2.1 Tanking has not changed too drastically in terms of playstyle, but the specs are different and I will post them here.
I'm not going to say exactly how to play the most efficient way (rotation, when to use what...etc), you can figure that out for yourself, this is to just get you started on the basics. I take some of these abilities a lot further than mentioned on here.
If you have any ideas on how to make them better or any questions/discussion, feel free to PM me, message me in-game or ask here.
For a final message, just wanted to give a shout out to Atrius to say thanks for the work he has done to fix us, and the time he has personally spent with me and a couple others going over logs and ideas to change warrior tanks for the better.
61 VK/15 Paladin/0 Tempest (same as 2.0)
This spec is my personal favorite, it's not the #1 mitigation, but it's still alright, just be sure you outgear the content.
Cooldown:
Fusion of Flesh: Use when needed (almost dead or expecting a big hit) A shield for 75% of your max hp (OGCD)
Power Shield: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Airburst: AOE taunt
Spark: ST taunt
Void Summon: AOE taunt/pull/root, amazing ability for dungeons
Rift Summon: ST taunt/pull/root, again, amazing for dungeons
Builders:
Aggressive block: Maintain 100% uptime on this.
Reckless Strike: This hits HARD with 10 pacts, main builder
Shock Pulse: Ranged builder, use when running in so you don't need discharge and waste 3 pacts of precious mitigation
Discharge: Ranged builder (uses pacts)
Void Storm: AOE semi-ranged builder (uses pacts)
Tempest: AOE builder
Ragestorm: AOE builder
OGCD:
Retaliation: Use after block
Finishers:
Devouring Blow: Main finisher, great damage at 10 pacts
Unstable Reaction: High damage 6 second channel, very nice to gain pacts extremely quick
Rift Reversal: Reflects 3 spells...I personally have no idea how this works, or even if it works. Don't bother with it as I've never had it work before. (OGCD)
Devouring Shield: Absorb shield, good if you don't need damage and want an extra ~2k shield every 3 AP
Utility:
Shock Burst: AOE silence
Shock: ST ranged silence
Spellbreaker: Self cleanse of a curse, gain 1 pact, 15% magic mitigation for 2 seconds (use on cooldown when available)
Spell Sunder: Purge the enemy, gain 1 pact. You can also purge nothing and gain 1 pact, but with 61vk this isn't really necessary at the rate of which you gain pacts.
Rift Shield: Good for wasting pacts and absorbing some big hits (OGCD)
Protective Shield: Good for wasting pacts and absorbing some big hits (OGCD)
Spell Destruction: AOE purge/cleanse 1 min CD
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Accord of the Rift
Accord of Power
Accord of Resilience
Accord of Shifting
Unstable Void
Void
Enhanced Conductivity
What to do:
Get to 10 pacts ASAP and spam reckless strike to get AP (or Tempest/Ragestorm/Void Storm if AOE). It's up to you what to do when you get 3 AP, either use shields, or devouring blow. Discharge/Shock Pulse at range, oh SIDENOTE OF AWESOMENESS: You autoattack at range due to 0 Tempest.
When pulling large groups, use Void Summon as it's incredibly efficient as a root/taunt/pull.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58 Paladin/18 VK/0 Tempest/0 Warlord (10% non-phys damage vs pull)
This is the #1 physical mitigation spec, although very boring to play. This spec is a bit below Reaver, but can be a tad more useful due to Life's Rapture. It's really up to you what you want to play unless it's a super heavy spell fight.
Cooldowns:
Touch of Life: Instant OGCD full heal
Life's Rapture: Instant OGCD raid full heal over 6 seconds and 10% mitigation. Currently it heals 100% of your health instant and heals your raid over time (bug) 1:30 CD.
Light's Protection: Increased heals for 12 seconds, 1m CD (OGCD)
Shield Defense: 30% less damage for 10 seconds, 1m CD (OGCD)
Aegis of the Light: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Shield Throw: ST taunt
Judgement: AOE taunt
Builders:
Aggressive Block: Keep it up 100% of the time
Pacification: Your main builder, spam it for mitigation
Light's degree: AOE threat and great ST damage
Sweeping Strikes: AOE threat
OGCD:
Retaliation/Light's Reprisal/Light's Vengeance: Use after block
Finishers:
Light's Benediction: Your main finisher, it's what makes this spec great
Reverent Protection: Pretty terrible aoe shield, use it if you want it
Utility:
Light's Balm/Light's Blessing: Heal target for an amount, good for spot heals and is surprisingly very very useful. I find myself using these quite a bit to help with raid heals.
Shield Charge: Charge, awesome damage as well
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Shield of the Chosen
Void
Accord of Resilience
What to do:
Keep up Aggressive Block, Pacifying Strike, and Light's Benediction 100%. Use cooldowns as needed. That's...about it. Super boring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58 Reaver/18 Paladin/0 VK
This is the #1 mitigation spec for spell damage, slightly behind Paladin in terms of physical.
Cooldowns:
Crest of Entropy: 30% less damage for 10 seconds (OGCD)
Crest of Consumption: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Grim Lure: ST taunt
Incite: AOE taunt
Concussion: AOE taunt
Builders:
Aggressive Block: Keep it up 100% of the time
Pacification: Your main builder, spam it for mitigation
Flesh Rot: AOE dot
Necrotic Wounds: AOE dot
Soul Sickness: AOE dot
Cyclone Strike: AOE builder with a large range
BLOOD FEVER: AOE dot, sadly..does not hit as hard as pacification :-(
OGCD:
Retaliation: Use after block
Finishers:
Creeping Corruption: AOE aura for 38 seconds
Dire Corruption: Ground target AOE for 38 seconds
Utility:
Light's Balm: Heal target for an amount, good for spot heals and is surprisingly very very useful. I find myself using these quite a bit to help with raid heals.
Crest of the Shadow: Shield for ~2k, it's just...meh. Use it if you want. I like to use it before pulling something
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Void
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Death
Other:
Explosive Infestation/Infestation: Use them at the beginning of a DOT rotation for some extra damage
Plague Bringer: Keep it up to make your dots AOE
What to do:
Keep up Aggressive Block and Pacifying Strike 100% of the time. Keep up all your dots and use Explosive Infestation and Infestation when available at the beginning of a new DOT rotation for some extra damage (if you want). Finish with Creeping Corruption and Dire Corruption if you are on a boss or will be standing still for a while. For ST, spam your dots and pacifying strike, as it's your hardest hitting single ability. When AOEing...you know what to do (BLOOD FEVER).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally for those interested and too lazy to do any basic sort of math, here are the benefits gained by the individual specs, not including gifts. I initially had a breakdown of all of the specs in comparison and then deleted it...too lazy to redo it :-D.
VK
-----------------
Reaver
-----------------
Pally
Read rest of entry
I'm not going to say exactly how to play the most efficient way (rotation, when to use what...etc), you can figure that out for yourself, this is to just get you started on the basics. I take some of these abilities a lot further than mentioned on here.
If you have any ideas on how to make them better or any questions/discussion, feel free to PM me, message me in-game or ask here.
For a final message, just wanted to give a shout out to Atrius to say thanks for the work he has done to fix us, and the time he has personally spent with me and a couple others going over logs and ideas to change warrior tanks for the better.
61 VK/15 Paladin/0 Tempest (same as 2.0)
This spec is my personal favorite, it's not the #1 mitigation, but it's still alright, just be sure you outgear the content.
Cooldown:
Fusion of Flesh: Use when needed (almost dead or expecting a big hit) A shield for 75% of your max hp (OGCD)
Power Shield: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Airburst: AOE taunt
Spark: ST taunt
Void Summon: AOE taunt/pull/root, amazing ability for dungeons
Rift Summon: ST taunt/pull/root, again, amazing for dungeons
Builders:
Aggressive block: Maintain 100% uptime on this.
Reckless Strike: This hits HARD with 10 pacts, main builder
Shock Pulse: Ranged builder, use when running in so you don't need discharge and waste 3 pacts of precious mitigation
Discharge: Ranged builder (uses pacts)
Void Storm: AOE semi-ranged builder (uses pacts)
Tempest: AOE builder
Ragestorm: AOE builder
OGCD:
Retaliation: Use after block
Finishers:
Devouring Blow: Main finisher, great damage at 10 pacts
Unstable Reaction: High damage 6 second channel, very nice to gain pacts extremely quick
Rift Reversal: Reflects 3 spells...I personally have no idea how this works, or even if it works. Don't bother with it as I've never had it work before. (OGCD)
Devouring Shield: Absorb shield, good if you don't need damage and want an extra ~2k shield every 3 AP
Utility:
Shock Burst: AOE silence
Shock: ST ranged silence
Spellbreaker: Self cleanse of a curse, gain 1 pact, 15% magic mitigation for 2 seconds (use on cooldown when available)
Spell Sunder: Purge the enemy, gain 1 pact. You can also purge nothing and gain 1 pact, but with 61vk this isn't really necessary at the rate of which you gain pacts.
Rift Shield: Good for wasting pacts and absorbing some big hits (OGCD)
Protective Shield: Good for wasting pacts and absorbing some big hits (OGCD)
Spell Destruction: AOE purge/cleanse 1 min CD
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Accord of the Rift
Accord of Power
Accord of Resilience
Accord of Shifting
Unstable Void
Void
Enhanced Conductivity
What to do:
Get to 10 pacts ASAP and spam reckless strike to get AP (or Tempest/Ragestorm/Void Storm if AOE). It's up to you what to do when you get 3 AP, either use shields, or devouring blow. Discharge/Shock Pulse at range, oh SIDENOTE OF AWESOMENESS: You autoattack at range due to 0 Tempest.
When pulling large groups, use Void Summon as it's incredibly efficient as a root/taunt/pull.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the #1 physical mitigation spec, although very boring to play. This spec is a bit below Reaver, but can be a tad more useful due to Life's Rapture. It's really up to you what you want to play unless it's a super heavy spell fight.
Cooldowns:
Touch of Life: Instant OGCD full heal
Life's Rapture: Instant OGCD raid full heal over 6 seconds and 10% mitigation. Currently it heals 100% of your health instant and heals your raid over time (bug) 1:30 CD.
Light's Protection: Increased heals for 12 seconds, 1m CD (OGCD)
Shield Defense: 30% less damage for 10 seconds, 1m CD (OGCD)
Aegis of the Light: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Shield Throw: ST taunt
Judgement: AOE taunt
Builders:
Aggressive Block: Keep it up 100% of the time
Pacification: Your main builder, spam it for mitigation
Light's degree: AOE threat and great ST damage
Sweeping Strikes: AOE threat
OGCD:
Retaliation/Light's Reprisal/Light's Vengeance: Use after block
Finishers:
Light's Benediction: Your main finisher, it's what makes this spec great
Reverent Protection: Pretty terrible aoe shield, use it if you want it
Utility:
Light's Balm/Light's Blessing: Heal target for an amount, good for spot heals and is surprisingly very very useful. I find myself using these quite a bit to help with raid heals.
Shield Charge: Charge, awesome damage as well
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Shield of the Chosen
Void
Accord of Resilience
What to do:
Keep up Aggressive Block, Pacifying Strike, and Light's Benediction 100%. Use cooldowns as needed. That's...about it. Super boring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the #1 mitigation spec for spell damage, slightly behind Paladin in terms of physical.
Cooldowns:
Crest of Entropy: 30% less damage for 10 seconds (OGCD)
Crest of Consumption: Use when expecting a big hit. A 20% mitigation boost for 4s, 30s CD.
Taunts:
Grim Lure: ST taunt
Incite: AOE taunt
Concussion: AOE taunt
Builders:
Aggressive Block: Keep it up 100% of the time
Pacification: Your main builder, spam it for mitigation
Flesh Rot: AOE dot
Necrotic Wounds: AOE dot
Soul Sickness: AOE dot
Cyclone Strike: AOE builder with a large range
BLOOD FEVER: AOE dot, sadly..does not hit as hard as pacification :-(
OGCD:
Retaliation: Use after block
Finishers:
Creeping Corruption: AOE aura for 38 seconds
Dire Corruption: Ground target AOE for 38 seconds
Utility:
Light's Balm: Heal target for an amount, good for spot heals and is surprisingly very very useful. I find myself using these quite a bit to help with raid heals.
Crest of the Shadow: Shield for ~2k, it's just...meh. Use it if you want. I like to use it before pulling something
Buffs:
Shield of the Hero
Void
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Death
Other:
Explosive Infestation/Infestation: Use them at the beginning of a DOT rotation for some extra damage
Plague Bringer: Keep it up to make your dots AOE
What to do:
Keep up Aggressive Block and Pacifying Strike 100% of the time. Keep up all your dots and use Explosive Infestation and Infestation when available at the beginning of a new DOT rotation for some extra damage (if you want). Finish with Creeping Corruption and Dire Corruption if you are on a boss or will be standing still for a while. For ST, spam your dots and pacifying strike, as it's your hardest hitting single ability. When AOEing...you know what to do (BLOOD FEVER).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally for those interested and too lazy to do any basic sort of math, here are the benefits gained by the individual specs, not including gifts. I initially had a breakdown of all of the specs in comparison and then deleted it...too lazy to redo it :-D.
VK
- 6% block
- 10% non-physical damage
- 10% healing effectiveness
- 40% attack power
- 40% weapon contribution
- 24% resist
- 25% end
- 11% armor
- 10% non-spell mit
- 26% spell mit
-----------------
Reaver
- 6% block
- 5% hit debuff
- 15% resist
- 20% end
- 11% armor
- 12% non-spell mit
- 36% spell-mit
-----------------
Pally
- 11% block
- 3% damage reduction while blocking
- 10% non-physical damage
- 30% resist
- 25% end
- 14% armor
- 11% non-spell mit
- 26% spell mit
