Berzerker Armor! Shwat and Shwhy?

[Mysticdraco]

Sorry for the title there, it's mainly to get people's attention. I'd like to ask for help from my fellow berzerkers about armor and weapons. To give you a little back story on myself, I have been playing my Iksar Berzker for about two years now. I had a bit of issues trying to gain groups when Rise of Kunark first came out, however, I am now back in the game and it seems that there are a general lack of tanks looking for pick up groups on my server. So, I have begun to start grouping again and I must say that I enjoy it quite a bit. I'm asking your help to see if my gear is any good as it is, if you could suggest upgrades, and or any general playing tips for this level 80 Berzerker who soloed most of his career. I've been finding my aggro holding is not all that good when there are quite a few DPS in the group. Armor:Head - Death Gripped Barbute - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-2089521454" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-2089521454</a>Cloak - Drape of the Black Hearted - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1521698005" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1521698005</a>Chest - Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Barbute - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1302596307" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1302596307</a>Shoulders - Danak Crested Pauldrons - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-909377132" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-909377132</a>Forearms - Chitin Patterned Bracers - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-6373304" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-6373304</a>Hands - Radiant Luclin Ore Gauntlets - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-571886244" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-571886244</a>Waist - Yha-lei Tracker's Belt - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1186650646" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1186650646</a>Legs - Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Greaves - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/2057947" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/2057947</a>I am getting - Bloodied Chitin Legplates - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-202649722" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-202649722</a>Feet - Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Sabatons - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/859675847" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/859675847</a>Jewlery:Neck - Sebilisian Choker - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1875334715" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1875334715</a>Ears - Dustwalker Stud - (couldn't find the link) and Droag Talon Plugs - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1387851123" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1387851123</a>Fingers - Agent's Band - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/854897329" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/854897329</a> and Bonedigger Ring of Excellence - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1058686678" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1058686678</a>Wrists - Cuffs of the Terrible - <a href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/2113516696" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/2113516696</a> and - Skleross Bands of Glory - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-943605737" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-943605737</a>Primary, Secondary, and Ranged (Charms as well):Primary - Deklium Battering Cudgel - <a href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1123671091" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1123671091</a> Soon to be the Fabled Dragon's Temper!Secondary - Rilissian Noble Buckler - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-783644405" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-783644405</a>Ranged - Outer Sebilis Vine Wrapped Longbow - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/685840883" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/685840883</a>Charms - Guise of the Deceiver - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1843479367" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1843479367</a> and Pristine Fright Imbued Swiftcloth Hex doll (Couldn't find the link)So please can you please give me any suggestions. If you require any other info such as AA points, and what spells I have I wouldn't mind giving that out as well. I'm just trying to improve my tanking abilities to make my pick up groups go even smoother!

[Xalmat]

Well for starters, upgrade to your epic, and get a Runnyeye Buckler or the bucklers from Shard of Hate and Protector's Realm.Second, what is your AA spec?

[Mysticdraco]

STR and STA all the way down, though talking with a group member he suggested that I take some out of the buckler line and put some in the Wis line instead. EOF Tree Preserverance line all maxed out, and Debilitation line two away from being maxed out... I have four in Juggernaut, and one in Open Wounds.Looking into the Berserker ROK guide I'm deffinately now going to change my layout, I am just some what confused as to which one to do...

[Xalmat]

I'd recommend STR 4-4-8 STA 4-4-8-8 INT 4-4-8-8-2 for tanking myself

[Mysticdraco]

Alright I'll give it a shot! Thanks a bunch!

[Jake_The_Lettuce]

<cite>Mysticdraco wrote:</cite><blockquote>Sorry for the title there, it's mainly to get people's attention. I'd like to ask for help from my fellow berzerkers about armor and weapons. To give you a little back story on myself, I have been playing my Iksar Berzker for about two years now. I had a bit of issues trying to gain groups when Rise of Kunark first came out, however, I am now back in the game and it seems that there are a general lack of tanks looking for pick up groups on my server. So, I have begun to start grouping again and I must say that I enjoy it quite a bit. I'm asking your help to see if my gear is any good as it is, if you could suggest upgrades, and or any general playing tips for this level 80 Berzerker who soloed most of his career. I've been finding my aggro holding is not all that good when there are quite a few DPS in the group. Armor:Head - <strike>Death Gripped Barbute</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Shined Sel'Nok Helm - aITEM -329900509 999742492:Shined Sel'Nok Helm/a</span>Cloak - <strike>Drape of the Black Hearted</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Cloak of the Grungetalon Champion - aITEM -1275686040 1749090571:Cloak of the Grungetalon Champion/a</span>Chest - <strike>Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Barbute</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Mighty Hauberk - aITEM 135842392 541854813:Mighty Hauberk/a</span>Shoulders - <strike>Danak Crested Pauldrons</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Mantle of the Jarsath Tribe - aITEM 296465230 1450785174:Mantle of the Jarsath Tribe/a</span>Forearms - <strike>Chitin Patterned Bracers</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Armguards of the Elite Yha-lei Shock Troops - aITEM -61520915 294902592:Armguards of the Elite Yha-lei Shock Troops/a</span>Hands - Radiant Luclin Ore Gauntlets - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-571886244" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-571886244</a>Waist - <strike>Yha-lei Tracker's Belt</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Grunblig's Blackened Alloy Belt - aITEM -1247284535 642368009:Grunblig's Blackened Alloy Belt/a</span>Legs - <strike>Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Greaves</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Golden Leggings - aITEM -1180069071 240560242:Golden Leggings/a</span>Feet - <strike>Di'Zok Emblazoned Plate Sabatons</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Boots of the Wastes Hunter - aITEM -2130435569 1370360666:Boots of the Wastes Hunter/a</span>Jewlery:Neck - <strike>Sebilisian Choker</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Ganak's Torque - aITEM 717281040 -596555433:Ganak's Torque/a</span>Ears - <strike>Dustwalker Stud</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Boar Toothed Bauble - aITEM 1118917795 1620967817:Boar Toothed Bauble/a</span> and Droag Talon Plugs - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1387851123" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1387851123</a>Fingers - <strike>Agent's Band</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Band of Thuuga - aITEM -1849211307 1235816896:Band of Thuuga/a</span> and <strike>Bonedigger Ring of Excellence</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Broken Toe Shiny - aITEM 738071135 921314858:Broken Toe Shiny/a</span>Wrists - <strike>Cuffs of the Terrible</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Gahdash's Bangle - aITEM -415326169 -754054114:Gahdash's Bangle/a</span> and - <strike>Skleross Bands of Glory</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Grunblig's Coil - aITEM 616228417 -2120348826:Grunblig's Coil/a</span>Primary, Secondary, and Ranged (Charms as well):Primary - D<strike>eklium Battering Cudgel</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Dragon's Temper - aITEM -504545233 369393578<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />ragon's Temper/a</span>Secondary - <strike>Rilissian Noble Buckler</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Runneye Buckler - aITEM -1980729575 -866773003:Runneye Buckler/a</span>Ranged - <strike>Outer Sebilis Vine Wrapped Longbow</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Klunky Shortbow - aITEM -1355732378 -1650380442:Klunky Shortbow/a</span>Charms - <strike>Guise of the Deceiver</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Riliss Chicken Foot - aITEM 1109584824 711504336:Riliss Chicken Foot/a</span> and <strike>Pristine Fright Imbued Swiftcloth Hex doll</strike> - <span style="color: #00ff00;">Scale of the Leviathan - aITEM 41729229 161188924:Scale of the Leviathan/a</span>So please can you please give me any suggestions. If you require any other info such as AA points, and what spells I have I wouldn't mind giving that out as well. I'm just trying to improve my tanking abilities to make my pick up groups go even smoother!</blockquote>some upgrades off the top of my head if you aren't going to be doing any raiding at all

[Slayer505]

<cite>Mysticdraco wrote:</cite><blockquote>STR and STA all the way down, though talking with a group member he suggested that I take some out of the buckler line and put some in the Wis line instead. EOF Tree Preserverance line all maxed out, and Debilitation line two away from being maxed out... I have four in Juggernaut, and one in Open Wounds.Looking into the Berserker ROK guide I'm deffinately now going to change my layout, I am just some what confused as to which one to do...</blockquote><p>Yeah, I'd go with what Xalmat said.  That's the spec I use as well except that I also have the Stamina end line- it seems to help a lot with power management.  Don't listen to your friend, Wisdom line is crap.  The problem with going all the way down Strength is that if you have a dirge and/or coercer in your group a lot of that hate gain will be wasted.  Also, never forget that the best aggro generation is to do more DPS since damage=hate, thus maximizing your DPS will make you a better tank as long as you don't completely sacrifice your survivability to do so.  Remember, being a tank is about 80% holding aggro and 20% survival.  Survival is mainly your healer's department.  If you're not holding aggro you're not tanking.</p><p>For your EoF AAs I'd strongly suggest getting the full bulking line before anything since the clicky berserk is awesome when you absolutely need adrenaline NOW, or you want to start out with Juggernaut on the pull for additional spike DPS.  Then I'd go with Cyclones, then Debilitations.  The regen line is generally pretty useless except maybe for soloing.</p>

[Mysticdraco]

Last night I finally got my Dragon's Temper, and I also repseced and all I can say is that my aggro control is now far superior from what it was before.

[Elanjar]

Vs non raid mobs, I've found my dps is exactly the same between:4-4-8 STR4-4-8-6-2 STA4-1 WIS4-4-8-6-2 INTand4-4-8 STR4-4-8-8-2 WIS4-4-8-8-2 INTthere is a power use difference though. I have way less power issues with the first spec but my surviviability in instances is way higher with the second spec (i use a TS and an old fabled sword from T7 raids.) not quite 80 yet though.

[JerronBlacksilver]

Since this thread is about gear...Another option for your secondary is the <a href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1462488845" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abominable Crest</a> from VoES. You'll have a bit better survivability than with <a href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1980729575" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Runnyeye Buckler</a>, though your DPS will suffer slightly...and you can get the runnyeye buckler off the broker, while the other is no-trade.

[Slayer505]

<cite>GrandMasterUb wrote:</cite><blockquote>Vs non raid mobs, I've found my dps is exactly the same between:4-4-8 STR4-4-8-6-2 STA4-1 WIS4-4-8-6-2 INTand4-4-8 STR4-4-8-8-2 WIS4-4-8-8-2 INTthere is a power use difference though. I have way less power issues with the first spec but my surviviability in instances is way higher with the second spec (i use a TS and an old fabled sword from T7 raids.) not quite 80 yet though.</blockquote>You see no difference in DPS between those specs... I find that incredibly hard to believe.  No... impossible to believe.  You're telling me that the +DPS from Wisdom makes up for 60% double attack and 8% riposte chance plus Buckler Reversal?  I'm sorry but unless you show me parses with both of those specs there's no way I'll agree that's even remotely possible.

[Xalmat]

<a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=426652" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This is very often debated</a>, but...while a dual wield spec will offer more DPS than a buckler spec, and using a tower shield will allow more defense than a buckler spec, the tradeoff is obvious: Dual wielding you sacrifice a <i>lot</i> of defense, and using a tower shield you sacrifice a <i>lot</i> of offense (and therefore a <i>lot</i> of aggro). The buckler spec is liked so much because it is an effective middle-ground between high DPS (and aggro) and high defense.

[Mysticdraco]

I've switched out alot of gear already, I got a buckler from Runnyeye but it's not the Runnyeye Buckler. I also came across a Barbute of Ravaged Onslaught... All in all my tanking seems to have gotten better a great deal. I went into Runnyeye two, and got a ways down. Thanks for the help so far! I'm hoping to get a few more updates to my arsenal soon!

[Ghokagg]

Question.. at a certain level do we get more to spend in our Warrior tree? My AA will not meet those recommendations because I hit 50/50

[Xalmat]

Yes, at level 70 your AA options go from 50/50 to 70/70.

[Elanjar]

<cite>Karsgaar@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>GrandMasterUb wrote:</cite><blockquote>Vs non raid mobs, I've found my dps is exactly the same between:4-4-8 STR4-4-8-6-2 STA4-1 WIS4-4-8-6-2 INTand4-4-8 STR4-4-8-8-2 WIS4-4-8-8-2 INTthere is a power use difference though. I have way less power issues with the first spec but my surviviability in instances is way higher with the second spec (i use a TS and an old fabled sword from T7 raids.) not quite 80 yet though.</blockquote>You see no difference in DPS between those specs... I find that incredibly hard to believe.  No... impossible to believe.  You're telling me that the +DPS from Wisdom makes up for 60% double attack and 8% riposte chance plus Buckler Reversal?  I'm sorry but unless you show me parses with both of those specs there's no way I'll agree that's even remotely possible.</blockquote>Its true. I'll getcha a parse as soon as i can (@ werk right now). But do note that I said vs non raid mobs. In a long fight you are correct the 60% DA makes for higher dps. However for mere instance nameds, pvp, or just solo questing. The dps from both specs is identical. I was able to tank all but the last named in CoA at lvl 74 with just MC'd gear with that WIS spec, never really lost agro to the 80 wizzy either.I suppose its also important to note that I can't tank in buckler spec at the moment so I'm not getting additional dps from riposte. (it is counted for pvp and solo questing though and theres no difference)

[Xalmat]

If that's the case, then the wizard just plain sucks, or was holding back. You'll be hard pressed to find <i>any</i> tank that can hold aggro over a wizard that's going all-out (and doesn't suck), unless you have the perfect ideal group.

[Mysticdraco]

Ok, So after having a group in Runnyeye: The Gathering, things went alright. It was a little rough at first getting to know the zone and such, but things eventually smoothed out as there was good communication between the group so I knew what to expect. We came away with some nice loot to boot.A day later I form up with a group going in the Vault of Eternal Sleep...Suddenly everything went down hill, and it was in an easier zone! I think it might partly have to do with the groups. The Runnyeye group I had a Ranger, a Mystic, a Wadren, a troubador and a Dirge. Aggro controll was hardly and issue. Vaults was a Wizard, a Necromance, a Warden, a Ranger, and an Illusionist. Aggro controll was a HUGE problem, and deaths where very frequent. So I guess I am at a bit of a loss here, I tanked fine in Runnyeye... should I just try joining up with bards for the aggro controll to make my groups go smoother? Is my gear perhaps not my main problem?

[Xalmat]

In the Runnyeye group you had a nearly perfect group makeup. The Dirge and Troubador alone were a huge help for aggro, both for you and the Ranger (Not to mention your DPS, Mystic + Warden + Both bards = /drool).In the Vaults group, though, you had almost no hate transfer, minimal buffs to help your aggro and DPS (The illusionist helps, but not that much for a Berserker), and you had a trigger happy Wizard and Ranger. I'd be surprised if anyone besides a top-end tank could hold aggro in that group, TBH.

[Xita]

<p>corpses produce no hate... aggro management solved.</p><p>I sometimes find myself running with this group Zerker, wizard, ranger, defiler, inquisitor, necro</p><p>I hate life those nights.</p><p>nights i love:</p><p>zerker coercer dirge templar warden assassin</p><p> i can keep aggro even with autoattack...</p><p>Group make up has more to do with aggro management than gear.</p>

[Mysticdraco]

Ok so for a quick update!I recently finished the shackle quest, and with the adjustments to gear I have been having a very notible difference in holding aggro. My survivability is still a bit low and I feel rather "squishy" for a tank. I'm going to try to start hitting up raids as an off tank and or maybe start *gulp* doing my own. I'll give you all an update of the gear real soon, I'm still working on some pieces but I can show what I was able to upgrade on my own, what I aquired with groups, and what I hope to get from raids. Hopefully this'll help other Berserkers out there!