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Tordana's Comprehensive Warrior Tank Leveling Guide
Introduction
I've recently noticed a number of new players to RIFT looking for assistance with tanking. These players are often referred to either one of the myriad of level 50 guides, which don't help them that much, or to Ciderhelm's very old and very outdated leveling guide. Here, I hope to guide newer players through their path to 50. For players already at 50, please consult my Comprehensive Warrior Raid Tanking Guide.
This guide does not go into detail about various dungeons, it simply provides an overview of specs and rotations at certain levels as you make your way towards 50. For information about mechanics in dungeons, I suggest you consult one of the many guides found on the official RIFT forums.
This guide is not intended for soloing, it is intended for 5-man dungeons. I recommend you keep at least two specs while leveling -- your second spec costs only around 50 gold. You can have this in one spec slot and have another one for a better solo build. I should also mention that all builds need to be used with a one-handed weapon and a shield.
Unlike Ciderhelm, I will not try to avoid respecs. They are so cheap in RIFT as to be immaterial, and players -- especially undergeared ones leveling quickly -- should be using the best possible spec for their level. As such, I will present the best possible build at certain landmark levels, and guides for how to assign points in between the landmark levels. For each section, I will present macros and rotation suggestions. I will keep everything simple -- rotations may not be optimal but will allow you to tank quite successfully.
A brief explanation of macros: In RIFT, the first ability will attempt to be casted first. If it is casted, nothing else happens. If it cannot be casted (on cooldown, out of range, condition not met) the macro will proceed to the next in the list. Let's consider this example macro and see what happens if we mash the button:
Code:
cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Pacifying Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
In this way, even with only one ability cast allowed per macro we can use many abilities by pressing one button.
Level 17 -- Beginning Tanking (RotF and IT)
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0chAE.e0Rh.xzk.-5
Below level 17, I wouldn't recommend trying to tank anything. Once you get here though, you should be able to tank Realm of the Fae comfortably and could attempt tanking Iron Tombs (the system will let you queue for it at this level). In my recommended build, you will have decent mitigation and a number of useful tanking tools already.
Long-Term Buffs:
Battlefield Distraction
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Affliction
Aegis of Vitality
Shield of the Hero
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Pacifying Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Sweeping Strike cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
You have a number of useful cooldowns at this level. Shield Throw is a single-target force taunt, use it to instantly pick up mobs that have started attacking an ally. On a longer cooldown, you have Judgment which will force taunt all mobs in the immediate area. Defensively, you can use Touch of Life to fully heal yourself.
Where to put points before next milestone: Fill out Imbued Armor and Ethereal Bond (Reaver) and Defender (Paladin).
Level 24 -- DD and DSM
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0chAE..xuoz.VAzV0z.-5
At this level, you can queue for Darkening Deeps, which should be an easy tank, and Deepstrike Mines, which will be more challenging. The build is shifted more heavily into Warlord for some nice tanking abilities and party support.
Long-Term Buffs:
Cutting Distraction
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Affliction
Battlefield Awareness
Aspect of the Fallen Hero
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Empowering Strike cast Necrotic Wounds
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Promise of Steel cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds
Code:
#show Call to Entrench suppressmacrofailures cast Call to Entrench cast Call to Battle cast Dire Blow
Continue to use your taunts as necessary, and you now have Touch of Life again to full heal if your healer gets sloppy!
Where to put points before next milestone: Start putting points back into the Paladin tree. Go with Stalward Shield until you can get Shield of the Hero (remember to add it, as well as Aegis of Vitality, to your buffs when you get them!) and then Aggressive Guardian or Defender. When you reach level 30 you will re-gain Touch of Life, your full heal.
Level 33 -- FC and KB
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0c...xuaz.VAzV0z.-5
At this level, you can queue for Foul Cascade, which should be an easy tank, and King's Breach, which will be more challenging. The build should not have required a respec from the level 24 build -- we're just adding points to it.
Long-Term Buffs:
Cutting Distraction
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Affliction
Battlefield Awareness
Aspect of the Fallen Hero
Shield of the Hero
Aegis of Vitality
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Empowering Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Promise of Steel cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds
Code:
#show Call to Entrench suppressmacrofailures cast Call to Entrench cast Call to Battle cast Dire Blow
Where to put points before next milestone: Fill out more points in Reaver. Crest Mastery is a good choice, as is finishing Imbued Armor. Once those fill, head to Wasting Away.
Level 38 -- RD
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0c...uqzhukGbk.m.-5
At this level, you can queue for Runic Descent. You'll need to respec again at this point, but it will be the last time on your march to 50. You now focus all the points you can into Reaver to get the incredible skill Binding of Death.
Long-Term Buffs:
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Death
Shield of the Hero
Aegis of Vitality
Battlefield Distraction
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Empowering Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Cyclone Strike cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds
Your taunts have changed again -- now use Grim Lure for single target and Concussion for AoE. Intercept is temporarily gone, but you gain a nice new cooldown in Infestation. As well as doing some damage, this ability will reduce one target's damage by 15% for 8 seconds. Ideally, you use it when you know a big attack will be coming soon.
Make SURE you switch to using Binding of Death instead of Binding of Affliction! That's the whole point of the build and is a massive mitigation boost.
Where to put points before next milestone: Start filling out Warlord again. Start with finishing Intimidating, then get Call to Battle and max Defensive Experience.
Level 42 -- LH
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0c...zhukGbk.Vmz.-5
At this level, you can now queue for and tank Lantern Hook!
Long-Term Buffs:
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Death
Battlefield Awareness
Shield of the Hero
Aegis of Vitality
Battlefield Distraction
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Empowering Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Cyclone Strike cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds
Where to put points before next milestone: Put the last point in Defensive Experience, then fill out Dramatic Presence.
Level 48 -- AP and CC
Build: http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=0c...kGbk.VqzV0z.-5
At this level, you can now queue for and tank Abyssal Precipice and Charmer's Caldera, the last two normal dungeons.
Long-Term Buffs:
Crest of the Abyss
Binding of Death
Battlefield Awareness
Shield of the Hero
Aegis of Vitality
Cutting Distraction
Macros:
Single Target Builder:
Code:
#show Pacifying Strike suppressmacrofailures cast Aggressive Block cast Soul Sickness cast Empowering Strike cast Necrotic Wounds cast Retaliation
Code:
#show Blood Fever suppressmacrofailures cast Plague Bringer cast Soul Sickness cast Cyclone Strike cast Blood Fever cast Necrotic Wounds
Code:
#show Call to Entrench suppressmacrofailures cast Call to Entrench cast Call to Battle cast Dire Blow
You have regained Cutting Distraction, make sure to switch to it over Battlefield Distraction.
Where to put points before next milestone: Put two more points in Enhanced Dodge at 49 and 50.
Level 50 -- Experts and Beyond!
At this point you now have the full 66 points available to you. Start running Expert Dungeons to gain gear, then move into raids! For full information on level 50 content, consult my Comprehensive Warrior Raid Tanking Guide.
Conclusion
I hope this guide is useful to some new RIFT players! Tanking is a whole lot of fun and very rewarding. I enjoy running with pick-up groups as a tank more than any other role, because if you know what you're doing the chances of success are extremely high. That's more than can be said for any other role -- including the healer, since the best healer in the world can't keep a group alive with a terrible tank, but the best tank in the world quite possibly can be successful with a terrible healer.
If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to leave them! I will keep this guide updated as new patches release and specs change.
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