Tanking VAA HM - Need Guidance

SmellyUnlimited

Hi all,

So my guild is running VAA HM tonight, and I’m slotted for Main Tank (we’ll also have an off-tank).

I’m a little unsure about the best option for gear and abilities. I’ve tanked VAA countless times (a couple of times had 8-9 axes lol)
but I’m not sure what else I’ll be responsible for in HM.

Snapshot of what I’m thinking:
(Selfish sets)

5 pc Hist Bark
5 pc Footman
Bloodspawn helm/shoulders (for ulti gen to engage battle roar)

Skills:

Main bar (SnB)
-Pierce
-Heroic Slash
-Choking Talons (to cast on axes)
-Defensive Stance
-Igneous Shield
Ult: Spell Wall

Back bar (SnB)
-Inner Fire
-Hardened Armor
-Green Dragon Blood
-Defensive Stance
-Echoing Vigor
Ult: Magma Armor

DK/Argonian

Off-Tank will be running Ebon/Alkosh


So my big questions are these:

1. Sets I chose are purely selfish. I can only imagine axes hit brutally hard in HM, so block reduction seems like my best option.
-Is there a better set-up I should be using?

2. What else am I responsible for besides axes? Do I pull Atro’s as well, or does Off-tank just grab them to have team AoE?

3. Mage has a ton more life. Do Axes spawn at the same duration? (I can’t imagine holding 8 axes in HM)

4. What’s the best way to keep axes taunted on me?
*Once I have them, I usually just choking talons and they stay on me. When I get knocked on my a$$, though, they scatter.
I know when I get knocked down it’s because I didn’t block one of their heavy attacks (or I just ran out of stam).
I just REALLY don’t want to lose them, especially when we have her low, and they immediately wipe the team out.

Any help or guidance GREATLY appreciated. I know HM fight decently well (have healed it one time before), but never
from the tank perspective, which is probably vastly different)

Nestor

Use the Immovable skill in the Heavy Armor line to stop from being knocked down.

Liofa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2vsNIMwP0

I explained everything you need to know in the video description .

Tasear

I have seen some... well one person hold 8 axes and the mage. >.> I totally blame him for block costs... way to OP. On point...maybe you would like this?



Black Rose Set


LEVEL 50 CHAMPION 160

(2 items) Adds 1206 Max Health

(3 items) Adds 1096 Max Stamina

(4 items) Adds 1096 Max Magicka

(5 items) Increases the Magicka and Stamina restoration benefit from the Constitution Passive by 40% and increases Weapon and Spell Damage by 154.

pizzaow

I'd recommend starting selfish with the axes. You don't want to die trying to help the group out... and any progression vAA group would much rather have a tank that can take 6 axes and not die than one that is struggling because they didn't go selfish enough.

A neat thing about the axes is you don't need to retaunt as long as you are damaging them and don't get stunned. This makes sets like leeching, resilent yokeda and bahara's curse great because you can just taunt once and hold block... and you don't need much extra healing (if any), since all the sets above include healing for you. Also, the more axes that come the more healing you'll get from the sets!
I usually wear pair this with chudan to max out resistances and free up a bar slot

Don't bar swap. If you swap at the wrong time you might get stunned and you'll have to watch all the axes drift away (no tank likes this picture).

For resource management, slot tri-pots and I like the S+B ult. You can pop it, sneak in 2-3 heavy attacks which should bring you back to full resources.

The skills I run are: puncture, inner fire, dragon blood (in case I need to heal my self), igneous shields (spam to turn magic into stam), S+B ult and a flex spot (heroic slash/defensive posture/equilibrium/...) or ash cloud if you want more aoe damage.

Teuton67

A skill I like to run on the axes is Deep Breath after the initial taunt. It causes damage to all the axes to keep aggro (saves stamina bor blocking)and provides self heals.

SmellyUnlimited

Liofa wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2vsNIMwP0

I explained everything you need to know in the video description .

@Liofa


Wow, that is very impressive. And your stats don’t look like they ever drop; how did you keep your stamina nearly full the whole time?

Also, if you’re not actively taunting them once you have them, if they get hit by a dps AoE, why don’t they attack them?

Sorry last question - when you have to step on mines, do you use Immovable or anything so they don’t knock you down?

Thanks for the great video. Now I want a Warden tank lol.

SmellyUnlimited

pizzaow wrote: »

I'd recommend starting selfish with the axes. You don't want to die trying to help the group out... and any progression vAA group would much rather have a tank that can take 6 axes and not die than one that is struggling because they didn't go selfish enough.

A neat thing about the axes is you don't need to retaunt as long as you are damaging them and don't get stunned. This makes sets like leeching, resilent yokeda and bahara's curse great because you can just taunt once and hold block... and you don't need much extra healing (if any), since all the sets above include healing for you. Also, the more axes that come the more healing you'll get from the sets!
I usually wear pair this with chudan to max out resistances and free up a bar slot

Don't bar swap. If you swap at the wrong time you might get stunned and you'll have to watch all the axes drift away (no tank likes this picture).

For resource management, slot tri-pots and I like the S+B ult. You can pop it, sneak in 2-3 heavy attacks which should bring you back to full resources.

The skills I run are: puncture, inner fire, dragon blood (in case I need to heal my self), igneous shields (spam to turn magic into stam), S+B ult and a flex spot (heroic slash/defensive posture/equilibrium/...) or ash cloud if you want more aoe damage.

@pizzaow

That is a great idea. Bar swapping invariably is when I get caught; I’ll stack to just one bar now.

I actually have a full set of Resilient; I never thought to use it before, but this would be perfect. That will be one of my sets for sure.

Not sure on the other set to run....Off-tank should have Ebon/Alkosh

@Tasear

Does Black Rose make a big difference still? I can definitely see it working here. I think I have enough pieces of each to run Black Rose/Reslient. I used to see the set a lot in PvP (and the subsequent nerf lol), but hadn’t seen it much in PvE.



Question:

-Axes are physical damage right? If so, should you make sure to have more into Hardy/Expert Defender?

SmellyUnlimited

Teuton67 wrote: »

A skill I like to run on the axes is Deep Breath after the initial taunt. It causes damage to all the axes to keep aggro (saves stamina bor blocking)and provides self heals.

Doesn’t that spell have a decently long channel time? I’d be worried about getting knocked during the casting.

Liofa

SmellyUnlimited wrote: »

@Liofa


Wow, that is very impressive. And your stats don’t look like they ever drop; how did you keep your stamina nearly full the whole time?

Also, if you’re not actively taunting them once you have them, if they get hit by a dps AoE, why don’t they attack them?

Sorry last question - when you have to step on mines, do you use Immovable or anything so they don’t knock you down?

Thanks for the great video. Now I want a Warden tank lol.

Thanks

Warden has amazing self sustain with Netch and Nature's Gift passive . More than DK actually . That's all I have there . I use potions for my Magicka sustain .

My DDs know they are not supposed to hit them with AOE . Only damage axes are getting is from my Grippling Shards .

Stepping on a mine while blocking only applies root , doesn't knock down .

Nope , you don't want a Warden tank ^^ Next patch every Magicka DD will be switching to Flame Blockade . For this reason , tanks will have to run Engulfing Flames . I already switched to DK tank . My Magicka NB DDs get 2-3k ST DPS boost while using Shock Blockade . Guess how much difference there will be next patch when they start using Flame Blockade ^^

How the hell did the healer keep everyone almost full that whole fight?! (Healer main here lol)

I’m “assuming” just casting springs/combat prayer like crazy. I thought I saw a ritual down so figured a Templar.
Though looking at the video, you guys look like a pretty well-established group, so I’m sure the dps know how to stand to make healing easier. But still, you guys made what “I” think is the hardest HM of the Crag trials look so incredibly easy.

Our healer is very experienced . Other than that , our Stamina DDs are using Vigor to help out . We also had I think 2 or 3 Magicka Nightblades which also were healing with Funnel Health . We did not aim for the highest score or anything so our tactics are safe . Normally in a faster run , only healing should be coming from Magblades and healer . Stamina has the highest DPS and making them use Vigor is not the best idea for group DPS . As I said , we play safe . That's how everyone stays alive . Everyone staying alive automatically make things easy .

Tasear

SmellyUnlimited wrote: »

pizzaow wrote: »

I'd recommend starting selfish with the axes. You don't want to die trying to help the group out... and any progression vAA group would much rather have a tank that can take 6 axes and not die than one that is struggling because they didn't go selfish enough.

A neat thing about the axes is you don't need to retaunt as long as you are damaging them and don't get stunned. This makes sets like leeching, resilent yokeda and bahara's curse great because you can just taunt once and hold block... and you don't need much extra healing (if any), since all the sets above include healing for you. Also, the more axes that come the more healing you'll get from the sets!
I usually wear pair this with chudan to max out resistances and free up a bar slot

Don't bar swap. If you swap at the wrong time you might get stunned and you'll have to watch all the axes drift away (no tank likes this picture).

For resource management, slot tri-pots and I like the S+B ult. You can pop it, sneak in 2-3 heavy attacks which should bring you back to full resources.

The skills I run are: puncture, inner fire, dragon blood (in case I need to heal my self), igneous shields (spam to turn magic into stam), S+B ult and a flex spot (heroic slash/defensive posture/equilibrium/...) or ash cloud if you want more aoe damage.

@pizzaow

That is a great idea. Bar swapping invariably is when I get caught; I’ll stack to just one bar now.

I actually have a full set of Resilient; I never thought to use it before, but this would be perfect. That will be one of my sets for sure.

Not sure on the other set to run....Off-tank should have Ebon/Alkosh

@Tasear

Does Black Rose make a big difference still? I can definitely see it working here. I think I have enough pieces of each to run Black Rose/Reslient. I used to see the set a lot in PvP (and the subsequent nerf lol), but hadn’t seen it much in PvE.



Question:

-Axes are physical damage right? If so, should you make sure to have more into Hardy/Expert Defender?

I know this one tank that never needed heals or even resources while keeping taunt on axes, and mage and annotachs once. Our vAA hm was funny, this is what happened when I had to reload. Now to mention healing not healing the caster... scary tale for another. On point calling out, Just saying uoullsw you are best tank I ever seen. High ping and high latency too...he is a god in my heart.

On point yes it does for sustain.

pizzaow

SmellyUnlimited wrote: »

That is a great idea. Bar swapping invariably is when I get caught; I’ll stack to just one bar now.

I actually have a full set of Resilient; I never thought to use it before, but this would be perfect. That will be one of my sets for sure.

Not sure on the other set to run....Off-tank should have Ebon/Alkosh

I would pair resilient with leeching or bahara's curse. If you run both of these sets you likely won't need a healer. Don't think too much about group support for this fight... if you're on the rock you'll be outside the range for alkosh or torugs to make a difference, and you'll only be hitting about half the group with warhorn. The support you'll be bringing to the group is freeing up a healer
Since you are going into 1 bar the axes, you could run all support on your back bar for execute phase: ring of protection, invigorating drain, engulfing flames...

SmellyUnlimited

pizzaow wrote: »

SmellyUnlimited wrote: »

That is a great idea. Bar swapping invariably is when I get caught; I’ll stack to just one bar now.

I actually have a full set of Resilient; I never thought to use it before, but this would be perfect. That will be one of my sets for sure.

Not sure on the other set to run....Off-tank should have Ebon/Alkosh

I would pair resilient with leeching or bahara's curse. If you run both of these sets you likely won't need a healer. Don't think too much about group support for this fight... if you're on the rock you'll be outside the range for alkosh or torugs to make a difference, and you'll only be hitting about half the group with warhorn. The support you'll be bringing to the group is freeing up a healer
Since you are going into 1 bar the axes, you could run all support on your back bar for execute phase: ring of protection, invigorating drain, engulfing flames...

Actually, I tested wearing Resilient with Leeching in regular VAA over the weekend. Very underwhelming. Problem is that neither provides stamina/Magicka, which ultimately is what I need to maintain my holding them. Once you’re at about 4 axes, it’s hard to do much else beyond permablock. I’d throw in hardened armor when I could, but that was about it.

On the one hand Resilient keeps damage on them so easier to hold, but really as long as none of the dps hit them with an errant AoE, they never need to be re-taunted or re-damaged.

Im thinking of trying Desert Rose with Black Rose.

SmellyUnlimited

pizzaow wrote: »

SmellyUnlimited wrote: »

That is a great idea. Bar swapping invariably is when I get caught; I’ll stack to just one bar now.

I actually have a full set of Resilient; I never thought to use it before, but this would be perfect. That will be one of my sets for sure.

Not sure on the other set to run....Off-tank should have Ebon/Alkosh

I would pair resilient with leeching or bahara's curse. If you run both of these sets you likely won't need a healer. Don't think too much about group support for this fight... if you're on the rock you'll be outside the range for alkosh or torugs to make a difference, and you'll only be hitting about half the group with warhorn. The support you'll be bringing to the group is freeing up a healer
Since you are going into 1 bar the axes, you could run all support on your back bar for execute phase: ring of protection, invigorating drain, engulfing flames...

That is a good idea for backbar support. Honestly I haven’t used ring of protection much since it’s so hefty on stamina, but that would be the perfect spot for it. I do rock engulfing flames now because Magicka DK are rip lol. Do you recommend a tank being a vampire? The undeath passive sounds good, I was just concerned since fire can be a hard hitter in some trials (VAS and vHoF in particular)