Any way to build a non-mage melee tank?

[Gabe the Destroyer]

In my experience, a mage (or bard) with stoneskin and mirror image is clearly the best melee tank.

I've tried maxing out AC (got it to -24ish) but still wasn't able to evade some of the ToB bosses. I was wondering if anyone has worked out some type of effective tanking build that doesn't need any mage classes?

I know there are boots that cast stoneskin and a short sword that casts mirror image, but does anyone know of any other builds that utilize class abilities and armor more than items that will emulate a mage's spells?

Maybe a Swashbuckler with his -8 AC class bonus in full plate, shield and Improved Evasion?

Has anyone been able to optimize a Barbarian's damage resistance to be an effective tank? Maybe with Hardiness and The Defender of Easthaven?

The Soul Reaver +4 two-handed sword does -2 THACO penalty with each hit. Has anyone built a tank around this sword + Improved Whirlwind? You could theoretically have the enemy with a - 20 THACO penalty for a few rounds.

I'm looking for any other tips or builds that people have used to make effective tanks.

[Flashburn⌛]

Dwarven Defender with Defender of Easthaven using Defensive Stance will get 95% physical damage resistance (75% vs missile weapons). That's about the most damage resistance you can get on a tank.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

AC is worthless for tanking after 0, just stick with stacking as many damage reduction items that you can find.

The barbarian is only 5% less damage resistance then a F/C multi-class (his passive reduction tops out -20%, as opposed to the clerics -25% with AoF). 80% slashing, 105% piercing, 50% magic, 130% blunt and 80% missile.

That's 40% with just DoFE, and 80% with hardinness, + the belt of inertial barrier gives 25% piercing and 50% magic, there's a helm with 50% blunt resistance.


Soul reaver is pointless because you'll kill the enemy before you stack more then a few hits worth of penalty. The Ravager is the only thing with enough damage resistance to take an entire whirlwind attack to kill it and it's not even strong, it's just a damage sponge and has nasty effects and constantly summons a bunch of crap.

[Gabe the Destroyer]

What's DoFE?

Edit: I'm guessing Defender of Easthaven.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

yeah, misspelled it, DoEH