Management

Protection (38 points):

Tier 1
[5/5] Shield Specialization
[5/5] Anticipation

Tier 2
[2/2] Improved Bloodrage
[5/5] Toughness

Tier 3
[1/1] Last Stand
[1/3] Improved Shield Block
[3/3] Improved Revenge
[5/5] Defiance

Tier 5
[2/2] Improved Shield Wall
[2/2] Improved Shield Bash
[1/1] Concussion Blow

Tier 6
[5/5] One-handed Weapon Specialization

Tier 7
[1/1] Shield Discipline

Aggro Management:

There are many ways in maintaining aggro on a target. The most basic are your instant taunt abilities (Taunt, Mocking Blow, Challenging Shout), however, MB and CS have lengthy cooldowns and should be used only in the right situation. For example, if there are 2 mobs beating on a mage, Taunt one using Taunt, and switch to Battle Stance and use Mocking blow, then switch back to Defensive Stance. However, you shouldnt have to rely on that on a constant basis. Revenge gets a ton of aggro if you use it consistently, that means using shield block followed up by a revenge. On bosses, Shield Discipline and Shield Bash gives you addtional aggro and if timed out right, can pull off 2 shield bashes within the Shield Discipline duration. Concussion Blow is also a good to use when you are taking too much damage by a mob (note some are immune to stuns).

Gear / Stat Setup:

Theres 3 main aspects of tanking. Armor, Defense (Block / Dodge / Parry), and Resistance. Armor is a no brainer, the more you have, you reduce the damage inflicted on you. Defense comes from Armor that has +defense values on them; Defense is +.04% to block dodge and parry and reduces critical strike damage / chance. You will also find items that have +block, +dodge and +parry; it is up to you if you want the increased defense, or have a higher chance to block, dodge or parry (Note if you dodge or parry, you take NO dmg). The only resist you should be worried about is fire resistance, as you will need that more than any other resist for MC / Onyxia and other raid bosses.

This is the suggested gear for tanking and can be obtained outside of MC:

Head: Enchanted Thorium Helm (Armorsmith item)

Neck: Evil Eye Pendant (DM West) / Drakefire Amulet (Onyxia Key) / Medallion of Grand Marshal Morris (Random Drop)

Shoulders: Stockade Pauldrons (Random Epic) / Bulky Iron Spaulders (DM North)

Cloak: Cloak Of Warding (Tailor Item) / Redoubt Cloak (DM North)

Chest: Ornate Adamantium Breastplate (Quest reward) / Kromcrush's Chestpiece (DM North)

Bracers: Vigorsteel Vambraces (Scholo) / Fel Hardened Bracers (DM West)

Gloves: Force Imbued Gauntlets (DM West) / Stonegrip Gauntlets (Random Drop)

Belt: Brigam Girdle (UBRS)/ Handcrafted Mastersmith Girdle (UBRS)/ Unmelting Ice Girdle (Azuregos)

Legs: Warmaster Legguards (UBRS) / Legplates of the Eternal Guardian (BRD) / Wraithplate Leggings (Scholo)

Boots: Boots Of Avoidance (Random Epic)/ Corpselight Greaves (Scholo) / Ribsteel Footguards (LBRS)

Rings: Band Of The Ogre King (DM North) / Any Fire Resist ring

Trinkets: Royal Seal Of Eldre'thalas (DM Book) / Counterattack Lodestone (DM North) / Vigilance Charm (DM West) / Force of Will (BRD)

Weapon: Timeworn Mace (DM West) / Ardent Custodian (Random Epic) / Dark Iron Reaver (Swordsmith item)

Shield: Draconian Deflector (UBRS) / Barrier Shield (DM North)

Ranged: Willey's Portable Howitzer (Hu Strath) / Gorewood Bow (Quest) / Xorothian Firestick (DM West)

Macros:

These macros are "quick switch" macros to switch you into an appropriate stance, and be able to perform an ability. In order for these to work, you need to have the macro on the same hot key button in all stances (like in battle, def, and zer, have the "charge" macro on number 1 on all 3 stance bars for example).

If you are out of Battle Stance and you want to charge, you would press 1 (or where ever you put the macro at)to switch to battle stance, and then press it again to charge.

Copy and paste these exactly the way they are in here (CTRL+C to copy CTRL+V to paste in game)

Charge:

/script texture,name,isActive,isCastable = GetShapeshiftFormInfo(1);if isActive then CastSpellByName("Charge(Rank 3)");else CastSpellByName("Battle Stance()");end;

Disarm:

/script texture,name,isActive,isCastable = GetShapeshiftFormInfo(2);if isActive then CastSpellByName("Disarm()");else CastSpellByName("Defensive Stance()");end;

Intercept:

/script texture,name,isActive,isCastable = GetShapeshiftFormInfo(3);if isActive then CastSpellByName("Intercept(Rank 1)");else CastSpellByName("Berserker Stance()");end;

Mocking Blow:

/script texture,name,isActive,isCastable = GetShapeshiftFormInfo(1);if isActive then CastSpellByName("Mocking Blow(Rank 1)");else CastSpellByName("Battle Stance()");end;

Taunt:

/script texture,name,isActive,isCastable = GetShapeshiftFormInfo(2);if isActive then CastSpellByName("Taunt()");else CastSpellByName("Defensive Stance()");end;