Baldur's Gate 3: Can you actually TANK?

[@themagescorner]

Can you tank BRO?

[@SirCharles12357]

Very well thought out and tested! I'm time for my cleric to respec! Also, going to add the Sentinel Feat.

[@V15698]

The tank has to be in front, thus a tank should always be the face character, the best way to play a tank then is just being a paladin with any other 3 ranged characters, get hold person and whatever else you can grab for crowd control (avernus, make one of your friends a druid or nature cleric and abuse spike growth while you're at it, you'll need the healing either way) and go have fun always being the first one to go down in combat if you can't roll your way out. source: experience (edit: bit o' wording)

[@themagescorner]

@@V15698 I believe there is an Oath that gets command too! So yeah an alternative to cleric.

[@hectorsanchez7581]

I didn’t really think about tanking, I’ve been playing pathfinders on unfair to long to really think about it

[@mahe4]

extended metamagic could also help with command. it can double it's time.

[@themagescorner]

yeah for sure, it's very good. I like heightened just to make sure it lands on enemies with higher saves. otherwise, it may not be as reliable.

[@omgopet]

Does command really count as tanking, wouldn't that be just control? The won't target you when you command them to approach, just walk and then end their turn. Also, extend spell metamagic works on some command options (prone for sure, can't remember the others), it's extremely powerful because it doesn't waste concentration.

[@themagescorner]

@@omgopet I count it as both aggro tool and control. Mostly cause a lot of enemies attack whatever is closest to them. So the only way I figured out to "aggro" them that actually works is command (approach).

[@omgopet]

@@themagescorner Ah, so by commanding them to you, you make them attack you on the next turn? Gotcha.

[@alegend4evr]

You dont really need to aggro people to you much at all. Just being the easiest target to land a hit on does it for the most part, especially if you only have one melee char and theres no one super low HP/down. Go bear heart barbarian, gold dwarf, 22 const + tough, have your AC as the lowest in the party (not hard to do with a barb), relentless strike every turn, and if you REALLY need to, sit in acid (have a caster throw a melf's/chromatic orb into the 'pit' of the fight). Pickup the shattered flail form the Gnolls, Periapt of Wound Closure from Esther, and much later the Ring of Regeneration + Sarevok's sword + Bonespike armor (and Helm of Balduran if you want). You'll heal 16 (12 from 2 hits, and 4 from ring (or 18 with helm)), take half dmg from all but physic (which a Elixir of Psychic Resistance solves) and then -2 from bonespike. You can also take stallion for the Temp HP on dash (but not the best with the flail, works much better with Sarevok's sword since you dont need to use an action to hit someone in an effort to avoid going mad from the flail debuff) Doing this will have you at a VERY low AC score, and at disadvantage to attacks from relentless strike, so most enemies will look at their chances to hit the rest of your party and then realize that they'd much rather land a hit on the tank rather than chance hitting a caster or ranger with much higher AC, and likely on high ground. My char "biggenhefter" gets his shit rocked by the entirety of the enemy's 'party' while the bard, warlock, and even monk, are able to go most of every round without even being targeted. I take all the dmg, reduce it by half then -2, and then heal it all up on the following turn. I've only died to lorroakan's full charged elemental retort x2, and a couple of other things here and there. Sorry for the text wall, nice vid too, thanks!

[@themagescorner]

@@alegend4evr yeah that seems like a tough tanky build...my point is mostly what happens when another squishy gets surrounded and u need to gain aggro? Thats where things like command (approach) and sanctuary come in. The goading abilities are meme at best. But bear heart barb sure is the toughest of the tanks.