Bodyguard only works with the pets in Defensive with these three modes: Follow, Go To, and Stay.
Attack My Target makes them aggressive thus dropping the bodyguard mode (but not changing the initial setting of defense to aggressive).
Aah alright, thanks a ton ^_^ Another question, then. How can I handle more than one enemy? Since I cant order them to attack a different one thats beating on me, as well. Or is it one of those "Kill the first creature(s) quick with the extra mitigation so you can kill the next one before it kills you" thing?
No. Clicking the Attack button sets them on Aggressive, so you loose bodyguard mode right then.
Yes, you HAVE to let them retaliate and attack ONLY when you've been hit, or you lose bodyguard mode. You can also let a pet get hit, it doesn't have to be you personally. All pets respond when one pet gets clobbered.
The later fact suggests a tactic: send one pet in to Attack on target. Preferably a target no one has engaged yet, so it will in turn attack your pet. Then all your pets get involved as soon as one of your pets receives damage.
This gives you most of bodyguard mode. Don't forget to return all pets to bodyguard mode after each fight. If you keep Attacking with a different pet, eventually they'll all be off Defensive and no bodyguard mode for you.
What I do is leave one or two pets on Aggressive and put two on Defensive. This gives me immediate attacks and still keeps bodyguard mode. If I notice my pets aren't engaging, I put them all aggressive. If I start to take damage, I have "petcomall Def Fol" hot-keyed so I get 100% bodyguard mode back in a hurry.
Mastermind don't stand around, you have to actively manage your pets.
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Aah alright, thanks a ton ^_^ Another question, then. How can I handle more than one enemy? Since I cant order them to attack a different one thats beating on me, as well. Or is it one of those "Kill the first creature(s) quick with the extra mitigation so you can kill the next one before it kills you" thing?
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Normally, you WANT your pets to attack the mob that's beating on you, so they pull aggro and leave you free.
Once your pets do pull off everything that's hitting you, THEN you can order them around. As I mention, it's safest to leave one or two on bodyguard mode and just order the remainder on to specific targets.
You can select targets a bit while in Defensive mode, since pets will tend to target whatever is closest to them. If you need to remove a guy hitting you, go stand next to some of your pets.
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Bodyguard only works with the pets in Defensive with these three modes: Follow, Go To, and Stay.
Attack My Target makes them aggressive thus dropping the bodyguard mode (but not changing the initial setting of defense to aggressive).
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This is only true if you use the default 3 commands. I use the advanced controls, so I can control which stance and order they have seperately. Defensive attack still isn't bodyguard, but they are in defensive mode. This means they wont run off and attack some random group that isn't in combat with me while I'm fighting. Actually, I normally only use aggressive stance in mayhem missions.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
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Bodyguard only works with the pets in Defensive with these three modes: Follow, Go To, and Stay.
Attack My Target makes them aggressive thus dropping the bodyguard mode (but not changing the initial setting of defense to aggressive).
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This is only true if you use the default 3 commands. I use the advanced controls, so I can control which stance and order they have seperately. Defensive attack still isn't bodyguard, but they are in defensive mode. This means they wont run off and attack some random group that isn't in combat with me while I'm fighting. Actually, I normally only use aggressive stance in mayhem missions.
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I meant the advanced controls 
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Bodyguard only works with the pets in Defensive with these three modes: Follow, Go To, and Stay.
Attack My Target makes them aggressive thus dropping the bodyguard mode (but not changing the initial setting of defense to aggressive).
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This is only true if you use the default 3 commands. I use the advanced controls, so I can control which stance and order they have seperately. Defensive attack still isn't bodyguard, but they are in defensive mode. This means they wont run off and attack some random group that isn't in combat with me while I'm fighting. Actually, I normally only use aggressive stance in mayhem missions.
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I meant the advanced controls
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But you said that if you keep using a different pet each time to initiate combat then they eventually would no longer be in defensive. That's only true using the simple controls. Advanced controls don't change stance when you change orders.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
Bodyguard mode would be too powerful if you could focus fire while still maintaining the damage mitigation. This is why "Attack my Target" while in "Defensive" mode, achievable through advanced controls, does not engage bodyguard mode.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
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Bodyguard only works with the pets in Defensive with these three modes: Follow, Go To, and Stay.
Attack My Target makes them aggressive thus dropping the bodyguard mode (but not changing the initial setting of defense to aggressive).
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This is only true if you use the default 3 commands. I use the advanced controls, so I can control which stance and order they have seperately. Defensive attack still isn't bodyguard, but they are in defensive mode. This means they wont run off and attack some random group that isn't in combat with me while I'm fighting. Actually, I normally only use aggressive stance in mayhem missions.
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I meant the advanced controls
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But you said that if you keep using a different pet each time to initiate combat then they eventually would no longer be in defensive. That's only true using the simple controls. Advanced controls don't change stance when you change orders.
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Well I guess I could've been a little clearer 
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Bodyguard mode would be too powerful if you could focus fire while still maintaining the damage mitigation. This is why "Attack my Target" while in "Defensive" mode, achievable through advanced controls, does not engage bodyguard mode.
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I know it doesn't allow bodyguard. But it doesn't put pets in aggressive stance. Just negates bodyguard. It then kicksback in once they go back to follow stance (usually at end of battle for some reason)
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
Madam_Enigma,
Sorry, I wasn't saying it put them in aggressive stance. It wasn't even a reply to your post. I haven't gotten used to using tags to say QR and whatnot yet. I just meant to try to explain why "Attack" + "Defensive" =/= "Bodyguard."
It would be immensely powerful.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
If something starts beating on you, and all your pets are defensive, just take it for a minute. The damage they take from BG makes pet aggro. I've always had a pet save my bacon when something goes wrong. YMMV
Heya all! Recently came back to City after playing the Trial about a year and a half ago, and seen this thing about Bodyguard. Now, I understand the basics of the game, and some advanced things, and yes, I have looked in to bodyguard on Paragon Wiki, and a few threads here, but I would like a direct answer, really.
I have all my pets on Defensive mode almost 100% of the time, but even my friends when I group with them, ask me how I get shredded almost every other pull, even when I hardly get any aggro from anything. My question is, if my pets ARE on DEFENSIVE, but I click the Attack button,(Not setting them on aggresive, mind you, theyre still on defensive. I have advanced pet controls enabled.) will they still mitigate the damage? Or do I HAVE to let them retaliate and attack ONLY when Ive been hit by something for them to absorb my damage?
Sorry for yet another thread about this, but I really would like to not die or blow all my Inspirations every big pull. >_<;