Tanking the CAD ... advice?

[voodoogroves]

Recently I've been running eChrono in parties without a dedicated tank. I'm usually on a caster, and if I pop a few DOTs it, kickstart the Eardweller and then drop some T3 DoTs, Ice Storm, BDB, I can end up yanking aggro.


Now, I'm perfectly capable of kiting and running around, however I hear tell from the tanky players, that tanking the eCAD is all about knowing what to do in each form. If that's true, can someone enlighten me with some advice? I managed it last night in a caster run, keeping it facing away from the party and the strikes mostly facing me.


* I did notice I seemed to be taking very little damage from the lightning form while I was shield blocking.
* I'm pretty sure the key to that fire blast is me ensuring I've got fireshield up and an absorb item.

What else should I be aware of? What tricks do you guys use to tank this beast?

[Monkey-Boy]

I can only reply to tanking him on a melee.

Electric, Acid, and Negative form: Stay there and take it like a man.

Fire form: step forward, the physics check will miss you.

Ice form: GTFO, run, don't stand near the crystals as they hurt like hell when they hit and I think the reflex DC is something high like a 45.

I've seen people try to stay in fire and ice and they go DING! way more often then they should. Just move and some back together after the form is done.

[taurean430]

You speaking of a Sorc or a Wizard?

[voodoogroves]

You speaking of a Sorc or a Wizard?

WF PM

Though, I have snagged it on my FVS as well, but there's no way I'd be able to hold it with the multi-dots the arcanes can put out (esp. since I traded away my Anathema on that character)

[voodoogroves]

I can only reply to tanking him on a melee.

Electric, Acid, and Negative form: Stay there and take it like a man.

Roger.

Fire form: step forward, the physics check will miss you.

Heh. I guess what is good for the goose is good for the gander. My artificer appreciates this tactic.

Ice form: GTFO, run, don't stand near the crystals as they hurt like hell when they hit and I think the reflex DC is something high like a 45.

Huh. I've never had an issue with Ice ... but I don't know in the few times I've ended up being the impromptu tank having that form. Fire I know can toast me; lightning seems to not affect during a shield block. Negative meh ... PM. Acid ... I can work through that.

[Grieve]

I can only reply to tanking him on a melee.

Electric, Acid, and Negative form: Stay there and take it like a man.

Fire form: step forward, the physics check will miss you.

Ice form: GTFO, run, don't stand near the crystals as they hurt like hell when they hit and I think the reflex DC is something high like a 45.

I've seen people try to stay in fire and ice and they go DING! way more often then they should. Just move and some back together after the form is done.

Yup that's basically the main tactic. Couple additional things I've done on my tanks for CAD with Fire & Ice Forms...

Fire Form: If you are not sure you will be able to dodge it, mainly due to lag issues, a player can put up a Fire Shield (Cold version) and equip some Firestorm Greaves and normally survive the breath if they have decent HP. I admit it will be crucial to get a heal off right away after the breath, but it is an alternative.

Cold Form: As Caster, just keep DoTs up and back away from CAD avoiding other crystals. As a melee, intimidate the CAD as you back away to insure agro is maintained since DoTs will most likely steal agro otherwise. As long as you maintained agro CAD will just run right up to you when it's ready.


Also, if your melee tank insists on maintaining agro, just stand off to the side of CAD and if you do pull agro the tank can just intimidate and regain it. Also, standing off to the side (far enough where it won't hit you) instead of behind it will keep the majority of the party safe if you pull agro right as CAD decides to do a fire breath.

[taurean430]

WF PM

Though, I have snagged it on my FVS as well, but there's no way I'd be able to hold it with the multi-dots the arcanes can put out (esp. since I traded away my Anathema on that character)

If you intend to tank it, you should be able to hold aggro with dots. You just need a head start - usually long enough to triple stack with a little dash of dps spells in between. Fire form/Lightning Strike are problematic. With fire, stepping forward does work. Although Fire absorb/Fire shield works really well. If there is another couple casters in the party, just make sure to let them know to take it easy until after the first trash spawn. You'll have built up enough aggro to hold the CAD indefinitely by that time. Lightning Strike is pretty intense though. I've not figured out a way to deal with that effectively past swapping items, which is cumbersome.

If you are dpsing using spells, I'd save the meta use until after the first trash spawn. If you have a threat tank, they won't lose aggro. It's when people go dot happy right away that there are problems.

It's a bit like VOD in my opinion. If you watch the persistent aoe and when it's thrown it works really well.

As far as stopping regen in elemental forms, I don't see people doing this on my server. The CAD's regen is negated when you hit it with the opposing element to what form it's in ( ie. using fire when in ice form ). The regen rate seems negligible compared to the party dps output in most cases, so it's a strategy that has been all but abandoned.

I haven't tried this myself, ( started a multi tr project with my PM ), but I am told on good faith that using necrotic ray and the pale sla's result in decent damage to hold aggro as well. I am sure someone will correct me if this is inaccurate however.

Disclaimer: These are the opinions of one forced to tank by being a noob and throwing dots too early in a pug. I've tanked CAD without shield mastery, but it was expensive as I didn't see dying as an option to lose aggro.

[Darknark]

I regularally tank the cad on my sorc.

For fire form - Fireshield and a 33% absorb is enough, more is better. Straight up tank it or move forward a bit to try and dodge it.... being a palemaster really isn't helping though... NeB doesn't compare to quickened recons.
If you have high fire resist then fire becomes minimal incoming damage as well, enough so that you don't really need to bother trying to dodge.

Ice form - Fire shield, I have a 10/15/20% resist item as well - just heal through it. Incoming damage is minimal. (without a 10/15/20% incoming damage will be moderate and you may wish to take steps to avoid it, ie: moving)

Lightning - The strike is minimal, though I guess you could swap in 33% elec asorb. The stun is annoying for holding aggro as you tend to lose dots... hotswap PLIS in for the stuns. If it runs out swap into reflex gear as needed.

Other forms - Nothing really to say.. I guess "Watch your deathward" as you can get dispelled / wailed.

[voodoogroves]

I haven't run an eChrono in a few weeks that wasn't a caster-fest. I'm not worried about yanking from a melee tank, as I honestly haven't run one with one in it in a long, long while.

I'm thinking if I pop on a Ring of Lies and Anathema, I should be able to manage. One of my FVS is headed to a wizard life, and that may be a tanky life.

Thanks for the feedback guys