Is Berserker/Mage dualclass a better tank than a Dwarven Defender?

[Too Much Marijuana]

I realize the flat resistances dwarven defenders get, AND that their defensive stance is actually better than Hardiness, and that not having to pick hardiness allows them to get more whirlwind. I also realize that Grandmastery isn't that hot.

It's just that a level 9 zerker/mage whatever, i can ride over the downtime in chapter 2 with scrolls alone, and dang, the mage spells. my other melee guys get their asses kicked, doesn't matter who, korgan, anomen, keldorn, they are always near death after a serious fight, and I make sure to buff up.

Not my main guy. he barely gets scratched. he rolls in with blur and mirror image and stoneskin and grandmastery of flails with easthaven and flail of ages and mows them down. That's not an opinion, i've played kensai, dwarf defenders, archers, i generally like to play on hard. Even dwarf defenders take a mild beating (25-50% of their health) in the beginning, buffed up and D-Stance'd. It's crazy to me how a really strong class, that's dedicated entirely to tanking, doesn't seem as good at tanking as a class that is really not dedicated to tanking.

[Zotliatlicor]

Well, The Vanilla Fighter kit is the Basic Model, the Kits are all Advanced Models. And also the Multi-Class versions of Fighter, they are Advanced. But to take a human, roll up the stats needed to Dual and dualing to mage, that is Expert Model.

It require much more knowledge of the game, some serious thought and planning, careful revision of the spells to choose and memorize. It is not for beginners at all.

And yes, it is much Stronger Tank. But, it comes with the price of focusing the Mage-part on defensive tanking spells. Vanilla Mage is all about Fireballs. A tanking Mage is Expert Model too.

Dwarven Defender IS a very strong Tank, and a very strong Fighter Kit, and a very strong starter character compared to a Vanilla Fighter. The DD innate ability to Defensive Stance is incredibly strong, for beginners. It doesnt stack with Hardiness (it is in fact a version of Hardiness)

But Ranger/Clerics, Fighter/Clerics, Spellcasting BlackGuards & Paladins and some Ranger Kits are all able to Super-Tank, with the Defender of Easthaven in the Off-Hand, The HLA Hardiness, and a casting of Cleric 1 Armour Of Faith at the high levels, for a 80% + protection vs all physical damage. AoF also protects vs magic Damage, and that comes on top of the innate abilities of the many classes present in the game.

Dwarven Defender is strong Early, but a Multi F/C combo will outgrow them in defense lategame.

But again yes, the Berserker/Mage dual is Strong all the way to the End, right from where one regain the abilities.

There is something to be said for the Kensai Druid too, as it gain Iron Skins and Armour from spells (Barkskin will go way down lategame)

[Too Much Marijuana]

yeah, Iron SKins on a Kensai sounds amazing :D

[Etxxu]

F/M dual or MC its better, its my tank and It has never been killed or seriously wonded in LoB (only against bosses) thank to amor, mirror image, Blur, ghost armor, Stone armor and other spells to protection from Magic spells and normal ir Magic weapons
The problem Is that you can lose a lot of time buffing yourself and has to manage the other members of the party until you can go frontline