Does the Tank Spec Need a Change in How It Functions?

[Bungledork-area-52]

@Adrasti-stormrage

Then play DPS? Not really understanding the problem here. You want to bounce between the two archetypes, go for it?

Read the post. I do go and play DPS. I just dont find tanking for long periods fun. I find the nature of how tanks currently work lacking when compared to how DPS work.

@Greatbobbo-zuljin

95% of my gameplay is managing mitigation. If you want that “baked in” all I’d be left is spamming Shield Slam, Revenge, and Thunder Clap.

Except for the parts where, you keep and possibly gain large defensive CDS, and situational spenders which can debuff mobs to varying degrees and effects. So instead of managing your base active mitigation, you are managing when you want to debuff mobs, buff your group, or deal extra dps.

@Kiyoko-ravenholdt

It depends on the mitigation and the activity. You don’t generally want 100% uptime on Shield Block in raids if you are only going to be taking hits ~50% of an encounter, so you can spend talents that give you more uptime elsewhere. Ironfur is similarly not worth keeping up if you aren’t going to be getting hit.

In M+, you generally want your mitigation up at all times in combat unless you’re somehow not taking damage (kiting like mad, immune, happy hour)

Raid tanking is less fun than M+ tanking. When you arent trying to keep your active mitigation up tanking something, you DPS. But its not really a engaging DPS rotation.

@Brewscifer-area-52

I did read the post, however a big chunk of the issue in wow is how only the tanks blur role lines. DPS can’t tank, Healers can’t DPS, yet tanks can do it all. Ran a +10 where the prot pally was out dpsing a mage…

I see. I wasnt advocating for tanks to do more DPS. I was advocating for them to feel closer to how all the different DPS specs feel. But instead of big DPS spenders, they have situational spenders. Instead of resource management to just keep a mitigation up, they manage their CDs for big damage events, and utilize a builder spender to aid their group or debuff the enemies they are fighting, or spend on a DPS ability.

@Kiyoko-ravenholdt

I feel like tanks should have their gameplay primarily revolve around tanking and mitigations, rather than being a dps spec who is the designated target for the healer to dump into.

Thats what they are now for the most part. When you are taking damage, you job is to keep your mitigation up and rotate CDs. Effectively keeping a maintenance buff up as much as possible.

I think what I am saying is that I enjoy tanking and the role of a tank. But, I find the maintain mitigation aspects of the role less engaging than when I am playing a DPS. Healing feels fun, and stressful, but fun, because of the amount of agency you have with your spells and how and when to use them.

With tanking, Your agency is when to use personals. The stunning or interrupting ect, is part of every role. But after the agency of when to use personals, its kind of just keep hitting your active mitigation.