Best tank class (group edition)

[Xaeophi]

Well..My answer is obvious. Ranger is optimal. Snares, Roots, heals, buffs, dps, snap aggro, if built correctly - tanky. Wont be tanking AoW or anything like that but ill let you know right now you wont see my enchanter in a group with a warrior or monk tanking.
The ench will most likely be [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Pint]

Paladin is best class in game, can we just add a note to the starter guide or something so ppl don't have to keep rehashing this

[Troxx]

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

Taking damage so other group mates don't have to...

Which will take the most damage while getting hit?

Ranger > Bard > Knight > Warrior

Which “tank” has the lowest hp potential?

Ranger = Bard > SK > Paladin (divine buff) >> Warrior

Which tank has the lowest on demand reliable aggro?

Warrior. The rest have enough on demand aggro the differences don’t matter. Having said that I have never struggled with establishing and maintaining/dominating aggro with my warrior.

———————

The rest boils down to utility while tanking that directly improves your ability to strictly tank. Tanking implies a) holding threat b) not dying and c) minimizing the amount of heals and/or improving the efficiency of those healing you.

-Warriors have powerful disciplines. At 60 Evasive has 43% uptime. That’s huge.

-Paladins have an overpowered quick cast HoT (700-825 depending on server ticks). I have a self heal hotkey and can cast and retarget and smack the mob between 2h swings and not miss a beat. Each cast means that much less external healing required. Stuns supplement survivability.

-Bards can have the mob preslowed 35% before it hits camp and has a chance to land that first hit. Regen songs decrease healing required over time.

-SKs can meh self tap some extra AC and cast expensive life taps with mediocre returns on mana spent. 60 lifetap costs the same 225 mana as Paladin HoT and heals 338 vs 700-825 for the paladin. There are also self runes (minor reagent) and spell imbued lifetap procs.

-Rangers can have the lowest tier hp total and the lowest mitigation ... but hey they can always stop attacking, target themselves, and spend nearly 4 seconds and 150 mana to heal themselves for 270! On demand aggro? Heh ... that’s meaningless for 3/4 of the other classes who can easily do that too ... and any high level warrior worth a damn will have the weapons/haste to hold aggro no problemo (while doing more damage than the ranger).


TLDR: ranger worst tank. Fun class? Absolutely. Capable class? You bet! Good tank? No. Gear and player skill equal, they are dead last. As we all know, EQ isn’t hard. Rangers fall well within the “good enough to get the job done range”.

Good enough is not the same thing as best.

[Terrel]

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

... unlike Bards and Enchanters, they can also heal. Which means they can save your ass when you're one second from taking a dirt nap.

Well...in the one second scenario...ok....3.1 second scenario....bard mez, Cantana, Niv's, mez, Cantana, Niv's...repeat.

Have saved a few groups that way. Heals folks up, and let's the healers get enough mana back to heal the group.

Depending upon mob levels, geography, repops, etc...can keep 3 or 4 mobs locked down while letting group recover.

[Raev]

Originally Posted by Zarza

Enchanter is best tanker in group contents if you geared

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More seriously, I'm with Astuce. It's clearly bard who gets 252 defense, plate armor, infinite manaless snap aggro, and gives the cleric 25-35% mana per tick. I took my bard to 52 mostly as a tank and it's pretty disgustingly good. The only question is whether the bard is more effective as a tank or puller.

One of the most interesting parts of playing on TAKP was chatting to people with different stereotypes. People really overrate pure melee here I think. They are great for raiding, but pretty average while leveling.

[Danth]

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

More seriously, I'm with Astuce. It's clearly bard who gets 252 defense, plate armor, infinite manaless snap aggro, and gives the cleric 25-35% mana per tick. I took my bard to 52 mostly as a tank and it's pretty disgustingly good. The only question is whether the bard is more effective as a tank or puller.

Mana-less aggro is an advantage that should not be overlooked. Any of the other hybrid classes have to significantly curtail their spellcasting activity in a chain-pulling environment with little or no time to sit, especially if outside mana regeneration is not present.

I surmise part of the problem with Bards might be what I mentioned previous: They're wildly inconsistent in terms of quality, and it's a good bet a lot of folks have rarely or never seen a good one. The gap between a mediocre Bard and a good one is larger than for nearly any other class.

Danth

[enjchanter]

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

Clicky Symbol 300 hp heal ( can heal forever bc good paladins w DW BP have full bag of jaspers)

Heal Over Time - One of most efficient HoTs out there

Divine Str - Free HP? Yes pls!

Stuns to prevent mobs gating or healing

Undead mastery - Nukes and swords w undead procs

Can bash w epic - more interrupts

Can Res - up to 90% exp returned!

Can split room w lull - (or root)

Ghetto CC aka root

Can heal group while tanking and then notice pet break from corner of eye then casually toss a stun to make ench life easier.

Warrior aint got none of dis.

Sometimes I think about what life would be like if I let Deepwalter be the hero instead of Yxarus ...

Maybe it isnt too late ...

[elwing]

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

Mana-less aggro is an advantage that should not be overlooked. Any of the other hybrid classes have to significantly curtail their spellcasting activity in a chain-pulling environment with little or no time to sit, especially if outside mana regeneration is not present.

Valid concern... But as a sk, at 10mana a pop for DC, I am mana challenged for lot of things but not for agro... If I just do agro I can tank all the day without med nor C...

[FatherSioux]

I want more tales of Paladins saving the day, best part of this thread by far.

[Cen]

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

I want more tales of Paladins saving the day, best part of this thread by far.

On that note:

"Why Paladin is the best class"
https://youtu.be/GpSKPq3mTHM

Its not specific P99 but if anyone wants inspiration listen to this guy for 6 minutes