Angellic - Thank You. I cannot get people to understand that mages will still pull agro no matter how good the fighter is. It is not a negative on the fighter, it is simply that we are dealing the most damage.

On Topic: I built my fighter for the sole purpose of tanking. For that reason and that reason alone, she is Pure END. I think your build depends on what you want out ofyour fighter. The Pure END build is not recommended if you are planning on PvP or if you have to solo a lot. However, since my fighter is not my main, I do not have to worry about PvP or soloing.
One other thing I know that a lot of fighters do is carry both, a 1h sword and an axe. That way they can switch back and forth as needed.

Well it is true in KQ aggro is hard to be held but in grinding areas if u have empowered mock it's hard close to impossible to lose aggro, and if u know how to use your skills u will basically never lose aggro.

ONE thing i've learned while grinding with 1 mage (hyoree -prolly one of the top 3 mages in TEVA), and 1 cleric, is this when u bring your mob just mock DON"T DEVASTATE, hold aggro until the mage does inferno after INFERNO frost nova comes into action, THE MOMENT U SEE NOVA DEVASTATE otherwise it is likely mobs will go after mage, unless u can mock them again. By the time Devastate's stun was out 1 or 2 out of the whole mob (5-8 and we are talking ancient stonies here) were the only ones alive.

WHEN in grinding parties there are way to hold aggro until the mob is taken out, we are talking MASSIVE DAMAGE HERE at high levels, and if it can be done at high levels it can be done at lower as well as far as aggro goes, since mages tend to pull aggro like madness after level 60.

Well maybe a 2:1 END:STR build, you will have more hp than a pure STR , and you will have more STR than a pure END so its a pretty good build...

My question is how does being pure end or having str have to do with being able to hold aggro? Mock and the timeing of the your other Aoes determine this... Also the amount of mobs and the effectiveness of killing them fast. In my experience the only time I have had a mage pull mobs off me if if they attacked them before I gotten to them to start my aoe chain or they just about got the mob dead and have only 1 or 2 more spells to kill them...

A str fighter tanking will hold aggro better because in the process of mocking unlike the end fighter the str fighter will also deal high enough damage to keep the attention of a mob. The problem with the str fighter is THIS, IT WILL MOST LIKELY DIE if the mob is huge >_<.

EX: if in the middle of a mob one monster goes for the mage after i mock, spam 2 or 3 skills and his attention is back to me. IF u can tank with axe that is the safest way as far as holding aggro goes because u will be able to get aggro fast by spam skilling a mob that lost interest in your mock.

Excellent point. Most 50+ fighters I've partied with carry all three weapons, allowing them to change it up for an occurring circumstance.

Now, I didn't stay with fighters long, but I started out as one during the first months of CB1. I don't know skills either, but what I WILL suggest is a strategical build of either 2:1 END and STR, or the converse. I suggest the latter, because if you're going for 1h'd weaps like you said, then you will need those extra points to hold aggro. Also, like Loveless said, work on the cooldown of those skills (mock, devastate, etc.). Since DDs have the possibility of having high SPR, learn to use the 1h only in situations that permit it, as they can draw aggro from just ONE attack that crits, possibly.

I've never heard of a SPR build for fighters. Then again, it might be interesting to see how it works out. :)

To all the tanks, do you party with Mages that are lower levels as you or the same level as you? Because, seriously, same level or higher level, I have not played with a tank that will not lose agro to me at least once during grinding. I have even partied with 2 tanks and I still pull agro.

A mage even if it's higher level and gains aggro with inferno OR frost nova, i will spam skill the mob and get his attention. A full str fighter when spamming axe skills will almost match the mage damage as far as 1 mob goes =).

Well seems how I been lvl 60-61 for quiet some time.... most aoe parties I been in has mages that are considerably higher then me. They rarely pull the aggro off me....if they do they are dead in one more hit (the mob). And the weapon choice only helps you if one mob deviats from the mock....if more then one does it dont matter if you have axe, 2h, or 1h/shield.... or gonna have trouble getting them back. Thats where the skill of being able to use your aoes or other skills to either stun them from hitting your mages or cleric for that period of time that allows the mages to kill them. Yeah there are times where a group of them has been pulled off me.... but it was because of premature attacking.... and/or healing to much before I had any chance to gain hate.

If you're thinking of using 1h + shield, then putting STR actually isn't a good idea. Since, the major selling point for END is in its increase in blocking, which can only happen when carrying a shield. Bonus stats aren't made for compensating weaknesses, instead they are best served to enhance your strengths. Thus, if you want to be a DD, go pure STR, while tankers should go END.


On a side note. Pure str > all.

You can make up for defence and hp with scrolls, but you can't make up for damage.