Tank...NB or Necro?

Joxer61 · August 2019

Taking DK out of the equation whats the consensus on either a NB tank or a Necro, for pve? I have noticed NB got some love this time around but Necro had/have such a nifty little tool kit focused on tanking was curious as to if anyone is actually and actively using them for dungeons, trials.

zvavi · August 2019

I enjoy nb very much and i feel tankier on him than on my dk, even running a frost/resto setup.

susmitds · August 2019

NB is a BiS tank on par with DK for the most part and has some tools even than DK. As long as you can sustain them, they are probably the best for you.

Joxer61 · August 2019

Wow, I really expected to see a lot of Necro love but it seems they are best suited for the good ol stamcro role eh? Great to see NB's are coming around again or more so that other options beside just DK are happening!

Jerkling · August 2019

as long as you have a decent CC and a grapple to control mobs (either thru abilities or sets) you can tank with any class just as good as you can with a DK. there isn't any real difference between classes anymore, it's all just looks and pretence now. the only thing you need to concider is how to sustain.

Iskiab · August 2019

As long as Necros post more dps then NBs you’ll have NB tanks.

PvE is decided based on having one of each class for passives and then loading up on the highest dps. Right now it’s NB’s turn to tank.

Krayl · August 2019

They both make good tanks, second tier compared to DK.

The main problem with Necro tanks is that as a class, necros don't bring any unique buffs to the table. Yes they have the major vuln from colossus but as a tank you'll usually want to run warhorn instead.

NB tanks on the other hand give the group minor savagery from the Hemorrhage passive.

Of course, this is all subject to your group makeup. If you have consistent NB dps in your group then they will be providing that buff and it's moot, both are good. People say NB tanks are great for VSS because of their AOE damage reduction on the breath but I've mained that on a necro tank just fine.

msalvia · August 2019

Yeah, this is tough, and I think both are viable choices. I think Necro has the better toolkit for cc (though still worse than DK and Warden), though nightblade has better group buff. I tank with both and do fine, just be sure to use silver leash either way for that sweet pull action.

msalvia · August 2019

susmitds wrote: »

NB is a BiS tank on par with DK for the most part and has some tools even than DK. As long as you can sustain them, they are probably the best for you.

Lack of root skill is the main drawback, in my experience. And I just can't get behind silver leash...the animation is so clunky compared to chains, and I prefer a mag pull. But I agree NBs make a perfectly good tank class, IMO probably 3rd place (after DK and Warden).

Vanos444 · August 2019

DK tank - currently, the best tank.
Necro - Still new to judge.

Joxer61 · August 2019

Krayl wrote: »

They both make good tanks, second tier compared to DK.

The main problem with Necro tanks is that as a class, necros don't bring any unique buffs to the table.

But in the overall scheme of things how crucial is this? I mean for other than the score/speed runs isn't just being able to tank and hold bad guys enough?

RavenSworn · August 2019

msalvia wrote: »

susmitds wrote: »

NB is a BiS tank on par with DK for the most part and has some tools even than DK. As long as you can sustain them, they are probably the best for you.

Lack of root skill is the main drawback, in my experience. And I just can't get behind silver leash...the animation is so clunky compared to chains, and I prefer a mag pull. But I agree NBs make a perfectly good tank class, IMO probably 3rd place (after DK and Warden).

lack of root? Fear now root mobs for a good 2-3s. doesnt matter if you use the FG fear or the NB fear. Both have their pros and cons. Also, any class can be a good tank right now, its just a matter of what you bring to the group. Hell, even Necro can bring that battle res for pugs and such.

Joxer61 wrote: »

Taking DK out of the equation whats the consensus on either a NB tank or a Necro, for pve? I have noticed NB got some love this time around but Necro had/have such a nifty little tool kit focused on tanking was curious as to if anyone is actually and actively using them for dungeons, trials.

I have a NB mag tank, uses Thurvokun (sometimes i use Swarm Mother for certain encounters) + Imperium + Dragonguard. fear for aoe root, Leash for ranged pulls, inner fire for ranged taunt ( i sometimes use the ice stick taunt as well, i just like more options), lots of self heals for good use of Malevolent and Refreshing path. i use the shield ult for constant passive block which helps alot with sustain. WoE for that debuff (though with Thurvokun, i use the lightning stick). Works for any HM, most effective with 3dps 1 tank setup for those dungeon runs. Switch Imperium with Ebon for trials.

With the current high end dps numbers, you dont even have to worry about most trial encounters with the exception of HMs ( which by then having meta setup is where its at ).

es4eva · August 2019

I enjoy my necro tank. Does fine I'm vet dungeons and normal trials (have not tried vet trials, yet). Frost staff back bar.

Iskiab · August 2019

I don’t know if this is relevant to the overall discussion for what’s the best tank, but Necro tanks are strong.

I leveled undaunted on my stamcro as a tank. I has 64 points into stamina and would regularly have 3 abilities on my front bar for dw, 2h, or bow so I could level the skill lines up. It was easy, including vet DLCs. Necro tanks are strong.

es4eva · August 2019

Iskiab wrote: »

I don’t know if this is relevant to the overall discussion for what’s the best tank, but Necro tanks are strong.

I leveled undaunted on my stamcro as a tank. I has 64 points into stamina and would regularly have 3 abilities on my front bar for dw, 2h, or bow so I could level the skill lines up. It was easy, including vet DLCs. Necro tanks are strong.

I'm at 54 health and 10 stam, but I think I'm going to move a few more points to stam...sitting on 46-48k health, so I can afford to drop that down, some. Should make blocking easier and give me a but more dps.

Solo questing, I use 2h, but in dungeons/trials, it's Frost staff on back bar

Iskiab · August 2019

es4eva wrote: »

Iskiab wrote: »

I don’t know if this is relevant to the overall discussion for what’s the best tank, but Necro tanks are strong.

I leveled undaunted on my stamcro as a tank. I has 64 points into stamina and would regularly have 3 abilities on my front bar for dw, 2h, or bow so I could level the skill lines up. It was easy, including vet DLCs. Necro tanks are strong.

I'm at 54 health and 10 stam, but I think I'm going to move a few more points to stam...sitting on 46-48k health, so I can afford to drop that down, some. Should make blocking easier and give me a but more dps.

Solo questing, I use 2h, but in dungeons/trials, it's Frost staff on back bar

I just used plague doctor and ebon. It’s a ‘selfish’ build but I’m not tanking vet trials so I don’t care. Just use the crusher and all that good stuff.

My first tank I followed all the guides and whatnot, then I realized those are all trial tank guides and they aren’t very good. I’d go 64 points into stam and shuffle stats around with glyphs. There’s no point in taking a trial build into a dungeon, if anything it’s best to focus on group healing and damage in your tank spec, and set yourself up to do well when you’re not tanking.

Just taunt, hold block and you’ll be fine.. even get complements. Tanking’s one of those roles that people over complicate and it’s most important to hold the boss steady, block and keep the boss taunted. Let the trial tanks worry about optimizing and 1% differences.

xaraan · August 2019

NB Tanks are in a decent spot now, but mostly popular because of the group buffs they offer with a lot of DPS dropping NB for Necro DD.

But I do have to say, Necro tanking is solid and a lot of fun in 4 man runs. Trials is more up to the tank working with the raid lead for over all needs of group and what you have available. So I think four man dungeons is a bit more up in the air. Adding one more flesh atro to a bunch of DDs rotating them won't be as solid in a trial as warhorn, but going for a ulti build and being able to drop an atro on every trash pull in a dungeon or several times during a boss fight is not only useful for the group but also a bit different than repeating the same old routine from a trial. Also having the rez ult on backbar for emergencies can completely change the outcome of a 4 man run in a tough spot.

So for trials, I still usually just bring my DK (or I'd do any other tank class my raid lead needed) but for four man runs I don't think I've had more fun than using a necrotank. (Before necro, warden was my go-to dungeon fun tank and is still solid).