Is sword and board a necessity for tanking dungeons?

loudent

I'm leveling up a character as a tank (Templar)but instead of the standard sword and board, I've gone with 2-handed weapons. It seemed like the damage shield mixed with the ability to grab AOE threat seemed like it would be a good fit.

However, I recently ran through my first dungeon (spindle) as a healer and I'm wondering if I've made a mistake. Healing isn't as controlled as it is in other games (in some cases it chooses it's target) so I'm wondering if the lack of a shield is going to hinder my ability to tank.

Any thoughts?

yodased

The traditional type of "tanking" doesn't really exist in this game. The trinity is there, but it is fluid, tanking passes through all the characters at some point in the battle, so everyone has to be able to take a hit before the main damage soaker gets the aggro back.

S&B is the best defensive char in the game, hands down, the damage mitigation and stamina reduction we get from the skill line are beautiful and throw heavy armor passives as well and you pretty much stay overcharged in def + spell resistance.

You can "tank" as any type of character, but it won't be the typical tank+spank damage absorb type. If you ever played a DPS Tank in TERA it will be very similar to that experience. Instead of taking all the hits and absorbing the damage, you are more focused on not getting hit and annoying the boss so much he wants to kill you more than anyone else.

It all depends on playstyle and how you want to stack your guy. I think you can do great as a templar tank, as long as you go into it with an open mind and know you will have to learn how it works and it make suck for a little while until you get it right.

Sebyos

As a healer who almost got every 1-5 VR dungeon except BC because the end boss glitched... I can say yes S&B is important because blocking is vital as you progress. The shield has the advantage of blocking 20% more dmg if I recall which may not seem like a lot, but most healer rocking Resto Staff can't really heal trough a lot of single target damage. That being said it is NOT everything. If you tank, please have CC in mind.

Kodiak

Yes.

strelnikov

I played as a 2hd dragon knight in beta, at 20 I did ok, but honestly the passives with sword and shield and the actives are great. My survivability is much better, and my ability to taunt is better as well. I still switch off to two handed when I need or want too, but enjoy it so much I normally don't need too.

kewl

It helps but by no meas is it required. I just did a three dungeon run (BC, SC & FG) with 2 dps and 2 healers. Only three deaths the entire time.