Let's share some Tanking Tips and Tricks!

[Kal-El]

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.

[Equal]

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.

[Asmodeus]

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.

[Sevjin]

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.

[NarcissitInChains]

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

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

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.

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

[dynastyGM]

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.

^ 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~

[McSkittlez]

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.

[Samuraiking]

-snip-

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.

[themalvious]

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.

[szarn]

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.