by *** Disclaimer, while I played a lot, I still discover subtleties. So that just my current opinion, not an absolute truth and it is certainly likely to evolve. ***
Brute Conquerors can be Main Tanks on pretty much anything (including T3) that hits with physical type of damage, before the Guardian revamp, the Conqueror was the class who could build the most agro. But now some Guardian templates do much better.
Defining the Brute Conq as a pure off-tank class is a bad understanding of the Conqueror’s potential. Yet, the Guardian tanks better than the Conqueror and he is not as versatile. So if a guardian tanks something and hold it well, the Conq can do better than just trying to take agro. In the good old times, you could even do the other things and steal agro at same time
Example of Tank Spec, I am using
There are a few things a Conq should do imho:
First, Equip a Two-handed weapon in one slot and the one-handed weapons in the other slots. You need to switch weapons. Just using the two-handed combos limits your potential.
- Improved Feint Attack : Debuff with good DPS
- Guard of Dancing Steel/Rout: Buffs hate and gives proc but low DPS
- Burst of Aggression: Buff Hate
- Retaliation Improved, since Guard revamp improved is needed): Build hate and return damage
- Hail of Furious Strikes V: faster animation more hate (VI or Besiege at hand for DPS)
- Throat Slash: Needed as an interrupt in T3 and useful in PvP
- Rout/Breach: Best debuff
- Blood bath V: Same Dot as BB VI (if you have BBVII have it at had finisher has 12 hits)
- Overwhelm: The only fear that comes with a 90% snare and usable without being disruptive
The basic sequence is:
- GoDS
- Feint with Burst of Aggression
- Retaliate
- HoFS V + Crushing Onslaught then HoFS till GoDS is up again
Yet this can be improved a lot.
HoFS hits are all to the right, therefore the Boss is likely to move shields to the Right. Never HoFS on three shields, that’s the perfect moment to switch; use Breach and Blood Bath (left and up), then back to GoDS and Feint (Up). Hopefully by then he will have moved shields, if not you are likely to loose agro and need to reposition.
When you are tanking, try to have Retribution up to soak a lot of damage, the technique absorbs 700 of damage in case of emergency. But when you loose agro, switch to Hoarfrost and use the technique immediately if you have BB VI (12 hits) use it while technique is up. On average with 11 hits under Hoarfrost technique, you will debuff your target for 4500 armor and 1250 protection. Then back to agro building and switch to Retribution when you agro or DPS with HoFS VI/BB.
When tanking, you can switch on and off defensive stance to get a more DPS when you are not focused by the mob. But make sure you are in defensive when you hold agro. Go frenzy if you are not supposed to tank during the encounter.
Two words on Skirmish and Thunderhead
Thunderhead can be used for tanking, but does not make a huge difference and is at the expense of mana and stamina regen. Difficult to balance pros and cons here.
Skirmish is the regen everybody wants and is useful. Yet never, NEVER! Use the banner in Raids or when you have two healers in the group, as it cancels one of the healers green heals.
Conclusion, the Brute Tanking Conq who switches weapons can:
- Stack a lot of Debuffs (10% and 15% defense, -4500 armor, -1250 prot, 25% offense)
- Buff the group (Hoarforst, Heroic call, Skirmish and some heal procs)
- Decent DPS (as a Brute rank 10-13 in raid, as a Carnage in top 6-7)
- Tanks or off-tank
And now Carnage,.. maybe next time ^^
Toughts and comments are most welcome !
