AA paths?

[flurg]

Hi,I'm going to be leveling a Guardian with a few friends (A healer and a scout) and I'll be tanking a lot.  I was wondering if anyone could give me a hand on an AA path? I'm still pretty new to the game and don't want to throw my points into the wrong places. Anyone have any premade aa paths that are for tanking? Or maybe a few of them?

[Naq'Jundax]

First line u better choose WIS.Belly Smash great skill for ur group with a scout.Extra Mitig and some +DPS. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />And of course, the last ability very nice for lvling.Then choose STR - if u got problems with holding ago, for +10% hate increase and +crit.Or INT line for boost attack speed and parry, last ability is great too. (if u got no problem with holding agro)Of course at 65-70 u will reconsider from WIS line, since mitig bonus is weak and there are some better ways.

[Xalmat]

WIS is probably the <i>worst </i>of the trees to spend <i>any</i> points in. The mitigation gain from WIS4 is minimal at best (if you're wearing Mastercrafted or better, it's practically no gain whatsoever). The +DPS from WIS3 is the equivalent to the same points in INT3, not to mention you get Acceleration Strike with INT2 on the way, which is MUCH better than Belly Smash. And the WIS5 stance penalty removal isn't all that cracked up to be.You got two schools of thought: Tower Shield tanking, or Buckler tanking. Buckler tanking will yield <i>far</i> better damage output than a Tower shield (and therefore better aggro management), but you lose a little on the defensive side. It's not much though, and you can always switch to a Tower Shield in a pinch if things get too dicey, then switch back to a Buckler when things are under control again.For Buckler tanking, you can go either:STR448 STA448 INT448 for maximum DPS, or STR448 STA44882 INT43 for maximum defense. Either way, you gain a heck of a lot of damage output over a tower shield. As an added bonus, once you go Buckler, you never, ever need to equip a weapon in your secondary slot again; your DPS is better with a buckler than when you dual wield.For Tower shield tanking, most people seem to go:AGI4488 INT4488. You'll need to sacrifice one point from this setup to get the final AGI or INT abilities, though.

[flurg]

Thanks a ton!  Definitely think I'm going to go Buckler for now.  Should I go down Str, then Sta, then Int path or does it matter? I went Sta at first (before I came back and read your post <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />)

[Xalmat]

I'd recommend STA first. Though you don't actually gain much benefit from the buckler until you max the double attack (17 AA to get to that point).

[flurg]

Great. Thanks again:]

[EDofEDs]

even at 10 AAs sta is the way to go since they made the first point in the double attach count for 25%.

[flurg]

<p>Yeah, I'm loving the STA line so far. Only have one point into Buckler Reversal so far, but as a non-twink it's actually a pretty solid source of damage. Can't wait for Gladiator's Finesse. </p><p>One question though: Does Buckler Reversal scale with strength? If not is there anyway to increase the damage of it?</p>

[Wilin]

<p>There are 2 schools of thought on buckler reversal.</p><p>1) Each line description on the ability can proc every 30s (you parry, you riposte, you block, mob parries,mob ripostes, etc)</p><p>2) There can be only 1 proc of whatever kind every 30s</p><p>I haven't looked at the specifics in my parses, but it's really neglible at later levels. (Sorry, AA didn't exist until I was 60th level)</p><p>In later levels, buckler reversal does very little damage. In fact, it does 1% of my total damage according to the parses.</p><p>It may be good for you now, but the double attack bonus will be much better once you get there.</p><p>Sorry, I don't know offhand if STR affects the buckler reversal damage.</p>

[flurg]

<cite>Wilin wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>There are 2 schools of thought on buckler reversal.</p><p>1) Each line description on the ability can proc every 30s (you parry, you riposte, you block, mob parries,mob ripostes, etc)</p><p>2) There can be only 1 proc of whatever kind every 30s</p><p>I haven't looked at the specifics in my parses, but it's really neglible at later levels. (Sorry, AA didn't exist until I was 60th level)</p><p>In later levels, buckler reversal does very little damage. In fact, it does 1% of my total damage according to the parses.</p><p>It may be good for you now, but the double attack bonus will be much better once you get there.</p><p>Sorry, I don't know offhand if STR affects the buckler reversal damage.</p></blockquote>Lol, well I figured it was crap damage at higher levels if it didn't scale...that's why I made the post asking if it scaled <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[EDofEDs]

The damage from BR does scale, the problem is its about as much damage as your weakest attack at adept level.  At low levels where you just don't have many attacks at all that proc is a god send, its like having a whole other attack on a 30 sec recast, its completely golden.  But later once you start getting real attacks you notice it less and less till its nothing at all.

[jvrebi]

For a young Guard on a journey to season 70 . . . currently 16 . . . I am looking for a boost in my dps to make the trip a little exciting.  My playing partner is an Inquisitor.  Would you recommend going down the Guardian Tree first and getting the Slaughter line, or go the Warrior Tree for Buckler Reversal?  I have a mixture of Adept I, III and a few Masters.  Thanks for steering a young-un straight.  **smiles**

[Mildavyn]

<p>STA 4-4-8 Before you touch anything else. I would personally put the next 8 points into STA4 for the extra Riposte (more DPS, and between 5-8% avoidance to make up for using a dinner-plate)</p><p>Seriously though, I wouldn't bother even looking at the Guardian tree until you've got atleast STR 4-4-8 and STA 4-4-8 at the absolute minimum. I didn't touch the guard tree until I had my Warrior tree maxed.</p><p>Current set-up:Bind Wounds: 1STR: 4-4-8STA: 4-4-8-8-2INT: 4-3</p>