I enjoy playing as Shield Specialist. I noticed the most important ability is Energy Blast buff cause I see my absorption rating spikes to 70% from 40%. The problem is, sometimes when all were in cooldown (SS, HIB, EB and IS) I was left to only spamming Explosive Surge or Hammer Shot till the they're up again or procced. Am I doing it wrong?

Also, for defensive cd, what should I use more, or first? In my logic, the lowest cd should be used more often so I prioritized Riot Gas, then Battle Focus, then Reactive Shield then Adrenaline Rush. But I still feel I'm squishier compared to my Guardian. Should I be using the def cds in pairs? if that's the case then I only have two 15s window of survivability, is that okay? It may be gear problem but still, I hope you all Vanguard tanks could enlighten me, thanks.

Oh, atm I'm using all 208 rating gears from common crystal vendor with def around 22-24% (I think), Shield rating 44% and absorption rating 40%.

I enjoy playing as Shield Specialist. I noticed the most important ability is Energy Blast buff cause I see my absorption rating spikes to 70% from 40%. The problem is, sometimes when all were in cooldown (SS, HIB, EB and IS) I was left to only spamming Explosive Surge or Hammer Shot till the they're up again or procced. Am I doing it wrong?

 

Also, for defensive cd, what should I use more, or first? In my logic, the lowest cd should be used more often so I prioritized Riot Gas, then Battle Focus, then Reactive Shield then Adrenaline Rush. But I still feel I'm squishier compared to my Guardian. Should I be using the def cds in pairs? if that's the case then I only have two 15s window of survivability, is that okay? It may be gear problem but still, I hope you all Vanguard tanks could enlighten me, thanks.

 

Oh, atm I'm using all 208 rating gears from common crystal vendor with def around 22-24% (I think), Shield rating 44% and absorption rating 40%.

it's disappointing that nobody has stepped up with some answers for you, but maybe it is because there isn't really much to say. you seem to have most of it figured out. i don't consider myself an expert with shield tech, but i have killed most of the nim bosses on my powertech, so can give you my thoughts (apologies if i start talking in imp speak).

to offensive abilities, i don't really worry about it too much. as long as i am doing enough that the dps don't pull off of me, then i have done what i need to, in terms of damage. load up my shoulder cannon first, and then, i open with grapple to generate a high amount of threat, do the silly little hop, skip, jump, gap closer, then follow with stockstrike, high impact bolt, ion storm if it procs (almost always), and finally sticky grenade. from there i will use ion pulse or hammer shots depending on my energy state, and basically just throw whatever comes off cooldown from the above list. the only time i do differently is if i am attacking more than one mob, in which case mortar volley goes to the top of the priority and explosive surge replaces ion pulse. i do also use mortar volley on cooldown against single target, if there are no add spawns to save it for.

defensively, ss is a little different than shadow or guardian. both of those specs have cooldowns that are much more situation specific than a ss cooldowns. they are better at mitigating specific types of damage and a good one needs to know when in a fight is appropriate to use them, while ss defensives are much more generalized. energy blast is our first line of defense and should be used every opportunity. riot gas has the next shortest cooldown timer and is what i go to after energy blast. this is especially valuable against multi mobs, but is effective against everything. i usually try to save reactive shield for a phase that i know does a lot of damage, or if the heals become distracted (rezzing a fallen group member or such.) rs is a very powerful cooldown, but it's long cd makes me hesitant to use it as often as i could. battle focus is another decently powerful cd that can be used by itself, but also works very well in combination with riot gas. the decrease in mob accuracy combined with your increase in defense is almost as good as immunity. finally, adrenaline rush is my "oh ****, i don't wanna die" last line of defense. i almost never use it proactively, rather i use it to try and save myself from certain death. it usually works.

hope it helps and good luck!

Thanks a lot for finally replying lol.

One thing that I still wonder: If I have to choose between spamming Ion Pulse or Explosive Surge (even on a single target), why do I use Ion Pulse where I can use Explosive Surge instead. I mean, their damage is not really different, and the cost is not so different either. (or maybe same? I forgot. I'm at work right now )

Not an expert on PT/Vang, but...

But I still feel I'm squishier compared to my Guardian.

In addition to what sumqy said(nothing to add really): You are taking more damage than a Guardian or Shadow. Not much, but the difference is there. But PT/Vang is the less squishiest of the three(or maybe on par with Guardian).

So while you're taking more damage, you're not as prone as a shadow to be spiked to death.

Thanks a lot for finally replying lol.

 

One thing that I still wonder: If I have to choose between spamming Ion Pulse or Explosive Surge (even on a single target), why do I use Ion Pulse where I can use Explosive Surge instead. I mean, their damage is not really different, and the cost is not so different either. (or maybe same? I forgot. I'm at work right now )

Ion Pulse does marginally more damage, so against single target it's your go to filler. As soon as you're fighting 2+ Mobs, go with Surge.

Not an expert on PT/Vang, but...

 

In addition to what sumqy said(nothing to add really): You are taking more damage than a Guardian or Shadow. Not much, but the difference is there. But PT/Vang is the less squishiest of the three(or maybe on par with Guardian).

So while you're taking more damage, you're not as prone as a shadow to be spiked to death.

 

 

Ion Pulse does marginally more damage, so against single target it's your go to filler. As soon as you're fighting 2+ Mobs, go with Surge.

Hm, is that so? Now I'm interested in trying out Shadow Tank, oh well, I still haven't done lv 50 JC for DvL. Gotta try them Tank classes all lol

Oh, I see, more damage == more threat, got it. Although, I like ES animation better, the sound is satisfying to hear.

Hm, is that so? Now I'm interested in trying out Shadow Tank, oh well, I still haven't done lv 50 JC for DvL. Gotta try them Tank classes all lol

Don't get me wrong: A well played shadow tank is almost unkillable. But if they don't use their dcd's accordingly, they're squishy as f*ck(since when they don't shield big hits, they take the most damage from all three tank classes without dcd's)

Oh, I see, more damage == more threat, got it. Although, I like ES animation better, the sound is satisfying to hear.

Get the Tatooine heroic "The long goodbye" or something like that and don't delete it in your Questlog. It gives you a questitem that has a similar sound and animation, and is usable everywhere, without a cooldown, as long as you aren't in the quest area(the sarlac pit on tat)

And threat is really a non issue. Learn taunt rotations and where and when to use them. It's really just about adding as much damage as you can as a tank^^

Hm, is that so? Now I'm interested in trying out Shadow Tank, oh well, I still haven't done lv 50 JC for DvL. Gotta try them Tank classes all lol

 

Oh, I see, more damage == more threat, got it. Although, I like ES animation better, the sound is satisfying to hear.

this ties in to what i was talking about with the other tank classes cooldowns. assassins have force shroud, which removes harmful effects and gives immunity to force/tech damage for 3 seconds. it does nothing against melee/ranged damage though, and so needs to be used at the correct time or it is wasted. juggs have saber reflect, which is the opposite, and is supposed to work against melee/ranged only. in game, there sure does seem to be a lot of attacks that you would think are not melee/ranged, but saber reflect works against anyway. both of the other classes have general cooldowns as well, but my point is that assassins and juggs most powerful cooldowns are effective against specific types of damage and require experience with a fight to know how to avoid what is coming and when. it is hard to be bad on a pt, while a bad assassin or jugg, will very quickly become apparant. for this reason, pt is, imo, the easiest tank class to play, while only giving up a tiny bit of survivability when compared to a good tank player using an assassin or jugg.

t juggs have saber reflect, which is the opposite, and is supposed to work against melee/ranged only. in game, there sure does seem to be a lot of attacks that you would think are not melee/ranged, but saber reflect works against anyway.

While it's off topic, I want to adress that nonetheless

Saber Reflect is supposed to work against "all direct single target ranged, force and tech attacks". Which works quite well in PvP.

And while you're right that it shouldn't work against a whole lot of things, like all the various AoE's you can reflect, it also doesn't work on a lot of things it should work on, simply because the Devs forgot to set tags for various attacks(or set the wrong ones).

The best example would be Master and Blaster: Everything those two bosses do is either ranged or force/tech. Guess what saber reflect works on. Yep, Rain of Pain. That's it.

And while I admit that SR would be ridiculously OP for that fight if it work how it should be, that is simply stupid. For everything in OPs you have to try out if it works -.-

While it's off topic, I want to adress that nonetheless

Saber Reflect is supposed to work against "all direct single target ranged, force and tech attacks". Which works quite well in PvP.

And while you're right that it shouldn't work against a whole lot of things, like all the various AoE's you can reflect, it also doesn't work on a lot of things it should work on, simply because the Devs forgot to set tags for various attacks(or set the wrong ones).

The best example would be Master and Blaster: Everything those two bosses do is either ranged or force/tech. Guess what saber reflect works on. Yep, Rain of Pain. That's it.

And while I admit that SR would be ridiculously OP for that fight if it work how it should be, that is simply stupid. For everything in OPs you have to try out if it works -.-

ya i went full derp with saber reflect and was confusing it with assassins saber ward. yours is the point that i was trying to make, that saber reflect is very inconsistent with how and what it works against.