Tanking - Guild Wars Forums

luckyny7 · Feb 19, 2010, 05:52 PM // 17:52

If you are trying to tank how do you keep the bad guys from chasing your healer all around the place and keep them locked on you?

HawkofStorms · Feb 19, 2010, 06:12 PM // 18:12

You don't.

Guild Wars does not have a standard aggro/threat system like most MMOs. Throw out all your preconceptions about how to play MMOs when you come over to Guild Wars. There isn't some "attack me" taunt button like in most games because GW doesn't need it and wasn't designed to require it. Tanking is actually a terribily inefficient and slow way to play Guild Wars. There are no tank classes. The warrior class has some of, if not the best, DPS in the game, and even though they have high armor rating, they are not tanks. There are builds designed to tank, but they are best used for solo farming or certain speed clear builds. Otherwise, in normal play, you should never tank. A monk can easily throw a single protection magic spell on a character under fire, and for a few seconds they can "tank" all the damage they are taking with ease.

If you still want to tank... keep in mind the monsters in GW act somewhat intelligently and will target the backline at random and try to attack foes with low health/armor. The only way to tank in this game is to body block via positioning and to use snares and knockdowns appropriately.

But honestly, you should never be using this tactic.

Iuris · Feb 19, 2010, 06:17 PM // 18:17

You must make sure of two things:
A) make sure you're the only target for the enemy (meaning, you need to be an aggro bubble away from the rest of the party)
B) not do anything that breaks aggro (not move)

So, move ahead of the party, use a bow to lure enemy in, and then stand still. Only attacks enemies you can attack without moving.

cognophile · Feb 19, 2010, 06:39 PM // 18:39

If the enemies come within aggro range of your healers, you can't necessarily stop them from chasing the healers, but you can slow them down with snares:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Snare_%28tactic%29

E.g., apply crippled condition, use hexes that slow movement, body block, use knockdowns, and/or use ward against foes.

It can also be helpful to have a minion master in your party, because the minions tend to act as a meat shield.

Neo Atomisk · Feb 19, 2010, 08:49 PM // 20:49

there are 2 real tanks in the game.
a) minion masters use meatwalls in a similar manner to an offensive line in football
b) permas

don't try tanking as a warrior - your job is DPS, aoedps, and KDing the entire map

luckyny7 · Feb 19, 2010, 09:40 PM // 21:40

Yes. I was looking for the taunt that I have seen in other games. Thanks to all for the info.

Quaker · Feb 19, 2010, 11:06 PM // 23:06

Actually, it is possible to tank, if you have a team of humans - warrior gathers agro then the rest attack from range. But it's very very difficult to tank when using heroes or henchies - it's too difficult to control their placement, etc.
And, as has been said, in GW it's not a very efficient tactic either - there are much better/faster ways to do things.

Feb 19, 2010, 05:52 PM // 17:52	#1
luckyny7 Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Feb 2010 Profession: W/N	Tanking If you are trying to tank how do you keep the bad guys from chasing your healer all around the place and keep them locked on you?

Feb 19, 2010, 06:12 PM // 18:12	#2
HawkofStorms Hall Hero Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: E/	You don't. Guild Wars does not have a standard aggro/threat system like most MMOs. Throw out all your preconceptions about how to play MMOs when you come over to Guild Wars. There isn't some "attack me" taunt button like in most games because GW doesn't need it and wasn't designed to require it. Tanking is actually a terribily inefficient and slow way to play Guild Wars. There are no tank classes. The warrior class has some of, if not the best, DPS in the game, and even though they have high armor rating, they are not tanks. There are builds designed to tank, but they are best used for solo farming or certain speed clear builds. Otherwise, in normal play, you should never tank. A monk can easily throw a single protection magic spell on a character under fire, and for a few seconds they can "tank" all the damage they are taking with ease. If you still want to tank... keep in mind the monsters in GW act somewhat intelligently and will target the backline at random and try to attack foes with low health/armor. The only way to tank in this game is to body block via positioning and to use snares and knockdowns appropriately. But honestly, you should never be using this tactic. Last edited by HawkofStorms; Feb 19, 2010 at 06:17 PM // 18:17..

Feb 19, 2010, 06:39 PM // 18:39	#4
cognophile Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA	If the enemies come within aggro range of your healers, you can't necessarily stop them from chasing the healers, but you can slow them down with snares: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Snare_%28tactic%29 E.g., apply crippled condition, use hexes that slow movement, body block, use knockdowns, and/or use ward against foes. It can also be helpful to have a minion master in your party, because the minions tend to act as a meat shield. Last edited by cognophile; Feb 19, 2010 at 06:43 PM // 18:43..

Feb 19, 2010, 06:17 PM // 18:17	#3
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	You must make sure of two things: A) make sure you're the only target for the enemy (meaning, you need to be an aggro bubble away from the rest of the party) B) not do anything that breaks aggro (not move) So, move ahead of the party, use a bow to lure enemy in, and then stand still. Only attacks enemies you can attack without moving.

Feb 19, 2010, 08:49 PM // 20:49	#5
Neo Atomisk Krytan Explorer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: State College, Pennsylvania, United States Guild: Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS] Profession: W/	there are 2 real tanks in the game. a) minion masters use meatwalls in a similar manner to an offensive line in football b) permas don't try tanking as a warrior - your job is DPS, aoedps, and KDing the entire map

Feb 19, 2010, 09:40 PM // 21:40	#6
luckyny7 Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Feb 2010 Profession: W/N	Yes. I was looking for the taunt that I have seen in other games. Thanks to all for the info.

Feb 19, 2010, 11:06 PM // 23:06	#7
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Actually, it is possible to tank, if you have a team of humans - warrior gathers agro then the rest attack from range. But it's very very difficult to tank when using heroes or henchies - it's too difficult to control their placement, etc. And, as has been said, in GW it's not a very efficient tactic either - there are much better/faster ways to do things.