I have read the stickies and did searches, but I'm still unclear about which route I should take. Mostly because everything suggests something different and a lot of info is old. I am only level 35 and stick to PVE, mostly doing FPs. It is no secret that the Jugg has its issues, but I love the challenge and play style after being RDPS for a long time. I'm very serious about learning how to tank and hope to take it into end game.

Looked at various specs, but they're meant for level 50 and I'm confused about how I should build my character along the way. Am I putting everything into Immortal, then placing leftover points in other trees? Or are there skills I should be picking up first that would make my life easier, i.e. Single Saber Mastery or Decimate? Do I just go up the Vengeance tree and call it a day? Some people have suggested doing that, but it seems to go against my logic taking a DPS tree .

Any pointers or links to recent info would be much appreciated.

If your planning on tanking all the way to 50, I would focus on moving up the immortal tree, so you can get to the top tier abilities at the earliest possible level.

The hybrid doesn't really work until you have the full 50 levels worth of skill points to spend in the trees. If you just want to level, with no concern about group content, going down one of the dps trees will get you to 50 a lot quicker.

Pick which one you want. both work fine, both can tank reasonably well. Immortal has more control and better rage generation (this helps out allot until your in higher tiers of gear), Hybrid has better threat generation and damage. Overall their mitigation capabilities are very dependent on who you talk to and their opinion vs. their skill level.

Personally, I would go with immortal until you are good enough with the class that you feel like you have some play room in tanking. then go hybrid.

Edit: sorry, didn't read your level. Prior to 50, go full vengeance, and build a tank set as you get higher. my advice will work for you once you hit 50. prior to 50, there's no reason to spec as a tank unless you enjoy the playstyle. Vengeance has enough mitigation and threat potential that you can do FP's at lower levels, and then do good DPS outside of that.

In this day and age, most people don't go full immortal. Some go as much as 27-28 pts up that tree...but crushing blow is almost worthless. While in soresu form, impale generates more threat...and having more damage from smash and force scream really makes a huge difference. Plus those abilities will be free or cost very little.

I leveled up as 27 pt immortal and messed with a 27/14 build then went to a 27/12/2...when I hit 50 I went 18/23 hybrid and never looked back. The survivability is comparable and the threat generation is better as well as the dps.

Prior to 50, go full vengeance, and build a tank set as you get higher. my advice will work for you once you hit 50. prior to 50, there's no reason to spec as a tank unless you enjoy the playstyle. Vengeance has enough mitigation and threat potential that you can do FP's at lower levels, and then do good DPS outside of that.

While in soresu form, impale generates more threat...and having more damage from smash and force scream really makes a huge difference. Plus those abilities will be free or cost very little.

Thanks for the tips, makes a lot of sense and confirms my hunch that there was no real reason to go full Immortal. I had put all my points into Immortal, and I do enjoy and feel comfortable with it, but it is certainly lacking. Survivability hasn't been an issue, just the loldps and threat. Good to know I won't be gimping myself if I go into Vengeance.

you will loose 9% def rating, great def cd (invincible), free cc that does some damage and generates focus and blade barier if you go vengeance early on. i'd say that's a good enough reason.

while blade barier is pretty much useless at low levels, it does absorb some damage. id say - gear up in dps gear and use soresu, until you find +absorb gear (probably around 40s). then buy defense gear from pvp vendor or commendation vendors and try procing blade barricade.

i'd go with this

level 14

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hM.2

level 17

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMZc.2

level 20

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMhZc.2

level 22

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMGZc.2

level 25

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMG0hZc.2

level 26

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMG0uZc.2

level 28

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMG0uZcM.2

level 30

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMG0uZcMM.2

level 32

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMGouzZcMM.2

level 34

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101hMGouzMZcMM.2

then ask yourself a question if you want to go full immortal or a hybrid.

ps. i wouldnt say threat maintenance is a problem with guardian. there's a problem with people bringing burst trees to static fights.