#1 - March 15, 2017, 10:06 p.m.
Problems
1. Some tanks (Guardian, Brewmaster) were just too good at dealing with both Physical and Magical damage.
This one speaks for itself. When you have tanks with no weaknesses vs. tanks with weaknesses, it's really a no brainer that you'll pick the tank with no weaknesses.
2. Raid encounters amplify this imbalance
You might have the best physical damage tank in the world, but if there's negligible physical damage in the encounters, that tank is still not going to be good.
Solutions
1. There needs to be a better balance of the tanks in game.
I think it is actually a good idea to have some tanks stronger at physical or magical than others, but not both like it was in Nighthold. Each tank should have strengths and weaknesses. This way every tank will get to shine and there wont be homogenization. Here is what I think the devs should aim for:
70% Physical, 30% MagicalUnfortunately it was more like 80% 80% for Guardian in Nighthold, so it will probably skew your perception a bit. Now you are probably thinking: wouldn't I just change tanks on a fight by fight basis? Thats where #2 comes in:
Protection Warrior
Strengths: Best physical damage tank by far
Weaknesses: Cannot handle magic damage as well
I
I
60% Physical, 40% Magical
Protection Paladin
I
I
50% Physical, 50% Magical
Brewmaster Monk
Guardian Druid
Strengths: all rounder tanks
Weaknesses: does not particularly shine in any encounter
I
I
40% Physical, 60% Magical
Vengeance Demon Hunter
I
I
30% Physical, 70% Magical
Blood Death Knight
Strengths: Anti magic tank.
Weakness: More vulnerable to physical damage
2. Raid encounters need a good balance of physical and magical damage
Despite the complaints about magic damage in Nighthold, I think it was a good thing. It added an extra element to tanking. The only problem was Guardians/Monks had too many tools, and there wasn't enough physical damage for Warriors to shine.
With balanced tanks and a more balanced distribution of Physical and Magical damage encounters, what will happen is all the tanks will shine and we will see a much healthier distribution of tanks in PvE. If you have a raid encounter where phase 1 is 65/35 physical/magical, phase 2 is 50/50 and phase 3 is 35/65, there is no longer a "best" tank to bring on an encounter by encounter basis.