Dynamic Duos: Tank + Healer

By Ralsu

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October 16, 2007
This week, I am interested to hear about which combinations you think make the best duo. I've played in duos quite a bit in Vanguard due to my hectic schedule, so I'll share some of my opinions, too. I will divide them into a couple of categories that I see as the basis for most duos involving a tank and a healer and offer my take on them. I am focusing only on tank/healer combos this time. If you don't understand a term or abbreviation I use here, please check our Game Terms 101.

The combination of tank + healer is pretty common. The logic behind it stems from the fact that a good healer and a good tank are always hard to find. Picking them as a duo ensures you never have to find them. This duo has one player designed to soak up all of the damage and one designed to heal it. It falls short in dealing damage, however.

Warrior + Shaman

The beauty of this duo is the chance to deal more damage than other tank/healer combos. The Warrior is regarded as the best melee tank. The Shaman can either provide melee buffs (Rakurr or Tuurgin) or spell damage (Hayatet). Additionally, the Shaman's pet can be an off-tank (Tuurgin), a DoT (Rakurr) or a weak DPS (Hayatet). The Warrior can dual wield on yard trash for faster kills or can strap on a shield for the heavy hitters.

Pros:

• High damage potential among tank + healer combos
• Shaman pet either adds damage or a security blanket
• Shaman can buff the tank for damage or nuke to add damage depending on choice of patron

Cons:

• Can be low on magical damage depending on Shaman's choice of patron
• Shamans cannot take hits as well as Clerics
• Warrior is completely reliant on Shaman for heals

Dread Knight + Blood Mage

This duo is another attempt to increase damage. Dread Knights can deal some blast damage via skills and can just generally weaken mobs with Dreadful Countenance. Blood Mages are the hybrid offspring of arcane casters and pure healers. They can hit mobs with DoTs, leech their HP, and funnel health to the Dread Knight with more than just energy. Furthermore, Blood Mages can create a variety of buffs by harvesting components from their enemies to make symbiotes. You can check out our Blood Mage Guide to Symbiotes for more information.

Pros:

• In long fights or fights with adds, Dreadful Countenance weakens tougher mobs
• Blood Mage can create symbiotes to suit the needs of the duo
• Blood Mage can dish out damage when played correctly.

Cons:

• Blood Mages cannot take hits as well as Clerics, Disciples, or Shamans.
• Dread Knight is mostly reliant on Blood Mage for heals
• Blood Mage is harder to learn to play well than a pure healer

Paladin + Disciple

I mostly see this duo near Ca'ial Brael in raki form. I haven't tried it personally, but the concept is that the Paladin has emergency heals and great skills to boost mitigation and wear down enemies. The Disciple can heal through both energy and Jin, giving the duo more options. Plus, the melee output of the Disciple helps kills go faster. Finally, the Disciple's Feign Death ability prevents a wipe on a bad pull in many cases.

Pros:

• Heals can come from Jin and energy
• Disciples can add decent melee damage if built properly
• Paladins have emergency heals

Cons:

• Low on magical damage
• Disciples cannot take hits as well as Clerics or Shamans with shields
• Paladin damage is lower than Dread Knights or Warriors

Any Tank + Cleric

I hesitate to use the word "overpowered," but Clerics are still pretty powerful in Vanguard. They wear plate, allowing them to take hits pretty well. They can deal melee damage and debuff mobs. On top of that, they have ways of regaining energy in combat. The theory is that this duo can take on pairs of mobs or not fear adds because of the Cleric's ability to survive damage. Additionally, the tank can use gear and skills more suited for damage output with the knowledge that a temporary loss of aggro won't cost the healer his or her life. Finally, the Cleric can choose an Affinity that best suits the play style of the players in the duo. See our Guide to Cleric Affinities for more details.

Pros:

• Clerics take hits better than any other healer
• Adds are not as dangerous
• Cleric Affinities add some versatility to the mix
  

Cons:

• Cleric and tank may argue over armor loot
• Durability of the Cleric may create a false sense of security
• Cleric may be the most boring of the healers in Vanguard

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Now it's your turn. Tell us which duo is best!

VOTE IN OUR POLL! Which tank + healer combo is the most powerful? Warrior + Shaman Dread Knight + Blood Mage Paladin + Disciple Any tank + Cleric VOTE HERE (this poll is always open)