How can I be a Massive Damage Tank?

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Ok. This is my first time actulley being Damage dealing Proffesion. I am not new to GW at all, I have always just been Healer. So, now it's time for me to take action.

Just made a new Character, W/Mo. She is new, so am I. I got her to lvl 10, and Im still on Island. I have farmed some REALLY good green and purple hammers, but I am currently using a sword. Are Hammers/axes even good, I never see ppl use them.

I only have pointsin Swordsmanship, and Strength. Im totally new to this Proffesion, let alone dealing damage to foes. I need help, obviously.
I just want to e able to take damage, while more of it in return.

I want to be a invinsible tank...if there is such a thing, or close to it.

TY, please respond ASAP.

IGN- Lil Samurai Doll

Wrath Of Dragons

Wrath Of Dragons

Burninate Stuff

Join Date: Aug 2005

New Mexico

E/Mo

First, tanks are not massive damage. Tanks have more defence (in general) while warriors have more offence.
hammers are good in single target combat, which is bad for pve, so i dont recomend a hammer.
in pve, there are a lot of groups, so i would recommend some aoe damage like cyclone axe, triple chop(an elite from later in the game, or hundred blades)
look around in the "campfire" and farming areas for good builds

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Oh, sorry, my mistake. Well, if I tank, can't I deliver damage also?
Hmmm, ok, so your saying I should go with Swordsmanship.
I heard I should be W/N for a skill (I think it's a skill) called Grenths Balance.

I dont know.

So, I guess, what Im looking for is a excellent Tanking build. I wanna help the party, like the Warriors do for me when Im Monking!

Well, ty for helping. I'll be awaiting more responds..... ^_^

Undressed

Undressed

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2006

Reich

none

W/

I believe taking "Watch yourself" is totally enough for defensive matters. You could bring a second buff like "shields up" but there it should end if you want to invest into decent damage dealing.

Hammers lack reasonable AoE damage. You could know down, bellysmash then crude swing or yetismash, but "Tripple Chop", "Cyclone Ae" and "100 Blades" are just superior, plus you'll lose some defense because hammers are two-handed.

I recommend a minimum of 14 in weapon mastery, meaning a weapon (sword/axe/hammer) attribute +1 helmet and a minor weapon (sword/axe/hammer) mastery rune on it, depending on the weapon of your choice.

ShaneOfMach

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Go with a Mesmer Secondary

Physical Resistance and Elemental Resistance are too beautiful for words <3

also, dolyak signet is a great skill for walling

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Ok. So, if swords do more AoE dmg, and Hammers and axes do more indivitual (or so I have been told), which would be best? I only have 14 Attribute points to but into both a Weapon and something else. Im only lvl 10.

Those skills you mentioned: Tripple Chop, Cyclone Axe, and 100 Blades are for what type of Weapon? Are you saying that is good for tanking?

Uhh, can you give me a definaition for Tanking. I, Iknow what it is, to a extent. Like I stated above, I dont know much besides healing with my Rt. Lord or Monk. :/

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Ok, well, Im already a W/Mo. I'll have to wait till Senji's.

Walling???

Tingi

Tingi

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mo/

high weapon mastery + a deep wound attack skill - there you go dmg dealer

watch yourself + healing sig - there you go you're a tank

If you wana go sword use something like this:

Dragon Slash
Sever Artery
Gash
Sun and Moon Slash
IAS Skill (nerfed TF lol)
Watch Yourself
Healing Sig
Rez Sig

for axe maybe this:

Eviscerate or Triple chop
Axe rake or dismember if using triple chop
Executioners strike
IAS skill
Watch Yourself
Heal Sig
Rez Sig
other skill watever

hammer maybe

Devastating hammer
Crushing blow
fierce blow
IAS skill
Watch yourself
Heal Sig
Rez sig
other skill watever

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Wow, well, I dont have the ability to aquire 1/2 of those yet. Ty anyways though!

What I dont understand, is, if Swoards are more AoE, Hammer and Axes more indivitual? Right? Not sure.

What is good weapon for tanking and what exactly is Tanking???? I kinda know, but, not totally sure. There more of dmg takers right? So I need alot of strengh?

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

Take Watch Yourself and boom! you're a tank!

You need a rez sig, and it's nice to be able to heal yourself in a pinch.

Dedicate the other five skills to dealing damage (IAS, Dragon Slash, Triple Chop, Enraged Smash, ETC), run 16 in the weaponmastery of choice, and watch as you mow down mobs.

Hakkar

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2006

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pure Healer
Wow, well, I dont have the ability to aquire 1/2 of those yet. Ty anyways though!

What I dont understand, is, if Swoards are more AoE, Hammer and Axes more indivitual? Right? Not sure.

What is good weapon for tanking and what exactly is Tanking???? I kinda know, but, not totally sure. There more of dmg takers right? So I need alot of strengh? For early PvE, use a sword. It's not that a sword deals AoE damage, but that a sword's damage is much more consistant than an axe's. Later in the game, however, you should switch to an axe. An axe is able to deal more damage than a sword if it has 12 in axe mastery opposed to 12 in sword mastery. Hammers, on the other hand, are generally not recommended for PvE as they leave you without a shield (or another off-hand). They do, whoever, work quite well in PvP.

Pure Healer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Puppet Killers

Rt/R

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnipiousMax
Take Watch Yourself and boom! you're a tank!

You need a rez sig, and it's nice to be able to heal yourself in a pinch.

Dedicate the other five skills to dealing damage (IAS, Dragon Slash, Triple Chop, Enraged Smash, ETC), run 16 in the weaponmastery of choice, and watch as you mow down mobs.
Ok, I do have few HEaling, and Restore as rez. * Replied to your answer alot more below*

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hakkar
For early PvE, use a sword. It's not that a sword deals AoE damage, but that a sword's damage is much more consistant than an axe's. Later in the game, however, you should switch to an axe. An axe is able to deal more damage than a sword if it has 12 in axe mastery opposed to 12 in sword mastery. Hammers, on the other hand, are generally not recommended for PvE as they leave you without a shield (or another off-hand). They do, whoever, work quite well in PvP. I have a few healing: Mending, Reversal Of Fortune, and a Rez sig.
Im stillleanring when, and when not to use the skills. Im useing a sword now, a combo of Bleeding, and makeing them hurt more when they bleed, ect.

The only reason why Im intrested in Hammers is that I foudn 3 really, really, good green ones, and, I wanna use them...or try. But, I shall take your adive and use a sword ( I just have a 14 dmg Sunqua one) since Im still on island. So, when I get off Island you suggest I switch to Axe?

What I dont geet is how can somone kill a mob, you can kill 3 at one time, can you? Or do you justheal through it, will killing 1 at a time?

Thomas.knbk

Thomas.knbk

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Do Not Under Any Condition Whatsoever Take Mending
There are much better options. Live Viraculously and Vigorous spirit are both far superior in hp/s rate, plus less people will think you're a total retard if you don't use mending. You are going have that problem anyway because you're wammo, but taking mending only makes it worse.
The builds blademaster suggested are very good. in very specific situations (SF farming and the like) you might need more tank skills. your build should look something like this then:
Strength 15
tactics ~13
weapon rest. not important.

DOLYAK SIGNET
glad's defense
shield stance
watch yourself
bonneties
heal sig
res

In general PvE situations this is however a total overkill and you're much better off with only watch yourself and more dmg from your weapon.

GL in playing a warrior. Many people claim it's the easiest profession around, but it really isn't

Franco

Franco

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2006

England

VoB

Me/

lol Im laughing so much here.

And people stop giving her Glads Defense, Dragon Slash and Eviscerate >< Shes level 10.


Just take basic core warrior skills, if you are running sword and still at level 10

sever artery, gash, silverwing slash, final thrust, watch yourself, healing signet,Rez. and I dont know what other skills you have as a level 10 W.

But that should do the job.

And if you dont want to get laughed at in parties... please dont use mending.

kazjun

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

HoVa

W/N

Well, if you're using swords early on, watch yourself should be enough defence for the island. Heal sig to heal, don't use when you're under fire unless you have some blocking or evade stance on. The rest use attacks or utilities as you want. You can probably get by with just sever artery and gash (for bleed and deep wound) and power attack. Or whatever other attacks you want to get. You may want to bring distracting blow to interrupt and wild blow to break enemy stances. You can get more of a final build once you get to the mainland and can get some elites.
Oh, and try to get a max dam sword. Doesn't have to be pretty or have fancy mods, just a plain old 15-22 makes a big differance. Shouldn't cost more than 500g

Yukito Kunisaki

Yukito Kunisaki

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2005

Chicago, IL

W/N

swords are godly in pve since enemies attack what they can as long as the AL is just right... [aka, you're smart and your softies are far away from you] Riposte and Deadly Riposte make a sword PvE warrior very devastating and when you get the skills to do so, Gladiator's Defense among other things combined with Ripostes makes swords the most damaging PvE weapon in the game...

The thing with axes and hammers is that to the novice eye, they're weak. Axes have a lower minimum damage than swords do and their normal attack damage is quite bad [crits excluded], hammers attack very slow and people feel that faster swings = more damage despite the high max damage level...

I am and always will be an advocate of axes with hammers in 2nd place. Reason being is that swords seem cliche to me and my opinion matters to me the most...

Why is axe the bomb? Well, since bleeding only works on fleshies [and subsequently Gash's deep wound], swords limitation is in landing said deep wound. For me, with this game's sexcellent warrior super kill mechanics, I based my entire killing game around the game's deadliest condition: Deep Wound. HP bars drop like bad habits with this condition in place and when you've suffered it yourself, high AL warrior or not, it FREAKIN' HURTS...

What weapon drops the fastest Deep Wound? The axe... Totally unconditional, if the enemy can't get knocked down [giants in pve, balanced stance characters in pvp] hammers lose crushing blow, and if bleed is removed/can't be applied, swords lose...

If you want the most efficient way to tear off large chunks of health in bursts, the axe is the key...

YAY UNCONDITIONAL DEEP WOUND [that nails ghosts and undead for some odd reason...]

Enough axe preaching...

About your idea for doing damage...

Watch Yourself needs to be spammed [as in kept up indefinitely] in order for it to do its job, but it is the most efficient tactics defense skill [for 0 tactics it's quite Godly]

Dolyak Sig is good for soloing, less for PvE groups since you need to be mobile to body block.

Healing Sig? Questionable really, if you got fast monks, do something else, if not, it's the best free heal in the game imho...

Bonetti's Defense rox on a warrior waiting in between adrenaline bursts... If you're not spiking, you're blocking and gaining energy for your secondary attacks if able...

However, a good rule of thumb is to deterimine your tank type by your skill balance:

I. 4 attack / 4 defense [including res sig] makes you a balanced tank [my fav]
II. 5+ attack skills makes you an offensive tank
III. 5+ defense skills makes you a defensive tank...

You're better off being I. if you're in an unsure PuG, II. if you're with very skilled monks, and III. if you're trying to test soloing...

I will always be a fan of I. however... Play how ya like!

Jetrel

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2006

my setup which im trying to change at the moment includes swords, however on mywitch to axes.. im wondering if i should switch my elite skill from glads defence to triple chop.

glads< for 10 secs anything that hits me takes 33 or so dmg>
triple (chop deal around 30 dmg to 3 targets..?)
in a real fight with a team of 6 theres not a very good chance im going to have 3 monsters on me at any one time and melee attackers for that matter so triple chop might be better,. however i could just go for a spike killer like eviscerate right?

which is the better choice.
and instead of the heal sig i use healing breeze with lvl 12 healing.
works great.

in the end im working with
3 attack skills (axe)
healing breeze and res
then the rest stances. <3 stances glads/sheild stance/bonettis.

even with my shitty sword setup and the fact the sword im using has a req of 11 and ive only 9 in sword mastery i can still farm minos with ease.

Dragannia

Dragannia

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

Venatio Illuminata [VEIL]

Me/N

Skills you need.

Doylak Signet.
Watch Yourself
Attack Skill
Attack Skill
Attack Skill
Attack Skill
Whatever Skill
Res

Tripple Chop is godly in PvE. Get it ASAP and switch to axe.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

Just a few tips for you:

- Don't bother with heealing prayers. You are best to spend your attributes in Tactics, Strength, and the weapon of choice.

- Focus on damage reduction with skills like Watch Yourself and Dolyak Sig or Shield Stance rather than self heals.

- Stay in range of your monk to allow them to heal you and only use Heal Sig in emergency situations (preferably when not being attacked)

- If you want to deal more damage, put more attributes in Strength for more armor penetration

- For PvE, I reccomend Sword or Axe.
- Axe has the advantage of Cyclone Axe, which is a good AoE dmg skill and also helps you generate adrenaline in big mobs
- Sword is good for bleeding with Sever Artery and can do a good damage spike with Final Thrust on a foe with less than 50% hp.

- Use your secondary for a rez spell and condition removal. Purge Conditions is an excellent skill to remove blindness quickly and get you back into action (especially since a lot of Afflicted Rangers use Throw Dirt)

Jetrel

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2006

the reason i like to use healing breeze is because i hate relying on monks. they tend to be unorganized and useless in some situations.
being a self perpetuation meatsheild of doom is something im aiming for.
but im going to check out watch urself and dolyak sig. ill post again once ive tried the new build.

Eldritch Icefist

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

The Fallen Angels Clan {CLAN}

W/Mo

For sword a-spike i would go with something like this:

deadly reposite
reposite
sever artery
gash
silverwing/galrath
final thrust
healing sig
rez sig

btw, i know there isnt an elite in that build, could take final thrust out, dragon slash(boreas seabed mish, seaguard eli, luxon), it good for adrenaline management
Hope that helped ya some

TheYellowKid

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mina Sucks [Blz]

if you want a lot of defence i would run the FoW template and swap sprint for a rez sig

Watch Yourself, Dolyak Sig, Phys Resis

even without dolyak u only lose 2 - 4 points of armor with WY and Phys Resis both on (think with 3 points in inspiration you lose 2 points)

then fill the rest with attact skills and any nice skills you see from your secondary

the only prob with dolyak is if the enemies are spread out it kinda defeats your purpose and you cant protect your backline which is why i tend to only use it in very specific situations

Warskull

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jul 2005

[out]

First off, you are going to use your warrior primary almost exclusively.
Second, forget the word tank. You are death incarnate. Elementalists wish they could do what you can.

For a factions character I suggest getting yourself a good sword. Buy yourself a Victo's blade, they are nice and cheap and extremely good. You just switch to a non-vampic sword when you aren't fighting.

Start off with Sever Artery, Gash, Silverwing Slash as your offensive combo. You will be able to cap Quivering Blade very soon after you hit the mainland. Do so and swap your combo to Sever, Gash, Quivering.

Always run an IAS, I suggest tiger stance in PvE (frenzy can be run, but until you get better at warrior tiger stance is much safer.)

If you have prophecies travel over Lion's Arch as soon as possible. Unlock "To the Limit" on your account and buy it at LA (just RA for a bit with a monk to earn 1k faction and unlock it at the priest of balthazar.)

I suggest running "To the Limit!" and "Watch Yourself!" in your two utility slots.

When you are done your bar should look like:
Sever, Gash, Quivering, To the Limit, Watch Yourself, Rush, Tiger's Stance, Rez Sig.

Remember at least 14 in your weapon, shoot for 16. You only need like 9 in strength. If you can hit 11 tactics it is pretty good for TTL.

jesh

jesh

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

San Diego, CA

Penguin Village

Mo/

Warskull, not sure if Rush in factions, but if she has prophecies, .. well, it's not the easiest skill to get to for the first time. The only vendor that carries it besides emberligh is in Copperhammer mines. Other than that I don't object to your choice in skills there, nice for a new warrior. Though I'd take plague touch is she wasn't a w/mo. Mmm. Plague touch.

Another thing I wanted to make clear, for Pure Healer - if you want to do area effect damage, without Elite skills, you want to use an axe. Why? Cyclone axe. Swords do have Hundred Blades, yes, but this is an Elite skill and is by no means something you can just pick up at Seitung Harbor.

Hammers do have Crude Swing, but it's almost unusable, just because if anything hits you, it's a no go. Also, if you intend to be on the front lines, a shield will help a lot. Hammers are incredible weapons, but I would say it takes a more experienced warrior to make use of them in pve.
Try switching to hammers after you get swords or axes down, and you're more comfortable playing a warrior.

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Warskull
If you have prophecies travel over Lion's Arch as soon as possible. Unlock "To the Limit" on your account and buy it at LA (just RA for a bit with a monk to earn 1k faction and unlock it at the priest of balthazar.) You can do the same with Rush. Until then Sprint's not a bad choice either, albeit a bit harder on your energy.