If there is a topic about this, I'm really sorry about posting this but when I searched I couldn't find a good deatiled sword and shield tank guide. I only have a few questions. Should I be avoiding consitutuion and putting points into dex because my duel dex warrior only died like once. Also what is the best tanking armor and such like a great shield and how much points should I put into strength before I start putting points into other attributes. So far this is my equiptment plan (not very filled out) Weapon: Starfang? (is there something better?) shield, warden tower shield or bulwark of the true king (dlc) armor: ??? too many options to know whats good I'm afraid (black templar armor maybe? mod)... amulet: Spellward Ring: Lifegiver and ring of ages. I was thinking of running him with a duel weilding warrior (alistair) an archery rouge (leliana) and a healer/ damage mage (morrigan) or duel weilding rouge (Zev) and two mages (heal and damage). Which party is better do you think is better? Thanks!
Sword and Shield Tanking
Débuté par
ilikecookiesalot
, juin 16 2011 12:56
Retour en haut
#2
Posté 16 juin 2011 - 01:54
V0luS_R0cKs7aR
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Ideally, you'd want to set a sword and board warrior as the tank of the party...so this: http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Tank
Do whatever it takes to max out your SS talent tree first. I found Shield Wall (with Shield Mastery, or whatever it was that gave you immunity to knockdown) invaluable. If you're going for a dex build, you'd probably want to take a dagger in the main hand, as opposed to Starfang.
For specialization, Templar is a good one, with Holy Smite. For Awakening, Spirit Warrior was pretty much essential, with its Spirit damage armor bypass and Beyond the Veil. I also ran with Andruil's belt, Spellward and Lifegiver, and for the rest of the equipment/runes I tried to max out physical/mental resistance. Obviously money is going to be an issue, so having a rogue who can steal and pick locks was pretty much essential (Allistair would be out, for example). Oh, and I ran the entire game with Wade's Superior Dragonbone and Corruption, or (leveled) Warden's Commander armor and Helm of Honnleath.
Do whatever it takes to max out your SS talent tree first. I found Shield Wall (with Shield Mastery, or whatever it was that gave you immunity to knockdown) invaluable. If you're going for a dex build, you'd probably want to take a dagger in the main hand, as opposed to Starfang.
For specialization, Templar is a good one, with Holy Smite. For Awakening, Spirit Warrior was pretty much essential, with its Spirit damage armor bypass and Beyond the Veil. I also ran with Andruil's belt, Spellward and Lifegiver, and for the rest of the equipment/runes I tried to max out physical/mental resistance. Obviously money is going to be an issue, so having a rogue who can steal and pick locks was pretty much essential (Allistair would be out, for example). Oh, and I ran the entire game with Wade's Superior Dragonbone and Corruption, or (leveled) Warden's Commander armor and Helm of Honnleath.
#3
Posté 16 juin 2011 - 06:15
Arthur Cousland
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You can skip overpower and assault from the weapon+shield tree until you feel that your tank actually has the stamina to use them without being left with not enough stamina for taunt.
Try to make sure that you are able to pick up taunt+threaten by lv 4 and 5, bravery at lv 8, and shield mastery+shield expertise at lv 12-13. I'd keep shield defense up at all times, until you get shield expertise, then I'd switch to shield wall to make your warrior immune to knockdown attacks. When you have enough stamina to keep threaten up all the time, then do so.
Champion+Templar are good specs for a tank. Champion will give you rally and war cry. When fully upgraded, rally gives your party a nice boost to attack+defense, and war cry will knock back enemies when your tank is surrounded. Templar will give you cleanse area, which is nice for when allies are hit with crushing prison/curse of mortality, and holy smite is a nice aoe stun. Towards the end of the game when my tank warden has enough stamina for it, both war cry and holy smite get frequent use for crowd control.
As for attributes, usually I'll go 2/1 strength/dexterity until my warrior has 38 strength for the best armor, then they go all dexterity for defense. When dexterity is around 60, then I'll start raising strength again and they'll have around 57 strength/60 dexterity by the end of the game. All other attributes are the base amounts.
Starfang is a nice tank sword. Before that, just use the best sword that you come across: don't spend money on anything as you'll get starfang soon enough, especially if you go to Soldier's Keep right after Lothering, or do Broken Circle then Soldier's Keep. As for shields, I'd use Havard's Aegis from the Tower if Ishal, then Eamon's Shield from Redcliffe Castle. Once you have access to the Warden vault in Denerim during the Landsmeet, I'd switch to Duncan's Shield and use that until the end of the game.
If you have Return to Ostagar, I'd have my tank wear all of Cailan's armor, along with Maric's Sword+Cailan's Shield, once they are tier 7 quality. Cailan's equipment has nice bonuses for warriors+arcane warriors. If you don't have Return to Ostagar, then Wade's Superior Dragonbone Plate is a good tank set of armor, along with Helm of Honnleath. Until you have access to these, the Blood Dragon Armor or Warden Commander armor sets will hold you over until then.
For accessories, I'd go with The Spellward (amulet), Andruil's Blessing (belt), and the Lifegiver Ring+Key of the City.
You can't go wrong with a tank, 1 damger, 1 lockpicker, 1 healer setup. A warden tank, along with Sten/Oghren, Leliana and Wynne would make a nice party. If you were to respec Alistair to a dual wield setup, then they could replace Sten/Oghren nicely. Zevran also makes a nice damager party member and could be paired with Leliana or could replace her for lockpicking, once you can get him some deft hands talents. I wouldn't bring a mage along for damage, unless you planned to control them often to avoid aoe damage to your party. One mage is enough for healing+crowd control.
Try to make sure that you are able to pick up taunt+threaten by lv 4 and 5, bravery at lv 8, and shield mastery+shield expertise at lv 12-13. I'd keep shield defense up at all times, until you get shield expertise, then I'd switch to shield wall to make your warrior immune to knockdown attacks. When you have enough stamina to keep threaten up all the time, then do so.
Champion+Templar are good specs for a tank. Champion will give you rally and war cry. When fully upgraded, rally gives your party a nice boost to attack+defense, and war cry will knock back enemies when your tank is surrounded. Templar will give you cleanse area, which is nice for when allies are hit with crushing prison/curse of mortality, and holy smite is a nice aoe stun. Towards the end of the game when my tank warden has enough stamina for it, both war cry and holy smite get frequent use for crowd control.
As for attributes, usually I'll go 2/1 strength/dexterity until my warrior has 38 strength for the best armor, then they go all dexterity for defense. When dexterity is around 60, then I'll start raising strength again and they'll have around 57 strength/60 dexterity by the end of the game. All other attributes are the base amounts.
Starfang is a nice tank sword. Before that, just use the best sword that you come across: don't spend money on anything as you'll get starfang soon enough, especially if you go to Soldier's Keep right after Lothering, or do Broken Circle then Soldier's Keep. As for shields, I'd use Havard's Aegis from the Tower if Ishal, then Eamon's Shield from Redcliffe Castle. Once you have access to the Warden vault in Denerim during the Landsmeet, I'd switch to Duncan's Shield and use that until the end of the game.
If you have Return to Ostagar, I'd have my tank wear all of Cailan's armor, along with Maric's Sword+Cailan's Shield, once they are tier 7 quality. Cailan's equipment has nice bonuses for warriors+arcane warriors. If you don't have Return to Ostagar, then Wade's Superior Dragonbone Plate is a good tank set of armor, along with Helm of Honnleath. Until you have access to these, the Blood Dragon Armor or Warden Commander armor sets will hold you over until then.
For accessories, I'd go with The Spellward (amulet), Andruil's Blessing (belt), and the Lifegiver Ring+Key of the City.
You can't go wrong with a tank, 1 damger, 1 lockpicker, 1 healer setup. A warden tank, along with Sten/Oghren, Leliana and Wynne would make a nice party. If you were to respec Alistair to a dual wield setup, then they could replace Sten/Oghren nicely. Zevran also makes a nice damager party member and could be paired with Leliana or could replace her for lockpicking, once you can get him some deft hands talents. I wouldn't bring a mage along for damage, unless you planned to control them often to avoid aoe damage to your party. One mage is enough for healing+crowd control.
#4
Posté 03 juillet 2011 - 10:40
Last Darkness
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Im a fan of 26 Dex, and all other points Str.
This lets you deal decent damage and have good defenses from all your shield talents.
(You also see significant improvments with Threaten)
Of course you could wield a dagger and shield and focus on dex but you take less damage.
Either way I suggest the Reaver build for the heal, stun and aoe damage aura to hold aggro.
I would actualy avoid Champion since a tank needs to use alot of stamina on skills and so Rally is a problem.
Reaver/Templar covers pretty much all your needs and I highly suggest it for either build.
I generaly view Con as a trash stat in general, but you only ever really need 30 Con for Origins and Awakening on a Tank Warrior.
Hmmm I might suggest this build.
Reaver/Templar
Focus on getting Dex to 22 first (You get 4 points for free from the fade to total 26 Dex and you only need 26 to get all your talents) then focus on getting Str to what you need for gear and weapons. (I Suggest using a dagger intialy, some have had better results that way) then once you have say between 30-42 Str start boosting some Con till 30.
Idealy for a truly balanced stat spread work towards 60 Str, 26 Dex, 30 Con. and play aggressivly.
This is probably one of the funest builds ive played for a warrior. keep in mind your a talent spammer so watch your stamina.
This lets you deal decent damage and have good defenses from all your shield talents.
(You also see significant improvments with Threaten)
Of course you could wield a dagger and shield and focus on dex but you take less damage.
Either way I suggest the Reaver build for the heal, stun and aoe damage aura to hold aggro.
I would actualy avoid Champion since a tank needs to use alot of stamina on skills and so Rally is a problem.
Reaver/Templar covers pretty much all your needs and I highly suggest it for either build.
I generaly view Con as a trash stat in general, but you only ever really need 30 Con for Origins and Awakening on a Tank Warrior.
Hmmm I might suggest this build.
Reaver/Templar
Focus on getting Dex to 22 first (You get 4 points for free from the fade to total 26 Dex and you only need 26 to get all your talents) then focus on getting Str to what you need for gear and weapons. (I Suggest using a dagger intialy, some have had better results that way) then once you have say between 30-42 Str start boosting some Con till 30.
Idealy for a truly balanced stat spread work towards 60 Str, 26 Dex, 30 Con. and play aggressivly.
This is probably one of the funest builds ive played for a warrior. keep in mind your a talent spammer so watch your stamina.
