New AA Builds - Keep them coming! :)

[Sir_Halbarad]

Hi all!I am working an a Guardian Guide for the EoF-Era. Many things have changed since KoS. Especially AA's. Raid Guards seem to respec away from bucklers.Please help me with your input - Tell me your old spec and your new spec, the reasons for choosing your new spec and your experiences so far.Thanks in advance!Hal<div></div>

[Sir_Halbarad]

Old Spec:STA 4,5,8,8 / WIS 4,4,8,8New Spec:STR 4,4,8,8 / INT 4,4,8,8Reason:Buckler isnt that good for tanking anymore and 314 mitigation isnt that good as well with diminishing returns.Now I went for 10% hate increase, 22% crit chance, 17 parry and 16 haste - accompanied with some CA's which can increase your haste and crit chance further.Experiences:None so far with the new build. The old build didnt work anymore though <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Thehuffermsu]

<DIV>playing with 44848 agi and 4458 int atm </DIV>

[steveatk]

<P>After a lot of testing in beta I know I was dropping the STA line the instant EOF came out.</P> <P>Old build : STA 5/4/8/8, STR 4,4,8,8</P> <P>New build : WIS 4/4/4/8/8, STR 4/4/5/8</P> <P>I took the end WIS line to help my accuracy whilst in defensive stance and the put 8 into the additional miti as I had 4 in there anyway to get to the end skill.</P> <P>I am going with hate gain from STR as agro generation is a problem currently. If the new aggression modifiers (LU30) work out though I would like to drop STR and go with INT or AGI to boost my Def or Parry but at the moment trying to hold agro is more important.</P> <P>This new build coupled with my fabled Tower shield have shown a noticable improvement in survivability personally and as noted by my usual healers.</P> <P> </P>

[Kinesthesia]

I used to use the classic Sta / Wis build but with EoF, I respeced to Agi / Int for defense and parry based on what I thought about the new combat changes.After getting smacked around in the Labs just as hard as ever (even after the hotfix), I decided to just focus on dps.My new build looks like this:Str 4/5/8Sta 4/4/8Wis 4/4/8All I can say is, mission accomplished. I basically did the same thing with my Guardian tree. Originally I started down the right side, putting points in Command, etc. But I have respeced that tree as well down the "damage tree". I was a little disappointed in the new skill near the bottom, can't think of the name at the moment ... the one that's on the same timer as Besiege. But I intend to make a separate post about that.

[Khrunk]

am now sta 6,4,8,8 and int 4,4,7,8. since i can pop my towershield on if need be. and still get the 51% haste total. stayed with buckler for the aggro issues. might have wanted to try agi 4,4,4,8 sta 8 int 4,4,5,8 for avoid but i dont have the necessary 10 plat for a respect lol.

[lostsandman]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> brutalsnail wrote:<BR> am now sta 6,4,8,8 and int 4,4,7,8. since i can pop my towershield on if need be. and still get the 51% haste total. stayed with buckler for the aggro issues. might have wanted to try agi 4,4,4,8 sta 8 int 4,4,5,8 for avoid but i dont have the necessary 10 plat for a respect lol.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>This is what i thought but what i found was that i took more damge with buckler hence i found my self using tower shield more and more for ToS for epic fights.</P> <P>We can still do group and even labs with buckler but anythign above that i find my self getting out the tower shield more. </P> <P>I went for say hello to Harla Dar and she had about 14 miss on me and of those 9 were block, was using tower shield  (others were miss and parry). I Think that says it all.</P> <P>I still haven't made up my mind as to what is my new KoS aa is but i am really thinking str 4488 and int 4488. The reason for going down the int line to to get that extra 56% or so haste and with an item haste we can get 70% haste. </P> <P>Right now agro is bad with a tower shield (for me anyway) so i figured that the 70% haste will mean i can do some DPS (eg get back some of the dps lost vai loosing the buckler) so combined with 10% more hate from str line may be my agro will be ok</P><p>Message Edited by lostsandman on <span class=date_text>11-29-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:57 AM</span>

[Ndr]

<div></div>I'm a level 27 Guardian for the moment and I've decided to max out <span>Executioner's Anger for hate gain..So Str line will be 4/4/8/8But for a Raid Tank (Group as well), I can't decide between agility and intelligence (Agil is good cause it's got defense boost and Int is good as it's got haste and parry boost)I heard a lot of negative feedback about sta and wis line, so probably I won't bother with them..Thanks for your suggestions in advance</span><span><b><u></u></b></span><span></span><div></div>

[Sir_Halbarad]

Tried my new aa build in Lyceum yesterday and I am very happy with it.It's STR 4,4,8,8 and INT 4,5,8,8 now. Was STA 4,5,8,8 and WIS 4,4,8,8.The mitigation loss from losing WIS LIne wasn't noticable. My Hate generation was about the same, maybe better.And with using a bigger shield now I blocked alot more.Atm I am very happy.<div></div>

[SkarlSpeedbu]

<P>I consider myself a early starting guardian as far as gear goes.  I have 4 pieces of relic and some various relic/hoolohs hat.  For someone in my position I would still consider the Agility/wisdom line for the defense and mitigation.</P> <P>As I understand it, mitigation is our most checked number in fights, which even with diminished returns its pretty important.</P> <P>Now if I had DT gear, smacked out with fabled stuff etc etc...i may lean away from the def and mit lines.  But IMO if you are a early game MT, the defense and mitigation is the way to go.</P>

[Aven Elonis]

<P>Pre EoF was all Wisdom (yeah it really was)</P> <P>Post EoF Agi/Wis</P> <P>And this may yet change again, still thinking. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Tyrion]

<DIV>Str: 4/4/8/8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Int: 4/5/8/8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It's the way to go, IMO. Lots of crits, increased hate, haste, and parry. In regards to EoF, I have 15 (Or 65), and I've put 5 into Command, Wall of Force and Stone Sphere. Getting 5 points in Tower of Stone, and then I'll devote points to speed up Reinforcement and Rescue, and enhance Sentinel and Vindictive Strike. Not sure after that. Doubt I'll get block, because not attacking for 10 seconds is just asking for trouble.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Tyrion on <span class=date_text>11-29-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:32 PM</span>

[Dragonlancer]

<DIV>Trying out this one</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Agi 4/4/4/8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Int 4/4/4/8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sta 8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Crippling</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Will also get Enhanced Plant and finish the Slaughtering Line for the DA 10%</DIV>

[Sirlutt]

I am trying :int : 4:4:8:8Sta : 4:8:8:5I'm not a Raid MT, but I want to be a good instance tank and have some DPS.I just cant get away from the buckler double attack and now with getting parried/blocked etc etc more the buckler reversal.  went int for parry and haste.<div></div>

[Mjollnyr]

Finally broke down and respec'd I went from Sta/wis to Str/agi. I'm really pleased with it so far. I lost 1.1% mitigation from dropping wisdom line.  I gained 22% melee crit and 10% hate.  Also i gained 12s of 100% parry. I'm alittle sad aboutt he loss of dps from the buckler, and the waste of a buckler i got (matron's buckler).   But oh well! <div></div>

[VIet4ever]

was spec'd at Sta/Wis but now i'm 4/5/8/8 Str 4/4/8/8 Int.  Max crit max, + attck spd, +hate, +parry and plus the 2 weapon specific skills that boost dps. With Mith Marr god ability and Block (if it ever gets fixed) i should have enough "oh crap im in the red" abilities to survive those tight situations. And please correct me if i'm wrong, but increasing parry helps avoidance more than defence since guards have more defense than parry by nature. Going down dps line in the eof AA's for the moment till block is fixed. <div></div>

[Dr]

<P>I am still Wis/Str, not sure on which way to go yet.</P> <P>Testing things out last night:</P> <P>Adding 14 Agi - gave 0.3% additional avoidance (I think at the time I was ~309 Agi- so this took me to 323 Agi)</P> <P>Adding 28 Defense (Taking me to 456) - added 2.1% avoidance</P> <P>Haven't tested the effect of Parry yet but I suspect this will have a greater impact, given that I am much further from the cap currently self buffed 401)</P>

[Mjollnyr]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> VIet4ever wrote:<BR>And please correct me if i'm wrong, but increasing parry helps avoidance more than defence since guards have more defense than parry by nature. Going down dps line in the eof AA's for the moment till block is fixed.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Parry generally is more difficult to come by,  before this expansion anyways.   Besides trying to overcome debuffs, which should be cured almost immediately for any MT, the cap on skills is only 455.</P> <P>I've checked my stats while in an MT group, and my parry is at the 440 mark, with defense around 430~.  my Parry will be pretty much capped once i get a chel'draks ring, and the +7parry adornment for the forearms.  I also figured agi line, with AE auto-attack for group agro control (small, but ever bit helps), and Dragoon reflexes, AGI was a better AA line then INT.  Albeit the haste increase is certainly attractive, for increased DPS/agro.</P> <P>In regards to block,  I suspect it will remain the way it is, with the description being changed to reflect its current working order.  Even in its current form, i beleive it is our best EoF AA, and wouldnt respec from it for a while.</P>

[highlander]

<DIV>I'm sitting at:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>STR 4 4 5</DIV> <DIV>STA 4 4 8</DIV> <DIV>WIS 4 4 4 8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That spec gives me 76% double attack, 73% activated melee crit using an axe (10 sec), 13.9% passive melee crit, 9.6% DPS mod, 314 mitigation and of course buckler reverseal for 310-517.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There still is no instance around (haven't tried Niz yet) where your buckler won't still work.  You will get smacked around some, but if you have a healer that cures the spikes are very manageable.  And, I'm not in all fabled gear.  I *will* say that I have up'd my DEFENSE and PARRY where I can and with the above config I'm able to run all EOF instances in offensive stance with a buckler.  Same can be said with Labs.  I've not tried any EOF raid in that configuration tho, so your milage may vary.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With my buckler, solo buffed I'm at 447 defense, 381 parry, 4771 mitigation and 6069 avoidance.</DIV> <DIV>With my tower, solo buffed im at 442 defense, 381 parry, 4852 mitigation and 7507 avoidance.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>X</DIV>

[Astery]

4/4/8/8 Str 4/5/8/8 Intcan use all swords and axes, pretty good parry and dps... still, your gear makes a huge difference.does anyone knows wis line last ability, that wont let debuff your stances, you how much is it triggers usually? looks kinda neat.

[steveatk]

<P>That is not a proc, it is always on. If you get that AA skill you will permanently lose the negative aspects of your stances (unless you respec AA of course)</P>

[Astery]

my bad, i just wanted to ask how often do you get your stances debuffed by hostile spells at higher levels?

[Pelda]

Where are you seeing your parry and defense numbers?  When I look at my stats and put the cursor over avoidance I see it broken out by % and not the numbers your stating.  Do I need to change a configuration for me to see it that way?

[highlander]

<DIV>Where are you seeing your parry and defense numbers?  When I look at my stats and put the cursor over avoidance I see it broken out by % and not the numbers your stating.  Do I need to change a configuration for me to see it that way? <P></P> <DIV>Peldaar<BR>70 Guardian<BR>Great Khan of the Grey Wolves</DIV></DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hit P to get to your persona window.  Then, click on the Skills tab.  Under 'adventurer' on the bottom (if using the default UI) you'll see DEFENSE and PARRY.  Mind you I'm at work so that could be slightly off but if memory is working....should work.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>X</DIV>

[Belce]

Parry and other skills are found under skills which I believe is part of the Persona window now.  You should see tabs for combat skills, other skills, trade skills and languages.

[Mjollnyr]

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/Senciner/aa.jpg"> My final spec atm. <div></div>

[Lyrus]

My spec is similar, although I wonder about the maxing out plant, the debuff to me seems somewhat moot in a raid except maybe as an opener right after mob placement, and even then it has a tendancy to break early.To each his own, although I am really enjoying Lay Waste on single mobs<div></div>

[MorpheusEQ2]

<P>I guess I'm still torn with Block vs. Lowering Reposte damage...</P> <P>1 attack blocked per minute vs... 35% reposte reduction that according to what I'm reading is possible to almost always stay up.  After each attack from the cripple line the next reposte will have reduced damage... 5 spells in cripple with 2 of them being quick recasts... I feel I'd pretty much always be able to have every reposte's damage reduced... Or am I reading that wrong?</P> <P>I don't have hard numbers to back it up and I don't scour my logs to see how much damage I'm taking from repostes...   Just seems one would be better than the other.  Also all the debuff enhancements just help our cause defensively even more... where I don't feel adding 12 points down the line just to get to block really justifies it.  I'd rather see as much use out of each point as I can get.</P> <P>Anyone got better ideas or data?</P>

[Scadie]

<DIV>I went in warrior tree WIS 4488 and INT 4588 </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>and</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Guadian tree 20 point in slaughtering for increased dps and 10% double attack final ability and now </DIV> <DIV>working on block in similar way like above posted.. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This ist my choice of adjustment that works really good for tanking after the cc´s.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First i was not sure how aggromanagement will be with the lost of 10% raw hate but after practice and some </DIV> <DIV>nice adornment i have permanently 50% dps and 60% haste though the lost 10% raw hate</DIV> <DIV>is definitly compansated with my playstyle.. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Raidbuffed im allmost at over 62% avoidance and 65% mit without shorttime mit</DIV> <DIV>buffs.. when i throw them off i´m about at 72% mitigation. Allthough haste are allmost </DIV> <DIV>about 100% and dps 100% due to the real good constellation of mt group this rocks really !!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by Scadie on <span class=date_text>12-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>06:08 AM</span>

[Ai yo]

<P>Hi,</P> <P>Can anyone advise where can i unyeilding will & lay waste becasue i was thinking of going for these 2 enchance skill for AA?</P> <P> </P> <P>Can`t seem to find these 2 skill ....</P>

[Sir_Halbarad]

<div><blockquote><hr>Ai yo wrote:<div></div> <p>Hi,</p> <p>Can anyone advise where can i unyeilding will & lay waste becasue i was thinking of going for these 2 enchance skill for AA?</p> <p>Can`t seem to find these 2 skill ....</p><hr></blockquote>Unyielding Will (Adept III) is made by an Alchemist who did the Bloodline Chronicles Quest. It is T4. With those quests you can get your own spell as well (not sure of quality - app I ?)Lay Waste is a new ability you get. It is a single target version of Besiege (our blue AoE). It does more damage (on a single target) and has a faster cast time. They share the reuse timer. Good for single target fights.</div>

[Josey]

<DIV>str 4-4-8-8</DIV> <DIV>int 4-5-8-8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>aggro in EoF raid zones hasnt been issue.. parsing less however.</DIV> <DIV>double attack</DIV> <DIV>working on getting to block atm</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>on a side note..  I have never employed the use of unyielding will.  for those that use it..when?  raid named and what not.  have nevere messed with the thing, but maybe there is a use for it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by josey02 on <span class=date_text>01-25-2007</span> <span class=time_text>09:46 AM</span>

[Flor]

I put 5 points in that...it lasts for 1 min 6 sec now. I use it on hard fights on names, when the mob is around 30% ..i mean , it only goes off when you die , right? So gettign 35% HP back for 1 min and 6 sec is HUGE.I can tell you, it saved my raid a lot of times..and is a lot of fun.." OMG nice, we killed it"" Uh, hey guys, im gonna die in about 20 secs"" Are you lagging??? The mob is dead already"Portos has killed Portos.With 5 points in this spell, 1 min and 6 sec can be an eternity and save you your raid. I know it works perfrctly for me.

[Josey]

<P>so for CM..cheldrak kinda fights I can see this being useful.. or last raid mob in zone.  </P> <P>otherwise what about dmg to armor?  currently in EoF working through Freethinkers learnign mobs.. have only cleared to third named so far.  If using this often..my reuse timer wont be up in time for equipment reapinr on kits.. or is this something that can be cured/healed in time?</P>

[JimmyMa]

Doing the same one as the picture at the top of the page... though just starting to put some on reinforcement now since I only have 82 total at the moment.<div></div>

[Wilin]

<DIV>If you happen to have a long fight for whatever reason and the MT dies with Unyeilding Will up. The MT can then call across voice or raid chat that he is going to die in Xseconds and everyone should prepare to switch MT to whomever the OT is. It gives the OT time to swap gear if needed and pop reinforcement to grab aggro.(assuming that your OT is a guard) I've done this a couple times, but it doesn't happen often.</DIV>

[Decade]

<div></div><div></div><i>Str: 4/4/8/8</i><div><i> </i></div><div><i>Int: 4/5/8/8</i></div><div><i> </i></div><div><i>It's the way to go, IMO. Lots of crits, increased hate, haste, and parry. In regards to EoF, I have 15 (Or 65), and I've put 5 into Command, Wall of Force and Stone Sphere. Getting 5 points in Tower of Stone, and then I'll devote points to speed up Reinforcement and Rescue, and enhance Sentinel and Vindictive Strike. Not sure after that. Doubt I'll get block, because not attacking for 10 seconds is just asking for trouble.</i>If you consider - one guaranteed chance to avoid an incoming hit? Use when you've blown your CA cycle and you're idling cooldowns - pop Block. Rest assured on a raid you'll eat that Block sooner than later, so it's not like you're waiting the full 10 seconds to use an ability. It's only a stipulation that if you cast it, it'll cancel if you use a CA in that timeframe. It's a great skill and I use it all the time.Mjollnyr has the pretty much same build I went with.</div><div></div><p>Message Edited by Decadeca on <span class="date_text">01-25-2007</span><span class="time_text">03:37 PM</span></p><p>Message Edited by Decadeca on <span class="date_text">01-25-2007</span> <span class="time_text">03:37 PM</span></p><p>Message Edited by Decadeca on <span class=date_text>01-25-2007</span> <span class=time_text>04:39 PM</span>

[JimmyMa]

<div><blockquote><hr>Decadeca wrote:<div></div><div></div><i></i><div> it's not like you're waiting the full 10 seconds to use an ability. It's only a stipulation that if you cast it, it'll cancel if you use a CA in that timeframe. It's a great skill and I use it all the time.</div><hr></blockquote>Even better than you can still taunt through it without cancelling it also.</div>

[TuinalOfTheNexus]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Lyrus-D wrote:<BR>My spec is similar, although I wonder about the maxing out plant, the debuff to me seems somewhat moot in a raid except maybe as an opener right after mob placement, and even then it has a tendancy to break early.<BR><BR>To each his own, although I am really enjoying Lay Waste on single mobs<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Plant is one of out most useful raid abilities - it's unbreakable. It handles memwipes extremely well (and certain EoF mobs, not to give anything away, memwipe at a % of health with potentially horrible consequences). If you have a lifeburning necro or manaburning wizard, it ensures you won't be left with the mob OOR while reinforcement ticks away. Used carefully, it lets you stagger the initial spike damage versus groups of mobs, and lock down aggro on large groups to at least give inflaming defense 12 seconds to build hate. This ability is worth every AA point you put into it.</P> <P>The spec at the top of the page is the default guard AA spec really. The AE avoidance on block is as useful as the block itself if you OT. I have the same spec except for rescue and reinforcement, which I've opted to ignore in favor of 3 points into merciless charge and 5 into sever. Reason being that a faster rescue / reinforcement is extremely situational, whereas debuffing mob offensive skills = more avoidance, and debuffing mob dps = more mit. I think people would see it as a no-brainer if enhance sever was simply 10% more mitigation, and whilst, granted, it's against 2 mobs at most with a relic bp and fast targetting, it's very effective. I'd even be tempted to shift a few more points to merciless charge if it didn't prevent me getting block and double attack.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Raahl]

<P>Currently - STR: 4/4/8/8   WIS:  4/4/4/7</P> <P>Love the 20% critical.  Not sure the 10% hate or extra mitigation makes a difference.</P> <P> </P> <P>Thinking of - AGI 4/4/4/8  WIS: 4/4/4/8  The  Increased Defense and Parry should help in tough fights.  Not sure with the remaining 9 points.   Any suggestions?  Thinking either STA or STR,  though would putting 8 in WIS bump up my resists much.  It would probably double my wisdom score.  LOL</P>

[Bramwe]

<div></div><div></div>I went down Sta 4/8/8/8 Int 4/4/8/5 and got beat around pretty bad but my DPS was nice.  I am no where near the top of the mit curve so I went back to Wis 4/4/8/8/8 Sta 4/5/8 for the mitigation. I also seem to be doing more dps than Sta/Int and seem to tank better when I switch to tower/defensive.  I think I will stay with this for quite awhile, at least until they do another combat change.  <div></div><p><span class="time_text"></span></p><p>Message Edited by Bramwell on <span class=date_text>02-02-2007</span> <span class=time_text>10:15 AM</span>

[Scyen]

was using STA  WIS to tank and switch tower shield to raid MTrespec STR INTblue epic easy a lot ....<div></div>

[VainDragon2]

<P>MT group with coercer,dirge,warden,temp,defiler.</P> <P>Str 4-4-8  </P> <P>Sta 4-4-8</P> <P>Int 4-5-8</P> <P>86% double attack, around 35% crit chance, 80 haste, 100 dps, bursting to 120haste/dps, Ancient Vorpal Blade, defense/parry near cap</P> <P>average 1500 dps on EH,FTH,IS trash , switch to tower on hard named pulls til debuffed. </P>

[Jackula]

I really liked that dps build Tobago.  I think INT has more to offer than it gets credit for but it comes with that one caveat... must use sword.  What if you managed to get a great weapon that wasn't a sword?How good of an axe would it take to convince you to stop using your sword?  That's the question that goes through my mind when I have points invested in INT.Regarding using a buckler vs a tower shield, does anyone have a dev quote or some data on what % of "block" is uncontested?  I always thought the block portion of avoidance was 100% uncontested, but my paladin is telling me that's not the case.  And if he is correct, then doesn't that make the difference betweeb the two even less significant from a blocking perspective?  Of course if I could, I would tank the world in offensive stance with a buckler.<div></div>

[VainDragon2]

would have to be pretty stellar to be worth losing out on the +30% haste full-time. only one that would be really tough call would be grim brimstone hammer cause i loves me some double attack  and 97.6% would just be too fun with that damage rating and crits. but that's a ways off, so for now it's a vorpal sword spec.

[The Edge]

Tobago, with that build how well do you tank?  I'm considering trying that out, but I'm the backup tank for my guild and I tank for a lot of MM/OoB groups.  Would this [Removed for Content] me by losing the Wis Mit line?<div></div>

[Tyrion]

<P>Ha, quoting me two weeks into EoF at the end of January. Punks! When I made that original post, that was when Block was supposed to stop all incoming attacks for 10 seconds, but you couldn't do anything. I just wasn't a fan of it because aggro would be a huge concern. Now one stone skin at the end of a line that I find offers little is not worth it. I like the re-cast on Stone Sphere more than Tower of Stone because of all the stone skins you get, but that's pretty much it. I've completely abandoned stalwarting because after debuffs, there's so few mobs that pose any real challenge physically in the game right now in my experiences. I've mainly got points in Sever, Obliterate, Flay, Vindictive Strike, Precise Strike, Lay Waste, 10% double attack, and then rescue and reinforcement.</P> <P>And then 4//4/8/8 in Sta, and 4/5/ in Int, and 4/4/8 in Str. Been working great so far. I still believe in damage and dps more than anything else, as a main tank with high damage output means a raid force capable of greater DPS. We're getting pretty consistant 20K+ parses on most zones, so things die fast and less healing is required. Get mitigation from gear, not AAs. Your temporary buffs, even without AA enhancements are more than enough.</P><p>Message Edited by Tyrion on <span class=date_text>02-04-2007</span> <span class=time_text>07:49 PM</span>

[VainDragon2]

i tank like a rat-fiend. losing that 300 mit won't [Removed for Content] you at all, cause when properly buffed it's only about 1% absorption and when bursting probably even less thanks to diminishing returns. and you can always switch to tower for those few times you'll need to ToS and want the 22% block until debuffs set in.

[Rob626]

<DIV>I see that Tabago does not have 8 in the STA increased parry ability.  Do you notice yourself getting hit significantly more than if you had that extra parry/block/riposte?  Seems like those 8 points make the buckler much closer to a tower shield, is always up, increases all around survivability.  So for small groups as mt in pvp a little more blocking could add up to a lot of avoided damage over the long haul.</DIV>

[VainDragon2]

because of my gear and group makeup my parry is near cap anyhow. so not missing the loss. get hit about 10% more often then with tower. when i need block for surviving i just hotkey switch to a tower shield til it's all under control. i wouldn't spec that way unless your gear and raid makeup allow it.

[Raahl]

<P>Stop making me <SPAN>Jealous </SPAN>Tobie!  :smileyhappy:  [waves]</P> <P>I agree that the 300 mit, especially when well equipped, does not make much differenence. </P>

[TuinalOfTheNexus]

<p>So I used the last respec to go from:</p><p>Str 4 4 8 8 Sta 4 5 8 8</p><p> To:</p><p>Str 4 4 8 Sta 4 4 8 Int 4 4 8 1</p><p>And this is working better raid tanking. My reasoning in this; you have two scenarios when you raid tank - either clearing trash, where DPS and thus your hate generation are vital, or tanking really hard-hitting mobs, when survivability is key.</p><p>By putting 8 points into buckler block/parry, you're reducing your hate generation using a buckler (because, if you get hit less, damage shields / inflaming defense deal less hate). You're increasing your survivability, but when this matters, you're using a tower shield and not a buckler. I have also noticed very little difference from the 10% hate lost from the str line, enough for me to question if this is actually working as described. I seriously suspect dirge / coercer hate gain is overwriting, and not adding to, the hate from this AA, or some cap exists.</p><p>By adding int, you increase your DPS using a tower shield, which is useful, but it also applies when using a buckler. Since DPS mod is quite easily self-buffable (crafted ring + underworld legplates + tunare earring + marr cloak + buckler of the howler), whereas you're limited to about 50 haste from items (forsworn amulet etc + crafted ring), it complements it well to let you get around 90dps/90haste self buffed, which complements a high double attack rate and 22% crits very nicely. A spare point stuck into parry was worth it for me, but this could go into +hate instead.</p>

[Raahl]

<p>Tried AGI and INT, but it didn't seem that good.</p><p>Respec'd to STR: 7/4/8/8 AGI: 4/4/4/8</p><p>So far I think it's a good mix of offense/defense.  The +10% hate game helps me keep aggro and the extra crit chance along with the additional strength helps damage.  The additional defense from the AGI line helps keep me going during tough fights.</p><p>There's supposedly a revamp coming for the KoS AA trees.  We have any information on this?  Perhaps they will make the Wisdom Mit bonus a little better.</p>

[Josey]

<p>so.. im seriously considering going with the sta.str.int combo listed in previous post.</p><p>I am also not seeing a marked improvement from the extra 10% we are supposed to get.  More DPS ensures more hate.  so bring it on.  </p>

[Raahl]

<p>Well I respec'd to STR: 5/4/8/8 and STA: 4/4/8/8  yesterday.</p><p>During guild writ raids (2x), I had little to no problems keeping aggro or taking damage.  Even with the sisters/mother mem wipes.  It was an odd sight to see all those damage numbers popping up from my hits.  I didn't have a parser up, so I am unsure what I was pulling down.</p><p>But Man-o-Man was it fun!</p><p>Asked the healers if I was taking a lot of damage and they said not any more than they usually have to heal me for.  One of the other raid members commented that they never saw me leave the green.  <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p>Later this week I'll test it out futher with 4x mobs.  So far out of all the AA combinations, I'm liking this one best.</p>