Should zerk axes be used for tanking?

Bloody_Howl - Sanctuary
Bloody_Howl - Sanctuary Posts: 22 Arc User
edited May 2010 in Barbarian
Why have so many barbs out there started using zerk axes to tank with?

I know that calamities have gotten alot cheaper and everything due to BH but I just believe zerk axes should never be used for tanking. PvP is a different story but I'm just talking about tanking.

Only reason I can think of to use zerk axes for tanking is to do more damage = more aggro but...

zerk = loss of 5% hp = less survival = possible squad wipe b:sad

I've never had a problem keeping aggro by using FR and Devour....is the extra aggro from damage needed at higher levels? By higher levels I mean 90+ when everyone is using Sage/Demon skills.

I'm gonna get zerk axes at 90 but I also already have the TT90 poleaxe for tanking as my 2nd weapon ready and waiting.

Give your opinion on the subject.
Post edited by Bloody_Howl - Sanctuary on

Comments

  • Barbariankev - Heavens Tear
    Barbariankev - Heavens Tear Posts: 831 Arc User
    edited November 2009
    zerk axes arent worth it at 10k hp it already consumes 500 hp take in acount its effect increases with more hp and that it activates often,only gives 1 hit each activation and zerk axes also suck for solo grinding
    if i would need more damage i would takes axes with gloom effect mp consumed isnt taking my hp
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  • GohRaL - Sanctuary
    GohRaL - Sanctuary Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited November 2009
    calamities can be good weapon for tanking due to the damage output they could deal...


    but at level 90+

    id choose to use 2 weapon:

    tanking: pangu's giant axe

    pking: TT90 calloused


    since i havent yet suffered repetitive AGGRO STEALING from a sparked mage-archer id think of it easily...

    but maybe once every1 get demon skill it could be harder to mantain aggro...


    i think that focus on the chances of having a nice DDing to a boss is rather useless since ull have a whole party doing that, then it sucks ur life and is never a good thing when tanking even if is a mere 5%.

    bottom line, if u can easily get aggro back everytime it get stealed, without risking a squad wipe, then u can really avoid the zerk for tank...
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  • PartyAnimal - Harshlands
    PartyAnimal - Harshlands Posts: 693 Arc User
    edited November 2009
    Was thinking about this today as well. I kinda like the ones with "Stun" on them, even the devs thought so too and our rank 8 has it http://www.pwdatabase.com/pwi/items/12650 b:victory (85 frost is good too)
  • Hazardus - Heavens Tear
    Hazardus - Heavens Tear Posts: 937 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Calamitys are ok to use since they do add a HP bonus, and the zerk isnt something to fret over if you have two clerics in the party. With one cleric, you might have to pot a bit more than normal but its nothing that bad.

    The only place I wouldn't use calamitys is while solo grinding.

    This of course is only for the 70-80 range. 80+ there are many many better options to choose from.
    When the going gets tough; Get a tank!
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  • Nike - Harshlands
    Nike - Harshlands Posts: 74 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    PartyAnimal - Harshlands wrote: »
    Was thinking about this today as well. I kinda like the ones with "Stun" on them, even the devs thought so too and our rank 8 has it http://www.pwdatabase.com/pwi/items/12650 b:victory (85 frost is good too)

    stun doesnt work on bosses. calamities for tanking just because they add HP. the 5% hp loss is negligible with a cleric

    the frost axe is way too broken for tanking... there really is no better weapon
  • Dinark - Lost City
    Dinark - Lost City Posts: 74 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Persoanlly i think the Star Axes are best choice for PvE..

    Drain of Mp is not bad especially as barbs hav a low mp pool even endgame..
    and as gloom is not spike damage but a bit more damage over time u can use aggro skills while its in effect..
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  • Baalbak - Dreamweaver
    Baalbak - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,624 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    I'm curious - how often does the Calamity Axe's effect occur? I know its mostly random, but does it happen several times in a row ever? Like the stashbox 50 weapon and the fb19 poleaxe.. those effects may go 100+ hits and never happen, then turn around and the stashbox 50's effect would happen 3 or 4 times in a row.

    I've had my calamity axe mold since around level 40, got it for 1.6 mil even when the anni packs were out - I thought it was a killer deal since I was seeing them for 2.5k + before the anni packs came out. with my current 8k HP in true form, they would take ~400 health when the effect hits. For me, thats (unbuffed) about equivalent to one magical attack from a normal mob, and generally less than what a boss would hit me for once (i get hit for around 1k on most bosses b:shocked unless I keep them frightened and devoured) in return for effectively 2 hits at once. I'd say that its a decent trade off right now, not sure about later on when I have more HP though. But I've considered whether it would be smarter to keep to the TT weapons that don't sacrifice HP when I tank.
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  • XxIfritxX - Lost City
    XxIfritxX - Lost City Posts: 170 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    I don't care about axes anymore

    I love my Giant Ape axes b:pleased
    All my Goals in Life Turned to be Offside b:surrender
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  • Esteven - Heavens Tear
    Esteven - Heavens Tear Posts: 65 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    The zerk can happen multiple times in a row. . . but reg atleast 1 time every 10-15 hits (give or take).

    I like tanking with calamities. The bonus hp plus the extra damage helps out on the aggro side. I occasionally hit 10k+ in tiger form skilling on a boss which helps out in the aggro department.

    Side note, its hard to let a herc tank when you have these axes. I steal from hercs my lvl80 to 87 in human form with the macro of Penetrate armor, mighty swing, Garrotte, and beastial onslaught, with reg attacks inbetween. I wont get it right away, but before the boss dies i have aggro.
  • Hazardus - Heavens Tear
    Hazardus - Heavens Tear Posts: 937 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Back when I was using calamitys I found they zerked on average once every 5 hits. On occasion they'd zerk 4 times in a row too. Awesome damage ofc, but a lot of HP eaten too.

    Clamitys are great to tank with because of the added HP and the 5% is not something that should bother a cleric.

    This ofcourse is only valid for 70-80 range. 80+ There are many many better weapons to tank with. I used the Lion Kings axes for my 80s. They heal 5% HP on average once every 10 hits. The FF 85 poleaxe I'm told is the best tank wep overall (never used one though).
    When the going gets tough; Get a tank!
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  • Bartack - Heavens Tear
    Bartack - Heavens Tear Posts: 253 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Esteven - Heavens Tear wrote: »
    The zerk can happen multiple times in a row. . . but reg atleast 1 time every 10-15 hits (give or take).

    I like tanking with calamities. The bonus hp plus the extra damage helps out on the aggro side. I occasionally hit 10k+ in tiger form skilling on a boss which helps out in the aggro department.

    Side note, its hard to let a herc tank when you have these axes. I steal from hercs my lvl80 to 87 in human form with the macro of Penetrate armor, mighty swing, Garrotte, and beastial onslaught, with reg attacks inbetween. I wont get it right away, but before the boss dies i have aggro.

    You probably take aggro because you have a high level penetrate generating a good bit of aggro, especially if it zerks or crits or both. I can hold aggro in human form by spamming penetrate and untamed wrath against a lot of squads around my level. Of course I don't do this on dangerous bosses, duh, that would be reckless b:sin
  • GrEEwland - Lost City
    GrEEwland - Lost City Posts: 8 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    guys... you use calamities to do better dmg, and you use them to PK and to tank... i'm guessing you won't tank boss without cleric, and you won't tank some high lvl bosses, i mean, that's high risk... so, 5% of HP (even if you have 20k dmg and you lose 1k) is very easy to be healed :S... just get yourself a good armor and don't bother on axes... i mean, i had calamities +5 and i sold them, and then i bought pan gu +6... i can't use it yet, but now, i'm sad, because, that calamities were superb... i wouldn't have sold them if i were back in the past... so.. -> calamities are your choice, but you should have some weapon for grind too... like Gloom or Regeneration stuff... GL
  • Bartack - Heavens Tear
    Bartack - Heavens Tear Posts: 253 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Don't be sad GrEEwland, all the high consistent damage, faster attack speed, extra hp and that wonderful shield of chi will make you soon forget all about those calamities. I use a pan-gu and a gatherstorm and never swap back to those old calamities anymore.
  • Druric - Lost City
    Druric - Lost City Posts: 10 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Zerk weapons can be used for tanking, with even a decent cleric. I use zerk weapon for pvp, pve, and tanking, and have never had a problem. They do help hold agrro, especially when dd's using triple spark.
    Never was a big fan of calamities. GX FTW!!!
  • Alyosha - Lost City
    Alyosha - Lost City Posts: 22 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Druric - Lost City wrote: »
    Zerk weapons can be used for tanking, with even a decent cleric. I use zerk weapon for pvp, pve, and tanking, and have never had a problem. They do help hold agrro, especially when dd's using triple spark.
    Never was a big fan of calamities. GX FTW!!!

    Still haven't got an answer on this, what is GX!?! >.<
  • Bartack - Heavens Tear
    Bartack - Heavens Tear Posts: 253 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    GX = TT90 Gold aXes
  • Themax - Heavens Tear
    Themax - Heavens Tear Posts: 230 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Druric - Lost City wrote: »
    GX FTW!!!


    I agree , I love my GXs b:victory
    Inactive on HT

    Rerolled on HL
  • Darksmiley - Heavens Tear
    Darksmiley - Heavens Tear Posts: 76 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    I have GX's. And I'm demon. That means i tend not to have agro problems lol. Still have around 13k hp in Tiger too :)
    Darksmiley - A.K.A PWI's old ****

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    Shoulda rolled a PVP server -.-
  • _julio - Sanctuary
    _julio - Sanctuary Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    best tank weapon would be pan gu's axe or scarlet axes due to the regaining of 5% hp but calamities are very acceptable, they give the hp and if your pure tank like i am, who restatted to using calamities and pan gu's axe, switch to calamities when u have problem either holding aggro or when the cleric is using bb because the effect of the shield in pangu's overrides bb for a bit.
  • J_Balt - Heavens Tear
    J_Balt - Heavens Tear Posts: 96 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    _julio - Sanctuary wrote: »
    best tank weapon would be pan gu's axe or scarlet axes due to the regaining of 5% hp but calamities are very acceptable, they give the hp and if your pure tank like i am, who restatted to using calamities and pan gu's axe, switch to calamities when u have problem either holding aggro or when the cleric is using bb because the effect of the shield in pangu's overrides bb for a bit.

    I've used Pan Gu's Giant Axe for 1 and a half lvl now. I see no difference in holding aggro from Cala's or Pan Gu's. Imo zerk doesnt support the aggro.

    I've noticed so far on Pan Gu's, if you invoke with the blessing from Pan Gu's on, blessing disappear. However with invoke on, and blessing activates you'll have both.
  • Partyanimal - Raging Tide
    Partyanimal - Raging Tide Posts: 41 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    J_Balt - Heavens Tear wrote: »
    I've used Pan Gu's Giant Axe for 1 and a half lvl now. I see no difference in holding aggro from Cala's or Pan Gu's. Imo zerk doesnt support the aggro.

    I've noticed so far on Pan Gu's, if you invoke with the blessing from Pan Gu's on, blessing disappear. However with invoke on, and blessing activates you'll have both.
    win win then?
  • Gawn - Harshlands
    Gawn - Harshlands Posts: 6 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    Untill lvl 85 i used Calamity Axes +5 and they were really nice. Since 85 i'm using Pan Gu's +5 and they are amazing IMO.

    I have like 16.5k max HP and zerk hurts a lot. Reducing your own HP for dmg is not the purpose of tanking. There are other classes to deal damage. Our job is to take damage and keep aggro away from the rest of the squad. In terms of keeping aggro i hardly loose it. If you notice you are about to loose aggro try to focus on flesh realm and devor. You'll loose chi fast if you use only these too but you can use chi pots or ask the veno to send you some chi.

    For Groups of mobs in Frostcovered City for example you should use roar and alpha male to get aggro (remind the veno to give you his deflect buff again after you used alpha male). Use sunder if you have chi and/or surf impact to hit the mobs and keep aggro a bit longer. And again i prefer non zerk wpns here because if i have 50 mobs following me i'm happy about every single hp point that i still have. :)

    IMO zerk would be only worth it in PvP. But not even everywhere. If you are a catapult puller in TW you need to survive as long as you can.

    Barbs are able to deal great damage but the idea behind the class is tanking.
  • Its - Sanctuary
    Its - Sanctuary Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited December 2009
    I use Zerk axes to tank xD. The zerk for more damage to hold better aggro and yeah even though your losing 5% Hp, why would that matter when your being healed by a cleric b:laugh
  • Asmodiel - Heavens Tear
    Asmodiel - Heavens Tear Posts: 1,442 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Its - Sanctuary wrote: »
    I use Zerk axes to tank xD. The zerk for more damage to hold better aggro and yeah even though your losing 5% Hp, why would that matter when your being healed by a cleric b:laugh

    Never ever tank without a cleric b:chuckle

    but anyway yea, Zerk axes like cala or gxs are good/better even for tanking due to higher damage, and cleric will heal your loss of 5% even tho it diesn't happen THAT much, it's not like the effect lasts for 5 seconds so you can zerk 4-5 hits :p

    Soooo yea, "Yes" to zerk tanking
    "One of the most important factors, not only in military matters but in life as a whole, is ... the ability to direct one's whole energies towards the fulfillment of a particular task." - Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

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  • Cybetron - Harshlands
    Cybetron - Harshlands Posts: 153 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    Necro FTL b:shocked
  • Asmodiel - Heavens Tear
    Asmodiel - Heavens Tear Posts: 1,442 Arc User
    edited May 2010
    woah rofl didn't even see xD was scouting barb sections and saw that :p <.<
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