A Short Dissertation on PvP Tanking

[Fuklebark]

So I've been leveling my BO Arseface up successfully as Path of da Toughest, and I've been noticing an increasing trend, to which I will attempt to pose a counter-arguement against. A point to note is that this is written from a Destro perspective; If you"re order, just swap out X for Y, same rules apply.

I've been noticing lately the vastly increased number of people who play tank classes, ignore many of the basic tenants of tanking and play their class as essentially a melee dps (nothing but +str gear and a 2-hander)

While I won't deny the benefit of having a few players enact this strategy to be a more survivable front-line, I am noticing that these guys often throw themselves too much in harm's way and don't try to protect the squishies or for that matter contribute to winning the scenario.

So what I will post here is my strategies for playing a highly defensive tank effectively in PvP. And as with all guides, take these with a grain of salt. Each is valid as stated, but to make it yours you have to find how it fits into your own playstyle and outlook.

1 - You are the anvil, not the hammer.

I really can't stress this point enough. It is the key to playing a defensive tank in PvP. You have to be comfortable with letting other people take the glory most of the time, and if you're an impatient player, this won't work for you.
What I mean by 'being the anvil' is this: You're not going to do DPS, so don't really try. Your strength lies in your staying power, so use that to your advantage. Be an enabler for your team, so support functions rather than trying to kill the enemy. In the following, I will attempt to expound upon this point.


2 - Play a lot of defense
This can be a boring job if nothing is happening, and yes, you will get less xp than the brawl-heads, but defense is absolutely vital, and by securing the objective/flag from the enemy, you do a job that everyone bitches that someone should do, but no one ever does, and by doing so contribute towards a bigger xp bonus at the end for everyone.

- When in capture scenarios, call out incoming, and make sure you KB or at least regularly lovetap anyone trying to capture a flag or objective, make them waste their time trying to kill you while reinforcements arrive to back you up.

- when in "grab the thing, hold the thing" scenarios, hang out with the guy holding the thing when the enemy get close (even if he's another tank), and make sure you have him under guard if possible. Use your high HP to his/her advantage.


3 - Pick a healer and defend them.

You don't have to be attached to them at the hip, but too many scens are lost because everyone runs into the brawl and leave the healers behind to get picked off by the WLs or WHs. By defending the healers, not only are you guaranteed to get more heals from the grateful healer, you're enabling the other classes to have more staying power as well and brawl it out as they're inevitably going to.
Also, at the beginning of a scenario, put yourself in a group with that healer before the group fills up, so that way you can use Guard on them and benefit from their group heals and buffs.

Edit: I forgot to mention a small point on this, you may not want to be specced or geared too much towards Toughness if you plan on being a Bodyguard (as I call this tactic). Some Str and WS will help you pick off the enemy MDPS while your high wounds provide the healer with protection. Because the dmaage done to the healer can accumulate quickly, it's best to mitigate the dmage done to them (and yourself) with KBs, Snares and outright fast killing.

5 - Don't hyperfocus (learn when to let go)

Once again, you are not going to do DPS, so don't try. I know it's very tempting to try to kill that SW or WH out on the edges of the main fight, and you inevitably will be able to, but the problem is that in the time it takes to do that, other things may happen that you could have prevented if you had been paying attention. Your healers may be getting killed, there may be a lone WH trying to ninja the flag or objective, or there may be a healer on the outskirts of the fight slowly turning it in the enemy's favor (see below).
If you want to **** with the guys on the outside, snare them, then either herd them or knock them into your DPS. Don't waste precious time trying for that solo kill while the tide of battle is turned behind your back.


6- Separate the enemies healers from the rest of the pack.

As much as I wish my fat green ass could block LOS for healers, it can't. But by utilizing terrain, I can often knock them back to a location where they either don't have LOS, or it will take them a good amount of time to get back up (i.e. off a cliff or bridge). I've also noticed that once you get healers away from the pack anyhow, they are more inclined to run.
The tricky part is when they are in large groups. There's no easy way to break them up, or keep them away from the brawl, all you can do is focus on one and try to get him away from the others, or knocked conveniently in front of your DPS.
Word of warning here, as I mentioned above, beware of hyperfocusing. It's hard for a tank to out-dps a healers heals anyway, and as a defensive spec it's outright impossible for you. If it starts to look like you can't make a difference, let it go and see where else you might be needed. Once the brawl-heads finish off the guys in front of them, you can be sure the healers will be next.

7 - Be the guy that gets the thing that does the stuff.

In capture the thingie scenarios (Mourkain temple, Stonetroll crossing, Tor Anroc, etc.) try to make sure that if at all possible, you're the one that gets it. With your higher HP and toughness you can hold it better than anyone else out there.
Also as a note for when you do have it. Try to stay close to the battle, but still somewhat removed from harm's way. Good healers will stay with you and keep you healed while you hold the thing, but if you're half a map away from everyone else, you're robbing them of the heals that healer could be tossing their way, plus the renown the healer could be getting by doing so.

8 - Keep 2 sets of gear.

Trying to kill guys in PvE with nothing but +toughness and wounds gear is probably the most boring experience known to man, short of the late Bob Ross. Do yourself a favor and keep an alternate set of gear for PvE that is mostly +str. You'll be thankful for it when solo grinding, believe me.
Also, be sure to switch your tactics to more offensive ones too, you don't need 5 zillion toughness to take on a mobs, even a couple at a time.

I'm sure there's more that I can't think of right now, but I think that you should get the picture. Just remember, that your are the anvil, not the hammer, and try your best to be as good as you can for everyone's sake. Because if you don't pick up the slack from all the dumbasses, who will?


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Yea, though I walk through the lake of RvR, I shall fear no Order, for I'm the goddamn pope. My sword and my shield, they comfort me, they removeth the head from the shoulders of mine enemies. For swords are meant for swinging, my shield blocketh bullets.

Surely slashing and stabbing shall follow me all the days of my life,
but I dwell in the fullness of metal, forever.
-Fullmetalpope

[Grolar]

+1

Very nice and very accurate. I would add like I have already said in another discussion. Restore the knock back and knockdown to how they were.

-My two cents

[Coryphaus]

Very nice and very accurate. I would add like I have already said in another discussion. Restore the knock back and knockdown to how they were.

No offense but your post on the other thread made literally no sense; no one could understand it, kd and kb are how they are like on live, they granted immunites on live

[Azarael]

You'd better be VERY sure something is broken before blithely posting that it's not as live.

[Luth]

Yeah damn, pls fix this already. All these immunities flying around all the time when i spam my CC on cooldown.

[Penril]

1 - You are the anvil, not the hammer. Be too tanky and people will ignore you, knowing you do pitiful damage (specially since you are a BO with not much utility when compared to a Chosen or BG)

3 - Pick a healer and defend them. No, pick a mDPS and defend him. If healers get in trouble just swap guard, but your main concern is guarding the mDPS.

5 - Don't hyperfocus (learn when to let go) This applies for every class and not just tanks.

8 - Keep 2 sets of gear. But not for PvE. For PvP. Sometimes you will join a SC with like 5 healers and 4 defensive tanks. Keep a set of full DPS gear and put on some offensive tactics in this case; someone needs to at least try and DPS in these situations. A DPS BO is better suited for this than other destro tanks.

Pointed out the parts i don't agree with.

[magter3001]

Though you make some good points, there are certain things that just wont happen for the majority of players.

For example, keeping multiple sets on a character is hard to do, especially if you're an alt-aholic like me. I just keep my S&B set up and play my tank that way no matter the situation. I personally never play my tank as a dps class, instead I just focus on snaring my opponents, using challenge, punting healers or anyone off cliffs if I can if my weak punt (Chosen), and of course switch guards to anyone who is being targeted by the enemy faction.

Those who play 2H you must understand do themselves a disservice if they have to guard someone. The damage they take is too much then because they can't block the damage and will then take whatever the damage that the guarded target gets. I personally don't blame 2H tanks when they don't guard, because I know better... even if others choose to rage in frustration at the notion.

Though some tanks play their character as buff mdps, I don't really feel like it's a detriment to the team as much as a healer who goes dps spec when you only have one other healer in the scenario.

[grumcajs]

full turtle works only for kotbs. u do not even need to use any other ability than guard (if u spec right) and still be a valuable part of your team

but other than that - nicely written. hope some tank players would actually read this

[Penril]

Though you make some good points, there are certain things that just wont happen for the majority of players.

For example, keeping multiple sets on a character is hard to do, especially if you're an alt-aholic like me.

Keeping multiple sets on a tank is easy. Altoholism is not an excuse; you chose to have several alts (and it's fine i do too) but no one forces you to. If you can't keep at least 2 sets of gear on your tank, it's because you don't want to. Not because it is something hard to do in this game.

Those who play 2H you must understand do themselves a disservice if they have to guard someone. The damage they take is too much then because they can't block the damage and will then take whatever the damage that the guarded target gets. I personally don't blame 2H tanks when they don't guard, because I know better... even if others choose to rage in frustration at the notion.

Though some tanks play their character as buff mdps, I don't really feel like it's a detriment to the team as much as a healer who goes dps spec when you only have one other healer in the scenario.

Most of this is true. But sometimes it is needed to go balls DPS, going so far as to maybe even slot FO. I am talking about those pug SC's where i find 5 heal-spec Doks with defensive/healing gear, 4 other tanks (besides me) all SnB defensive, and only 2 DPS classes. In these cases it is a good idea to take out your 2H, put on all your STR gear with STR talismans, and slot offensive tactics.

And yes, this happens.

[Toldavf]

Gotta go with penril on this one.

I always kept 2 bags full of gear on ib during live at the moment though due to lack of avoidance im speccing defence but my damage is still a couple hundred.

The style of tanking you have wont wash dps dies > enemy dps free to do what they want > wipe.