Aurrorian's Guide To Being A Tank

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the first-ever guide on how to be a DDO tank, by a NOOB. Though I may not have the credentials, hopefully this guide will help other noobs play as one of the most unique roles in MMORPGs, from what I've learned from my experiences. Feel free to edit this page if you find anything wrong or missing (please consult me for large edits though). Anyways, back to the topic.

What Is A Tank?

For all of you people out there who don't know what one is, it is someone who controls aggro, basically meaning someone who has the enemy attack him/her instead of someone else. And this is a good thing, because tanks have high health and defenses to withstand and shake off almost any attack. They are the protectors of the people, able to take a blow or two for a comrade.

What Is A Tank's Role?

In a party, the tank's job is to have the enemy attack him/her instead of his/her fellow allies, allowing hem to focus on their own jobs and remain unscathed. This will save much healing needed to sustain the whole party, instead focusing on the tank only, who usually doesn't need it at all. They may also sometimes opt for a more offensive role in some case-scenarios.

What Special Mechanics/Abilities Do Tanks Have?

Tanks rely on primarily five, which are:

1. HP- Lots of HP (Hit Points) are required to sustain a tank, so they can keep on fighting for as long as they need to. The more the merrier! In DDO, ways of improving HP are having a high Constitution score, having the Toughness feat/enhancements, and having items (i.e. False Life)/buffs (spells that improve you; i.e. Aid).
2. AC- Known as Armor Class, this is probably the mechanic that tanks are known for. The higher your AC, the harder it is for the enemy to hit you (melee-wise). Ways of improving your AC are wearing good armor, having a high Dexterity (though heavy armor puts a limit on how much of your Dex mod. you can apply), having some feats (i.e. Dodge), enhancements (i.e. Armor Mastery), and other items (i.e. Protection)/buffs (i.e. Barkskin).
3. DR- Standing for Damage Reduction, it basically does what it says it does, reducing damage that is it dealt to you. You can get this from feats (i.e. Shield Mastery), enhancements (i.e. Damage Reduction Boost), and DR #/- items/buffs (i.e. Stoneskin).
4. Threat- A special mechanic that only tanks use, "threat" basically means how dangerous the tank. The more threat you have, the more enemies want to attack you, much to their demise. Ways to improve your threat are using the Intimidate skill, which directly "threatens" the enemy, having a high Charisma to support it, feats (i.e. Skill Focus: Intimidate), enhancements (i.e. Improved Intimidate), and items (i.e. Intimidate +#)/buffs (i.e. Eagle's Splendor).
5. Saves- A different type of defense, this protects people from spells/traps. There are three in all, Fortitude, Will. and Reflex. Tanks will need this to protect themselves from enemy spell-casters that won't attack a tank's AC. You can improve this by having a high Constitution, Dexterity, and Wisdom, having feats (i.e. Iron Will), enhancements (i.e. Resistance of Good), and items (i.e. Resistance)/buffs (i.e. Heroism).

How Do You Build A Tank?

Classes

Well then, to start off with, we will need a class that can utilize all of the above mechanics to their fullest potential. Two classes stand out from the rest: the Fighter and Paladin. Lets compare them both:

Fighter- Has the ability to become more proficient with their armor, eventually taking away armor check penalties and increasing the Dex mod. allowance of heavy armor/tower shields. Has automatic proficiency with tower shields, which is central to a fighter tank. Stalwart Defender enhancement is more melee defense oriented than the Paladin's Defender of Siberys. Extra feats are handy. Can have better AC than the Paladin, but nothing else much. Not as much offensive power, though can specialize in a weapon.

Pros: High AC, Specialization in Armor/Shields, Better Melee Defense, Automatic Tower Shield Proficiency

Cons: Only Specialized in Defense, No Variety

Paladin- More versatile than the Fighter. Can take the Bulwark of Good enhancements to improve it's AC without the need for Dexterity. Also has better saves than the Fighter, with its Divine Grace ability and other enhancements. Can share buffs such as Bulwark of Good with the rest of the party via Aura of Good. Smite Evil can be a nice offensive option. Defender of Siberys is more balanced than Stalwart Defender, and also grants special buffs. Charisma focus helps improve Intimidate. Lay on Hands is neat, acting as a self-heal. Can activate Divine Righteousness to double threat. Can also self-buff, though spells not suggested for tanks. Not as much AC as the Fighter. Not as many feats as the Fighter means that you should choose wisely.

Pros: Balanced, Saves, Cha Improves Intimidate, Handy Powers/Spells, Extra Threat, No Need for Dex

Cons: Lower AC

Races

Now we shall look at the races. The dwarf, human, half-elf, and warforged races are best for the role of a tank:

Dwarf- With their focus on Constitution, Dwarves are can be very hard to take down. Also has enhancements that allow you to become more proficient with your armor, just like the Fighter. Has proficiency with Dwarven Axes, so can be offensive if wanted. Anti-racial enhancements (i.e. Dodge Giants) help even further against certain races. Has resistances to poison, which are handy. Lower Charisma means Dwarves won't be as great at Intimidate.

Pros: Hardiness From Constitution, Armor Proficiency, Better Offense

Cons: Low Charisma/Intimidate

Human- Considered the all-around race. Some things do help tanks. Extra feat is handy. Extra skill points help training in other skills besides Intimidate. Improved Recovery increases healing granted to you, saving healers some extra Spell Points. Human Adaptability allows you to increase any ability score. Human Versatility gives temporary boost to different stats. What really stands out is Dragonmark of Sentinels. Extra bonuses to Intimidate and special protection buffs. Enhancements/Dragonmark will take up space though. And Humans by themselves aren't much.

Pros: Extras, Improved Recovery, Human Adaptability, Dragonmark of Sentinels

Cons: Are Nothing Much Without Enhancements/Dragonmark

Half-Elf- Cross between human and elf. Keen Senses help skills that detect objects/danger. Immunity to sleep is nice. Social Graces helps Intimidate. Half-Elf Dittelante feat is best though, especially the Barbarian or Paladin. Human feats/enhancements same as above.

Pros: Social Graces, Dittelante, Human Dragonmark/Enhancements

Cons: Same As Human

Warforged- Magical humanoid constructs made to last, with focus on Con. Has many immunities including poison, sleep, and disease. Can be underwater indefinitely. Inherent armor plating grants AC/Light Fortification from start. Can switch between different platings for different bonuses/penalties. Can improve Fortification, DR, and armor proficency with extra feats/enhancements. Brute Fighting enhancement improves threat. Can improve saves with Warforged Thinking/Hardiness. Regular healing such as Cure spells have less effect on Warforged, though can be compensated for by taking Healer's Friend enhancements. Cannot wear regular armor because of plating. Feats/enhancements will take up space.

Pros: Con Focus, Immunities, Armor Plating, Fortification, DR, Brute Fighting, Saves

Cons: Regular Healing Reduced, Can't Wear Armor

Ability Scores

Your ability scores are the foundation of your character. A tank will need to spread out their ability scores a bit to be successful:

STR (Strength)- Used for basically melee fighting, along with managing how much you can carry on you. A regular fighter/paladin would want a pretty high STR, but as a tank, you will focus more on defense, so 12-14 should be enough to attack averagely.

CON (Constitution)- The higher your CON, the higher your HP and Fortitude saves are. Tanks will probably want 14-16 so they can soak up plenty of damage and save against certain spells.

DEX (Dexterity)- DEX is a pretty vital ability score for tanks, which can determine how much AC it can have, at least for Fighters. Also affects Reflex save, and is prerequisite to a certain feat. 12-14 should be enough, though you should improve it as you level up.

INT (Intelligence)- Tanks will need at least a 13 INT to unlock a very special feat that will increase your AC greatly. INT will also help put more points into skills such as Intimidate.

WIS (Wisdom)- WIS is pretty useless for tanks unless you want an OK Will save (you will be spreading out your ability scores, so you might as well not waste any points on WIS). 10 would probably be maximum.

CHA (Charisma)- CHA is the ability score that affects Intimidate, which you will of course use often to generate threat. Still, since you are spreading your points 'round rather thin, I would only suggest 10-12.

Skills

Skills are next. A tank will especially rely on one particular skill:

Balance- DEX-based skill that allows you get up quicker after you are tripped by an opponent. Being tripped can be a pain, because it will disable pretty much everything you can do until you get up again. Being a tank however, you can still probably tough out a moment or two down, though if you keep being tripped, it will eventually bring about your demise.

Intimidate- CHA-based skill which is the most vital skill to a tank in DDO. You'd want to max this skill out in the beginning, and keep raising it as you level up.

Spot/Listen- WIS-based skills which in my opinion do serve a purpose for tanks, allowing them to detect sneaky opponents and prevent them from backstabbing you or your allies. Not too important though.

Tumble- DEX-based skill that allows you move in a different way by holding down the blocking key (Shift) then moving around. Is helpful with the Stances that comes with the prestige enhancements, because Tumbling ignores the speed penalty. Not too important though.

UMD (Use Magic Device)- CHA-based skill that allows you activate magic items such as wands and certain restrictive items. Will help in providing self-heals by using a healing wand. Not too important though.

Feats

Now to the feats. These feats are what you will need for a basic tank:

Toughness- Gives you extra HP, and unlocks Toughness Enhancements for even more. Best used at start. No prerequisites.

Tower Shield Proficiency- If you are playing a Paladin, one of the first feats you wanna get is this one, so you can have max AC (Armor Class) at start. Prerequisites General Shield Proficiency, Paladins already have.

Dodge- Gives you a free +1 bonus to AC. Prerequisites are 13 DEX.

Defensive Fighting- This feat is a basic power available from the start, that allows you to exchange some of your attack for some AC (Armor Class). Please note that this feat is called a stance, and that there can only be one such feat active at a time.

Combat Expertise- The most handy feat for tanks, that works like Defensive Fighting. Prerequisites 13 INT.

Resilience- Another feat that works similarly to Combat Expertise, except that it improves your saves, which helps against surviving traps and enemy mages. Prerequisites 13 CON.

Shield Mastery/Improved Shield Mastery- Gives you DR (Damage Reduction) while you are equipped with a shield, which you will find yourself doing most of the time. Requires General Shield Proficiency, which comes prepackaged with your class.

Improved Shield Bash- Removes the penalty inflicted when you shield-bash, and also gives you a chance to bash with your shield while attacking regularly. Requires General Shield Proficiency, which comes with your class.

Cleave/Greater Cleave Optional feat chain that allows you to attack multiple enemies at once by taking a swing with your weapon. While blocking, it will immediately go back after attacking, allowing you to deal some decent damage and threat to multiple enemies while hiding behind your shield in between. Prerequisite Power Attack/STR 13.

Enhancements

After feats are enhancements. Though enhancements vary between classes/races, both will end up with about the same product:

Toughness- Ah yes, good ol' Toughness, ready to give a necessary boost in HP. Make sure to take all of them, for best effect. Prerequisites Toughness.

Armor Class Boost- Probably the most used AC (Armor Class) buff out there. Max it out, unless you're an even freak like me (IV grants +5). No prerequisites.

Improved Intimidate- Just like it says, increases your Intimidate score by one for each time you take it, up to four. Max it out, it's cheap. Prerequisites one level of Fighter, Paladin, Barbarian, or Rogue.

Armored Agility- Available only to Fighters/Dwarves, it decreases the check penalty you take from armor. Handy to have, so suggest you max it out. No prerequisites.

Armor Mastery- The most vital feat available to Fighters/Dwarves, this enhancement raises the DEX mod. allowance on armors. Max it out. No prerequisites.

Tower Shield Mastery- Same as Armor Mastery, except affecting tower shields. Prerequisites Tower Shield Proficiency.

Fighter Stalwart Defender- The prestige path for Fighters, that specializes in high AC and DR. Max it out. Prerequisites Fighter Item Defense, Fighter Armor Class, Improved Intimidate, Toughness, and one of Fighter Armor Mastery, Fighter Armored Agility, Fighter Toughness, Fighter Tower Shield Mastery, Combat Expertise, Diehard, Dodge, and/or Dragonmarks of Sentinel.

Paladin Resistance of Good- An improvement torwads your Aura of Good, that allows you and your allies to gain a bonus torwards your saves. Max it out. No prerequisites.

Paladin Saves Boost- Another action boost like Armor Class, except for saves. Max it out unless you're an even freak. No prerequisites.

Paladin Bulwark of Good- The paladin's way of getting AC, so very important. Max it out. No prerequisites.

Paladin Divine Righteousness- A neat little power that doubles all threat generated by you, so enemies are twice as mad at you. Only one, so saves room. No prerequisites, though it uses up Turn Undead.

Paladin Defender of Siberys- The prestige for Paladins, that specializes in saves as well as special buffs. Max it out, of course. Prerequisites Paladin Armor Class Boost, Paladin Bulwark of Good, Paladin Courage of Good, Paladin Focus of Good, Paladin Resistance of Good, and one of Combat Expertise, Diehard, Shield Mastery, Tower Shield Proficiency, Paladin Divine Righteousness, Paladin Rally, Paladin Toughness, Bladesworn Transformation, Silver Flame Exorcism, Undying Call, Unyielding Sovereignty, and/or Vulkoor's Avatar.

Gear

Last but not least is gear. Gear is the most difficult part of being a tank, since you will need especially good gear as you reach higher levels. You can probably still manage 55-60 AC though, which I think is good enough for tanking in most F2P (Free to play) quests, though saves are also very important the higher up you are. It depends on what loot you can get though, so consider getting some adventure packs if you can.

Armor- Hopefully you can manage to get a Mithral or Admantine Full Plate, which will greatly improve your chances of being successful. If it's a lower level armor though, make sure you level up in the Arcane type of crafting, so you can apply a +6 enhancement bonus on it, if it doesn't already have one. See if you can also get/craft on some DR (Damage Reduction), Protection (AC), Resistance (Saves), False Life, Incite (Threat), and/or Fortification.

Shield- Same as armor. Make sure to get a TOWER SHIELD, so even if you come up with a Mithral/Admantine Light/Heavy Shield or Buckler, you might as well toss it (unfortunately you can't extract the metal from the item via crafting).

Weapons- For weapons, make sure you have all bases covered. Along with your standard sword n' board, you should also get a bludgeoning weapon for any skeletons and any other blade-resistant monsters you encounter in your adventures. Also get some two-handed weapons: there may be times that offense is more important than defense, plus you can even tank lower-level quests with one too, with a two-handed weapon's ability to deal glancing blows to any secondary targets around your primary. Also get a ranged weapon: there's more than just bows and crossbows; consider getting a Returning throwing axe and/or hammer, which use your STR mod for damage. If you can, try to get or craft a weapon with Parrying, for some additional AC.

Accessories- There are a lot of effects that tanks need, though the basic ones are Protection, Resistance, DR, False Life, and Fortification. See if you can get or craft these, though the latter may take awhile. Other effects that provide temporary HP, DR, AC, threat, and/or saves are also welcome.

Extras- Potions and wands will definitely help, provided that no helpful caster can provide the right buffs for you. Barkskin (AC) potions are an important addition to any tank, so you should stock up. Cure potions also help when the healer is out of reach or even out of service, though if you have enough UMD (Use Magic Device), you can use Cure wands, which are much better.

Tips & Tricks

• Whenever you have a group that has another Fighter/Paladin (especially Fighter), always ask if he or she is a tank. Because you do not want to double-tank and mess each other up! If he or she is, compare, and whoever has the lower stats has to DPS.
• Know when to switch to offense. For example, you come into a room full of casters that will completely ignore your AC with their spells. Better to kill them off than let them kill you eventually.
• As a tank, not only will you be the person who takes the brunt of the attack, you'll also probably be the beefiest one in your group. Use this to your advantage: Pick up the stones of fallen allies, who'll probably be safer with you than any other person; open the doors that lead to a certain objective or shrine while under heavy fire.
• Don't charge at your enemies; let them come to you (unless you have the element of surprise). Charging can lead you to miss a few enemies that will run right pass your guard and strike at the rest of your party, and maybe cause some serious damage.
• If you aren't confident of your defenses, what you can do is called smart-tanking. Smart-tanking allows you to generate minimal threat, while not taking as much damage as you would if you constantly tank. Smart-tanking is only used in certain situations:

1. An ally is taking serious damage by an enemy.
2. An ally is temporarily disabled and is under attack.
3. An ally is being chased by an enemy.

When any of these situations occur, simply get the enemy off your ally. Usually one or two enemies are affected by this, which means you'll definitely take less damage than if you actually tanked 7-8 enemies. And you'll have still contributed to the cause.

Well folks, this is it for my guide on how to be a tank by a NOOB. Please send me feedback on how well I did (negative is fine), and feel free to edit this article if you find anything wrong or missing (please consult me for large edits though). For any other unrelated questions or comments, please go to my user talk page. Thank you for taking the time to read my article, and I hope your tank goes well! Until next time!XD

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