Guys, did this for my guild, just wondered what you thought..... (puts on flameproof suite)

A few ppl suggested i should post it here. More an all round "Warrior tank guide"

Immo’s Guide to Tanking

Hi guys,

I have been asked by a few ppl to put together a little guide about tanking. Even if you think you’re an ubermcwopperbackslashflex tank I still think this is a worth a read – you may find some of it useful.

First off, the guide is about tanking, not wannabe dps. I do believe that certain warrior builds (fury) and gear combos can allow you to do decent PvE damage but im not gonna chat about those here – lets leave that to the rogues.

Index:

1. Overview on being a tank
2. How to lead your group from the front
3. UI and Keybindings
4. Skill usage – what when & why
5. Improving your play
6. Gear and equipment
7. Dealing with grinding as prot - http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=294459469&postId=2988019099&sid=1#80 Needs to be moved into the rest of the guide by a moderator

1* Overview on being a tank

Ah, this is really something that needs to be said before we start. There are loads of reasons why you could have rolled a warrior, and for quite a few ppl its for the wrong reason.

Blizzard intended us to be the main tanks of the game. They didn’t intend us to be dps powerhouses. Therefore, when you get invited to a dungeon in most cases you will be expected to tank. If you’re a dps wannabe you’ll just have to deal with it.

You are expected as a tank to know your role, hold aggro and get the progress of the party going (something cover in point 2). In simple terms everything should hit you always. Rarely happens 100% of the time but that’s the goal.

As a GUILD tank, you are expected to be as best geared as you can, to help you guild progress. Warriors (and im talking TANKS) are not the class for the causal player. In my view they are THE MOST gear dependant class. Its simple maths. If a boss is hitting you too often, for large amounts, with your #*#@ hit points – you can’t be healed. There is no point blaming your healer – he can’t heal you. Therefore it’s your responsibility to make sure that you do everything you can to have the best gear you can have.

Playing alts OFTEN and not gearing your warrior is just asking not to be taken for a raid. So is whining about the fact you can’t get groups to places – warriors are the most PUG friendly role (as you will see why in point 2).

On the plus side – GOOD tanks are noticed. Imo its one of the most important roles and there is no place to hide. If you’re #*#@, ppl will know it. If you’re good – you’ll be famous and never have a problem getting a group. Most warriors would kill for a chance to be a main MT/OT in a guild, and if you have that responsibility you should be grateful that you have something most want.

So in summary – take responsibility for your own gear, character and knowledge. Be awesome and go get the glory!

2* How to lead your group from the front

When you’re tanking a group, like it or not you are in the best position to lead it. This is because you are the person who should be making the pulls. Because of this you are the person also controlling the pace at which the dungeon is run. Pace is something that is very important. There is nothing more frustrating than “waiting” often for marks, pulls etc. This is when it gets *%*% and dps or healers start pulling for you….

My tops tips:

1** ALWAYS mark the targets. Establish a kill order (i.e Skull > Cross > Star - Moon = sheep).

Explain beforehand to the dps and make sure everyone is clear on what to hit when.

KEYBIND the marks – it is in the keybinding menu. I use F5 – F12 for the marks. This means if you feel like you need to “remind” the dps of which to hit you can very quickly change the target your fighting to a SKULL. Keybinding also increases the pace at which you can mark.

If the dps are having trouble following the order politely remind them. Also remind then that if they dps the wrong target and pull it – they yank it they tank it – end of. DON’T spam FFS NOOBS cos it wont help…

2** ALWAYS pull (in general). The first thing I say in a new group is “I mark, I pull”. This is a zero tolerance rule imo. If they want you to tank you NEED to do these things.

For those of you who can’t see why this is obvious here is an example. A mage does the pull for you, pulling a group of 4 mobs, you run in, use thunderclap which is probably your easiest ability to aggro all 4, say 1 gets resisted – this means you have to then a) turn you back on the others to run after the one that was resisted (IF you seen which one), so your getting hit for more b) your not generating threat on anything whilst your running….

…so basically YOU PULL NOONE ELSE (unless you ask them to i.e hunter mis/dir, rogue shoot 'n sprint etc). If they do – warn first, leave second time – simple.

3** PACE. Can’t say enuff about this – if you are pulling / marking you are responsible for the pace of the run. Anyone who has been on a non heroic run with me will know the pace at which a pull (sometimes a little to quick…. Wink)

Other players will remember this pace well and appreciate it. OBVIOUSLY don’t pull if your healer is OOM etc. Also make sure you warn ppl that you will be pulling with pace so the don’t take their minds off the game.

4** STUNS and DPS. If you rogues in the group or any other class with the ability to stun tell them before hand NOT to use them unless the mob is on low HP or needed for a particularly damaging spell interrupt. You want to get hit to generate rage and you can’t do this if as soon as you landed 1 sunder on the mob they have been kidney shotted…..

Also inform them to wait a few seconds before starting dps, especially if there is more than one mob to tank.

5** AOE. If you group has AOE capabilities such as multi shot, blade flurry etc tell them NOT to use it on elites unless they wanna tank. The most annoying one is multi shot as they will pull that mob you are not focussing on off you and then you have to chase it around as it runs to the hunter….

For the above reasons this is why you CAN PUG successfully. As long as you got a half decent healer and follow the above PUGs are like any other group. Yes, sometimes you will still get tw*ts that wanna /flex the dps but you can always “forget” about tanking that one to “remind” them of why they need to be careful and dps the right thing……

3* UI and Keybindings

This is one of the most important things imo that determines your success as a tank.

In order to lay down some serious threat in a short amount of time you have to get this right. Everyone has his or her own way of playing. The best way for me to get this point across is to show you an example of how I have my keys / screen set up.

My UI:

Below is a screenshot from the other day. EDIT: These are VERY old - need get a new pic up

New one looks something like (these are old to):
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n21/danheelan/lurker1.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n21/danheelan/wtfareana.jpg

OLD Party UI: http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n21/danheelan/UIparty.jpg
OLD Raid UI: http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n21/danheelan/Uiraid.jpg

Lots of extra boxes as I am the raid leader so need info!

s you can see, it might look weird to some but for me it is months of tinkering improve my gameplay.

Ignoring all the fancy chat boxes etc, the main focus of the UI is about looking at one place.

You can see I have my skills bar above my head, and next to it target of target, and both these are as central as poss.

This is because I want to look at what im doing! I wanna be able to see that the mob is hitting me, I want to see what skills are on cooldown, I want to see what is happening to the mobs around me. All this is achieved by having the boxes where I do. Again, personal preference.

My Keybindings:

Again key bindings are above having all the buttons to fingertip reach where possible. You’ll see why I have these where I do in the Skills section.

Def stance

Spacebar = sunder
1= Shield slam
2= Shield block
3= Revenge
4= Taunt
5= Shield bash
6= Disarm
7= Commanding Shout
Mouse4= Heroic Strike
C= Demo shout
G= Bloodfury
X= Devastate

Battle Stance

1= OP
2= Thunderclap
3= Charge/Intercept Macro
4= Exectue
5= Rend
6= Slam
7= Battle shout
Mouse4= Victory Rush
C = Demo shout
G= Bloodfury
X= Mocking blow
Space = Heroic Strike

Zerker

1= Whirlwind
2= Hamstring
3= Intercept/Charge Macro
4= Execute
5= Bloodrage
6= Slam (don’t know y…)
7= Battle shout
Mouse4 = Victory rush
C= Demo shout
G= Bloodfury
X= Pummel
Space = Heroic Strike

General Bindings

Q= Will of the Forsaken
B= Trinket (Pvp usually)
`= Concussive Blow
Mouse5= Cleave
E= Battle Stance
R= Defence Stance
F= Zerker Stance

Shift 2= Thunderclap
Shift 3= Intervene Macro
Shift 4= AoE Taunt
Shift 5= Aoe Fear
Shift6= Spell Reflect

* Skill usage – what when and why

There are lots of ways to play a warrior, but there are not many different ways to generate the MOST threat. There are some threat basics that every warrior should adhere to.

To understand more about threat and how it works visit this link:

http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=94319875&sid=1

This has on it all the info you need about what skills generate what threat. It is also not a bad guide.

The list below is a summary of how I play using the above points as a reference:

Some basic routines- THESE ARE EXAMPLES and cannot be used in every situation. These use bow pulling as an example as this is what you will be doing most of the time:

Single Target Tanking:

Start in zerk stance - Shoot mobs (using a >>Pulling<< macro is always nice)

Hit Beserker Rage (to gain more rage when hit), Switch to def stance, bloodrage if up

Usually good to start of with a few aggro generating skills before mitigation skills so, Sunder, Revenge as soon as its up, shield slam, constantly **queuing heroic strike etc. After that get your mitigation in – Thunderclap, Demo shout, Commanding shout.

Sunder is a great one to hit ASAP as it is a visible sign to the dps that you have landed at least one threat skill.

** Queuing is how I describe the time between skills on the Global cool-down. When you hit sunder for example you have to wait a small time before you can hit it again. Heroic strike and cleave don’t apply to this rule, so you can hit sunder, then hit heroic strike. This will activate the next melee swing skill. You can still hit sunder in the meantime if it comes up before you next melee swing, and heroic strike/cleave will remained “queued” until your next melee swing (rage allowing). Constantly queuing skills like this allows you to generate threat extremely quickly – important in 5 mans where dps wanna get stuck in.

Rinse and repeat routine with those skills. I can’t say enough how the use of heroic strike in between instant abilities can help you build threat VERY quickly.

*I wouldn’t recommend using shield block ever as an opening skill cos you starve yourself of rage for the basics*

A Note on Raid Tanking: This is often a single mob target with UBER hits. Get initial aggro then ALWAYS have all your mitigation up against a hard-hitting mob. Renew your thunderclap, demo shout and keep shield block up.

Use mods such as Nature Enemy Cast to keep track of the duration of these skills.

Multiple mobs:

Shoot mobs (using a >>Pulling<< macro is always nice)

Start in zerk stance, hit Berserker Rage (so when the mobs hit you you will be gaining more rage), Switch to def stance, bloodrage if it is up.

On multiple mobs, thunderclap, then start working your way through the mobs to make sure you have hit the main dps target twice, then everyone at least once with an aggro generating ability (sunder – always good cos its visible that you have hit them). On large groups when you have lots of rage “queuing**” cleave at all times is a good method, while using your instant skills to generate threat on the main dps target.

These first few seconds are what determines whether this pull is gonna get messy or not. Fast threat will only come through practice and key bindings. You want to ensure all the targets are grouped so you can hit them easier via “tab targeting” and you have good visibility of all the mobs. Also ensure they are in front of you – getting hit from behind is not good…

Loosing one or more mobs at this point is usually the end of a tight pull because you will spend most of it running around. KEEP AN EYE ON ALL THE MOBS. Get ready for a quick taunt if a mob start running. KINDA OBVIOUS TIP: Taunt isn’t facing dependant so it has a 360 degree arc so you don’t need to turn around to taunt something – this will save you a few seconds to ensure it doesn’t run out of taunt range. Remeber mocking blow if taunt fails, you can use a macro do this quicker if you are uncomfortable with you keybindings/changing stance quickly.

Chances are if you are tanking 3 – 4 mobs and have eager/good dpsers the main target will have started to hit one of those – np use taunt. They have a hp bar for a reason and its fine on NON Heroics to loose aggro for like 1 second to ensure your healer isn’t gonna get owned.

Continue building threat on the main dps focus target but tab targeting along to whack the odd sunder etc on the others. Using thunderclap every now and then can help when multimob tanking but tbh a more threat per rage efficient way is often the use of sunder or revenge (depending on build).

Switch to the next dps target when the main focus target is on low health to start gaining threat on it before the dps get there eager little hands on it.

Multiple mob tanking is a memory / judgement game. Remembering what you have hit and how hard. Practice practice practice.

5* Improving Your Play

Tanking is kind of an art. You should always be looking to improve your play. Some points to constantly review:

1) Awareness – have you noticed that mob run past you pwn’in the healer? If not, think about why – Is my camera at the right angle, would I benefit more from tanking the mobs facing the group so I can use intervene etc.
2) Macros – I don’t use a lot of these but having one for intervene is a must. Having a “pulling” macro is also nice.
3) Pace – do you think your group is happy with the pace you are going at? If not, why not.
4) Timing – am I loosing that 3rd mob to healer aggro when I go in? If so WHY. How could I speed up my aggro gain? Could I adjust my key bindings?
5) Raid tanking – Have I been given the chance to tank a boss and keep dying? Why? Is it cos I let thunderclap, shield block and demo shout all come down at the same time and get f**ked?

6* Gear and Equipment

I am not going to go into detail on this. Basics are you want loads of STM but as your gear increases and you want to tank harder bosses, dodge and parry can help also <lots of discussion on this.

To tank raids YOU MUST HAVE 490 defence. This stops raid bosses cricting you.

Farm the instances for everything you can get and get into heroics for the best gear from the vendor.

Anyway, hope this helps someone, somewhere.

Really nice guide i'd say.

My tanking is really similar to yours :)

I would advice ppl to use mocking blow if your taunt fails.. And it's really nice to have a macro that says to group if you taunt fails.. :)

ZOMG great guid! Go Go Sticky!

My alt loves this guide, STICKY FTW

Solid guide with good advise, I second (maybe 3rd) the motion to Sticky :D

/shameless bump

lots of views not many opinions.

D

amazing guide :D

Finally someone that gives tips on key bidings :D thx so much mate ;)

Aye, sweet.

/shove to sticky

nicely done. solid advice

/sticky

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Q u o t e:

Single Target Tanking:

Start in zerk stance - Shoot mobs (using a >>Pulling<< macro is always nice)

Hit Bloodrage (to gain more rage when hit), Switch to def stance

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Sure it was just a typo, but I guess you mean Berserker Rage there :P

Fixed! Thank you!

D

really nice! Good points here for my main.

Soild advice /sticky ftw!

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Q u o t e:
3* UI and Keybindings

This is one of the most important things imo that determines your success as a tank.

In order to lay down some serious threat in a short amount of time you have to get this right. Everyone has his or her own way of playing. The best way for me to get this point across is to show you an example of how I have my keys / screen set up.

My UI:

Below is a screenshot from the other day.

http://www.wow-absolution.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=17809#17809 (better shot later on)

As you can see, it might look weird to some but for me it is months of tinkering improve my gameplay.

Ignoring all the fancy chat boxes etc, the main focus of the UI is about looking at one place.

You can see I have my skills bar above my head, and next to it target of target, and both these are as central as poss.

This is because I want to look at what im doing! I wanna be able to see that the mob is hitting me, I want to see what skills are on cooldown, I want to see what is happening to the mobs around me. All this is achieved by having the boxes where I do. Again, personal preference.

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Theres like a 400x400 window where you can actually see what you are doing, I can't see how that is a helpful UI. Make things clean and simple.

Also, you should edit your post to say Beserker Rage instead of Blood Rage where you talk about switching to Zerker Stance and gaining more rage when hit when you pop "Blood Rage".

Lastly, the idea that only you should pull isn't true. It just makes you sound like an arrogant ass. The most obvious example of where you not pulling would be ok would be misdirection. Its incredibly useful, and can allow you to keep the main target on your face with little effort while building up threat on secondary mobs. Its also useful in a boss where you need to start nuking fast.

If you left a run because my hunter pulled a mob to you with misdirect I'd probably remember you in a rather negative light.