Bloodspawn and Tanking

Ir0nB34r · July 2017

If someone asks what a good monster set is for tanking, the typical response usually seems to be Bloodspawn. Will this always be the meta for tanks? The proc rate is so low and the ultimate you gain is also so very low. It was my first monster set for my tank and I did not feel any huge change in my Ult gain after I stopped using it.

So what about Chokethorn? I know its a healing set. But as a StamSorc Tank, one ability I use a lot is Dark Deal for self heals and stam regen. Could Dark Deal proc Chokethorn? That is a huge passive heal. Probably better than a 14 (after HotR nerf) ultimate. Engine Guardian would be pretty good for sustain as well, no? Pirate Skeleton offers much better buffs, in my opinion, with the same 6% proc rate of Bloodspawn. While on the 6% proc, Scourge Harvester offers better survivability buffs as well.

Anyway, my point is that there are other monster sets that could provide way more for the group. Why is Bloodspawn always touted as the go-to set?

Also, a quick question. When a tool tip says "When you heal a friendly target" can this also be proc'd by doing a self heal, like mentioned before with Dark Deal?

Teridaxus · July 2017

Well the healer heals unless you plan to do 3 dps runs to use healing monster sets.
Engine guardian is too random to rely espiaclly as tank. Can't let rngjesus mess that up too.
The reduction from pirate skeleton becomes really really really small on tanks which have other sources of migation while you get a healing debuff which doens't make your healer happy.

Koensol · July 2017

Another good set is lord warden, which will be buffed next patch.

pizzaow · July 2017

I ran with Lord Warden for a while, and might try it again after the patch... my biggest problem with lord warden is that the buff doesn't stick to you. So, if you need to move you'll find yourself moving out of your warden buff zone. Also, if you're tanking, usually the boss is in-between you and the melee DPS. At the current 5m this puts many melee characters out of range just by standing on the other side of the boss.
With the increased radius it's possible that both of these are fixed enough, so I'll probably try it again when HotR drops.

I'm currently trying out some sets and have been wearing Chudan for some time. Yes, it applies a buff I can put on myself, but it's nice to not have to keep up the buff (saves a little magic and frees up a bar slot).

Overall as a tank, your monster helm isn't going to be a huge difference; many tanks are running 2 x 1-pc this patch. Think about that, they'd rather have a small amount of magic recovery then any of the 2-pc bonuses.

Ir0nB34r · July 2017

Koensol wrote: »

Another good set is lord warden, which will be buffed next patch.

That is what I have on my tank now. But as I get higher in my CP my unbuffed resistances are starting to max out, making it only useful for boosting resists of others. I saw it was getting a buff, but only by 3 meters, unfortunately.

Teridaxus wrote: »

Well the healer heals unless you plan to do 3 dps runs to use healing monster sets.
Engine guardian is too random to rely espiaclly as tank. Can't let rngjesus mess that up too.
The reduction from pirate skeleton becomes really really really small on tanks which have other sources of migation while you get a healing debuff which doens't make your healer happy.

The thing is to me, though, is that there is no such thing as too much healing. Using Chokethron, and eventually Earthgore with HotR, those are contributing huge passive healing abilities that will not only help my survivability, but the healer's sustain. Do you have a suggestion for a monster set that would benefit tanks?

IronCrystal · July 2017

Ir0nB34r wrote: »

Koensol wrote: »

Another good set is lord warden, which will be buffed next patch.

That is what I have on my tank now. But as I get higher in my CP my unbuffed resistances are starting to max out, making it only useful for boosting resists of others. I saw it was getting a buff, but only by 3 meters, unfortunately.

Teridaxus wrote: »

Well the healer heals unless you plan to do 3 dps runs to use healing monster sets.
Engine guardian is too random to rely espiaclly as tank. Can't let rngjesus mess that up too.
The reduction from pirate skeleton becomes really really really small on tanks which have other sources of migation while you get a healing debuff which doens't make your healer happy.

The thing is to me, though, is that there is no such thing as too much healing. Using Chokethron, and eventually Earthgore with HotR, those are contributing huge passive healing abilities that will not only help my survivability, but the healer's sustain. Do you have a suggestion for a monster set that would benefit tanks?

Of course there is too much healing. If you are already full hp, then you are wasting any healing you are doing.

paulsimonps · July 2017

Bloodspawn is overrated in anything but really competitive Trial groups with complex warhorn rotation. The extra ultimate is useless in a standard warhorn rotation, and in dungeons it matters very little to begin with anyway. Its said to be the go to for tanks cause there didn't use to be any alternative to it, or so people said, and when alternatives started showing up then people thought they couldn't do without it. Its all very miss guided.

Pirate Skeleton has a big negative and not a lot of positives as a tank usually doesn't need major protection and it will probably not add all that much with a common tanks total mitigation.

2p Chokethorn isn't worth it, its a heal on just one person and doesn't last all that long either. However if you want a heal set then you might want to look at Sentinel, heals and gives stamina back.

Lord Warden, especially with its upcoming buff, can be useful in fights where the tank is close to the group, and obviously useless when they are not, so be sure to swap it out during those fights when needed.

Engine Guardian is not as bad as people make it out to be, all 3 resources is great to have and when I do use it on some of my tanks its really great to be able to spam mag CCs for example when that procs in dungeons or igneous shields when it does in Trials. However a lot of people will ignorantly look down at you for using it.

1p Chokethorn+1p Shadowrend is a great combo that I've used for a long time that is also gaining popularity. The extra mag regen is noticeable.

Caligamy_ESO · July 2017

Shadowrend is looking really nice right now on PTS for a magicka tank, high proc rate (15%) on damage taken and it maims targets lowering their damage for you. I admit I am a heavy Bloodspawn user at the moment in tandem with Tava's on my Warden, but so far I do not need a healer in my groups with that setup. Am able to tank, heal, and do moderate area dps, but one thing I do find kind of interesting and fun is Chokethorn on it, which will proc off of Green Lotus.

paulsimonps · July 2017

Caligamy_ESO wrote: »

Shadowrend is looking really nice right now on PTS for a magicka tank, high proc rate (15%) on damage taken and it maims targets lowering their damage for you. I admit I am a heavy Bloodspawn user at the moment in tandem with Tava's on my Warden, but so far I do not need a healer in my groups with that setup. Am able to tank, heal, and do moderate area dps, but one thing I do find kind of interesting and fun is Chokethorn on it, which will proc off of Green Lotus.

Shadowrend is useless for a PvE Tank, we all use Heroic Slash anyway. So don't see the use for it. And if you don't use Heroic Slash... Why aren't you?

Curragraigue · July 2017

More ult regen means more warhorns which is what you want your tank to be doing in Trials. The other sets you mention buff the tank but provide no benefit to the group. Warden can be a viable option with a lot of melee DPS.

Liofa · July 2017

There is no meta tanking set . You use what you/your group needs . If you want more warhorns , you use blood spawn . If you want more magicka regen , you use 1 choketorn and 1 shadowrend . If you want more Health , you use skoria + malubeth etc.

Reason why people say Blood Spawn every time you ask is , ultigen being always useful . Even when it is really low chance . I personally hate using this set but i don't get benefit from any other set . So I use it . That simple . I am sure many other people are using Blood Spawn with same reason I have .

RouDeR · July 2017

For a DK bloodspawn is the way to go.
For a Warden is SCORIA so u can do moderate amount of dps (Health tank meta)
For sorc go with Engine Guardian or the mazzatun 2 pc
For templars go with Engine or Chocketorn
For a Nightblade u can queue in normal dungeon finder.

paulsimonps · July 2017

RouDeR wrote: »

For a DK bloodspawn is the way to go.
For a Warden is SCORIA so u can do moderate amount of dps (Health tank meta)
For sorc go with Engine Guardian or the mazzatun 2 pc
For templars go with Engine or Chocketorn
For a Nightblade u can queue in normal dungeon finder.

That is the weirdest monster set list for tanks I have ever seen. Skoria? really? Tanks aren't meant for DPS. And are you also trying to say NB's can't Tank?

RouDeR · July 2017

I pull 15 k single target dps on my 65k health warden with scoria .
I dont say nb cant tank , i say that for me they r the worst tanking class.

Curragraigue · July 2017

RouDeR wrote: »

I pull 15 k single target dps on my 65k health warden with scoria .
I dont say nb cant tank , i say that for me they r the worst tanking class.

You didn't qualify that it was your opinion in the first post. A lot of people would also disagree with you. NB's are great tanks for Vet Dungeons.