Tank

In team games with distinct roles, the tank is the character built to take punishment. Tanks have high health, strong armour or shields, and abilities designed to draw enemy attention. Their job is to stand at the front, keep enemies focused on them and protect more fragile team-mates who deal damage or heal.

The classic role trio

Many online games organise group play around three roles: tank, healer and DPS (damage dealer). Some players call this “the holy trinity”. In role-playing games, tanks manage aggro, using taunts and threat-generating abilities to stop enemies attacking anyone else. In team shooters and arena games, tanks create space – pushing forward, blocking attacks with shields and leading the team into fights.

Some teams use a main tank and an off-tank, where the second tank handles extra enemies or swaps in during particular parts of a fight.

What makes a good tank

Tanking is less about damage and more about awareness and leadership. A good tank positions enemies so the group can attack safely, knows when to use defensive abilities, and often sets the pace for the whole team. Because of that responsibility, tanking can feel intimidating to newcomers. It is also often in demand, which means players willing to tank frequently find groups more quickly.

Trying the role

If you want to learn tanking, start in easier PvE content and let your group know you are new to the role. Learn one dungeon or map well before branching out. Players who enjoy organising, thinking about positioning and protecting others often find the role rewarding. And because tanks are hard to defeat, it can be a forgiving role for learning how a game’s fights work. Watching an experienced tank play the same content first is one of the quickest ways to pick up the basics.