Aggro Holding Sage/Demon and Wpns Q

SombraTalon - Heavens Tear · November 2009

Like half the barbs in their 80's, I'm one who is still agonizing over the decision to go sage or demon. I've read pretty much all the old threads, but one thing I've never seen much of is whether people think there's any real difference between holding aggro as a sage or a demon.

So what is your experience high level sorts? No prob with maxed flesh ream/devour and a good weapon? Or does the full tiger damage in demon help hold better against those critting **** demon archers?

Also, unrelated to the sage/demon thing, has anyone noticed a real huge difference in aggro holding using high end poleaxes like pan gu's giant axe versus using double axes of whatever type?

I know that I've not had a problem holding agg ever since getting my calamities (the zerk makes for a lot of extra damage and thereby hate, even while tanking) and I plan on getting GX's for the same reason, but it'd be nice to switch over to the pan gu's giant axe when the extra HP and 20% damage reduction would help tanking. I worry about aggro with the wider damage range and slower attack rate.

Anyways, thanks for any info from the higher levels.

SombraTalon - Heavens Tear · November 2009

And of course five minutes after posting this, I find a thread still on the front page where someone pretty much answered the question in saying that the best aggro hold in the later levels are demons with faster ream, full damage, and usually zerk axes.

I'd still like other opinions/experiences though. Is the difference that significant? Any sage barbs out there who have problems really holding or is it kind of blown out of proportion as long as you know how to keep enough chi to devour and flesh ream constantly?

Heartstone - Dreamweaver · November 2009

well i'm atm using my star axes +7. sage flesh and all sage skills.
DD's refine matter alot. but it is possible keep form +7 refines FC/lunar. but I can say DrAg00nz rank 8 bow and minigods TT100 is a no go. thats jsut not possible with star axes atleast.
but i belive zerk axes would have an chance.
demon will always keep aggro betetr than sage.

Bartack - Heavens Tear · November 2009

While the damage spread is a little wider on poleaxe/pole hammer, the speed is actually faster, not slower, than dual axes/dual hammers. However, how often do you reg attack when tanking? Im always skill spamming for more chi, and weapon speed does not effect skill speeds. I have my Pan Gu waiting on me for the tricky bosses, and am working on my GX's for the easier bosses (to finish them off quicker). I am not sage/demon yet, but from what I have seen in game, sages are survivors, but demons clench aggro tighter than a cornhole in prison. b:shocked

SchwarzeWolf - Lost City · November 2009

the damage fleshream does has no affect on the aggro that the wb will hold on a boss. There is a base aggro "coefficient" applied and the amount of damage will not change that. The only extra aggro held on by a wb when tanking is when you use skills or normal attacks, each of these gives a small amount of aggro based on the amount of damage done.

This being said i am a 100 wb hell, with hell bite, and if an archer like Asiris (lvl 101, with an 8jun bow) goes all out, there is no way in all holy hell that anyone can hold aggro on it.

_Shalimar_ - Sanctuary · November 2009

I chose the Hell path and I don't regret it. I don't even need to use Flesh Ream unless there is a EA or magical DD in squad over 85. Otherwise I can hold agro with just my own damage. When I hold agro that way I like to use a combo that can put out around 130k to 150k damage in 10 seconds. I can also hold agro from 100 EA an Mg, as I had to do so with Lion King Axes +4 when I was dragged into TT3-3. Now I am using a Pan Gu's Giant Axe +2 though, and my damage is the same as the +4 Lion Kings.

CornHilario - Heavens Tear · November 2009

Bartack - Heavens Tear wrote: »

I am not sage/demon yet, but from what I have seen in game, sages are survivors, but demons clench aggro tighter than a cornhole in prison. b:shocked

hey, i took offense from that >8O

SombraTalon - Heavens Tear · November 2009

SchwarzeWolf - Lost City wrote: »

the damage fleshream does has no affect on the aggro that the wb will hold on a boss. There is a base aggro "coefficient" applied and the amount of damage will not change that. The only extra aggro held on by a wb when tanking is when you use skills or normal attacks, each of these gives a small amount of aggro based on the amount of damage done.

This being said i am a 100 wb hell, with hell bite, and if an archer like Asiris (lvl 101, with an 8jun bow) goes all out, there is no way in all holy hell that anyone can hold aggro on it.

Fleshream by itself doesn't seem to generally be able to hold aggro against a same-level archer or mage, so I'd probably agree that it just applies a base threat/hate and the damage of it doesn't affect things that much, but I think the damage from devour, alacrity, and surf thrown in actually seem to make more of a difference than the small amount your giving them.

I've had high-geared DD friends do everything they could to increase damage and steal aggro and they'll do it every time with just a attack attack ream combo, but mixing everything seems to hold a lot greater hate and I very, very rarely lose it.

I dunno though, it may change a lot after 89 when the DD's are mostly hell and doing massive damage and critting left and right.

I could also be deluding myself and it's all luck and really the best thing to do is not mix skills, just ream for raw aggro and not waste the cooldown on slower skils.

Anyways, thanks for the replies all. Keep them coming unless "demon holds better" is the be all, end all answer.

Aggro Holding Sage/Demon and Wpns Q

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