Solo Tactics, please post them here.

[Raahl]

<DIV>I've seen a number of posts saying we have serious issues solo'ing.  Please post what tactics have worked for you while solo'ing.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A fellow paladin was having issues solo'ing and found out that the offensive stance made solo'ing much easier.  Perhaps that will also help us guardians solo.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4>Again, we are not meant to solo heroic mobs so, please not complaining about it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffffff size=3><STRONG><U>Tactics</U></STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>1. Try using the offensive stance.  This may help.  (unproven)</FONT></DIV>

[Chutta]

<DIV>I've only tried using an offensive stance against blue con mobs, and that was only to test it out.  I didn't really find much of a difference either way.  I would tend to end up with the same hp/power after I was done against the same mobs, so I stuck to using defensive stance after that just because it was working. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Arsen]

I use the offensive stance to solo and have been going with a one hander for now since I like the power proc on the screaming mace.  The difference in HP/Power consumption isn't very different between offensive/defensive stances, but I kill faster with my offensive stance on so it is more effective.  Offensive stance seems to give about 15% more damage to your arts plus you are not as likely to miss.  Soling is pretty straightforward though - bow shot or doll debuff to open, 30 second buff as they close, then unload everything as fast as you can and try to get a few HOs off.  If you hit yellow Hitpoints before your opponent, run like hell.  Soling as a Guard is pretty boring <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Kynlo]

<DIV>  I am a level 47 guardian, and have been soloing yellow cons in Everfrost both before and after the change.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When I solo them now(ebon chest/legs the rest fulginate), I use the offensive stance, vs. yellow solo mobs, I lose about1/4 to 1/3 of my hitpoints, and use about 1/2 of my overall power.  Although the skills work differently, much differently in some cases, the end result is the same.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The only problem I have is if I die.  If I so much as aggro a heroic trying to get to my shard then forget it, I'm toast.  They will kill me as I run away, most of the time outlasting my sprint power.  My horse does me no good, becasue once I'm engaged by the mob, no matter if I defend myself or not, my movement rate drops to the default.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think the mob run speed should be dropped a little bit, or yours shouldn't drop...as long as you don't engage them.</DIV>

[Belce]

I use the offensive stance and have had good luck with it.  For target, I look for groups of blue arrow down mobs, for exp they are counted as group encounters and provide bonus exp for defeating the encounter.  Otherwise what I would consider standard rountine pull with <STRIKE>entrench </STRIKE> bow, I chain HO's, watch for casts and see if I can interrupt.  I currently only have the app1 version of desperate flurry and it adds 44 str and 9 to my weapon skills.  Switching stances is too easy, you can flip back and forth to your hearts content to find what you think works best. 

[Akaran2]

<P>I have no problems soloing solo type creatures all the way up to orange con mobs using my defensive stance. I don't have any luck against heroics tho...</P> <P>I pull with a bow shot or a hex doll (the attack speed reduct. one) and lead in with retaliate to stun the mob, then Fighting Chance + Blast or Ferocious Charge. By that time the mob is usually down about 20-30% health and I just go into DPS mode from there.</P> <DIV>Works great.</DIV>

[Bhuhdiy]

<P>I also normally solo with offensive stance, kills go a bit faster.  We have 3 stuns, typical fight goes like this, I just fire these off in order back to back:</P> <P>- Shield Bash (stun), Cleave, Ferocious Charge</P> <P>- Unerring Strike (knockdown, maybe stun), Overwhelm, Swamp</P> <P>- Retaliate (pacify/stun), Vindication, Blast</P> <P>This keeps them stunned while I cycle through all of my combat arts, and usually takes them down to well below half health.  While waiting on stuns to recycle, knock out a couple HO's</P> <P>This seems to get them dead the quickest, and keeps them stunned as much as possible.  Also, don't forget your interrupts for caster mobs - Deafen, Swamp, Shield Bash, Unerring Strike, Retaliate</P> <P>If fighting a group of mobs, use Taunting Assault to complete HO's and use Tremor to maximize damage to the group.</P> <p>Message Edited by Bhuhdiy on <span class=date_text>09-21-2005</span> <span class=time_text>06:59 AM</span>

[Morv]

Might also want to try throwing out all your attacks real fast with offensive stance up then switch to defensive and stun anchor call of command til ur attacks come back up then switch to offensive go all out again rinse repeat

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>Raahl wrote:<div>I've seen a number of posts saying we have serious issues solo'ing.  Please post what tactics have worked for you while solo'ing.</div> <div> </div><hr></blockquote>Admittedly while my guardian is level 25, and so my tactics might not work at higher levels.. I was having issues trying to go offensive.. big slow 2h claymore didn't work very well for me any more.. I ended up running from high blues and whites... Whereas dropping into defensive stance, equipping my tower sheild and starfall for a good 1h and changing combat tactics to lead with shield stun attack (if it was up) and then just chaincasting HOs with the occaisional regular attack while waiting for the HO starter to refresh was able to let me take on low yellows with ease and minimal loss of HP. yellows 2 up would take out about 60% of my health to take them out... I found that the more regular combat arts I used, the worse off I was for some reason...  I spent all of level 24 to partway into 25 experimenting with this and it seemed fairly consistant to me.. </span><div></div>

[Darcblood]

<DIV> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>I have experimented with both stances and found that I prefer to solo in offensive stance just because you have close to 300 more power and put out a little more damage. <SPAN> </SPAN>I was able to spam my buttons a lot more to speed up DPS when I needed to. <SPAN> </SPAN>I use similar tactics as above but in a little different order.  I have also been switching stances on and off and using my anchor and wall of brawn, both of those are really helpful agains oranges.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>I start out with smothering cry because it stifles for a few seconds that I get off at least 3 big hits with. <SPAN> </SPAN>The order is pretty much as below.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Smothering cry</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>HO starter</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Crush</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>deafen</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Swamp</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Retaliate</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>HO starter</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Ferocious charge</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Smothering cry (if not back then shield bash)</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#ffffff size=3>Deafen (if smothering cry isn’t back)</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#ffffff>Then I repeat with cleave and overwhelm. <SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#ffffff>If the fight starts to go too long and I run below 50% health then I switch to my defensive stance.<SPAN>  </SPAN>I have used these tactics to solo orange ^ mobs pretty successfully.<SPAN>  </SPAN>Generally I don’t get put out of green if the mobs are yellow or lower.<SPAN>  </SPAN>Hope this helps.<SPAN>  Heroics are a whole other story, I'm still working out group tactics with the stances.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=3><FONT color=#ffffff>I find that this tactic works great in duels also. <SPAN> </SPAN>They are stifled longer in a duel it seems so by the time anyone can swing back they are half</FONT> dead.</FONT></P></DIV>