There is a lot of confusion on threat mechanics for Bear…so I’ll explain:
The moment you shift Dire Bear you gain 30% threat.
Talents makes that +49.5% threat.
Every Maul adds +75% threat.
Meaning Bears gain ~262% threat from Maul…ie 1000 Maul hit = 2620 threat
Add rage return triggers from Primal Fury crit triggers brings Maul into play more often…and with AGI you are also adding avoidance and you are scaling the static value of Maul.
An example:
Your average auto attack lands for 400 damage.
Talented Maul adds 157
Total damage 557
Total threat 1460 threat.
Just auto attack 400
Total threat 598.
You need to get hit capped and then stack AGI when possible then crit.
Your threat will scale, all aspects of it including static values, and you will become more rage efficient.
As others said, your weapon is just a stat stick. The DPS, speed, weapon skill, and on-hit effects are useless in shapeshift form.
Leveling, strength, agility, stamina, spirit, and stuff like hit or crit (later when you’re not a smol) will be what you want. I’m sure there’s some theorycrafter who’s got the ‘optimum’ spread - but I’d argue that you should build for what seems to work best for you and what you do.
I found two-handed hammers are the most useful for feralizing. Gnomeregan has the Manual Crowd Pummeler, which is what I went from the crescent staff into. Staffs with spirit are useful, it regens your mana faster while you’re in forms.