Are zerkers really not as good as SK?

[therearenonames]

I want to do a trio of Zerker, melee mystic and a dirge but I could do the same with a SK, defiler and troub......Are SKs that much better than zerkers these days?

Do zerkers run out of energy alot or have less mitigation?

[Amalar]

therearenonames wrote:

Are SKs that much better than zerkers these days?

IMHO SK would be better in a trio...

[RootXArtemis]

I would go with the Zerker,mystic,dirge trio - I think both your dps output and survivability would be higher. Zerker dps ~ SK dps, but if you dualwield with zerker in low levels your dps should be higher than an SK's, mystic dps > defiler dps (though defiler has better powermanagement), dirge dps ~ trouby dps, but I think you'll have a little extra survivability with the dirge (especially once you get stoneskin lvl 52).

[Xalmat]

For tank classes, even SKs, it's better to pair with a dirge than a troub; a troub's specialty is really buffing casters, and while SKs have spells they are much more potent with the tank and melee buffs that a dirge provides. The choice of healer really doesn't matter all that much to be honest; if it keeps you alive, that's really all you need.

SKs really don't come into their own as a DPS powerhouse until they get their epic weapons, have their TSO AAs, and have some of the better crusader drops out there (most really good crusader loot simply doesn't exist outside of TSO). Once they get to that point though they're a very, very difficult tank to kill.

On the other hand Berserkers hit the ground running as an offense tank from day 1, so to speak. It's a very in-your-face class; you will FEEL like an AoE tank pretty early on, which is really what zerkers are all about.

I am of course ignoring the fact that SKs are currently rediculously overpowered compared to all other tanks.

[Hamervelder]

I think I'd take a defiler over a mystic as an SK.  Sure defilers do less damage, but they debuff disease damage.  Ergo, the SK and dirge do more damage.

[Shoushin]

mystics as well. http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Cry_of_the_Ancients

[ZerkerDwarf]

Since SK is played by dev and zerker is not, a SK exceeds a zerker in EVERY concern (equally geared):

* single target dps

* multiple target dps

* A SK in def stance and with shield does not output lower dps than a zerker in off stance and dual wield.

* Handling of multiple targets. The SK's spells hit everything around him and hit more targets at once. Zerker hits only four targets at once and only those in front and within melee range of him.

* SKs (crusaders at all) have all the fine stuff in their AA trees. Actually the crusader trees have been given everything, all the good stuff. That has left no imagination for the berserker trees that are crap.

* TSO end abilities. Lol, what's that? For the berserker a BLUE ae rescue with a long casting time that needs a target to be performed. The mages are dead before this is casted. SK has a 15 second invulnurability while being fully operational, i.e. not stunned meanwhile.

* SKs can keep up their 6 set bonus while wearing less than 6 armour pieces (since played by dev, this won't be fixed).

* SK can joust a raid mob and keep up a good load of dps due to his overpowered spells. Zerker needs to hug the mobs. As soon it is one step out of melee range a zerker keeps up zero dps onto his target (with bow maybe 0.1).

Of all AE tanks the berserker is the worst one. Bad AA trees, bad CA design. It is just boring to play.

[Randomaxe]

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more.  Zerks are really fun to play in all honesty.  You can join groups as a Tank or DPS (people think of Zerks as one or the other.)  Sure an SK is OP and everyone knows that, but they don't generally get invited to groups or raids as a dedicated DPS class or get buffed as such.  They tank--period.  That's why i'd rather the zerker--just a more utility character in my opinion.  It's not a knock on Shadowknights, just a point of view.  By the way, when a class is OP and everyone knows it, they roll one.  I have a plenty of raid ready SKs in my guild, and only a couple of berserkers, so there's a much better chance of me getting in to raid.

[Aull]

Randomaxe wrote:

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more.  Zerks are really fun to play in all honesty.  You can join groups as a Tank or DPS (people think of Zerks as one or the other.)  Sure an SK is OP and everyone knows that, but they don't generally get invited to groups or raids as a dedicated DPS class or get buffed as such.  They tank--period.  That's why i'd rather the zerker--just a more utility character in my opinion.  It's not a knock on Shadowknights, just a point of view.  By the way, when a class is OP and everyone knows it, they roll one.  I have a plenty of raid ready SKs in my guild, and only a couple of berserkers, so there's a much better chance of me getting in to raid.

I am not sure I understand why you want a zerker to be a more utility inclined tank. Zerkers should be a destructive menace to all standing within melee reach (with or without the mythical) and defense or utility secondary. 

[Randomaxe]

As I stated in my post, they can be used as either a tank or a DPS--that's what I mean by utility.  A utility character has more than one main use, so that's why I used that word to describe the Zerker.

Now to answer your question, I am also going to point out what I stated in my post.  Zerkers are known as either a tank or a DPS'er.  I have a spec either way, not just one blended one.  Because of this I get asked to raid pretty much every time I log on due to that diversity--hence the utility factor.  If I want to be a linear character then I roll an SK, but I like the versatility of the Zerker because of the aforementioned points.

Hope this helps with understanding my point of view.

[Aull]

Thanks for clearing that up. However sk's are just as capable as being a tank and even better dps st or aoe than an equally geared and played zerker. Lets not even talk going defensive cause an sk will blow a zerker out of their plate armor on that.

I agree with ZD's post. That is why I believe that the zerker should be "the offensive plate fighter beast" when comparing to the crusaders. I can live with zerks not doing greatest st damage but aoe should be their strongest area of play among the fighters.

[Esto]

As a 5 year veteran Zerker I would like to say something.  I have no issues at all getting into raids.  I am dedicated to 2 raid forces, and used in both MT and OT positions.  And, by the way, when I OT for our raid force, our MT is also a Zerk.  Our Raid leader has an SK they bring to play, but he basically just sits back and DPS's with the rest of the raid force.  It can be said that Zerkers may not be the best tanks out there, but I think people who say that have played with one that the driver doesn't really know how to make their toon work.  Last week, and this is going to sound like I made it up, but I was MT for a WOE raid, and during a trash fight of 4 targets, one of which was epic, I parsed 11K.  Yes, I am AOE heavy and speced to be that way.  You could say that I am blended to be a decent tank or DPSer in any situation.  But I know my toon quite well and don't really like changing AA's to swing in one direction or the other.  So my long out point is that, any Zerk, SK, or even guardian can make an outstanding Tank if played by a driver that has learned their craft and understands their toons strengths and weaknesses. 

I do have a question because inquiring minds want to know:  Does anyone have a good DPS SPEC for zerks?  As I said, I'm set up to do both, but sometimes, I just want to have fun!!!!!!!!!!

Laters

Esto

[Randomaxe]

A good dps spec is one that maxes your crit damage (str line), your double attack (stam line), your dps (wis line), and attack speed/reuse timers (Int line.)

The other lines should be focused on damage output as opposed to hate increase or reflect damage, although Gut Roar and Riposte Mastery work well togeter (100% chance toe riposte and 25% riposte damage increase.)  Max out your Berserk in TSO lines as well for extra crit chance.

Could go into my entire setup, but everyone has different tastes.  My setup had me parsing 13.5k in WoE and 9-10k consistently in Kurns Tower.

[Esto]

Hey Thanks Random;

  I appreciate getting real answers on here.  Most of the time my posts are met with sarcasim.  I will look into building my DPS Spec and let you know what I come up with.

Esto