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I want to level a tank. Which class should I get?
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Post by
324038
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
146010
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
pezz
Right now, paladins are probably the best tanks in the game.
This,
very
slightly. Any tank is perfectly capable of tanking any content, barring those weird fights where a ranged tank is required. Paladins might be a tiny bit better at the moment, but not by a huge deal. Also Blizzard will probably do a tiny nerf here and there to bring them back into line. Ultimately, choose whatever class you want. Any of the four tanking classes can tank any end-game content. The miniscule advantage paladins have over other classes isn't too noticeable unless you're super concerned with min-maxing.
Post by
Zandranas
Pallys are supposed to be getting a TPS nerf, but they have always had the best snap AOE threat of any tank. Warrior you can only dual spec for dps. Pally has a choice or heals or dps as well which I enjoy.
Post by
cosmicguen
Well, I'd go with the warrior personally. On a completely biased note...I just can't stand Blood Elves <shudder>, plus I don't like the idea of the paladin class, so pallies are out for me. I've got an orc and a shield...just lemme at 'em :D
Warriors have, imo, pretty great AoE threat generation. OK, it takes more management than a pally (mobs in consecrate = pally wins threat), but once you have a groups attention you're pretty much keeping it.
Vigilance
is an awesome ability as well, and just helps give you that edge on your threat. Bonus points for putting it on a plate-wearer that can handle a hit and refresh your taunt ;)
I admit to knowing very little about how a paladin creates and maintains threat. What I do know, is that when I'm kicking out the dps in my fury spec (
crap threat reduction
.../cry), the only tanks I feel comfortable with are paladins, and warriors with vigilance. So long as I give the pally half a chance on his threat, I'm not going to pull off him.
Both classes are
very
healable as well. I know most of our healers (myself included) would rather heal a paladin or warrior tank over a DK or druid. Their damage intake is just very steady, with very little 'spiking' to contend with, which reduces the stress on a healer because he can more or less anticipate every heal with accuracy.
Having said all that...I would suggest you have a look at the warrior, paladin, DK and druid forums for more info from the people that play the classes. Remember you're going to have to get your toon to 80 first, and might not have a lot of tanking to do along the way. If you hate the way a class plays while levelling you're probably not going to enjoy tanking with them. Don't pick a warrior or paladin just because they're the 'classic' tanking classes. Pick one you're going to actually enjoy playing.
Post by
pezz
(mobs in consecrate for several seconds= pally wins threat)
Fixed. When a mob runs right through consecrate straight for your healer, you only get like 800 threat on it. When that happens and all your spells are on cooldown it's sometimes a bit scary. That said though, give consecrate three or four ticks and let me use Hammer once and I win at threat permanently.
Post by
126061
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
cosmicguen
(mobs in consecrate for several seconds= pally wins threat)
Funnily enough, that's what I meant. Was going on to a whole point about pally threat ticking and warrior threat snapping. It got a bit lost I think :)
have patience untill cataclysm comes out and roll a tauren pally :D
Yeeeee...not gonna happen :P I have tried several times to level a pally, and it just never works. The last time I tried I had about 400 deviate fish (levelling fishing on three toons >.>) which I made into deviate delights so I wouldn't have to put up with the blood elf. Finally got to lvl 30 and realised I just can't stand the class :/
Post by
146010
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
pezz
There's addons to help with that though. You can get bright, annoying text to pop up over your character to beat you over the head with the fact that you have a proc to use.
Post by
windstrum
Right now, paladins are probably the best tanks in the game.
This,
very
slightly. Any tank is perfectly capable of tanking any content, barring those weird fights where a ranged tank is required. Paladins might be a tiny bit better at the moment, but not by a huge deal. Also Blizzard will probably do a tiny nerf here and there to bring them back into line. Ultimately, choose whatever class you want. Any of the four tanking classes can tank any end-game content. The miniscule advantage paladins have over other classes isn't too noticeable unless you're super concerned with min-maxing.
I agree with ya. Any tank is fine, but I believe paladins are presently sitting at the top of the heap right now. It really depends on which tank's playstyle you think you'll enjoy more. Paladins have a rigid rotation to follow for max TPS, warriors are more priority and proc-based. I myself, find warrior tanking a little too frantic, if you will. Constantly having to check for sword n board and revenge procs while keeping attention on the fight isn't something I found I was very good at ^^''
Aren't druids currently the preferred hard-mode tank?
Post by
Silversmith
What about poor poor DKs? I find the idea of tanking with a 2hander quite attractive - leveling one for tanking purposes right now, even though my paladin has quite the tank gear stashed away.
Post by
pezz
Death Knights are also fine tanks, but the OP seems to have decided to choose between warriors and paladins.
Post by
161859
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
YesterdaysHero
Paladins are easier to use, and hold threat better on groups than Warriors. It's the class mechanic, and what Blizzard wants them to do (group aggro).
Warriors take more skill, and hold single target aggro better than Pallies. What's more, they're the definative "old-school" tanking class.
Both do the exact same thing, and tank raids/instances.
On a side note, Blizzard has stated they don't want DK's in a the trio of tanking classes. It was said over a Q&A recently. Expect them to eventually fall off the radar as a viable tanking class, and fall in line more with Shamans as a utility class.
Post by
pezz
On a side note, Blizzard has stated they don't want DK's in a the trio of tanking classes. It was said over a Q&A recently. Expect them to eventually fall off the radar as a viable tanking class, and fall in line more with Shamans as a utility class.
Want to buy links? That seems like a pretty drastic turn around. Also if by 'utility' they mean 'class that people joke can tank but really can't at all' they might succeed. Otherwise what are they planning to do, take out all the tanking talents and cram all three talent trees with random group buffs?
Post by
YesterdaysHero
On a side note, Blizzard has stated they don't want DK's in a the trio of tanking classes. It was said over a Q&A recently. Expect them to eventually fall off the radar as a viable tanking class, and fall in line more with Shamans as a utility class.
Want to buy links? That seems like a pretty drastic turn around. Also if by 'utility' they mean 'class that people joke can tank but really can't at all' they might succeed. Otherwise what are they planning to do, take out all the tanking talents and cram all three talent trees with random group buffs?
Was in one of the Class discussions recently on the WoW front page (iirc). You'd have to dig on your own sadly.
Post by
pezz
Really?
we still want death knights to be able to tank every encounter.
That was from the DK Q & A in the run up to 3.2. Have they reversed their position so completely in such a short time?
Post by
pezz
There must be irony or satire here
somewhere
, but I'm ashamed to say I can't work it out.
Post by
146010
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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