D&D Tanking 101: Master The Art of Protection in Dungeons and Dragons

Summary

Party composition ensures balanced combat and higher success chances.
Tanks act as meat shields, soaking up damage to protect the team.
Choose class, race, armor, and combat actions strategically.

One aspect that truly sets Dungeons and Dragons apart is its limitless scope for creativity. Players are given the power to decide on various aspects of their characters, such as class, race, and background, and can even develop a backstory detailing their life prior to embarking on adventures. Furthermore, they have the ability to design a character with a specific role in mind, enhancing the balance of the team while also providing personal satisfaction.

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), having a diverse party composition is always advantageous. This ensures that combat remains balanced, if not favorable, and increases their chances of success. Ideally, a balanced party would include characters who deal damage, heal, and act as frontlines to absorb damage and shield their allies. For those eager to build such a party, here are some helpful tips to get started.

8. Breaking Down the Role

What Exactly Would a Tank Do in D&D?

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, when we talk about ‘tanks’ in gaming, we’re not referring to armored military vehicles, although their protective nature might be where the term originated. Instead, tanks function as the defensive shields within a group, standing between enemies and more fragile teammates such as ‘glass cannons’, healers, and spellcasters. In essence, they take the brunt of the damage to ensure the safety of others.

A robust tank boasts sufficient Armor Class (AC) and Hit Points (HP) that allow it to absorb repeated damage without collapsing, providing ample opportunity for offensive forces like casters to gradually whittle down an enemy’s Hit Points. However, tanks are not just defensive behemoths; they can also dish out damage in a pinch. It is more advantageous for them to attack rather than dodge in certain situations.

7. Choose the Right Class

There Are a Few Classes That Are Tankier Than Others

When creating a Dungeons and Dragons character, one of the key decisions you should make is determining your character’s class, as it significantly impacts the skills and capabilities available to them, influences their fighting approach during battles, and helps define their role within the party.

Clerics excel in healing abilities, rogues specialize in stealth maneuvers, while barbarians, fighters, and paladins are often the party’s defenders. However, it’s not just these classes that can act as tanks; players can also choose beefy paladins and fighters who can absorb a lot of damage effectively. The choice ultimately depends on which class resonates with them the most among these options. Barbarians embody raw, primal fury, fighters are skilled swordsmen, and paladins are devoted holy warriors.

6. Carefully Select the Tank’s Race

Choose Carefully to Be a Better Tank

Making a choice about your character’s species in D&D can be a significant decision that often precedes class selection. This choice plays a crucial role in shaping the overall experience as non-player characters (NPCs) and other players may react differently to your chosen species. For instance, dwarves might find camaraderie with fellow dwarves, while drow might encounter suspicion from surfacers.

When choosing a character, players should consider not only taste and roleplay options but also the role they want their character to play, such as a tank. Some races are particularly good at being tanks, like hill dwarves who get additional health for extra durability, or half-orcs who can recover from being knocked out. There are numerous official races suited for tanks, and if your DM permits it, you may also find many homebrewed options to choose from.

5. Armor Up, or Down

Barbarians Gain Unarmored Defense

To effectively play their roles, players should ensure they have sufficient Armor Class (AC) to safeguard valuable hit points from depleting quickly. Typically, a player’s AC is determined by the armor they are wearing. The more heavy-duty the armor, the greater the AC they will possess, but one must be strong enough to wear it.

If players opt for a barbarian as their tank character, they’ll reap the advantage of Unarmed Defense. Essentially, this means that barbarians will have an AC (Armored Class) value of 10 plus their Dexterity and Constitution modifiers, provided they aren’t donning any armor. However, they can still use a shield without losing this benefit. Players should select their character based on which one offers the highest AC, as they might need to wear armor if their Dexterity and Constitution modifiers are too low.

4. Lead the Charge

Players Can’t Tank from Behind the Party

To effectively play the tank character, players should always lead the group, since they can’t carry out their duties if they’re at the back or right in the middle of the formation while advancing.

In essence, while it doesn’t automatically make them the party leader, this role requires them to be the front-liner, entering the dungeons first and opening any doors. This places them in the position to encounter any potential threats first, whether they are hostile NPCs or traps. Ideally, it’s better for them to trigger these threats rather than someone more delicate, like the wizard, who might not be as resilient to hazards such as a poison dart trap.

3. Consider Taking Feats

There are Those That Can Aid a Tank in Their Endeavors

As a cinephile reviewing this game, I’ve found that at certain stages, characters are given the choice between enhancing their character stats or selecting a ‘special skill’. While the former is universally beneficial to any character within the party, the latter can provide unique advantages tailored to a specific character concept.

If tank players aim to enhance their gameplay, they might find it beneficial to delve into some strategies outlined in various resources, thereby improving their efficiency as tanks. Among the many options, Sentinel could be particularly effective for tanks since, if an enemy provokes an attack of opportunity from them, the Sentinel’s movement reduces to zero feet, preventing that enemy from escaping, even with a disengage action. Additionally, a Sentinel can employ their reaction to launch an attack against an enemy within range who attacks another target, making Sentinel a potent choice for protective strategies.

2. Find Ways to Draw Aggression

Give Foes a Reason to Attack the Tank Instead of More Vulnerable Party Members

Essential for a tank’s role is provoking the anger of enemy fighters, as they won’t be able to absorb damage if hostile characters bypass them and target the fragile sorcerer hiding in the rear. Typically, game masters (DMs) will attack the tanky characters head-on, but cunning ones might surround the backline to eliminate those annoying casters.

Tanks can prevent enemies from targeting others by attracting enemy attention. There are various methods tanks can employ, such as utilizing abilities like Sentinel, casting Compelled Duel, or using Goading Attack. Additionally, certain subclasses penalize enemies for focusing on other characters. Adopting one or more of these tactics ensures that they will be the ones to bear the brunt of the enemy’s attacks first.

1. Consider Combat Actions Carefully

There are More Tanks Can Do Besides Pummeling Enemies

In a fight, tanks really come into their own, as fellow party members rely on them to excel in protecting everyone from danger. But there are several tactics beyond simply casting compelled duel or using the sentinel feat, or just dishing out heavy damage, that can boost a tank’s defensive prowess during combat.

Instead, tanks may opt to skip weapon attacks in favor of grappling the foe. This maneuver prevents them from attacking other team members and can also pull them out of range, forcing a one-on-one encounter. However, it’s important to note that they can only grapple one enemy at a time, so they must select their targets wisely.

2025-01-16 06:07