So I was planning on buying some Battlemaster Gear and swapping out the Armoring and Mods into a custom PvP piece. . .However, I just learned that the Armoring are bound to bodyparts (Hands, Head, Chest, etc.).

 

Are all of them like this? If so what should I do about armoring? Just eat a huge price on GTM and get a piece with 0 Expertise?

 

Or is there a piece of armor with a transferable armoring piece?

Once you start getting War Hero gear, you can easily maintain 1200+ Expertise while using non-slot bound PVE armorings in the belt/bracers. So I personally tend to go that route. I seem to recall the off-hand armoring wasn't originally bound to slot, but I think they fixed that. I haven't been willing to drop the comms to prove or disprove it though.

Afaik, vindicator off hand armorings still work for bracer and belt. I think these are still your best bet. Only the war hero off hand works, not the elite war hero. Running 1390 expertise right now, and I prefer it to a lower expertise with more power build.

does having all the extra expertise help your defense more when your smashing people and getting focused because of it? I wouldnt think it effects your damage by all that much, what say you!?

does having all the extra expertise help your defense more when your smashing people and getting focused because of it? I wouldnt think it effects your damage by all that much, what say you!?

 

The damage boost difference is very small either way (str + power vs exp). You're talking like a .1-.3% difference.. negligible. It does add a lot of survivability though, going expertise. I get focus fired non stop in warzones, solely because I am Aluvian, and people know that if they don't keep me in check, they get crapped on. Expertise also starts to shine more and more in rateds, when what matters is surviving.