The crafted leather Primalstrike 3-piece armor set has been unbeatable for non-raiding feral cat druids. Elemental Leatherworkers can craft the BoP [Primalstrike Vest], [Primalstrike Belt] and [Primalstrike Bracers] for 3 Primal Nethers, 14 Primal Mights and 12 Heavy Knothide Leathers. Though there were individual upgrades, losing the +40ap bonus for equipping all three pieces wasn’t worth breaking up the set. Until now.

With Patch 2.2 comes the crafted [Shadowprowler's Chestguard]. An upgrade to the Karazhan drop [Chestguard of the Conniver] and equivalent to the T4 [Breastplate of Malorne]. Drop in some AGI gems if your AP is over 2600 and let the good times roll.

But what about the other two pieces in the set? With set bonus gone, there are many good upgrade options for both slots.

Your [Primalstrike Bracers] hold up pretty well unless you start raiding. Otherwise these other two are slight upgrades:

• [Shard-bound Bracers] - Bought for four Apex Crystals and 100 Apex Shards once you attain Exalted with the new Ogri’la faction of Blade’s Edge, mostly through Daily Quests. Bonus: The crazy fun Shartuul Event.
• [Nightfall Wristguards] - 7% drop from the Epoch Hunter in Heroic CoT: Old Hillsbrad Foothills. 1 in 14 chance if no Rogue in the group, right?

Your [Primalstrike Belt] is really the weak link in the Primalstrike set. You have two very solid upgrade choices:

• [Tree-Mender's Belt] - 17% drop from Fel Iron Chest in Heroic Helffire Ramparts. Bring a lockpicker.
• [Socrethar's Girdle] - Such a powerful item from an overland quest. This belt is the reward from the Netherstorm quest chain Kick Them While They’re Down (pre-req quest chain.)

Good stuff for us cat druids. I know I’m working toward the Shadowprowler’s Chestpiece, Shard-bound Bracer and Socrethar’s Girdle myself.

In my next post, I’ll examine where the new [Cloak of Darkness] falls in the list of desirable cat druid gear.