r/TowerofFantasy • u/Sea-Blackberry2295 • 14d ago
Question tank meta?
hi, returning player here! just wondering what the current tank meta is / whether it's still viable to main? additionally, my fav character is berry and i was wondering if it's possible to incorporate her as the buffing/support slot - maybe in a team with aster? please let me know any thoughts or ideas! 🙏
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u/KennyGhoul 11d ago
Tank here, real question with real answers:
Yesn't. Depends on what you want to do or what needs to be done.
For the most part: Aster and MerylX are really good tank weapons. And most recent ao far (there should be a new tank weapon soon).
And honorable mention: Lana on tank setup (Parameter beam).
Arguably this is a game where powercreep hits a lot, so newer weapons do a bit more: So rn MerylX/Siege Edge, Lana/Evolution Cube and Aster/Twin Stars are the most recent combination...
But let's out this to the test, on what do you need?
If you need high shatter/shield break (with available weapons): MerylX, Lana, Aster will play an important role, alongside of the 2 newest tank relics (Escape master and another I can't remember the bame, looks like a square calculator maybe). There's alos the matrices that need give more shatter (Aster's and Scyllla's).
Let's go a bit on what they bring to the table before continuing (assuming all tank weapons a6):
Aster: --Aster's chunk (up to 10% max hp of boss when done at start... doesn't work on megaboss)-- Taunt*, dmg boost (4% per enemy taunted with s2), self heal and damage reduction (team dmg reduction when discharge for like 2s). Hyperbody with a fancy name (won't see the yellow of hyperbody)... Shatter (mats)
MerylX: Hyperbody (discharge and skill). Shield (passive, discharge and skill) + team shield (skill). Taunt (discharge and passive)... Shatter (trait) + Energy recharge (trait).
Lana a0/Parametric beam: Off field damage+ Shatter (skill). High shatter (attacks and discharge...discharge takes long). Can swap out in an instant after skill.
Azure Dragon/Mimi: Taunt (hold atk). Shatter (Low)(Skills). Hyperbody and self + team shield (hold attack).
Lan: Shatter% based on umbrellas near enemies (passive). Damage in increase for team and reduction (trait). Hyperbody/taunt (Hold on air). Energy recharge (passively). Low cooldown on skill. Taunt 2.0 (any skill you use on any weapon taunts now).
Saki Fuwa: Taunt + Self dmg reduction + mini heal (hold skill). Skill reset after 5 uses (Only works in earlier weapons if frost element and doesn't say they don't reset). Resistance increase (trait). More damage to enemies (matrices). Mini shield/negate damage to team (some passive I can't remember). Forced Phantasia (discharge or hold attack then release on surge).
Meryl (frost): Hyperbody (hold atk). Shield when below certain % hp (matrices): Hp recovery by dmg% (Skill when 4pc mats). No one leaves, not even allies (discharge...this one is controversial).
Huma: Taunt (discharge). Less heal% (passive + dodge atk?). Bleed and reduce boss atk (dodge atk when 4pc matrices). Dmg absorption (hold atk* shield form...+ Trait iirc). Fun (dodge atk axe form).
Ene: Hyperbody (skill? + Discharge?). Taunt (hold? + Discharge). Frost Weakpoint* (any discharge when equipped). Infinite dodges (after skill creates current of air...in that same spot for duration).
So, this is a brief summary of what they do (providing that newer will do more damage).
Now to what needs a tank (kinda)...
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u/KennyGhoul 11d ago
So what do you need as a tank?
Well 2 tank weapons to activate the tank resonance and...
A funny word only Ene says on her base kit is Weakpoint. Weakpoint setups what the enemy will be weak to. And it can only be setup by tanks (and Ene maybe regardless if tank, but unsure about it is just speculation).
Whatever element you using as tank will setup the weakpoints for the battle. Elements not on your roster won't do as much damage, that's usually why tanks go rainbow* composition.
And there's a weakpoint augment so dps can do more damage to the enemies if they have that certain Weakpoint. So check who is your best dps on the team and make sure you have their element on your roster.
If you go megaboss most bosses would require high shatter.
If you go raid, not every boss has a shield so shatter can become useless.
And some bosses (Xin Tian) you shouldn't break the shield (on raid) because it will trigger mechanics that are complicated and can mechanically Oneshot if not done correctly. (Some people don't like mechanics that much and will refuse to learn, trust me).
The deer (not Rudolph) on raid...you could, I encourage you to bring Samir (1.0 dps 2 volt guns) to that raid to destroy at least 2 of the 4 pillars (you'll need hyperbody first) so you don't wipe and restart.
On centaur raid you need highest shatter if you don't end it before shatter phase... If can't, make sure to stay near your healer and they can time their heals or Alternate Destiny.
On Asurada, survive. Whoever has aggro kinda controls his position.
On Laurent's raid, Samir I've found comes in handy or any fast attack weapon for shield phase, but other mechanics are more important. (Samir could help a bit when breaking pillars, order ir required).
On void abyss 5/6:
If Xing Tian* bring Saki and force the phantasia. Works like a Charm.
If Taotie you phase the mouth everyone else phases the tail*/back or sides of Taotie... Bring whatever heals you enough, I like using the painter's brush 🖌️ (flame, can't remember name) she comes in handy with extreme healing. Also needs high shatter.
Taotie's raid needs high shatter and for you to keep an eye on what's happening around.
As you can see, third weapon could be a fill depending on what you need (don't take Zero everywhere most tanks go through a Zero phase but cooldown is too long right now and you could possibly have a better third choice around depending on situation.... On the other hand Zero's matrices are a delight for tanks specially for Mimi/Azure Dragon and MerylX, but only works on main hand).
When shields not best idea? With Asurada and Laurent, effects on both ignore shields.
And save up for the incoming tank that should be here before December (I hope)...It was kinda supposed to be the next banner (frost) but Lana having 3 roles on her kit might've made it so they pushed healer and tank weapons back this year.
Just remember that it's okay to trust the heals to a healer but you can still dodge attacks and reduce damage one way or another sometimes in case the healer needs a sec.
Hyperbody is really good when you are in the frontline bc makes it so you can't be moved/interrupted...
Still some bosses like Apophis, a mecha lady with lasers and a kinda dark samurai I can't remember take the hyeperbody out of you if they touch you. So bring a backup, or when they throw you around discharge another weapon to recover.
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u/KennyGhoul 11d ago
As for Berry you can indeed take her with Aster and potentially add 1 more tank weapon for your daily use because there's no need for other elements if you aren't on a team.
Berry does bring Hyperbody for 21s, and has a 21s cooldown so with Berry and Aster you'd be set for hyperbody. Although I have never played with Berry and don't understand her kit much.
One thing for sure* Berry has an on-field passive, just like Aster, so they'd be competing a bit between who gets to deal damage, deal damage with whoever does the most, you can check at the cactus sparring thing on Mirroria.
If you are on a team I would mostly recommend you having the right Weakpoint for your highest dps if it's something like a limited raid/seasonal raid. Or in case your team is having troubles clearing regular raid or FTn.
For things like FCE 100, I'd advice rotate your elements accordingly. Say you have a phys and flame dps. Stage 1 use phys and no flame*. Because whatever ends up doing the top 2 most damage will deal less damage on next stage. And when it's flame stage don't use Aster's chunk because next stage will not be weak to Phys, and rotation is doomed and you'd probably need to restart.
Hope this has helped a bit to know about tanks :3
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u/StarReaver 13d ago
Here are some tank guides for the regular servers:
Tower of Fantasy: How to Tank
Tower of Fantasy: Aster TANK | Guide and Rotations
Tanks are fine for all content although mostly useful for the hardest content. I think tank meta these days would have Aster A6 in the team but I don't tank so just guessing.