Quote:
You are correct that you can do much more damage by going in, letting AAO take effect and then using soul drain before the shield charge. However, using shield charge prior to entering a mob almost completely negates the alpha strike from that mob which is one of the tanks primary duties. It does so very effectively, I might add.|
Originally Posted by TygerTyger
I recently started up my first Shield tanker. Decided to go with a SD / Dark, as I loooove me my Dark Melee. (My main is a DA/DM tank, level 50) So far, only up to level 18 (and climbing fast!).
I see most Shield tankers throw down the gauntlet by starting off most mobs with Shield Charge. It seems to me though that this may not be the most advisable option, particularly with DM. Does it make sense to get into the mob, let Against All Odds buff me up, hit Soul Drain, and then Shield Charge? That seems to provide a HUGE damage bonus, as well as some decent accuracy, to the Shield Charge, likely pulverizing all the minions right from the get go. Granted, I haven't gotten there yet, but seems like it would make sense from a mechanical point of view. Or am I missing something? |
So, either method is a viable tactic. Really, the best way to decide what method to use is to quickly gauge the strength of the mob and determine which tactic is more appropriate at the time.
Using shield charge first is also the more sound tactic to use, before your tank has reached soft capped defenses. So, you may see your method of tanking evolve as he/she grows.
Ah yes, good point. This is my first Defense tank, I am used to Resistance where I can gauge that alpha a lot easier.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I never use Shield Charge before I've fired off Soul Drain and am getting a medium to highly saturated AAO on my SD/DM. Pretty much nothing beats Soul Drain -> Charge + Fire Ball on a tanker.
Once you get to soft capped Defense you should no longer have to worry about gauging the alpha. Against 99% of the game content, you can just dive in and hit them in the face until they die and come out without a scratch (Siphon Life is there to top you off as well as being your second best ST attack). Against the 1% you'll probably die in an instant because of their enormous ToHit buffs.
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I recently started up my first Shield tanker. Decided to go with a SD / Dark, as I loooove me my Dark Melee. (My main is a DA/DM tank, level 50) So far, only up to level 18 (and climbing fast!).
I see most Shield tankers throw down the gauntlet by starting off most mobs with Shield Charge. It seems to me though that this may not be the most advisable option, particularly with DM. Does it make sense to get into the mob, let Against All Odds buff me up, hit Soul Drain, and then Shield Charge? That seems to provide a HUGE damage bonus, as well as some decent accuracy, to the Shield Charge, likely pulverizing all the minions right from the get go.
Granted, I haven't gotten there yet, but seems like it would make sense from a mechanical point of view. Or am I missing something?
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.