Post#22 » Sun Apr 02, 2017 10:21 am
While guard is very important, it's certainly not the only thing a tank should focus on. Tanks have many abilities at their disposal that are quite useful. Another very important one is challenge. You simply HAVE to use that ability. I personally don't use it just when I see someone getting focused, I try to time it when it is most useful, i.e. when combat begins and burst starts happening, or when you charge the backlines, or when you retreat.
Also, as many have said, use your CC. Try to keep important enemy targets under constant CC effects. Now, who is an important enemy target? While generally it would be mdps of course, it's on you to keep an eye on other enemy players, mostly tanks because they are the ones who will be doing the same job as you, and decide the level of importance of that player. If you keep snaring and punting the tank, he will most likely be out of guard range for most of the fight, which helps out your team greatly (although, if you are a BO or SM, punt is something different and used for different purposes, it's something I can also discuss if you want).
Putting it simple, the general rule for tanks is guarding mdps. While more experienced players (or those who never played a tank) may say 'just guard who ever needs it', I say at least try switching your guard. Trust me, I know how hard it is to learn it, and how frustrating it can be. Switching guard is not an easy job, and while it's certainly a great skill to have, it's something many people struggle with, or don't even pay attention to. My advice to you is bind your guard to a very close key that's easy to reach and remember. I personally have it on Tab. Whenever someone is in trouble, I just double tap Tab and the guard is switched. Of course, you have to get close to your ally if you want guard to function. I advise you to download enemy addon, if you didn't already. It's a very nice addon that places a big arrow on your guarded target (also, you can place arrows on any player, ally or enemy, you want). It also has a shield icon that displays how far away from your guard you are, and if you are too far it turns red.
All in all, practice makes perfect, like with any other thing. Learn how and when to switch guard, use your CC and challenge, and you will make for a solid tank that people can rely on.
