Learning to tank! Help!

General Discussion
1

Pretty much the title. I know the basics of tanking, being the leader and shot calling checking bushes, vanguarding when taking camps, peel, protect teammates. I think I got these things down pretty well.

Here’s where I need help. I suck at initiating. How does one go into a fight and create opportunities? I have noticed when tanking, I am a very reactionary player. Someone dives into my backline I try to stun them away, someone on my team dives in I try to help them. But I feel as tank I should be the one leading the charge. I struggle with all in tanks like Diablo and anub arak. I feel that when I go in, my team doesn’t and then I die. Is this a timing issue on my end or my team not following up?

Another thing is I only really feel confident tanking when Johanna. I am looking for another main tank to pick up. What/who would people suggest?

(I do not have any replays or anything, I have no idea how to record or post such things)

Thank you!

1 Like
2

Some tanks do some things different are should be played differently because of it.

However tanks do share a common focus, being the punching bag for your team.

Your main focus should be 3 things

  1. Protect your backline from damage
  2. absorb as much damage as possibly without dying
  3. Engaging/ disengaging for your team

You are not meant to do damage, primarily stick with your healer and main damage assassin instead of laning.

You are the person who sets up a fight while making sure those other 4 teammates don’t die.

I always have this outlook when i play tank and it’s quite the helpful information

“If anyone on your team is to die, it should be you first”

3

Mal’franis is super great. Just walk around in circles without taking free damage from enemy team until the enemy tries to engage and then go on their backline as hard as you can. I’m pretty sure that’s how you play most tanks. And if you see someone step out of position who you can kill, engage them/make it as easy as possible for your team to kill them. After you’ve done what you can, do what you can to zone people out from helping them. My $0.02

4

if you played as a tank or anything else at all you’ll find your replays when you click on WATCH here.

that’ll take you to the replay you want to link in the forums. and if you don’t know how to post it then follow these screenshots. after you choose the replay you want to post which will be marked for you once you click on Show in Folder you can either post it in Discord server / DM and click Download but don’t download it! it’ll open the browser copy the link above and ignore the download thing then paste it in the forums.

Replay Marked for you after clicking Show in Folder

Moving the replay to discord DM or Server appears like this to you. click that icon will open your browser

copy the link above ignore the download icon

then you’re able to post it in the forums.

4 Likes
5

Ah thank you! I know for a lot of games you have to be actively recording in order to save so that is good to know for the future.

1 Like
6

Should be mentioned that the damage you are absorbing should specifically be protecting someone else (in the case of bodyblocking a skillshot or a displacement ability like Garrosh throw [assuming you can survive/escape that yourself]), or you should at least trying to make people pay attention to you if they are threatening an ally. If imperius lands a huge spear on your backline, run forward with your arms flapping around and scream nonsense at the enemy team. This will maximize the chances that they forget about the immense engagement that just happened from Imperius, and instead turn to focus on you, because you have become very interesting to them. Once their eyes are trained upon you, that’s when you press your Uno Reverse card upon them.

7

no problem hehe yeah that’s a good thing about hots you don’t need to record games unless you want them to make videos out of them then yeah you must record unless clips which means you can record clips out of a replay in that case ^^

8

So what I’m hearing is “be as annoying as possible”. I’m good at that :stuck_out_tongue:. Be a bully, but also be there for your backline.

I just gotta figure out how to be annoying in a way that helps my team. How do you know if you go in too far? Obviously you want to bully their backline, to disrupt cohesion, but you also have to keep your team safe.

9

it’s an easier job when you have a Bruiser in your team something like Imperius or even Deathwing etc. to protect your backline rather than you doing 2 jobs by yourself it’s always helpful to have a bruiser supporting you in doing that teamwork!

10

True. Another Frontline does make things easier

11

I came to this thread just to upvote Hoku but she is not here yet.

1 Like
12

First off, Anub’arak isn’t an all in tank. You should not be initiating with E, but saving it to peel, reposition, follow-up, or escape. Burrow Charge, Powerslide, Dwarf Toss, and Shadow Charge are all types of abilities while they can be used to initiate, are often better held for something else.

With that said, in terms of initiation, there are several things I use to decide when to go in:

  • Level differences, especially talent tiers.
  • Enemy tank and healer’s mana and CDs.
  • My team’s CDs.
  • Someone being out of position.
  • Number difference, especially if a key person is missing.

Once I have decided that the odds our in our favor, I will go in. How I go in depends on the team comp in question, and how much displacement or CC the enemy team has. 90% of the time, engaging simply means walking up to them and looking menacing. That way I have everything available should they choose to accept my challenge. While certain heroes are better at the “walk up and be a threat” engagement, such as Garrosh and Diablo, any tank can do that. For me, the one exception is Blaze, where I will initiate by poking them until they get annoyed enough to do something about it.

Whatever you do, when you do choose to go in, don’t change your mind halfway there. There is nothing more frustrating for the rest of your team than a indecisive tank.

5 Likes
13

You’re job will vary from hero to hero but the general gist of it is as follows.

Keep your buddies alive and facilitate kills.
Oh and don’t die while doing it.

That’s it.

Okay fine, some explanation… You are there to peel and cc the heck out of whatever threatens your damage dealers.
And when you aren’t covering them then you’re helping them kill things by either locking em down or putting them in a crappy situation.

Now as for the finer points of when to engage.

1: Gauge weather or not you’ll get anything you actually need out of it.
Objectives, camps, bosses, money, ganks before objectives… Crap like that.

2: Gauge weather or not you’re in a good position to engage.
Example: If you’re out numbered five to three you are not in a good position…
If you have a your whole team at your back their ults up then you are in a sweet position to engage.

If that first one is a YES then weigh it against that second one BEFORE YOU ENGAGE.
If that first one is a NO then DO NOT ENGAGE!
If that second one is a YES then weight it against the first thing BEFORE YOU ENGAGE
If the second one is a NO then DO NOT ENGAGE!

And lastly we have Beginner tanks.

Diablo: High health good CC and the ablity to move opponents around to where YOU want them.
Dibs can really live up to that lord of terror thing.

Muradin: he’s tough, he recovers pretty quick, he has killer mobility and stuns.
Guy can initiate, peel and disengage like a pro.
Jack of all trades in my opinion.

Arthas: this boy has it all. Decent damage, serious crowd control, great self sustain and the ability to put the fear of death into melee heroes dumb enough to get close.
He’s a great buddy tank for duo laning.

Final tips:

1.Get a firm grasp on your heroes specific job.
Not all tanks are created equally and not all of them serve the same purpose.

  1. Unless you have a plan… don’t open with a gap closer/charge/escape.
    When you’re tough as nails and backed up by heals it’s usually better just to walk through the ouch and use the closers to either finish something off or bail the hell out.

  2. DO NOT GO IN ALONE.
    He or she who fight’s alone, DIES alone.

  3. Don’t be a hero.
    If you figure you’ll die, then strongly consider an alternative solution.

3 Likes
14

Alright! I feel like I have learned some things. Points about not using your mobility tools to initiate when you are tough enough to walk in are good, thank you. I also appreciate the tips on weighing a good engagement. I will have to try it all out tomorrow (it’s late for me) and see how I do.

2 Likes
15

Don’t dive, don’t chase, don’t play in assassin, use bodyblock, before thou use any abilities, think three times, is it worth it? Look at the draft to see which assassins the rivals are taking. Each type of damage has its own types of tanks, which will make it easier for you to play them.

1 Like
16

I wish this thread was not only Pinned. But Could be a pop up when ever some one plays a tank for the 1st time. So maybe we wouldn’t get so many bad tanks in QM/SL

1 Like
17

Just a few things to keep in mind

  • Gather xp globes
  • Dodge skillshots
  • Block skillshots aimed towards you
  • Maintain abilities/mana
  • Look at everyones ults
  • Before using your ult look if the team is in a right position
  • Create space
  • Lock down targets
  • Zone/anchor
  • Do objectives
  • Be in range at your healer
  • Peel for the backline
  • Stay in the frontline
  • Keep everyone busy
  • Survive
  • :crazy_face:
  • Soak
  • Lead the rotations
  • Dont facecheck bushes
  • Keep in mind of stupid teammates. , therefor dont count on cleanse
2 Likes
18

Alright! Played a match as Diablo, kicked butt, survived well, got mvp and won! Thank you for all the help everyone!

4 Likes
19

Since there are quite an amount of replays here and you asked about how to engage, I’ll reply regarding that:

I engage when I see an opportunity. Be it lvl/talent advantage, or someone out of position or easy to blown up if I get them.

Try to notice these. Not entirely sure, but I assume your non-Tank allies engaged before you because they saw these opportunities, so try to notice them yourself.

But if none of the above is met (but you aren’t at a disadvantage), still don’t fear to start a fight if it’s for an obj. Sense your team’s battle-readyness and lead them to the inevitable brawling.

But always engage with an escape plan in hand. Also checking pings and using them yourself can help to see what your allies want and communicate your own intentions towards them.

And last but not least, keep in mind your teamcomposition. If your team has no divers but a lot of poke. Don’t go in, just stand in front of them as their protecting guardian and cover so they can wear down the enemy from your safety.

2 Likes
20

This is my favorite guide on how to tank. It helped me a lot and now I’m a better tank than when I started. This is a good starting place.

3 Likes