Warborne PvP/PvE Hybrid Tank 1.9 (for Conquest, Warfronts & T2's)
This is a variation of the Warborne pvp spec recently linked by Bloodbourne here:
- Bloodmourne's 1.8 Post
I whipped up my own variation of this spec on my own before finding his guide, and for slightly different purpose(s).
The Spec: 32 rb 26 vk 8 pal
Spec Difference 1: I don't think increased pact duration is all that necessary. Just keep yourself in combat and you're fine. If you're in PvE it's even less important because pact generation yields threat, so you'll be generating pacts both automatically & manually all of the time anyway. Thus, no need for extended duration.
Spec Difference 2: I also like to stack up 5/5 Surge in VK for Pact threat, as this tends to help quite a bit when using this spec for it's alternative purpose: hybrid tanking T2's & old raid content.
Spec Difference 3: I rotation a pure Burst finisher macro, similar to pure RB dps specs. Thus I wanted Scald. I also thought the cooldown reduction of Riftwalk was unnecessary, since this spec relies on Planar Blade to shine and with proper gear your Riftwalk should almost always be available. If it's not, hit one AoE builder and it usually refreshes.
Notes:
I wanted a more versatile, viable hybrid spec for use in Conquest. However, Role slots are at a premium and right now 4 of them are reserved for different raid DPS specs. One is a self-healing DPS spec for soloing. That leaves 1 tank/hybrid spec to play with. Since I don't tank in HK/ID, I have the freedom to play, a bit, and so I did.
I used this spec with great success in Conquest. It's great fun in Whitefall Escalation, Whitefall & Black Garden. I enjoy it quite a bit and I've recommended it to several warriors recently. Again, the plus side being that it's a tad more useful outside of PvP and easier to stomach the usage of a Role slot ;)
I made this spec and prepped a version of this guide for my guild before coming here to post, only to find Bloodmourne's thread. I figure this is slightly different enough, and a bit more complete a guide, to make a separate thread valuable. Seeing as he beat me to the punch, though, I am giving him the credit he's due ;)
Macros:
ST Builder 1:
ST Builder 2:Code:#show Rift Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Rift Strike cast Aggressive Block cast Reckless Strike cast Flamespear cast Stonespear cast Windspear cast Retaliation
ST Finisher 1:Code:#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Tempest cast Pacifying Strike cast Flamespear cast Stonespear cast Windspear cast Retaliation
ST Finisher 2:Code:#show Storm Burst suppressmacrofailures cast Storm Burst cast Earth Burst cast Fiery Burst cast Icy Burst
Pact Conversion
AoE Builder:
AoE Finisher:Code:#show Thunder Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Tempest cast Ragestorm cast Thunder Strike cast Flamespear cast Stonespear cast Windspear cast Retaliation
use ST Finisher 1
AoE Threat:
AoE CD:Code:#show Airburst suppressmacrofailures cast Airburst cast Pact Conversion
Rift Storm
Cleanse:
Abilities to have on your bar:Code:#show Spellbreaker suppressmacrofailures cast @moseover Spellbreaker cast @focus Spellbreaker cast @target Spellbreaker cast @self Spellbreaker
- Rift Summon (yank)
- Riftwalk (blink)
- Spell Sunder (purge)
- Catalyze (mana drain finisher)
- Soul Pillage (mana drain builder)
- Furious Rage (interrupt)
- Fork
- Windspear (silence)
- Stonespear (root)
- Touch of Life (self heal)
- Stoneshield (damage reduction cd)
- Rift Surge (great vs rogues)
Buffs:
- Aegis of Vitality (solo/pvp)
- Shield of the Hero
- Void
- Avatar of Water
- Planar Blade
(I put them up in that order)
Tanking rotation ST:Builder 2 x2 > Finisher 2Tanking rotation AoE:
( Builder 1 x3 > Finisher 1 ) x3AoE Builder x3 > AoE Finisher
( weave in AoE threat macro & AoE CD as applicable/needed )
Gear:PvP - full pvp set, sword & board, any sigil/seal (can use PvE tank ones for more survivability, if desired)
PvE Tanking - enough toughness to get above requirement vs content (100 to 200, or you better be in a real tank spec), the rest should be DPS gear, dps sigil, tank seal, rb crystal (vk crystal if you must)... a dps 1h (pvp works) + shield
PvP Pros:
- Purge, Cleanse, Yank (summon), Blink, Rift Storm, Mana Drains, Defensive buffs/cd's, ranged silence, melee interrupt, good dps, better survivability than pure dps
- It's extremely fun spam-yanking rogues that try to blink away from you carrying a flag/sourcestone
- Yank a melee toward you, blink to his healer... good times
- Can be extremely disruptive to team coordination by your opposition
PvP Cons:
- Lower dps than pure dps specs
- Paints you as a target
- Very easy to get carried away and find yourself far removed from your healer
PvE Hybrid Tank Pros:
- Exceedingly mobile spec
- Very good threat if you manage it properly
- Very good dps for a tank, especially if you know when/where to switch to 2h for RB scaling
- Versatile spec w/ cleanse & purge, reduces the need for such out of your healer (typically increasing their range of available specs)
- Can easily tank everything up through MDD with a hybrid healer in tow (does not require a full-spec healer)
PvE Hybrid Tank Cons:
- Can be squishy if mismanaged, or if you get too crazy and pull too much. IE: it's easier to get overwhelmed than it is in a full tank spec
- Best threat comes from beating your DPS to the punch and that means periodic disconnects from your healer(s)
- High mobility & rapid kills can make some DPS/heal hybrids suffer mana starvation, or inability to dps-to-heal. So does not mesh well with all heal/hybrid-heal specs
WARNING: I would NOT recommend this spec for raid tanking, or MCR tanking... though both are certainly possible at certain gear levels, and with good heal support. You should also make sure that whatever healer you bring along/pug into is aware of your spec and ready to change the way they heal to adapt. Otherwise you're pressing your luck and could set yourself up for failure.
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Originally Posted by Kroniix 
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