Warden Ice Staff Tanking Viability (What are its limits?)

Camdan8504

I've got two main characters I play: Warden and Templar. Both are currently setup to be healers for their groups because I'm terrible at DPS. I'm looking to do something new with my Warden, because you just can't beat Templar healing (unfortunately), and I'm thinking about a frost staff tank build. Is it a viable build for Veteran dungeoning? I've been through a couple normal dungeons with a frost staff tank and they did a solid enough job; however, I haven't seen any in the Veteran dungeons and I'm wondering if that's one of their limitations, or if I just haven't gotten in a group with them.

And, before they start, I understand that a frost staff tank isn't the "best" but this is a game and I like to have fun with my builds. Sword and Board is the typical tank format, but I want to do something for fun or an off-tank role (if possible) with a class I like. I just don't want to waste time if I can't at least to Veteran dungeoning with a frost staff Warden tank.

Thanks!

Noldornir

I'm tank, S&B in both n I did almost all vets, all normal trials n some vet trial and i DO like your point of view, imho yes you can use a staff especially after sumerset even tho i'm talking as DK n not warden;

I was thinking of trying myself out maybe with S&B+ STAFF what u should consider in my opinion while doing this is not aiming for damage (you would need a lot of magicka) but for more CC & survivability bonuses (mag rec. & taunt from heavy attacks).

Ice staves give the same CP bonus in resistances than shield does, n also give u bonuses while blocking (and now counts as two items sets) so I'd say... try it out!

Give it a shoot I'd say, start from easier vets (fungal, banished etc.) n let us know how it works out ppl won't complain too much as long as u can keep trash stacked!

Personally I think that there are to many "You must..." thinking 'bout this game like "A tank MUST wear alkosh/ ebon or alkosh/torug".

I would love to see more ppl experimenting combinations maybe something good will happen... it did when someone had the idea to put a medium set (Alkosh) on tank and it is clearly not "meant to be" a tanking set still it's working wonders.

White wabbit

Every role in the game should be fun and an enjoyment to play so yes give it ago on the easier dungeons first

Taleof2Cities

I did frost tanking to level up Undaunted on my PvP defile tank. It works fine for vet dungeons ... though I should reiterate Wardens are still strong with heals in this patch.

Hasenpfote

Depending of Boss, Ice Staff is fine.
But due to some Boss mechanics, some bosses are immune to autotaunt by Ice Staff, that means you need undaunted taunt or S/B taunt. I recommend to have ice Staff AND S/B slottet because S/B has better reaction time if collect more adds at once.

Camdan8504

Thanks for the input, all!

Gnortranermara

It's absolutely viable for vet dungeoning. You can not only tank, but EASILY play a tank/healer hybrid capable of running 3 DPS through all veteran dungeons for easy speed runs. Just run a resto back bar and slot long-duration HoT's and buffs.

The main difficulty you'll encounter is that ice tanks don't have a way to apply Major Fracture other than Shalks, which is quite awkward to use as a tank and cuts into your stam pool. If you're running stam DPS, it's best if one of them has Major Fracture.

However, it would be a handicap in most vet trials. Stick to 4-man dungeons.

Tasear

Hasenpfote wrote: »

Depending of Boss, Ice Staff is fine.
But due to some Boss mechanics, some bosses are immune to autotaunt by Ice Staff, that means you need undaunted taunt or S/B taunt. I recommend to have ice Staff AND S/B slottet because S/B has better reaction time if collect more adds at once.

Which bosses are you speaking about?

Silver_Strider

Only real negatives to Ice Staff Tanking are the lack of Major Fracture/Minor Heroism, Slow Wind up with the taunting and not being as mobile as SnB.

Nolic1

I have tanked most dungeons on vet/hm with Ice Staff and never had a problem taunting with it there are some bosses that can not be taunted though. Like the end boss in Direfrost Keep or the one at the end of Arx Corinium these bosses are not effected by any taunt and I think there is a few more. But I have never once had issue with it and find it to be alot of fun on Warden.

evoniee

S&B has major fracture + major breach, minor main + heroism. And DK has 10% block more damage.
Warden good for hybrid thou

Tasear

I invite you all to join us in tanks discord too.
https://discord.gg/JzF44bU