zerk or bruiser for aoe heroic encounters

[sp33r]

<DIV>Not looking for the most uber class to play i just want to be able to finish some mid level writs on heroic encounters.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So far i got a 27 dirge with about 200+ agi 100 ish str, fabled weapons + all master spells and combat arts.  BUT it seems i cant last for a few seconds before i have to evac. Must be doing something very wrong which i dont care im tired of playing my dirge.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyways im tired of trying out the scouts im going to try out some tank classes that can take a beating.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Im looking for AOE damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Is it true bruisers are the FOM tank as of now? If so i dont want to play that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Zerkers seem cool rage and dps, zerks can dish out dps right?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Well just want to stand a chance with atleast single up heroic encounters i dont care to take out the triple ups or named mobs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Plan on grouping some, but limited time requires me to solo the majority of the time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Probably wrong of me to ask here but, Zerk, guardian, or bruiser for my play style?  Again dont want to be the most uber tank i dont care if i get up to app VI combat arts just again want to finish quests.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance for any info given.</DIV>

[Lord Hackenslash]

zerks are gonna be your bet for aoe, they are the best rounded tank IMHO at this time they out dps my SK when they go all out on aoe and the single target dps is respectable. add to that a solid defensive ability second only to guardians and you have a recipie for a great class raid and group. frankly i think this is one of the best rounded classes in the game currently.

[sp33r]

<DIV>yeah started one up about an hour ago and got to about level 7 they tank really well.  And to me this is my own opinion i think they perform on par with bruisers dps wise but im only level 7.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is going to be so hard to choose.  So far its a toss up for guardian, zerker, or bruise.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyone at all got any experience playing both a zerk and guard?</DIV>

[Khal]

<DIV>If you are talking just heroics, there is no reason to play a guardian.  And I'm not ripping the class, they are the best tank in the game but it is really only gonna show against epic encounters.</DIV>

[Tolil]

Zerkers beat Bruisers hands down on AE.  I duo'd my bruiser most of the way to 60 with a Fury friend, and now duoing a Zerker/Warden combo.  I've noticed very little difference with DPS, we can take on heroic encounters (normal and named), but on grouped heroic mobs it is so much quicker to kill them with the Zerker.  IMO Zerker makes a better tanks aswell as they mitigate better than Bruisers who suffer from spike damage.

[ParlMoebius]

<DIV>Looking specifically for AE encounter success?  Go zerker hands down.  Maybe some of the mage AE nukes outdamage em (never play mages) but you wanna see a throng of angry critters swarming over you drop like flies?  play your zerker on a bit further.  Between your ae and directional multi mob attacks, and your stance procs, and your counter attack ca, and I'm sure plenty of others that I'm missing (my zerkers only 36, started as an alt and is quickly becoming my ) I absolutely love it.</DIV>

[ParlMoebius]

<DIV>Looking specifically for AE encounter success?  Go zerker hands down.  Maybe some of the mage AE nukes outdamage em (never play mages) but you wanna see a throng of angry critters swarming over you drop like flies?  play your zerker on a bit further.  Between your ae and directional multi mob attacks, and your stance procs, and your counter attack ca, and I'm sure plenty of others that I'm missing (my zerkers only 36, started as an alt and is quickly becoming my main&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I absolutely love it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by ParlMoebius on <span class=date_text>05-09-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:47 PM</span>

[firewolf]

Berserker to me is a very strong AE soloing class. Soloing to 45, I can feel that my berserker just gets stronger and stronger in fighting group encounter. At the moment, without a single piece of legendary/fabled gear, he can take out a single arrow up yellow con in SS. Any non-herioc encounter with 3-4 mobs (1-3 down arrows) yellow  con(2 levels above) can be taken out without much trouble. For soloing, I build up mitigation, str, agi and wis. Never bother with sta. So far works very well. Only 4 yellow con 2 levels above can get me into orange.  Only being using adept1 and app4 combat arts.Tried bruiser but prefers the AE damage of berserker over the superior single target dps of the bruiser. <div></div>