lvling as a tank?

propain · May 2019

looking to lvl up a tank for just PVE content since I have always liked tanking in other games. however hows tanking in this game and how fast can you level as one? you probably get instant ques for dungeons so should i just spam those non stop all day? or should i also quest? what do people usually do when trying to level as a tank?

Taleof2Cities · May 2019

A lot of players level up as a DPS and then switch skills after the gear cap (CP160) ... regardless of the normal dungeon queue.

In other words, most players would prefer not to “Pierce Armor” their way through leveled mobs.

Some players can tolerate leveling up as a tank, though. So, you have do some introspection on what kind of tolerance level you have for that.

Morgha_Kul · May 2019

I always play my characters really tanky, though not purely tanks. That is, I figure the first priority is to survive. Once I'm sure I can do that, THEN I worry about damage.

The only exception is my Storm Mage Sorceror. Him, I've been playing all DPS, but he's way too squishy for me. I'm planning on switching him out, he just can't seem to do damage (as an aside, I can't fathom how some people are doing the kind of damage I'm seeing quite often).

So, play the style that works for you.

idk · May 2019

Taleof2Cities is correct. All of my tanks have been leveled up as a dps with S&B on the back bar. I do tend to wear more HA to level that armor line up faster.

This really makes sense because when I want to do questing I have a dps build. Actually have a weak dps build with S&B back bar so I can tank a WB, just with less health than normal since I am in DPS gear.

Zordrage · May 2019

i usually level as a tank... a 2h sword tank that is... i have no issues faceroll tanking in dungeons while have great DPS while i also can solo open world group stuff allot of the times...

its not slow at all... and it usualy end up good for Vet tanking also...
Shields ? pffff weaklings use shields !
.

Tasear · May 2019

Thought of this other day just become a werewolf so you have ba DPS option when you want to. Easy 15k dps even with worst gear is my esitamate.

VaranisArano · May 2019

I see advice for leveling as a DD, then tanking. However, if you want to level as a tank, the best way to do so is through the Groupfinder.

You will want to always have either a One Hand and Shield or an Ice Staff. These skill lines give you your two earliest taunts. Puncture from 1H&S and the trifocus passive in Destruction Staff taunts whwn you heavy attack with an ice staff. IMO, Puncture is the easiest to use. You MUST have a taunt in order to tank.

Once you are level 10 and have your taunt, you can queue using groupfinder. Dungeons will unlock progressively according to your level.

You'll want to:
1. Run the Daily Random Dungeon. This gives increased exp once every 20 hours.
2. Do the dungeon quest for extra exp amd a skill point. If I need the quest, I always say so at the start of the dungeon. Most groups will be more patient if they know someone is doing the quest.
3. If you want to keep going, use groupfinder to keep queuing for dungeons.
4. Collect gear as you play. You'll want to keep your gear as close as possible to your level because that makes you more powerful and more survivable - this is more important than collecting matched sets even if the effects are cool. The hardest part will be keeping your weapons/shield close to level.

The basic tactics of tanking:
1. Taunt the boss. There are only single target taunts in the game and you need to hold aggro on the boss.
2. Use crowd control on the other enemies. If your class doesnt have much crowd control, I like to back bar an Ice staff and use wall of elements.
3. Block, bash, and interrupt mechanics as needed. You'll want to hold the boss in one place as much as possible so your DDs can burn it down and your healer doesnt have to chase you.

Hope that helps!

BejaProphet · May 2019

You can level as a DPS then swap to tank but you are exchanging one problem for another. Where before you were worried about going slowly, now you are thrown into the hardest dungeons in game without having ever tanked before and not having a clue what you are doing. What’s more, you are now a higher level and players at those levels and those dungeons are going to be ten times less forgiving.

You can go that route, but expect a brutal learning curve. Or you could just be a tank, and let the game put you in the easier dungeons first, with players seeing up front your level and know you are learning.

And to be honest, the DPS route will likely only be much faster if you are mass killing in some grind spot like sky reach. Random dungeons as a tank isn’t slow.

OrphanHelgen · May 2019

propain wrote: »

looking to lvl up a tank for just PVE content since I have always liked tanking in other games. however hows tanking in this game and how fast can you level as one? you probably get instant ques for dungeons so should i just spam those non stop all day? or should i also quest? what do people usually do when trying to level as a tank?

you can level normally and deliver all quest with 1 hand and shield on backbar. If you level up as a dd with destrostaff, you might need the frost staff passives anyway. So you could do destro and have 1h and shield on backbar for example. You can still level up in heavy armor. You don't need to play as a tank during leveling to become a tank endgame.

AcadianPaladin · May 2019

I have a DK main tank and it is the first tank I've ever played. Since I wanted to get familiar with how it works from the start, I leveled him as a tank right from the beginning. It is not fast but I'd do it again. Yes, each and every mudcrab gets 6 hits to kill but my tank got loads of practice doing quests while being surrounded my large numbers of foes. I didn't care so much about how long it took to kill them as much as I did about them not being able to hurt me.

Once I got comfortable with basic questing and delves, I took on mobs in public dungeons where you can really get surrounded. Those fights were very good to ensure I had the sustain and survivability to deal with a large group for a long time.

Then I began taking on some of the 'single brute' WBs to really hone the ability to read a foe in terms of not missing blocks/bashes.

Then I grabbed another player who had some dps and began taking on duo WBs so I could work on holding aggro and dealing with multiple bosses.

Finally - by then I was level 45 and began queuing for the simpler pledges on normal as a tank.

I'm pleased with the slow, methodical approach I took since I started off unfamiliar with how to play a tank.

eliisra · May 2019

You won't learn tanking by doing solo quests, so no point leveling up using a build that severely handicaps your dmg. Better to use a solo dps build, while making sure to have stuff slotted that you need for tanking(so it ranks up), like sword&board, heavy armor and crucial tank skills.

Best way to learn tanking is queuing up for normal dungeon. It's easy so doesn't matter if you make mistakes, but you still get the idea of things like keeping taunts up on NPCs, interrupting, positing etc. You can start doing that really early and get some XP at the same time. No one minds if they get a lower level inexperienced tank for easier dungeons tbh, they're just happy the dungeon finder located a tank, so they can start. As long as you're taunting the boss so it's not running around, people will be happy with your performance lol.

Iskiab · May 2019

You can level as a tank no problem. Just make sure you’re putting all your points into stamina. There isn’t really need for a real tank in normal dungeons, just someone who taunts and holds block on bosses. Just make sure you skill up 1h shield, bow and 2 hander if you like pvp.