Can an SK tank?

[ZeroAsaia]

Here's my question i've been playing an SK and liking it.  I just have one question can the SK tank in raids? Or should i make a guardian?  I picked the SK to be a tank, not to sit idle.  What i'm readin here on the forums is not very encouraging for an SK.

[Phelon_Skellhound]

If you want a pure tank thats easy = Guardian If you like a challenge = SK If you want an extremely high chance getting into a raid guild = Guardian If you want a slim chance in hell getting into a raid guild = SK To your answer of us tanking in raids... yes we can OT/MA very well provided we have the appropiate group set up... MT? you are going to have skills... I mean real skills for this and awesome MT group setup but it will be doubtful unless your guardian sucks

[Porphyry]

SK's suck. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/385970365b8ed7503b4294502a458efa.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Thumatos]

<p>I just want to reply in case someone here thinks a general question and not raid specific.  </p><p>He asked RAID. </p><p>There.  i have rerolled my sk. ( hated the sarnak look ) so i am once again only 29. But in rov i was tanking today.  doing nearly double the dps of everyone else in grp except wizzy. and he was about equal. ( i am in full mc and ad3's or master ) and outparsing, outdpsing, and outagroing the 30 guardian in the grp with me. that may change as i lvl. it may not. so again, at least in my limited exp. This question refers to raid only. seems to me sk can solo and tank for grps with no problem. ( only caveat is when you body pulling and a dumb ranger starts shooting before you even back to group or even hit mob once. /shrug, he then dies and you once again hold agro. &nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p>

[Mathafern]

I've raid tanked Thuuga, PR, and parts of SoH.  There's a Guardian in our guild that I work well with; I usually OT but for some names or if he's not available I MT.  I also tank instances all the time, lately RE2 quite a bit- that instance is made for SK.  Polish your skills in instances, build people's confidence in your ability to hold aggro and survive, and you can end up tanking raids.If you want the easybutton to raid tanking, go guard- just make sure you're the best guard in your guild.

[Solarax]

In general i have found that as our level increases our ability to tank doesnt diminish "too much" BUT ...we have to work harder to get the job done compared to some other classes that do it with a lot less effort.some of this is gear related as can easily be seen in another thread with a great breakdown on how our gear stats are effecting us ( with regaurds to how we have more needed primary stats and bonuses than other pure classes)

[Lord Hackenslash]

SK can tank just every other plate tank can do it better and easier. I raid tank but its only when the guardian, paladin, zerker all cannot and its pretty much in that order. if the raid wants to defeat new content they will use the guard if they want something to brag about they will have the SK tank as its considered a handicap.

[rabid.pooh]

<p>Lol Melina.</p><p>To the OP, SKs can MT they pretty much need to be geared to the nines tho.  I think the biggest issue your going to have is grinding to 80 and having no real raid gear to speak of, and then getting into a raiding guild to invest in you, unless you have friends in a raiding guild (this is a problem for all tank classes btw, but more so for SKs).  On Oasis I don't think I've seen any guilds looking for SKs over the last 5 - 6 months.  Our SK got fed up with the class and left the game and so far no plans to replace him.</p><p>Another strat is waiting for that inevitable guild drama and guild splits, at that point the new forming/recovering guilds are desperate for people.   Problem with this is rebuilding guilds suck.  </p>

[Roguejm11]

<cite>ZeroAsaia wrote:</cite><blockquote>Here's my question i've been playing an SK and liking it.  I just have one question can the SK tank in raids? Or should i make a guardian?  I picked the SK to be a tank, not to sit idle.  What i'm readin here on the forums is not very encouraging for an SK.</blockquote><p>Zero - people are going to say a lot of things.  SK's suck, Guardian's are so much better,  or Zerkers dps is so much better....</p><p>I have been an SK and only an SK since EQ1.  I played that game from the Kunark expansion to the Lost Dungeons of Norrath expansion.  I was in 1 guild for 3/4 of that time.  I was always an OT or MT for that game.</p><p> EQ2, I have been with the same guild for almost 1 year now.  I have been the OT or MT there as well.  We are about 1/2 through VP.  WHICH I realize isnt the uberest of guilds, not by any means,  But we are raiding Teir 4 content, including, working on the Maestro in SoH.</p><p>Here are the facts:</p><p>Self buffed, I have just under 13,000 hp and I have 64% self buffed avoidance. (In defensive stance)  Which as most SK's point out they almost NEVER use.  I agree, I tank 90% of the time in offensive stance, with the expection of VP.</p><p>Raid buffed with an ideal group I am close to 17,700hp and 73% avoidance(again in defensive stance)</p><p>I have tanked every boss our guild has been able to fight.  PR - VP.  There ARE SK's that MT and OT for guilds that clear every zone in the game.  (Props to TR and Grimling on Kithicor)</p><p>Here is the problem,  this game overall has a negative opinion of SK's as dps, tanking or utility.  YOU must prove yourself to a guild.  YOU have to be an exceptional player, able to think on your feet, act fast, use abilities that people don't think of.  That is the ONLY way for you to really be an OT/MT tank as an SK.  Otherwise you will never have the gear to tank high end raid content.</p><p>Vinladia</p><p>80 Shadowknight</p><p>Kithicor Server</p>

[Vaelaen]

<p>the problem is Vinladia, sk's that are comming up now, can't get into a raid to aquire the gear it would take to get 13k hp and 64% avoidance. if you have solo'd to 80 and have gotten the best gear that the instances and quests have to offer, you will still not be able to tank in a raid as well as an equally equipped guardian... you will also not be able to fill another role as good as some other class could. if your guild has two raid equipped guards, what are your chances, as an up and comming sk, to get into an MT/OT role? what reason is there to bring an sk to a raid if he/she isn't tanking?</p><p>you can be an exceptional player, but if you are in subpar gear, and have subpar spells/ CA's, you will still not be a viable option for a guild raiding high end content.</p><p>i was in efp the other day, and heard an sk shouting out that they were looking for a group... "80 sk with 12xxx hp and 64% avoidance lfg, we had to do this in eq1, so why not here?" these are very respectable stats for an sk, but i was inspecting an 80 guard by the broker with 75% avoidance and over 13k hp.. then another one with 73% avoidance with a few more hp that was standing near to him... my point being, raid equiped guards dont look for groups... groups look for them.</p>

[Tiberuis]

<p>If you have good skills, really good gear, lots of M1's, and a guild that really believes in you, you will be able to tank most raid content in ROK if you make a solid effort.</p><p>The other plate tank classes will MT Raids easier, and in some cases much better than you, however.  Make no mistake about that.  </p><p>You will probably be passed over for the Raid MT spot in ROK zones.  But hang in there.  SK's are getting some love in the next expansion.  You never know, SK's may actually be desired by guilds for Raids.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Tiberuis]

<p>Duplicate post</p>