Stalker Tanking

[Raille]

I'm bored so figured I'd go into detail on the Stalker tank role.

First off the build: http://www.ws-base.com/builds/generator ... 44.945.819

I'm not as concerned about support power in this build after the early levels. Stalkers have the easiest time holding threat so your threat generation/support power comes last in statting usually. Armor and resist gear actually goes a long way to help bring the overall mitigation up. Deflect isn't as reliable as you'd like so focusing on that stat tends to make you spikier overall.

At t8 whiplash you'll never have energy problems. I mostly spam that to maintain stacks and nano-shield to hold threat and heal myself. I use Decimate at tier 4 to regen power and keep a 10% damage reduction buff on whatever I'm tanking. Even with bad deflect you should be able to maintain the debuff. The taunt is mostly extra damage off the GCD and an emergency grab since this build has no range really. I use 3 different abilities that can interrupt and in 5 man dungeons I can create a MOO by myself. I use steadfast to help mitigate any big hits I know I won't be able to avoid, but may replace this as I see more end game.

Nano Darts are tempting for an oh crap health regen, but I haven't found them required yet for grouping. Razor discs are nice for range attacks, but I'd only want to use as more of a offtank ability when threat and survivability isn't an issue. The same mentality goes for amplification spike and nano virus. They offer nice buffs/debuffs, but don't out weigh the benefits of straight health regen. I could see using frenzy t8 on dps race boss fights, but not normal day to day fights.

It's nice to know there are a lot of options that are perfectly viable in a group setting and I'll love to find out what the theory crafters discover as the "best" build. Ironically a pvp tank build wouldn't be too far removed from the tank build for survivability.

[Vors]

Does Nano Field count as a life-steal ability because I had people arguing with me that it doesn't count as a actual life-steal and thus doesn't benefit from the amps points put into life-steal.
I would hope they are wrong as their isn't much benefit of those amps points without it.

I'm Still too noob to know for myself only just started messing around with tanking spec when i got to level 18 on the weekend

[Raille]

Amps in lifesteal make 6% of the damage you do return as health regardless of ability. It doesn't make a lifesteal ability more powerful.

[Vors]

Amps in lifesteal make 6% of the damage you do return as health regardless of ability. It doesn't make a lifesteal ability more powerful.

Oh thank you that's a massive point of clarity to me, so clearly they had no idea what they were talking about and neither did I lol.

edit: Also really wish the amps were more detailed in their actual benefits...

[bbates024]

Nice read and use of the build layout tool! Man I can't wait to get to endgame and see how my SS healer plays out.

[Raille]

One thing I'd mention is earlier on support power helps a lot with threat when groups don't always let the tank pull and establish threat.