A tank in Lineage 2 is not about damage — it is about control. Its job is to pull every mob and boss onto itself so the fragile DDs and the healer can work in peace. A good tank is almost invisible when things go smoothly, but without one a hard party wipes in seconds. Let us break down aggro mechanics and the tank's role.
Tank classes
| Class | Race | Strength | 3rd profession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paladin | Human | Durability, holy damage, self-heal | Phoenix Knight |
| Dark Avenger | Human | Damage + pet, aggression | Hell Knight |
| Temple Knight | Light Elf | Mobility and shield buffs | Eva's Templar |
| Shillien Knight | Dark Elf | Debuffs and lifesteal | Shillien Templar |
It all starts at 2nd profession (Paladin, Dark Avenger, Temple Knight), and the powerful 3rd professions open up at endgame: Phoenix Knight and Hell Knight.
How aggro (hate) works
Every mob and boss keeps a hate list: the more damage and provocation a character deals, the higher they sit on it and the more likely the mob attacks them. The tank's job is to stay at the top of that list.
- ▸Aggression / Aggression Aura — forcibly pull a mob's aggro onto the tank.
- ▸Damage and attacks also add hate — the tank must actively hit, not just stand.
- ▸A DD's big burst can override aggro — then the mob peels onto the DD, and the tank must taunt it back.
- ▸Shield block and high defense let the tank eat hits while the healer restores HP.
At the start of a fight, give the tank 1–2 seconds to build aggro before the DDs open full damage. If a DD bursts from second one, the mob peels onto them — and the healer ends up healing the DD, not the tank.
Role in parties and on raids
In a party the tank opens the fight, gathers mobs and holds them while DDs focus targets one by one. On raid bosses the role matters even more: stable aggro on the tank is the only thing keeping the boss off the healer and away from a wipe. How to build a party around a tank is in ideal party composition Interlude.
Gear and buffs
Tanks want heavy armor (max P.Def and shield block rate), a weapon with high aggro damage, and an HP pool. Among buffs, Shield, Might, Guidance and heals from the buffer/healer are critical. The full grade path is in D→B gear progression.
A tank with no Soul Shots and no active play is useless: just standing and spamming Aggression will not out-hate a burst DD. Tanking is an active role, not a mannequin.
Should a beginner roll a tank
Yes, if you enjoy group play: a tank is durable, forgives mistakes and is always wanted in a party. For solo farming it is weak — a mage or earner is better there, as covered in best beginner class.