Unchained, when do I use it?

[Krissey]

I'm fairly new to Warrior tanking. I am level 48, and I generally use Steel Cyclone on trash mobs for the extra AOE damage and enmity because sometimes DPS don't focus on a single mob and they can get a bit scattered.

I use Inner Beast on pretty much every single target boss just because big damage, reduced damage taken, and a heal. Why not?

So...when do I EVER want to use Unchained???

[LucklessStrikes]

Unchained will add up to more damage than simply one Inner Beast. If you want a pretty potent combo, use Unchained, Berserk, Bloodbath (Right after you've refreshed maim) for some serious damage and nice self healing. When you're 50, you can add Infuriate into your combo to allow either an instant Inner Beast or Steel Cyclone. Unchained is an extremely strong skill and becomes even stronger when used with Berserk.

[Xariann]

It's situational I'd say. If you see you are not taking a lot of damage and/or have other cooldowns that will take care of the incoming damage, then use Unchained. Try to think of yourself as someone trying to push out a lot of damage whenever you can, while still being able to handle tank busters and incoming damage.

As you get familiar with boss patterns or when the high damage comes in, you will start to feel more comfortable about using Unchained. There is actually a boss in the Aery I tank almost entirely in Deliverance stance. I pull while still in Defiance, pop Unchained, build some aggro, then swap to Deliverance and deal as much damage as I can, as the other cooldowns will keep me up and the healers don't break a sweat. I have a friend who likes to troll me when I tank and so she threw a smoke bomb while I was in Deliverance (DPS stance) and still I didn't lose aggro, thanks to the initial pull with Unchain (and making sure I don't forget my threat combos).

Next time I went into the same instance, I knew I could tank also the next boss in Deliverance, although I stance danced there. Again opened with Unchained + Defiance.

So trying to think ahead with the incoming damage, and that will help you decide when to use Unchained, or even when to swap to Deliverance.

[Temjiu]

Think they covered it OP. UC is about maximizing damage during time frames. example time frames are on initial pull when you have aggressive DPS, times when the group is having issues on DPS checks, during burn phases, etc. The extra damage also means extra threat. but you usually want to avoid using things that ignore the damage penalty as well, like inner beast, and you want to make sure you maximize it by staying in Defiance until it's out (as an example if you want to build threat before switching to Deliverance).

It's more of a timed skill then a spam as much as available. IB tends to be the default go-to (for obvious reasons), UC during burn phases or off the gate for max DPS/threat. stuff like that. I use it allot when im running with max geared DPS. fighting a Dragoon for threat isn't a fun thing usually if you pop UC out of the gate it helps allot.

[Krissey]

Warrior is such a fun class... I hit 50 today and I can't wait to get those last 10 levels!

[Krocodile]

This may still be the case for WAR when Alex raid comes out, but Unchained was about maximizing your damage during certain periods in boss fights, which is excellent because it allows you to stay in tank mode while dealing very respectable amounts of damage.

However, Unchained may lose it's overall value due to the addition of Deliverance. Probably not in raid settings but I will tell you this, in the HW dungeon Sohm Al, all three bosses have several charging modes where they don't even strike the tank for long periods of time. During these bosses I pile on threat, switch to Deliverance, and dish out serious ouchies on the bosses. It's fun to watch a boss get crushed by three massive ethereal saw blades!

[Aurelinaus]

I like to pair it with berserk + bloodbacth for first use then keep it on CD when in defiance, unless an add phase is coming up then i save it and blow it on them.

[Steady]

I usually used Unchained as part of my opener.

Infuriate -> Unchained -> Bloodbath -> Internal Release -> Berserk mixed in between my Maim/Storms combo.. it's usually enough to hold plenty of hate till I get off my enmity combo to follow. Then I use it any time it's up because it's almost always better to have the damage increase. Inner Beast hits and ignores Defiance... but Infuriate is every subsequent attack for it's duration ignores defiance penalty. It's much more damage than one inner beast.

[Krissey]

I've begun using it on cooldown now and I can tell the difference in clearing dungeons and everything! Is there a Warrior guide anywhere for how to play/gear/etc.. like all the DPS classes in the DPS roles forum? Even DRK seems to have a guide here.

[Steady]

I've begun using it on cooldown now and I can tell the difference in clearing dungeons and everything! Is there a Warrior guide anywhere for how to play/gear/etc.. like all the DPS classes in the DPS roles forum? Even DRK seems to have a guide here.

If there is, it's been burried. Search youtube for Xenosys. Atleast for 50+, he's considered a good building block for up and coming warriors.