Is Gunlancer the only relevant tank spec?

Class Discussion Class Discussion
1

So I have tried to gather some info about which classes have the ability to perform the role of a tank in this game. Based on the stats I’ve come to conclusion that only Warrior class has even slight amount of defence stat on the grid.

In my understanding Gunlancer is the one, most pure tanking specialization of Lost Ark. I have read somewhere that Paladins and Berserkers can perform off-tanking duties but Gunlancer is the only one with “taunting” ability. I myself have no level 50 characters yet so I though I’d ask you.

What is your take, is Gunlancer the only relevant tank spec?

2

There are NO tanks in Lost Ark. Forget about tanking and just play what you want. Is gunlancer “tanky” ? Yes, very much so but he is NOT a tank. He has a taunt that can interrupt boss patterns and his class ability can be toggled for a shield and super armor thus enhancing his innate “tanki-ness”.

But you can’t facetank everything and get healed back up. Sure blue gunlancer build gets memed as the “what are mechanics”-guy but unless you overgear stuff heavily you can and will die just as fast.

So no and yes, no there are no tanks - yes the gunlancer is the closest you’ll get to a tank in this game.

2 Likes
3

Pretty much what was said above.

This game has no traditional tanking.

The taunt gunslinger has is more of an interrupt for certain attacks/mechanics and thats it.

Bosses attack in aoe, mechanics are party wide so in a way, everyone in the party is targetted at the same time for the most part.

Fights in lost ark revolve around individual survivability and active mitigation rather than getting healed after the damage has been done or ignoring certain attacks because the tank is taking them for you.

4

Once u treat Gunlancer as just another damage spec class but with a crap ton of Utility, CC, Weak point detection/damage, destruction buffer and debuffer for group, huge damage booster on boss damage taken and damage of group as well as survivability group buffs, and is tanky as hell solo with shields, with the shields even boosting your damage further…

Plus a taunt, yes it is short, but it means you tank a lot of damage away from group and it applies huge buffing damage for whole group. Coupled with destruction from shield bashing skills is like a double whamy damage boost for boss fights for whole group. Plus an AOE weakness destruction on huge mob packs with shield smash…which is another double whammy damage boost for groups on mob packs.

Once you see it for what it is and stop trying to be a tank it really shines in PvE. From 302 onwards it really starts to shine. With the right engravings and secondary stats you also bring a crap ton damage solo and for the group, gunlancers actually hit really hard which the correct build.

In PvP, it can be good with an insanely god skilled player but it’s so underbalanced compared to the other cheese specs and classes in pvp… you will feel gimped and useless in pvp solo.

But… PvP in a group with a group focused lancer with tons of CC/tankiness, you will be wanted 24/7 in pvp if u can setup peeps for other party members to nuke down.

Takes a specialized group though so you could just have a 3rd cheese spec/class instead of a lancer which is weaker on it’s own without the group…so again, lancer feels underbalanced in pvp. Also landing your attacks as lancer in pvp and actually having them hit the target is like RNG sometimes lol Very hard to do and takes a lot of practice especially against highly mobile and ranged players. It sucks to be honest.

Biggest weakness is defo mobility though, very slow especially with defensive stance up, even the back leap is lame and sometimes doesn’t even get you out of things with the range being so short/slow animation. You have a few close gap skills but most of them suck in my opinion, too slow or long animations and huge telegraphs.

I have not tried paladin yet but again that looks like an even more of a support class.