Tanks

I wanted to play a tank in this game but I just heard they are kind of useless, is that true? And if not what is the best race for a tank that isn't to terrible in damage.

well tanks are no longer useless, seeing how hate is now used in pvp and in interlude they will be able to block magic attacks with their shield.

as for the best one, i'll say SK, they have cubics that OWN!

but DA is awesome too, cause they have a pet cat.

i got an DA on lvl 64. I deletet him. all Ppl say only 1 tank is right and thats a DA. Hes complete useles, only good for tank cata and rb.

Now i have my SPS on 77 and go on Sub to an HE :)

So no Dark Avenger

Wouldnt say so. High lvl DA/HK have been doing some nasty stuff.
Choose between DA, SK and Pally, the TK aint on par with them so better leave it alone.

Well pretty much anyone who isn't a Dagger, an Archer, or a buff class for one of those doesn't really exist in high end groups.

Insta-killing 4x or 5x mobs on spawn with buffed archers and clearing out whole sections of highly-populated dungeons with 10k+ hits 40+% of the time is currently removing all need for tanking period.

Who needs to tank anything when the mob dies so quickly it doesn't get to swing?

Why get in any other type of party if you are an eligible class?

Mages, tanks, warriors... basically solo classes now unless your clan runs pity groups.

Well pretty much anyone who isn't a Dagger, an Archer, or a buff class for one of those doesn't really exist in high end groups.

Insta-killing 4x or 5x mobs on spawn with buffed archers and clearing out whole sections of highly-populated dungeons with 10k+ hits 40+% of the time is currently removing all need for tanking period.

Who needs to tank anything when the mob dies so quickly it doesn't get to swing?

Why get in any other type of party if you are an eligible class?

Mages, tanks, warriors... basically solo classes now unless your clan runs pity groups.

if you ever want to subclass, make friends with a paladin so he can tank Baium.

if you just want to play pve, nobody really needs anyone. you can always solo.

tanks and groups shine in pvp and raiding. grouping for pve is pretty useless.

Yes, because of course AoE parties, bard/support groups, and destroyers suck so much ...

Everyone else still exists.

In this game with its fluctuating power, it's foolish to roll for power - find the style you like and stick it out with that.

I think people think tanks are a lost breed sometimes because all they want to do is solo and solo fast. you know the type of person who brags about making such and such a level in 2 weeks.

if thats that person you are, you definately dont want to roll a tank.

but i am an SK and i love it. I am in a good clan with good people who like to group all the time no matter what class you are, we do raids and we have a good time chatting on vent and just hanging out in the cata's and such...

so it depends on what experience you want to create in game.

and some think tanks arent good in pvp is ludicrous. i am a lvl 55 SK in doom with a +3 dama w/focus and i was owning a 62 HE with a carnage now and in majestic in the arena multiple times...

i also was taking out same level SH's easily. now i dont know how it will work out for me when i am in my 60's facing nukers who have grown much stronger but i think i would be ok.

arrest and judgement were two good skills to give an SK...they help out a lot....

Well, I've always kind of been PvP loving, what is a good class for that?

HE, PR, SH, Necro(altho nukers are weaker than the archers.)

Or TH, Destro, DA to some extent, but range dominates so if you just wanna pwn, go for the archers.

Easty,

Do you like to group or solo?
Do you have a buff bot or full time buffer friend?
Do you want to pvp in groups i.e. sieges?
Are you going to be in a clan?
I love my DA. There is only a few toons that can beat me one on one in pvp. Soloing with the cat is fast as long as you use beast SS. In groups and sometimes 1v1 I pick up a bow and use it too. UD and a bow with the cat is a great way to ward off trouble. I wish I had started mine a lot sooner. Its a great toon for duoing if you have a friend to play alongside.
Let me know what style of play you enjoy, and I will tell you if a tank/DA is for you.

Yes, because of course AoE parties, bard/support groups, and destroyers suck so much ...

The problem is, you forgot to frame your thought with a point of reference. Suck in comparison to solo? Suck in comparison to an archer party?

Everyone else still exists.

This is true, but they are going to be solo or grouped up with each other and be missing the people who are eligible for the fast and easy method.

In this game with its fluctuating power, it's foolish to roll for power - find the style you like and stick it out with that.

You know the truth of Lineage 2 as it sits right now and you know he future of L2 will not bend much from the present. Offense (when buffed) will remain brokely overpowered and defense (even buffed) will remain mostly pointless. I truly hope this does change, but I will not tell a new person that it is going to...

Tanks are useful for a very small percentage of the time in L2 and they will continue to have that small use. This is not to say they won't shine brightly in those rare cases.... but they will remain rare.

I am simply and honestly outlining the lonely road the tanks have right now.
You will be soloing more often than not unless your clan makes a pity party or unless the game changes pretty drastically from its history.

Thankfully most people are completely wrong about melee solo... its extremely easy and very rewarding...
(and stress relieving)

If you want to group up mostly and have general use... make a WC, Sws, or BD... there simply aren't enough to go around to every party that wants one in the 6x and 7x levels.

If you want to PvP, make an archer or dagger. (most PvP is buffed...)

If you want to be hard as nails to kill in PvE... by all means make a tank... but do not expect to be much of a challlenge for a buffed archer or dagger to kill unless your cooldowns are up.

I very much enjoy my paladin... but I will not for one minute tell a new person that a tank is anywhere near as useful as the currently massively overpowered archer.
(daggers are properly powerful, but all proper defenses for them are not effective)

but do not expect to be much of a challlenge for a buffed archer or dagger to kill unless your cooldowns are up.

i have had different experience with my SK. regularly owning archers in A grade armor/weps fully buffed and of course i am fully buffed wearing B grade and a damascus.

archers are the easy mindless damage dealing class that takes no skill to play. shoot arrow, shoot arrow, stun, double shot, shoot arrow. rinse repeat.

sorry, did i sound angry there? :eek: :D

but do not expect to be much of a challlenge for a buffed archer or dagger to kill unless your cooldowns are up.

i have had different experience with my SK. regularly owning archers in A grade armor/weps fully buffed and of course i am fully buffed wearing B grade and a damascus.

archers are the easy mindless damage dealing class that takes no skill to play. shoot arrow, shoot arrow, stun, double shot, shoot arrow. rinse repeat.

sorry, did i sound angry there? :eek: :D


I have to agree with Purple, 1v1 DA vs archer I will win most of the time. Self buffed or fully buffed, it doesnt matter. Our land rate of root is very high, send in the cat, use UD and grab your own bow if you have one. If you dont have bow and root lands, get up close and try one stun then start hitting with sword. If you pvp you must have atleast a +4 dex tat. The increase in crit rate and attack speed make a big difference. I hope you are using a focus sword too.

i was fighing a DA in the arena lastnight...same level as me...and i was winning...the last 2 fights i lost though...entangle didn't land :(,

Well, I've always kind of been PvP loving, what is a good class for that?

I'm not sure what your original question/post had to do with pvp loving....

Here's the thing. A tank is a party support class (at least by design).
With the current state of those casting offensive magic and the unreal archers, and considering every insecure, inadequate player in the game rolled a nuker or archer in the last 6 months, the NEED for parties atm is not real high. (though as an observation, why anyone would solo when they could party I confess, I don't understand--parties are more FUN.)

Tanking is a state of mind (kinda like a healer---now hopelessly consigned to 2 box play instead of real/first person play).

It's not for everyone. The class sure as heck wasn't initially designed for pvp. Tanks were designed to be attacked during pvp--not to hurt anyone.

Recently we hear that is changing in the near future with a couple of 'improvements' (and we've seen a couple depending upon class of tank in C5 as well).

At some point in the future archers will get the nerf they so richly deserve and you'll see more rerolls than you can count and at least a minor increase in the popularity of parties---and of course it's possible tank classes may get even more 'improvements' in the future.

If you intend to play with other people (it is a social game, after all) then you can choose any character depending upon your best guess or your inclination or personality or whatever.
If you wanna kill everyone else for the next 6 months or so in PvP roll an archer like every other punk in the game.

To answer your original question a bit critically, no one pvp's until they've pve'd a LOT. Tanks solo-level slowly compared to everyone except buffers and healers solo. They do so because pve solo they just don't generate much damage (comparatively). All that being said, there are places to solo a DA + panther through A-grade at least--it's just going to take awhile. And to answer your first question--I've always liked the DA I play. With an ability to root and a promise of magic attack shield blocks--I'm feeling okay about sticking with it, too.

(sorry, nothing personal toward you as the OP, but archers live in a fantasy world WITHIN the fantasy world of L2! They have the exact same hit % as target distance increases and (somehow) the exact same power as target distance increases!!!!!---absolutely counter to any reason or logic!!!! At some point they need a super nerf that 1/2's their hit % and damage at distance.)

The thing is--you just don't know for sure what will be uber in the months/year it's going to take you to level a toon. Anything can happen in that time in this game. For all we know, dwarves with 'earthquake' (not even conceived yet--lmao) will own everyone on pvp next year--lol.

Heh now I'm leaning towards Daggers? What's the dish on those guys? I think PW looks pretty cool but so does TH so yeah what would you suggest? Good thing I'm posting this in a thread labled "Tanks" that way I won't mislead anyone...oh wait...

I love my Paladin and will not change it for anything.

My philosophy is to play in nice clan and ally groups and pull for them (method varies depending on hunting area). Aggro can save your party members life, and thats my number 1 priority, keeping everyone alive. I've been a natural healer in every MMO Ive played until L2, and Ive found I have more fun protecting my party, and getting everything to hate on me, than healing them. Tank is my perfect occupation in L2. As for specifics, 'pity groups' Ive seen mentioned earlier in this thread dont exist in proper clans, you need a tank for a good party in high level PVE areas.

One final thing. Dont be put off by the 'hard grind' alone. If you like the sound of the playstyle stick with it, you will enjoy just like I do in that case. Leveling isnt that hard actually, just takes good solid few hours per day.

you need a tank for a good party in high level PVE areas.

Depends on the area. I can replace tanks with a bunch of Archers, mobs are dead before they get to us. If we get a sudden unexpected aggro, I can Arrest and off-tank it long enough for the archers to floor it.