Tank Role
The tank holds the monsters' attention with Hate (taunt), protecting your DDs and healers. Without a tank, Raid Boss runs are impossible. You need high defense, a deep HP pool and crowd-control skills.
Lineage 2 has four tanks — one each for Humans, Elves, Dark Elves and Orcs — and every one has its own specialization. For the full picture, see the tier list.
Tank Comparison
| Tank | Race | Strength | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paladin | Human | Best survivability, self-healing, Shield Stun | Beginners, raids, mass PvP |
| Dark Avenger | Human | Highest tank damage, debuffs, panther pet | Solo farming, duels |
| Temple Knight | Elf | Magic defense, party auras | Group support |
| Shillien Knight | Dark Elf | Debuffs, magic-damage Soul Crystals | Debuff tanking |
The Paladin is the all-round tank. Best survivability thanks to self-healing and Shield Stun — ideal for beginners and good for any content. The Dark Avenger is the dark knight with a panther pet: it deals more damage than the other tanks through magic and debuffs, so it shines in solo play and PvP. The Temple Knight is an elven tank with magic defense and auras whose party-wide protective skills are valuable in a group, while the Shillien Knight is the dark-elf tank built around debuffs and magic-damage Soul Crystals.
Tanks in PvE
For raids on Baium and Antharas, the best choice is the Paladin — stability and self-healing carry long fights, and its Hate keeps the boss glued to you so your DDs and healers stay safe. The Dark Avenger is the better solo farmer: the panther pet noticeably speeds up clearing mob packs. For gear, run a DC Heavy Set at mid levels and a Tallum Heavy Set at endgame.
Tanks in PvP
In PvP and castle sieges you are the frontline. You charge in first, stun and taunt. The Paladin with Shield Stun is the best pick for mass PvP, while the Dark Avenger is strong in one-on-one skirmishes thanks to its debuffs. On the Olympiad tanks fall short because of their low damage — more on that in the Olympiad guide. For general tips, see the PvP guide.