Getting flanked as a tank?

[PetiteMalFleur]

I know when a tank is getting hit from behind they can't parry and take more damage, but does it matter if they get hit from the side? My intuition says it does being that flanking enemies as melee dps increases damage dealt, but I've been told conflicting info from people. A FC mate says the tank should position multiple mobs in a conal formation and side damage is greater, but other people who's opinions I also respect say it doesn't increase damage. So what do the numbers say?

[Gooner_iBluAirJGR]

I'm not 100% sure but I think you can parry has a 180 degree range. Might be worth testing on some trash pulls

[Lemon8or]

I did some test and this might just be from my experience, not an end-all-be-all argument but tanks in fact do not take more damage from behind. The parry and block cone is less than 180 degrees so in fact, it seems you can't parry or block from the flank or from the rear (expected).

[Wolfandre]

I did some test and this might just be from my experience, not an end-all-be-all argument but tanks in fact do not take more damage from behind. The parry and block cone is less than 180 degrees so in fact, it seems you can't parry or block from the flank or from the rear (expected).

I'll actually go on record and agree, however, it's worse than you thought.

Just ran outside of Revenant's Toll and fought a Nix (toad). They are a larger enemy, granted, but I was only able to block or parry when he was in a ~90 degree angle in front of me. Behind, 90 degree to the side, and even slightly past the 90 mark were all total failures, and that's with Holy Shield (NQ) and Bulwark active.

Actual damage received from behind (as opposed to unblocked attacks from the front that do land) is unchanged.

So, yeah. Placement is everything. Get dem mobs in that front 90 in order to be most effective.

[MBTL90]

Along a similar vein: unlike in several other mmo's, you can block/parry while casting.

[PetiteMalFleur]

I don't have a tank class leveled so can't test this for myself, but my FC mate did some testing for me and says it appears the parry and block range is about 120 degrees favoring the sword arm. Obviously this is anecdotal and would need further testing. Wolfandre here says his testing indicates cone is even more narrow at 90 degrees.

I've been advising newer tanks to position mobs in front and don't want to give them wrong information on how to optimize their parry and block skills.

[Wolfandre]

Just retested on smaller humanoid mobs at Castrum Centri. The angle is definitely less than 120 and the direction you are facing doesn't seem to impact whether you block or parry or how often you block or parry.

Of course, this isn't truly a "test" by any means, as I didn't count anything and compare data, and is just as anecdotal as Petite's friend, but I'm just sharing what I found so there is less confusion. Hope this helps!

[Vmage]

you can only block autoattacks from the front, but you can block special attacks from any angle

not to say that you shouldn't still try and get mobs infront of you, but it's much less important in this game than most others

[PetiteMalFleur]

you can only block autoattacks from the front, but you can block special attacks from any angle

not to say that you shouldn't still try and get mobs infront of you, but it's much less important in this game than most others

I just know when a tank sandwiches themself between mobs I have to focus on healing them. If they position them all in front I can relax and switch in and out of cleric stance, or do my favorite thing, and designate myself as the peanut gallery of the raid. Does autoattack do that much damage? I know magical attacks can't be parried, but you say all other attacks can be parried from any direction?

[Vmage]

I just know when a tank sandwiches themself between mobs I have to focus on healing them. If they position them all in front I can relax and switch in and out of cleric stance, or do my favorite thing, and designate myself as the peanut gallery of the raid. Does autoattack do that much damage? I know magical attacks can't be parried, but you say all other attacks can be parried from any direction?

special attacks are rare.. if you're talking dungeons it's mostly the red cone/circle stuff that tanks should be avoiding entirely anyways

the vast majority of the damage is going to come from autoattacks outside of bosses, for the most part anyways

but, those instant non-telegraphed special attacks are block/parry-able from any angle - i.e. you have your back turned to titan for a mountain buster, you can still parry it