Let's share some Tanking Tips and Tricks!

Love tanking?
Let's share some useful tips and tricks with eachother!

I'll start!

Stunning

See those big red circles and marks on the floor when fighting a mob?
The big baddie is about to unleash hell on you, but then suddenly *BANG* a shield to his face.

Most of the time everybody runs out of the way before getting hit, but in some situations you just can't avoid the skill.
Here's where stuns come in handy.

An example:
Handmaidens in Haukke Manor, everytime you engage them they WILL do a nasty AOE and it's quite hard to run away from it.
The use a of stunability at the start of the battle will make these mobs a joke.

*please note that certain skills from mobs (mostly bosses) can't be stunned*

Stunning Abilities:

Gladiator/Paladin
Gladiators/paladin have this amazing skill called Shield Bash which have an amazing short recast of only 6 seconds

Marauder/Warrior
MRDs and WARs get Brutal Swing, sadly it has a recast of 30 seconds, which is quite long compared to the GLA/PLD stun.

As someone who plays a lot of different jobs and classes I can really recommend putting your stun on the same hotbar key that's easy to reach for you, that way things will become automatic and you won't even have to think about it.

Remember Stunning is teamplay:
Don't hesitate to ask your DPS to use stuns when you're on the cooldown timer.
LNC/DRG's have Leg Sweep and PUG/MNKs have Steel Peak

Hope this helps for you!

More general tips I'm learned from tanking/healing in WoW for a years...

1) Look after your healer!
2) Mark mobs to help dps focus damage
3) Learn how other classes work and their abilities so you can make the most out of them

You should always be one step ahead of your DPS. As they are about to finish a mob you should be jumping to the second one to start building threat on it before your DPS begin to beat the piss out of it. This will also make your assists run much smoother.

Use the "hate/enmity" window above your chat window to make it easier to target a specific target. It is a great parameter than shows when a mob is about to attack another target. Then simply click (Don't know what you ps3 guys will do) on that mob on the window and you will target it right away, ready to make it hate you again!

I've mainly been running as GLD, but I've also done a couple runs as MRD. Threat has been a nonissue for me. Stick to you standard rotation, every 1-2 cycles, toss a flash as needed to keep extras from peeling off to the healer. Like others have said, stay ahead of the dps.

#1 and really the only rule that matters: Situational Awareness. This applies to every class in all MMOs, but especially to tanks. Don't get tunnel vision. Keep an eye on the corners, watch for patrols, keep your mobs facing away from the group (especially with cleave attacks), watch for stun timers, rotate your cooldowns, etc. Don't be afraid to be in charge. Most groups expect you to be the leader by default anyways. You're the one pulling trash and leading the way. Read up on the dungeons beforehand if the info is available. If no one else in the group knows what is going on, you need to be the one to tell them, because you'll be the first one eating it if the others don't know the fights.

Let your DPS perish if they dont want to assist/follow your markers! That'll teach em :)

My experience with the aggro issue aside form the formulas and such is mostly group etiquette more than anything the lack of awareness on the dps's part. The threat icons are pretty straight forward. I posted this in another forum and these few macros greatly improved my experience in groups that I am forced to pug with.

There are always those who don't know how to conduct themselves in a group and this game is no different. So this first macro is the grouping 101 warning. I found that this combined with my "You f*ing idiot" macro have greatly improved pugging etiquette.

Method to my madness: I mark the target I pull and blast it for good aggro then flash and cycle through the rest of the mobs to build the aggro so that when mob 1 dies everyone can go ape shit. It's worked rather well for me thus far in my short 22 levels of playing a tank :)

SOCIAL MACROS

This is How I roll in Group - Macro 1

/party There is a threat indicator learn to use it and heed it. The targets will be marked with a 1. If you pull aggro on an unmarked mob and are not a healer, you will tank it and likely die. I don't care nor will I loose sleep over your stupidity. TY!

F*ing Idiot - Macro 2
Of course there is always the numbskull who despite my polite intro warning decides he wants to dps the mob that is usually lowest on my threat sequence. the <t> is totally optional but me personally if your that dumb I'll call you out on it. He gets this macro:

/party Congratulations you are a moron <t>. Hit the marked mobs or enjoy the run back.

MY TANKING MACROS

Pull Macro I bind this to my mouse button.

/ac "Fight or Flight" <me>
/ac "Fast Blade" <t>
/ac "Shield Lob" <t>

Mark Marcro - should have one and mine has some announcement along the lines of "Hit the BIG 1 while I grab aggro on the others." I just used the macro already built in and added the chatter.

Defensive Cool Down Macro
As I leveled I added the cool downs into the macro as I got the cross abilities. I got PUG 8, MRD 4, LNC 6 (I believe) to get all the Def CDs. Don't quote the levels but they are all under 10 to get. When I was done this is the macro I end up with.

/ac “Rampart” <me>
/ac “Foresight” <me>
/ac “Keen Flurry” <me>
/ac “Featherfoot” <me>
/ac “Second Wind” <me>
/ac “Convalescence <me>


My Keybinds:
Mouse:
I have a WoW mouse with 4 additional buttons. This game does not recognize 2 of them which makes me a sad panda. If anyone has figured that out please let me know.

Scroll is default auto run
M3 move backwards
M4 my Pull Macro

I set up move backwards on my mouse because I like to move out of shit and as a tank I try to minimize the shit my group will deal with. Since the easiest and shortest route out of POOP is move through the mob then after the ability is cast I simply move backwards. I find this technique is easy and especially for the melee classes limits a ton of movement making their dps output more efficient. It allows for your position to be optimal to limit damage to your group in low movement fights.

Keyboard:

A = Fast Blade
S = Savage Blade
D = Riot Blade
E = Defensive CD Macro
R = Flash
T = Shield Bash

At level 22 this is what my set up is. Hope that helps, and if not, it helped me kill some time at work!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NarcissitInChains

Snip

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Sweet! I've been looking for useful macros and you gave me nice ideas.

I can only give you a list of things I realized while tanking and posted on my previous thread.

-Use of buffs: If there's a tough monster or a big group of monsters (3+/4+, normally) Convalescence and Rampart are a must. You help your healer because he/she's not healing you constantly, and he/she can save her/his precious MP.
-Use of other skills: Shield Bash helps me interrupt the monster's cast. If they proyect a threat area that I can't escape... that skill saves my life.
-Use of common sense: If you see the monster uses cone/straight AoE attacks, don't let the monster face your party. Go behind them so the evil dude is showing his back to your party members. Also, you help Puglists and Lancers to increase their overall DPS.
-Use of foods: Skill speed bonus + Vitality are a must for me. The global cooldown sometimes is a pain.

As a healer, i'll offer some insight in good tanking.

Dodge attacks! Just because you can tank that hit that will wipe out 2/3rds your health and I can heal it back doesn't mean I should have to, latter boss battles get chaotic and I might have to be forced between keeping myself or you alive, and I know I can Quick-cast > Ressurect when you can't.

Don't be a douche! The most douchiest players i've seen happen to be tanks, you get players like NarssicistInChains who think they're amazing tanks because they know all their macros and the basics to tanking, and even if you're the best tank in the world, the entire party is going to grow to resent you if you act like a douche. Though personally, those kinds of tanks have always been the worst i've ever seen, rarely can they keep the hate of more than a single target off the healer, and when the DPS takes the hate to save the healer they throw a fit.

Know your skills.

As MRD/WAR if you keep Maim up you're keeping your enmity up by 20%.

Second Wind uses attack power so Berserk will help more than Convalescence.

1 enmity = 1 damage = 2HP restored. "Increased Enmity" is a multiplier. Not sure about GLA/PLD but for WAR it's

Skull Sunder = 3x Enmity Multiplier
Butcher's Block = 5x Enmity Multiplier
Overpower = 4x Enmity Multiplier
Tomahawk = 3x Enmity Multiplier

Defiance then multiplies the final total by 2.



Oh and as a MRD/WAR use flash (not Overpower) on sleeping mobs. Don't just forget about them.

EDIT: I forgot about Storms Eye - that 10% reduction in Slashing Resistance is actually really good as all of a MRDs skills are slashing which in turn increases enmity.

1. When tanking, try to get in a position where your mobs and allies are in front of you, and nothing in back of you.
In this way, if an enemy attempts to use an AOE cone attack on you, only you will have to dodge/stun and your partners
will remain safe.

2.The less amount of enemies you take at a time, the better. If you see a group of enemies if front you (that don't have that linked aggro line),
try to use Shield Lob to lure one or two enemies from the group. You'll be easily able to kill them without stressing everyone else and/or being overwhelmed.

Some simple ones:

1. Don't be afraid to take the lead, let the group know you want to hit the mob first a couple times before they come in full dps. If you are going to do a boss fight a certain way let the group know.
2. Position your mobs, hit them first run past them and make em turn towards you so the rest of the party are attacking the mobs back. If your going to pull a critter away from an area for w/e reason let the others know.
3. Use buff/special skills when needed not just "cause I can"
3 Try and adapt to how your party members are playing.
4. If a dpser (looking at you ranged dps) wont let you do your job and keeps taking aggro let him have it. I think some dps don't know/understand tanking so assume a good tank just needs to "spam" skills in order to be a "good" tank.

Last but not least be polite when asking party members to do or not do something.

1. Situational Awareness: Watch for patrols! Sometimes it's better to wait that 30 seconds for the patrol to come back around than to take on the main cluster, only to get overwhelmed later. Move out of aoe/cone attacks and keep them away from your group.

2. Let your party members help: You don't have to be supertank all the time and stress out your healers. Your party members have useful crowd control skills for a reason. Get your BLM to mass sleep. Let your summoner use Titan to help off tank a mob.

3. Ignore the haters: The tank gets a lot of blame if things go bad. If you can't get out of an aoe fast enough because you got paralyzed, you'll get blamed. If your healer dies because he casted a mass cure right as you pulled that hard hitting mob group, you'll get blamed. If your DPS runs off the cliff, they'll blame you for not warning them about the effects of gravity. Such is the way of being the natural party leader.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tuskai

you get players like NarssicistInChains who think they're amazing tanks .

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Actually I don't see anywhere in my post where I claim to be amazing I simply shared my own experience thus far in groups as a tank. I have been playing MMOs for about 11 years + now and have always been a healer and tank only one other time besides this game. So I certainly agree with your own input in utilizing whatever abilities are available to mitigate damage, keep the group safe as possible and make it easier on the healer.

I am going to assume your animosity arose because of my word choice on my macros, which is totally understandable. Those are one's I use if, and only if, the group does not seem to be on the same page. As a tank, a new tank at that, I've noticed that some people are running ahead pulling mobs before the tank and then cry because they die. As a healer I always felt it was my job to keep my team members healed, there is little difference in tanking just in a different capacity, keeping the group alive. It is hard, especially at lower levels, to get and keep aggro when the DPS decides he wants to pull mobs then screams for it to be pulled off. So my take is, I'll ask nicely and explain my tanking style to ensure my group and I are on the same page. If a member of my group is a douche bag well then I will return in kind.

I am a careful tank, considerate tank, and I take the time to learn every fight before I go in. I take the time to learn what each classes role is in a fight so I know what would be the best positioning, movement and efficient way for my healer and dps to do their job. If you feel I am a douche bag because I expect at a minimum for my DPS members to hold their privates for a full 2 seconds and dps a marked mob to ensure their safety............well then I prefer to be a douche I guess :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sevjin

If your DPS runs off the cliff, they'll blame you for not warning them about the effects of gravity. Such is the way of being the natural party leader.

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I have a stitch in my side from laughing this struck me as funny. Thank you for the humorous spin on a stressful point of tanking :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sevjin

If your DPS runs off the cliff, they'll blame you for not warning them about the effects of gravity. Such is the way of being the natural party leader.

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^ This, so much this. I lol'd!

One of the things I've come to make sure I'm aware of (and apologies if someone posted this), is taking note of how large certain mob's AOE attacks are, and positioning myself accordingly for each subsequent fight. Having that extra second, half second to move yourself when otherwise occupied has helped me feel a little less stress while tanking.

I've very rarely had DPS pull mobs off me, but Archers seem to be able to do a real damn good job of it if they unload too early. If/when that happens, I don't burn CD's unnecessarily or go crazy running after the rogue mob. Let 'em take a few swipes, and reel back in. Sometimes people only learn by getting a good solid smack upside the head;).

Lots of great tips in here. Carry on~

I'm new to tanking and I really appreciate the advice everyone has provided. It has helped me out a ton. I only have one thing to add and I apologize if someone already mentioned it.

Before I join a dungeon that I have never experience before, I always search up guides/visual aids online to help me prepare. I think this will really help new players to tanking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tuskai

-snip-

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As a healer as well, pretty much this.

Tanking tips:
Say at the start of a dungeon, mainly if it's a level 30 or under dungeon to attack the marked targets in order.
Ask them to only hit the target that you are and hope that they listen. I have a 1, 2 and 3 mark on my bar and always mark each target before we pull.
If it comes to it, let them know to let you pull. Luckily I have yet to run into a ARC or any ARC at all, really, that pulls.(Does no one play this class?)
If you are a GLD/PLD and expended all your mana, ask them to wait and let you refill it if you didn't manage to get it back up.

*If you see after the first pull that someone doesn't know their job, politely ask the group to stop pulling and explain their class role nicely.

But most importantly, if one person is messing up, please try and power through it.
If you leave or let them die, you are hurting yourself and 2 other people as well, not just him.

Let the retarded DPS die whenever they are not follow targets. Man do they get pissed when they die makes me giggles every fucking time.

1) Shorter queues do not make you a special snowflake.

2) Save the tankserious crap for higher level stuff and raids. Go into lowbie dungeons and pugs with the expectation that you will be herding cats. If you're stuck with a party member who keeps pulling off you, don't call them a f*cking idiot, prove you're the better player by following their target and taking threat back.

3) Really good tanks thrive on recovering from and dealing with less than optimal pulls and scenarios. If you can't deal with a group that doesn't perform flawlessly, you shouldn't tank for anyone but your trusted friends and guildies.

I don't believe anyone has touched this subject, so I will.

As a tank, rely on your healer, but don't DEPEND on them. What I mean is, don't always expect a heal every god damn time. Some healers might be able, some, might not. For whatever reason, not every healer is the same. Keep track on your health and pop those self heals or potions. Don't be afraid to do so. Your healer isn't a god who can save you from everything. Do your best to relieve their stress as well. Sometimes aggro does get pulled, rare, but it happens. If you have been able to keep them in a great position by taking some of that stress away, they can help recover a stolen aggro, or from a terrible AOE that people couldn't dodge.

I can't believe no one has mentioned this: USE FOOD PEOPLE. There's no reason not to boost your stats by eating some food, always have it on you, its an inexpensive but fantastic way to improve your character.

Sorry I have to say how much I love this thread. I'm putting it in favorites just to spread to the newer players who are looking for help.

I have been playing MMO's for about 10 years and never played a tank. Im still a lowbie but I have run the first 3 dungeons about a dozen times and have yet to have any member die as of yet, in fact it seems that the DoT, str boost and overpower make it pretty easy to hold hate at all times. The only thing in this game that has seemed a challenge as of now is the targeting system for ps3.. its fn brutal as a tank!!
The only thing I ever say in a group is "please attack my target" and most dps seems to listen.

If anyone can help with the targeting issue I would be very grateful! I cant seem to adjust it so while in battle when I use the pad to toggle targets it doesnt select my party members or their pets. I have tried so many different setups and im just not smart enough to figure it out.

To prevent taking extra damage to the face, use /visor ;)

Not sure if this has been mentioned...if a healer puts regen on you, right click and remove it before an engagement.