Are defender companions useless?

kroogerfxx · December 2016

I bought a rare rimefire golem in hopes he could keep some agro off me, I play as a TR(70).
He is pretty much useless so far, at max level he pulls no agro and even if I cloak mobs won't target him, everyone just stands around waiting for me to reappear.

Am I missing something here?

zephyriah · December 2016

To answer the question in the title. Pretty much, the theory was good but the implementation wasn't. Most players generate more threat than their companion, so defenders mostly get ignored. Well, Except at the blue stronghold dragon, it really hates defender companions and will kill them on sight and everyone else quickly follows suit.

You are probably better of with a striker, probably a ranged one, to help keep mobs off you. A fast attacking melee striker may also help.

xxxorcist · December 2016

If you look at your companion's powers, he has no taunt or action that generates his threat. For my DC I use the Galeb Duhr. One of his powers he does a hard taunt, has a 120 sec cooldown. I can only speak for my cleric but once he hard taunts, he has that enemy's attention all or the majority of the fight. Works like a charm to free me up for self-heals, buffs and dps.

ravenskya · December 2016

If you are using him to tank for you - then no they don't really seem to work unless you are a TR and have reduced threat to begin with (even then the bonus isnt' good so I wouldn't use it on a TR). I do have one on my tank though for the bonus, and my BF has one on his tank - though obviously we don't use them for tanking.

mikeo · December 2016

I have a Cleric and it tends to draw aggro like a darn tank for some reason, but defender companions are not useless - mine is insanely helpful. I have an epic Earth Archon and that "First Time Buyers Pack" war dog active (for the reduced threat) and the Archon pulls and holds aggro effectively enough that I have used it in a pinch for Epic Dungeons at times. I attack from range to start fights and when the mob begins approaching my avator the Archon usually charges forward and claims all aggro, leaving me free to run around and attract more mobs till I'm on the verge of being overwhelmed, then I run over to your character and let you deal with this mess I made.

rjc9000 · December 2016

kroogerfxx said:
I bought a rare rimefire golem in hopes he could keep some agro off me, I play as a TR(70).
He is pretty much useless so far, at max level he pulls no agro and even if I cloak mobs won't target him, everyone just stands around waiting for me to reappear.

Am I missing something here?

Can I have your defender pet aggro? Or can our defender pets swap aggro generation?

Because my Dancing Shield is always aggroing something, somewhere.

I have to spam all of my GF's aggro abilities to get some bosses to attack me. And I'm spamming Aggravating Strike, putting tab-marks on my target, and spamming Enforced Threat every 8 seconds.

(to answer the actual question: they are decent for the lower tiered dungeons, okay I guess for tanking Orcus, and useless for tanking FBI/Svard. My experience comes from the Dancing Shield though, so your mileage may vary off other defenders.)

armadeonx · December 2016

I don't think a tank should should an aggro generating companion unless they have a poor build and can't handle being hit. That's not to say a defensive companion is wrong as the extra DR from defence bonding slots can be very useful, but something like the Angel of Protection (2 defence bonding slots) doesn't generate aggro but does increase the owners ability to soak damage.

For DPS classes, you need to check the skills of the companion to make sure they have a good hard taunt if the goal is to draw enemies away from you.

Bear in mind AoE skills generate more threat than single target.

ravenskya · December 2016

armadeonx said:
I don't think a tank should should an aggro generating companion unless they have a poor build and can't handle being hit. That's not to say a defensive companion is wrong as the extra DR from defence bonding slots can be very useful, but something like the Angel of Protection (2 defence bonding slots) doesn't generate aggro but does increase the owners ability to soak damage.

For DPS classes, you need to check the skills of the companion to make sure they have a good hard taunt if the goal is to draw enemies away from you.

Bear in mind AoE skills generate more threat than single target.

As a tank you can use them for the active bonuses but you don't use them as your summoned companion.

omnibane · December 2016

Gabul dur is a beast defender golden lion is also
If you want it to tank for you at 70 it should be epic not rare

rjc9000 · December 2016

ravenskya said:

armadeonx said:
I don't think a tank should should an aggro generating companion unless they have a poor build and can't handle being hit. That's not to say a defensive companion is wrong as the extra DR from defence bonding slots can be very useful, but something like the Angel of Protection (2 defence bonding slots) doesn't generate aggro but does increase the owners ability to soak damage.

For DPS classes, you need to check the skills of the companion to make sure they have a good hard taunt if the goal is to draw enemies away from you.

Bear in mind AoE skills generate more threat than single target.
As a tank you can use them for the active bonuses but you don't use them as your summoned companion.

Aye, I mostly use the Dancing Shield for its amazing debuff and its slots.

Unknown · December 2016

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astrotiger5 · December 2016

Try a cat...lol!

ravenskya · December 2016

I like the shadow demon on my TR personally

Are defender companions useless?

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