Do tanks actually take less damage?

[Stonewallx39]

Originally Posted by Ennewi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Tried arguing this same point about shamans in an old thread. Outside of one or two endgame weapons, which are typically reserved for warriors, knights don't have a reliable means of slowing targets, so they joust or fear kite. Bards have more direct ways of avoiding/reducing damage with their songs to compensate for the tankiness they lack by default, slow being among the best.

A really interesting point, slow is godly powerful and that snare song just yoinks aggro whenever the bard wants it. Never being hit by an unslowed mob could make a huge difference in damage taken.

I think the counter argument is when a really good knight is working with a slower the slower can basically cast as soon as the mob is in camp. To your point the knight and slower would both really need to be on their game or there will be at least a couple rounds of unslowed melee. Definitely points to how a shaman/bard can be a totally viable tank in the right group makeup.