How to be a good SK tank?

[Shaakglith12194]

Originally Posted by Malone88 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Disease Cloud/Darkness Spells/Shadow Vortex are your best taunts.
Don't really need to spam them too much. Pull with DC and when
you lose aggro, cast it again to get aggro back. You can throw
Darkness (Snare) on mob midfight to add aggro to yourself and
prevent runners. Taunt will work some of the time when mob turns
away from you, but your spells are more effective.

Also, if there is a bard/enchanter/necro mezzing in your group,
be careful using your DOTs for taunting adds. Once you get
Shadow Vortex, this can safely be used to pull adds away
from casters because it doesn't DOT the mob.

This. That's basically it. Disease cloud is crazy aggro. Shadow Vortex is great aggro once you get it, and you should cast it on every mezzed mob that you're about to attack. Hit em with some shadow vortex, taunt, hit em with that disease cloud. If that doesn't get its attention, your chanter must have done something to its mother. Once you can use blood ember gauntlets, it's nice to use that to maintain aggro. And the earlier poster who said it's everyone's job to control their aggro is right, but you won't see it work like that on this server. Can't say I've ever seen a monk FD to drop aggro; most rogues don't sneak/hide to drop aggro either.

[Danth]

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

I like pulling with siphon strength on my SK and then firing a DC so that the cap on initial aggro doesn't limit my DC and cause the rogue's first backstab/the shaman's slow/whatever to pull off of me. Not a big deal though, since DC is only on a short cooldown anyway and SV isn't too expensive to cast between DCs if you need extra threat.

Good for mentioning the hate cap on initial aggro. Lot of folks don't even know about it. Good reason to pull with Siphon Strength when you're level 9 and Disease Cloud is the only real aggro spell you have: If you pull with DC, you're building virtually no aggro and it's on cooldown for a crucial ~6 seconds while other folks get aggro and you can't do much of anything about it. Use a throwaway spell (or an arrow) first then follow up with Disease Cloud. That'll build you far more hate. Or you can tell the local Shaman to pull with slow.

Originally Posted by Shaakglith12194 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This. That's basically it. Disease cloud is crazy aggro. Shadow Vortex is great aggro once you get it, and you should cast it on every mezzed mob that you're about to attack. Hit em with some shadow vortex, taunt, hit em with that disease cloud.

I think it's better to use Taunt first. Taunt does nothing if you already have aggro. Using it first gives you a better threat lead when it works and is no difference if it fails.

Danth

[Tecmos Deception]

Originally Posted by Malone88 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Don't really need to spam them too much. Pull with DC and when
you lose aggro, cast it again to get aggro back.

I like pulling with siphon strength on my SK and then firing a DC so that the cap on initial aggro doesn't limit my DC and cause the rogue's first backstab/the shaman's slow/whatever to pull off of me. Not a big deal though, since DC is only on a short cooldown anyway and SV isn't too expensive to cast between DCs if you need extra threat.

[Cecily]

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

Nonsense, if you're a hybrid tank, then aggro management is YOUR job. That's the fun in playing one. If you aren't teaching your damage-dealers horrible habits that'll get them killed the next time they group with a Warrior, you're not trying hard enough!

LMAO! Every freaking time I group with a SK, I play absolutely awful for the first 10 mins with my next warrior.

[captnamazing]

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

Nonsense, if you're a hybrid tank, then aggro management is YOUR job. That's the fun in playing one. If you aren't teaching your damage-dealers horrible habits that'll get them killed the next time they group with a Warrior, you're not trying hard enough!

lmfao.. so true.

[Jimjam]

What other classes are you grouping with? It could be other toons are trying to level up their taunt skill. Or are using their stuns/snares too early (both these effects are high aggro).

If you are grouping with mages be aware the earth pets cast root. When a mob is rooted it will attack whichever player is closest (assuming one is in melee range).

[big mouth chew]

i dont think ive ever lost aggro ever
thanks disease cloud

[Holey]

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

i dont think ive ever lost aggro ever
thanks disease cloud

given them mobs hivs :P:

[Xer0]

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

i dont think ive ever lost aggro ever
thanks disease cloud

qft. only time I have trouble is against extremely well geared rogues, or in situations with tons of adds, the mez breakage generally has high aggro-- this becomes a problem because disease cloud is a dot and im pretty sure dot's break a mez-- so I save my taunt and bash for this moment-- at high levels im finding I get a lot more bash stuns...

[Kender]

bow shot between the eyes then DC. siphon just uses up mana you need for DC in a chain pulling grp (unless you got bard or enchanter in which case go crazy)