Lost in shadowknight translation

[mushintao]

I am extrememly new to tank classes, shadowknights in particular. I have a 42 necro, but thought I would try a tank too. I have a lot of newb questions regarding the SK.Thanks in advance for any responses.1. I am currently lvl. 11 and using a two-handed sword. Is it better to fight with a sword and shield?2. Anyone have any general combat tips for my level? I have heard people talking about using a two-handed sword and waiting like two seconds in between skills. What's that all about?3. What are important stats for us? STR, AGI or STA?4. *drum roll* And my dumbest question * drum roll ends* Is the mitigation on plate armor always the better way to go, even if chain or leather has good stat bonuses? *a rim shot is heard in the distant*Thanks again. I like the look and feel of the SK, but I have to say that I don't really know what I am doing right now. Any help is greatly appreciated.Gherehn, 11th ShadowknightLucan D'Lere

[Xanoth]

1) depends on the mob level, your gear... its often better to go 2h though if you can find a good one.2) thats more about weapon delay, your auto attack damage occurs every X seconds, where X is your weapon delay. if your casting when that time comes around, you must wait to finish casting before you can take your auto attack. if you keep doing it your loosing damage. you just need to time your spels/combat arts to use them after your auto attack hits.3) probably in this order : STR, INT, WIS, STA, AGIbut it depends on your usual role and avalable gear. for me just about everything has STR and STA, so capping them isn't an issue in most group/raid situations.4) if your intending to tank, always take plate. if your DPS, you can be more stat/proc orientated.<p>Message Edited by Xanoth on <span class=date_text>08-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:51 PM</span>

[DUNN]

<P>I agree mostly with what Xanoth said except the which stat to try to improve first. I would go with:</P> <P>INT, STR, STA, WIS, AGI</P> <P>INT will translate to more damage since we SK have more spells than CA and I would even put STA before STR but that is justt a preference of mine. Also INT will increase your lifetap values so larger heals.</P><p>Message Edited by DUNN on <span class=date_text>08-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:10 AM</span>

[Notorious_G]

<DIV>I am extrememly new to tank classes, shadowknights in particular. I have a 42 necro, but thought I would try a tank too. I have a lot of newb questions regarding the SK.<BR>Thanks in advance for any responses.<BR><BR>1. I am currently lvl. 11 and using a two-handed sword. Is it better to fight with a sword and shield?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>The answer to this question is dependent on your gear, grp make-up & level of mobs you are fighting.  As a rule of thumb, use a 1-hander & shield for any Heroic mobs even con or higher.  If you happen to have 2 different sub-type healers IE Fury & Defiler (my favorite for an SK) in your grp, go ahead & try using just a 2-hander on even con Heroics or lower.  Watch you healer's mana bars & ask them if it's taxing them too much.  If you're in a grp w/ only 1 healer & that healer is significantly lower then you in levels, switch back to sword & board.  These guidlines will change dependent on your gear.  The more you progress from average gear up to fabled, the more you can be aggressive.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#cc0000><FONT color=#ff0000>A word of warning, if you're in a pick-up grp some people will automatically assume you're a bad tank for not using a sword & shield.  You may want to wait until you have some regulars that know your capability before trying the 2 hander in XP grps.</FONT><BR></FONT><BR>2. Anyone have any general combat tips for my level? I have heard people talking about using a two-handed sword and waiting like two seconds in between skills. What's that all about?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>The point of this comment is that roughly 80% of an SK's abilities are spells.  Most of these take 1-3 secs to cast.  Finding a weapon w/ a long delay, but higher damage output maximizes our DPS.</FONT><BR><BR>3. What are important stats for us? STR, AGI or STA?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>IMO, it's Intelligence due to all the spells we have.  However, our power pools are based off Wisdom & Strength.  I would priortize in this order Int->Str->Sta->Wisdom.  I don't even bother w/ Agility.  Some of our hate generation relies on being hit by a mob.</FONT><BR><BR>4. *drum roll* And my dumbest question * drum roll ends* Is the mitigation on plate armor always the better way to go, even if chain or leather has good stat bonuses? *a rim shot is heard in the distant*</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Do not forget your primary purpose.  In most cases from lvl 1-69 it is to tank.  Take the beating, manage aggro & set the pace of the grp.  IMO we are the best tanks for XP'ing in the hands of a skilled player.  Unfortunately, end game we are lacking in the raid dept.  Mitigation is king for a tank.  However, if you find yourself DPS'ing more then tanking, you may consider carrying a second suit of armor for the stats/procs.</FONT></DIV> <P><FONT color=#ff0000>Some other tips for you.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff0000>1.) Always get the mobs back to face the rest of your grp.  It allows you to usually be the first target for any adds & allows you to keep an eye on the rest of your grp.  Scouts like it too becuase they do less re-positioning.  Personally I like to cast a ranged spell like our Anger or Coil line, as the mob approaches drop the AoE taunt & the single target taunt, then jump over the mob & shield bash in mid-air to get me to auto-face the mob.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff0000>2.) Learn to chain pull!  I can't stress this enough.  I see some end game SK's complaining about power issues just trying to manage aggro & I just have to sigh & nod my head.  Most of these SK's try & tank like a Guardian does.  An SK can easily mantain an even power level w/ the rest of their grp & hold aggro.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff0000>Here's how it works. Pull 1st mob like I stated in item 1.  Make sure where ever you end up you are far enough away to not grab proximity aggro to another mob, but close enough to cast a spell at it.  Once your current mob is in low yellow/to high red health, switch targets to your next mob while your grp is finishing off the previous mob.  This allows a 3-6 second lead on all targets nearly solidfying your aggro on them.  Half the battle to this method is finding a competent main assist(MA).  The main assist is what the rest of the grp uses to find their next target.  I usually assign a scout for the MA.  They provide a nice visual cue as to what is being attacked  as opposed to a wizard doing it.  Healers can just target you or assist heal through mob.  I eventually got so tired of explaining why to use an MA that I had to make a macro for it.  Once you find some competent MA's add them to friends list.  Once the grp sees how fast you can XP & how much more enjoyable XP'ing is vs. the standard noob method you'll end up on theirs =)</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff0000>3.) Hopefully you are the person configuring the grps.  You can get hella more synergy by using a Defiler, Necromancer, Dirge, SK, Fury & Brigand. 4 of those 6 classes use disease based spells & provide some type of disease debuff on mob therby increasing everyone's overall damage.</FONT><BR><BR>Thanks again. I like the look and feel of the SK, but I have to say that I don't really know what I am doing right now. Any help is greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>Gherehn, 11th Shadowknight<BR>Lucan D'Lere </P> <P>Message Edited by Notorious_GIB on <SPAN class=date_text>08-24-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>09:19 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Notorious_GIB on <span class=date_text>08-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:21 AM</span>

[mushintao]

Thanks a bunch guys. I can't wait to get home and try out some of the things you all suggested. These replies really cleared some things up for me.-Gherehn<div></div>

[mushintao]

Nice! I am loving my SK now. Infernal Blessing is my friend. Don't know about the rest of you, but I chose the master 2 version of the spell at 14. It is really making soloing easier. I also haven't found a two-handed weapon that can out match my windpiper and tower shield.-Gherehn<div></div>

[Devi]

<P>if you intent to tank, definitely plate aye.</P> <P>I know some SK's prefer INT and STR to do more damage and aggro issues, but I'd max STA and WIS to last a little longer :smileytongue:</P> <P>Make sure to upgrade your taunts.</P>

[jddro]

<P>man this has to be on the of the most common sense breakdown on the sk class. I have been diggin around all over and its very hard to find any sites with good info on classes. </P> <P>I currently play a dirge and try to play the MA roll for the groups I get when I get them, but am thinkin to go tank, just cause I like gettin the dirty, and SK's are just pure evil.</P> <P>Thnkx for all the good info <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Eluzay]

<div><blockquote><hr>DUNN wrote:<div></div> <div></div> <p>I agree mostly with what Xanoth said except the which stat to try to improve first. I would go with:</p> <p>INT, STR, STA, WIS, AGI</p> <p>INT will translate to more damage since we SK have more spells than CA and I would even put STA before STR but that is justt a preference of mine. Also INT will increase your lifetap values so larger heals.</p><p>Message Edited by DUNN on <span class="date_text">08-24-2006</span> <span class="time_text">09:10 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>I would say INT (70+% of my damage) WIS (power and resists) STA (health) STR, lastly AGIjust my 2 cents.</div>