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Paladin Tank Basics

Author:admin Date:7/28/2009 Source:http://www.cartvip.com

   The Paladin is the master of AoE tanking since most of your abilities hit multiple targets.
As a rule, you control the positioning of the mobs/bosses: always face mobs away from the raid- DPS goes up when attacks come from behind mobs. Don't make the whole raid run around the mob, you turn the mob so that the raid is always behind what you're tanking. DPS will rise dramatically the less time they have to spend getting into position. The joust move is the best way to get to the right spot. Strafe through the mob(s) and then spin to face the raid. You will be in front of the mob and the raid will be behind them with as little wasted time as possible. This is tanking 101. Good tanks always turn mobs, stupid tanks don't.
Since you control the positioning of the boss/mobs, you can move as little as possible unless the situation demands it. You'll get more out of the entire raid's DPS if they can just sit there and face rolls their rotation. Again, don't move if you do not absolutely have to. It can make the melee DPS guys absolutely hate your guts if they constantly have to get behind/ closer/ over there. Statue tanking is best, make the mobs come to you.
   If necessary, you can try to keep your back to a wall and avoid knock-backs. Strafe through mob groups and then back up to a wall. Mobs are programmed to try to get behind you. Standing against a wall cuts that sort of nonsense out.
   When positioning, never turn your back to mobs, you can't Dodge, Parry or Block from behind. Instead strafe, so that the boss or mob is never behind you. If you need to move, always move backwards or strafe. This is one of the most subtle differences between a good tank and a crummy one. Once you learn to do this properly you will be able to tell who is a good tank in one or two pulls.
Once you engage mobs keep your face to them, and if you must move, do not turn and run, learn to strafe in flat arcs. Good tanks will actually look a little drunk most of the time. Running sideways and banging into walls all the time.
This may seem silly but so important: Don't get out of range of your healers or Line of Sight for that matter. This is easier for a Paladin than a Warrior. Warriors like to charge and it can be a real pain for a healer to have to run to get in range. Try to pull mobs so that you pull them into range instead of running headlong away from healers. 
You can engage the boss when your healers have full mana, you'll live longer. A tank's first priority is to make sure that he is behaving responsibly toward those responsible for him. Annoy healers at your own risk. It's common courtesy to take a glance at your healer's mana pool before you make some gigantic pull.
   If everyone is alive when you start a pull, it is best to wait for the healers to rez your dead friends. Pulling is the cause of more wipes on trash than any other single thing. Overly aggressive chain pulls put too much pressure on healers trying to rez and catch back up to heals they could have been making if you weren't being a knucklehead.
   When choosing your talents in the Protection tree for the first time, you should remember to train them up. Level 1 spells/ abilities aren't all that useful in Heroics, or anywhere else for that matter. This seems stupid, but a brand new spec often can include a touch of forgetfulness when it comes to skills you've never trained before.

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