Curse

Xenrath · Dec 05, 2005, 11:37 AM // 11:37

This is my Inspired Tank build, could maybe do with a tweak here and there but has worked fantastically (PvE) been using it a fair bit in various places like Sorrow's Furnace.

War/Mes

Sever Artery
Gash
Distracting Blow
Ether Feast
Watch Yourself!
Defy Pain {E}
Physical Resistance or Elemental Resistance (to taste, depending if there are lots of melee/casters)
Res Signet

inspiration: 7
strength: 11 (10+1)
sword: 12 (11+1)
tactics: 9 (7+1+1)

(Leaves 6 points left over if you have full attribute points)

Equipment:
Use the best "in stance" bonus weapon and shield you can find.
+45 health/-2 rec. dmg in stance Crimson Carapace shield (or Grognar's Defender) is excellent for this build.
Use weapons with bonuses to defence. +7 vs Physical, if you're using Elemental Res. +7 vs Elemental if you're using Physical Res. Or simple +5 of defence if you want to use only one weapon. You may also consider wearing Gladiators if you take the Elemental Resistance. These combos will reduce the penalty with each mesmer stance.

The mesmer "Resistance" stances are key here, since with inspiration 7 they give you 58 seconds (!) worth of stance. Physical res. gives +40 armour vs physical, at the cost of -18 elemental. However, Watch Yourself! should make up for that and Defy Pain gives another 20 armour (plus health buffer)

Have a Resistance running for +40 armour (vs physical/elemental) and you get the benefit of "in stance" weapons and shields for a whole minute, virtually all the time as energy is rarely a problem! This works superb with, for example, the -2 received damage/+45 health in stance shields. It can't be removed by shatter enchantment etc either.

Use sever artery + gash to deal out some damage and help out the rest of your team, and distracting blow to interrupt things like heals/mark of protection. Spam Watch Yourself! and Defy Pain when they become available.

Use Ether Feast to top up on health if need be, while your defences are up.

With Platemail and a +5 defence weapon mod (or +7 vs elemental) the -18 elemental is reduced quite a bit and you are tough as nails.

Total armour, assuming platemail: (85+10) + 40 + 20 + 20 = 175 vs physical, not counting shield/weapon bonuses. Even higher if you use Gladiators. Throw in an absorption rune, some ascalon/knights piece and you've a pretty formidable damage soaking rock. There's a weakness to degens but that's where Defy Pain helps a bit and a team healer can help out.

Possible tweaks: replace the Elite with something else? Maybe a healing signet for extra healing? Dolyak Signet is an idea too for those moments when absolutely nothing must scratch the new wax you applied to your armour...

Edit: there's no reason why you can't swap the sword for an axe and use some suitable Axe skills instead (take one interrupt though,
always useful)

Edit 2: also tested in the "Titan" quests using Elemental Resistance version, ended up being the last one standing a few times

Racthoh · Dec 05, 2005, 12:02 PM // 12:02

Personally I would use Elemental Resistance over Physical Resistance on a warrior. There are only a select few warrior/ranger enemies that can actually hit more than a spell could. Any tank build I pretty much will say use Dolyak Signet as its defense and preventing knockdown is too hard to pass up. The double-edged swords that are Physical/Elemental Resistance always catch my eye when I scroll by them but can never think of a reason to use them over Dolyak Signet.

Xenrath · Dec 05, 2005, 12:26 PM // 12:26

Yep hence I put both options there, it's down to personal taste and certain locations as well have more melee than casters (or vice versa)

Only reason I'm hesitant over Dolyak is if you're the only tank in a party, you're pretty much rooted to the spot and can't run to help anyone in trouble if a mob scatters.

Another alternative to the elite might be Sympathetic Visage... 17 seconds for 10 energy, all nearby enemies lose all adrenaline and 3 energy every time target ally is hit.

For that one reduce strength to 0, push up Illusion to 11. In theory it means anything that comes to beat you up will very quickly run out of steam, and all their friends. It's an enchantment so you can cast it on another tank too if two tanks.. might be useful.

squat · Dec 14, 2005, 11:31 AM // 11:31

Looks cool shall have to give a go il have to swap some skills as i dont have the elite but il post build i use and let you know how it works

Xenrath · Dec 14, 2005, 11:41 AM // 11:41

Text updated a bit, let me know how you do with an alternative to Defy Pain, I've not tested with other skills there yet.