This patch I started to tank as BLU mage. I realize this is the most difficult role to fill at pf and see so many complains about BLU doesnt being a "real tank" -which is true but a lot of BLU mages aren't doing the tanking well. So here are my spells and advices for BLU mage tanking.
Disclaimer: English isn't my first language so...
For grabbing and holding aggro
#27 The Look. Amazing, it's AoE for taking aggro. But you must be aware that if the mobs move, they be outside the aoe when you finish the cast and wont ger aggroed. This happens very often because other BLU entered in their radio before you finish the cast. Thats why I recommend j Kick or Supernakha to catch their attention and then the look.
#31 Sticky tongue: draw-in spell which increased aggro. Useful for one lost enemy in the pull. But be aware of the radius of the spell.
#97 Hydro Pull: draw-in AoE spell. Be aware of the radius.
#62 Frog Legs: The BLU's provoke. Use it to reasure your aggro.
#61 Avail: The BLU's Shirk.
Advice on aggro and tankbusters:
Very important for all the party!!! some tankbusters are based on aggro (fine, you can hold it by reassuring while to while with Frog legs) BUT others are based on roles and you all are dps classes so these will be random. All BLU should have #29 Diamonback for these.
For mitigation
#77 Aetheric Mimicry /Tank) & #30 Mighty Guard. They're basic.
#32 Toad Oil: 20% more evasion. Use it in cooldown.
#29 Diamonback: Blocks 90% of the damage and nulify the knockback and drawin effects. Think about it as your invul. You cant move for 10s. With good timing you can survive to more than one mechanic with this. It's expensive in MP but has little recast time and will help your healers so much! Don't fear to use it for hard tankbusters.
#95 Dragon Force: 40% mit.
#89 Chelonian Gate: 20% mit with a relative fast recast, it reflect dmg when you take >30% of your HP. Very useful! You can mover but shouldnt since It will end the effect.
#75 Devour: Increases your HP in 20%
#107 Schiltron, #49 Veil of the Whorl or #16 Ice Spikes: These counter some dmg you take. Ice Spikes is the weakest of these, pick the one you like most.
#117 Force Field: It grants 50% physical mit OR 50% magic mit but you cant choose which one so I don't really like it. I feel you can rotate dragon force, chelonian gate, and diamondback safely and drop this.
Advices on mit:
This is important!!! Even with the tank stance and Mighty guard your HP will be the HP of a dps class so you won't have a "real tank" HP pool. You NEED to mitigate, specially the tankbusters. Plus BLU healers doesn't have the big toolset that a "real healer" has, and the res spells has a very long recast so you need to help your party by taking less damage and not dying.
Be careful because your "real tank" mits are instant and the BLU mits must be casted. You'll taking a race on which castbar ends before: your mit or the tankbusters one. So your reaction must be on time!
For Utility and support
#28 Bad Breath: Very usefull for debuff enemies, even the bosses usually take some of the debuffs.
#70 Cactguard: 15% mit for other party member. Useful if you're offtanking, you put it on the MT. Or if you're MT you can put it on healer in danger situations.
#13 White Wind , #73 Exuviation or #108 Rehydration : pick one or two healing spell for backup for your party. Exuviation is aoe and removes debuffs from your friends.
#72 Angel Whisper: Always usefull!! The res spell. Since it has a veeeeeery long recast time it's prefered to all BLUs to have it.
#57 Eerie Soundwave: remove buffs of the enemy.
For Damage:
#104 Nightbloom or #9 Song of Torment: DoT, always useful.
#105 Goblin Punch: instaspell for basic dmg spam spell. Must be in melee range. It's single target.
#63 Sonic Boom: the basic dmg spam speel. Useful when you're away of the boss. It's single target.
#80 J Kick: Gap-closer, useful for start a pull.
#97 Hydro Pull: Pulls enemies to you, usefull for dungeon pulls. Aoe.
#31 Sticky Tongue: Pull in one enemy to you. It stuns also and increases aggro.
#78 Supernakha: Usefull primal spell, and useful for starting a pull at dungeons.
#75 Devour: It restores some HP.
#33 Ram's Voice & #92 Ultravibration: Always usefull for dungeons.
#109 Breath of Magic and #121 Mortal Flame: BIG DoTs but only one of each can be active so only one BLU must cast them. I like it to be the tank or healers so the dps has more room for other big dmg spells.
Hope some of this would be useful to you if you want to try the BLU tanking. Once you get used to the different way of aggroing at dung pulls and to casting the mits it gets very fun and challenging!
Feel free to add your own suggestions!
