Tanking: one hander and shield, or dual-wield?

[Agnar D'Shar]

<DIV>I am guessing that when tanking, zerkers should use a shield and one-hander, as opposed to dual-wield or a two-handed weapon. Is that correct, or are there any exceptions?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Reciprocally, when soloing, is it best to keep the shield equipped, or switch to dual-wield (or any other non-shield setup)?</DIV>

[Aonach]

<P>Generally yes that is correct. For named end game mobs, zones like nizaria and for raiding it is certainly true.</P> <P>There are however acceptions. For example, while grouping with friends I have a group with both a mystic and a templar in it. In situations like that I always tank in full offensive mode with a 2h weapon, only switching on really difficult encounters or if the pull goes horribly wrong. Also if tanking trash mobs even with one healer I mostly tank using a 2h weapon.</P> <P>There is also an interesting discussion developing around the buckler v tower shield situation which has arisen due to the "buckler reversal" AA which we get as part of the STA AA line. I know of at least one zerker who always tanks using a buckler now and I'm currently experimenting with that myself. Does anyone have any usage stats on this?</P><p>Message Edited by Aonach on <span class=date_text>07-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:43 AM</span>

[Conjourer]

<P>I have respeced several times, and I am a huge believer in the Stam line. I parse regularly to see where my dps is and I just can't beat my 1hs and buckler for dps. As for tanking...once you get enough AA's to fill out Stamina Line, your not really loosing much in the way of avoidance by going buckler instead of tower. I am by no means a raid tank, I am often main tank on my guild raids, but we are on Venekor and just getting into Teir 5 Raids now. Currently at level 64 I have my avoidance at around 44% and mit is around 4.7k. Again I am not in a "Raiding Guild" so most of my armor is Xegonite, with I think one Fabled helm. Using the Dragonscale Buckler which is the reward from the collection quest in KoS. its got a protection rating of about 350. As I said, once you get Stam line filled out the difference is minimal in my oppinion. Once I get to 70 I will have a better handle on where I am in comparison to the "raid tanks" and start working on what I need to to get mit up to 5k and all that...</P> <P> </P> <P>Syrius Silverblade</P> <P>64th Berserker</P> <P>70th Provisioner</P> <P>Senior Officer Firiona Vie's Champions</P> <P>Venekor Server</P>

[SlapnutsGT]

<div></div>Im in the wis line of AAs and I tank with 2 hander (defense stance - the penatlies), and use agl dolls (since str is so easily capped) and my avoidance is -4-8% lower then most average equipped zerkers using a shield.  But, like mentioned above, some encounters end game are too hard and you HAVE to use some form of shield.<div></div><p>Message Edited by SlapnutsGT on <span class=date_text>07-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>06:56 AM</span>

[Pnaxx]

<P>To the question from OP....</P> <P>I have xperienced diff needs with diff healer types. The Warders tend to let me go DW better than the Templar types. But as a whole....when going into a tough area, I go sword and board. If not fer the mobs we are hittin, than for the possible adds. It's then that they xtra protection keeps your team from wiping. Now I will switch in middle of fight if I see the adds come or whatever, to help the healer.......</P> <P>The other thing is, does the team have decent dps. I start alot of groups and many times have fun groups with less than desirerabe teamate mixes...maybe too many tanks and almost no real dps....in that case ill DW fer the extra help...but again, if it's a tight situation, I would rather take longer to kill a mob than a wipe....so I am still very leary of doing it then. </P> <P>In cramed dundeon type areas is where I am more apt to go Sword and Board...in more open indoor spaces or outside where less chance of hard hittin mobs I go DW. But again, it depends....if at the end of a few fights, it is taking me some time to regen health and the team is waiting on me to regen, or the healer to regen mama because I was needing so many heals, than it's tyme to strap on the Shield and let ur teamamtes do the killing.</P> <P>The goal of xp groups is to go real fast...mob to mob...with very little rest in between.</P>

[FightGame]

really boils down to what you are tanking, and how many or how good your healers are.  In a raid, def. shield.  In a tough group instance, maybe 2h or dw for the trash, shield on the names.  If you have a couple good healers, then you can probably go without the shield on the names too, but you'll probably keep them busy, but again - depends on what you're fighting and the level of the mob.  Now that I have fabled gear and usually only group with good healer(s), I'm sure I could take down alot of names with dw or 2hr, but I'd rather play it safe.  The little more DPS I can do from switching isn't gonna make the mob go down a whole lot faster, I'm not making the healers work as hard, and not chancing a loss.  Not to mention if we get added, unexpected (atleast I try to make it look unexpected LOL).<p>Message Edited by FightGame on <span class=date_text>07-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>02:52 PM</span>