Rather Confused, what stats are best for my situation?

[Comaagereon]

<DIV>Ok, been playing the game a long time but all that time has been spent on my Assassin.  A few weeks ago I actually started an alt I spent more than an hour on, a sk.  Im somewhat unsure what stats I should be focusing on, I've asked around but all the shadow knight's I know are raiders and mine is just for grouping etc, not going to raid with it.  That said I have a group of friends who all started alts together, I rolled an sk and am serving as the group tank.  Presumably sta and str are important, this based on my general knowledge of tank classes.  However Im unsure about the importance of int versus wis or how they fit in with the other stats.  For assassin the accepted formula has always placed double emphasis on strength first then either int for proc or sta for health depending on preference.  For my shadow knight however im sorta in the dark.  Which stat is most important, and how much more important is it than the others etc.  Ive read some posts but most seem to be targeted to raid tanking or dps, I just want to group tank with this character.  Thank you.</DIV>

[Margen]

<P>After Str and Sta of course I would suggest trying to maximise INT over Wisdom, due to the fact that a lot of your damage is spell based.  The higher Int you have the better damage you do with your spells and the better your agro will be.  </P> <P>While Wisdom is part of power pool its only 1/4 from Dev statements, and all it does after that is give you a small boost in resist.  Since you say your not planning on raiding resist become less important.  Granted high resist are nice in the group setting, they pale to the importance to their importance in raiding.</P> <P>Just my perspective</P><p>Message Edited by Margen on <span class=date_text>09-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:16 PM</span>

[ShaniquaJacks]

From my understanding, SK's use every stat.  You'll want str for dmg and power pool, Stamina for health and from I've been told, INT is your next important stat.When I asked, this is what I was told by a SK who does far more grouping than raiding: Your most important stats are as follows: STR/STA/INT/WIS/AGI in that order. SK's get aoe spells and you're going to want a decent amount of INT for the damage they produce as they help a lot with group encounters, which you'll do plenty if you're grouping with friends all the time.  So, I would suggest  str/sta/int.  Maybe use the str/sta/agility type of armor and make up the int with charms and jewelry?  Possibly look into getting the int/wis type jewelry as both are very beneficial to you and easy to come by and the str/sta/agility armor is very easy to come by.I'm not a SK expert at all but from my understanding of how the class works, this is the best way to go for non-raiding SK.<div></div>

[Norrsken]

<P>OP: Are you gonna do PvP?</P> <P>IF not, you might want a slightly different setup, since mobs are way easy. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR>But, in a group, you'll prolly be killing too fast to bother much about having a huge power pool, and if you also have a coercer along, peachy. No power problems. Str isnt as much of an issue anymore. So, if strictly PvE and grouping, go int/str/sta. Int is pretty much what keeps aggro on you, and since you are the group tank, I'd say it belongs with you hehe. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>PvP, every stat is important. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P> <P>I usually swap around my stats with my stances. When I need to push big numbers and dont have to take one helluva beating Im in offensive. otherwise Im in defensive.</P>

[Ceruline]

I'd disagree on that group stat order.  In my opinion, Int is far more important than Str.  Both of these primarily affect damage, and more of our damage comes from int based spells than str based skills.  Now, at lower levels the balance might be a bit difference, changing the priority.My priority would probably run something like: 1. Int 2. Str 3. Sta 4. Agi/WisGenerally speaking, you're going to get Sta whether you're going for it or not because Plate tends to be itemized with Stamina on it.  For grouping, I've never really found my health pool to be any sort of problem - and if it's large enough so that you don't die, it's best to focus on damage and aggro, as that will let your group finish fights faster.Sta isn't so much overrated as something that we don't really need to focus on in a grouping environment because we're going to end up getting it anyway.  That's why I have both Str and Sta ahead of it - Int especially is a stat you're going to need to seek out, as it's usually not present on plate drops.<div></div>

[Coica]

I'd have to chime with INT being more important for a solo player too. really only because its worked well for me.I think its helped me in groups also. I constantly compare my SK to other SK's and see them with lower INt than me and I wonder [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]?  but each player has his own play-style and what works for me might not work for somebody else. see how you've already gotten different answers from just a few of us so far?<div></div>

[Nicholai24]

Sadly, bud, as you can see, you're going to get about a dozen different answers.There are two ways to roll a good shadowknight, if you want efficiency:For durability tanking, with respectable damage ( no matter how low your intel is, the intel AA path will produce fine DPS numbers later on ):Str / Sta / Intel / Wis / AgiFor less durable tanking, with an emphasis on improved DPS in the form of harder blasts and better aggro. output:Intel / Sta / Str / Wis / Agi_______________________________We have no real aggro. issues, even at the low end, once you find your rhythm, so it becomes basically a matter of taste. If you don't mind having lower health, and much higher damage output ( "much" being relative, increasing as you get higher in level ), go with the second build. Either path will result in a very respectable tank. Also, once you're high enough for it to matter, learn the importance of your AE's: a shadowknight's true strength lies in their power to lay waste to large swarms of foes.<div></div>

[Dragonsfire73]

<DIV>I would have to agree with <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/view_profile?user.id=192387" target=top><SPAN>Nicholai24</SPAN></A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I agree with the order but due to trying to find sta gear I end up with str on same. don't be surprised to find Str and STA on the same gear 90% of the time. That being said I usuall see my stats hit their highs in this order</DIV> <DIV>Intel / Str / Sta / Wis / Agi</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I usually have Int and STR above 500 with STA between 400 and 450 with the gear I have. With those stats I can still get 700+ dps in a raid when I am in the right dps group. I have yet to hit 1K, but I have been over 900.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I always carry multiple gear pieces to adjust to what I am doing. I never fight in Def stance unless going MA in a raid. I am an sk I should be Offensive in every respec <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV>  </DIV>

[JoarAddam]

<DIV>I agree with a lot said here...  one thing to keep in mind for sure, in a group tank,  AGI and Avoidance should be last.  You should try group tanking in Offensive stance with a 1her and shield till your mit builds up, saving Def stance for situations where things start to look a little hairy.  Why?  caress is one of your hate mechanics, however small you may think it is, it works the best (gives you the most hate) when you are getting hit.  It's got hate and damage(which is more hate).  We excel at multi mob encounters, and this is ONE of the reasons...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have been successfully tanking t7 group instances with 2hers and off stance, with my achievements all the way down the STR line (for the recast improvements) and 8 in spell crits (more threat!)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It's also a good raiding build, it does maximize DPS.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You may want to consider some of the other lines for damage avoidance or barrage or group buffs, I don't know for sure. I personally am more of a raider/ soloer (mainly of green instances like poets...) than I am a grouper, though I do well as a group tank.  since I went all the wya down the STR line, I have had no trouble etaining aggro.</DIV>