Garuda Hard Mode

[Ysarel]

How do you avoid the slip streams? I always though it was target based since it wasn't a "red box" move.

It's a conal attack, there's just no ground indicator for it.

For reference, I was able to do HM garuda in a DF group with 6600hp in Defiance on my alt WAR. I died a couple times (we 2 shotted her), and the sentiment that the most worrisome time is the add phase is correct. If you are skilled, you can probably get away with 6000-6200 (?) as long as you have good healers for the add phase. The rest of the damage is negligible, especially if you avoid slipstreams, which a knowledgeable healer will thank you profusely for.

6600 is overkill, you'd be sitting pretty for Titan at that point as long as you and the healers know the fight mechanics. 5500 is enough to MT or OT Garuda as WAR if you're dodging Slipstream. I'd suggest a minimum average iLevel of 55.

[Lemon8or]

One strategy I commonly use when I off-tank the adds is use Heavy Swing on Garuda when I know she's about to jump so I will have Skull Sunder on the adds closer to the party. That way, if it turns out to be red, great I got full aggro. If it turns out to be green, I just aggro the other one, not so much aggro gained with Skull Sunder.

[Kal-El]

Depends really how your party is set up. Garuda really only needs 1 tank but if you're only tanking Garuda I'd be aiming for ilvl 60? That way you're not getting carried by your healers. Solo tanking Garuda and the red add I'd be aiming for DL/AK mix.

If you get a tank drop in AK you get at least 2 pieces at once (usually what happened with me) so it shouldn't take too long

[M1A2]

Slipstream is a frontal beam spell you can dodge by strafing left or right or as others have said running through her you just have to be watching and move early in the cast. Garuda can be main or off tanked with Ilvl 55 armor and hq lvl 48/49 jewelry as long as the healers are decent. One other thing about Garuda she will cast a spell on the #2 target on her hate list if it's a healer or dps and they are far away from her she will leave the mt and run toward them so the off tank needs to try to stay 2nd on hate to keep it from happening.