What build is the best tank?

[sphar]

First off,I am looking for a good TANK,not a meatshield.

What build can keep their enemies focused on them,while still having a good defense(AC/saves/HP)?

Here are some builds that I've seen so far:

Dervish Dancer Fighter
TWF Sword+Board Pally
Thunderstriker Fighter

Anything else? Would someone like to list the pros and cons of each?

[SunsetPsychosis]

Paladin is a terrible choice for a TWF sword and board. They just don't have the feats and class features to make it viable.

Dervish Dancer requires a really high Dex just to keep up with the AC bonus of heavy armor.

Thunderstriker is meh, the buckler bonus isn't particularly impressive.

The best way to keep enemies focused on you is to put out threatening amounts of damage, to the extent they can't afford to ignore you.

The best I've found for that sort of role is an Invulnerable Rager barbarian or a TWF sword and board fighter. A well built polearm fighter can fulfill a similar role.

Some of the new archetypes from UC have some promise, like the Tower Shield Specialist or Armor Master fighter archetypes, the Gun Tank gunslinger, or the Sacred Shield paladin.

[Atarlost]

Maybe a heavy armor wearing flame oracle? Make them want to engage you in close combat because you're a full caster that's setting them on fire.

Maybe a zen archer? Make them want to engage you because you are making full attacks at range.

Maybe a sword and board bard or battle herald? Make yourself worth taking down because you're contributing significantly to everyone else's firepower just by being within 30' or 60' of them.

Find something any intelligent enemy would want to stop and make it hard to kill and you don't need an aggro mechanic.

[ddgon]

If you play any MMORPG then you should know you can't tank that way in Pathfinder. One thing i think 4th got right.

Anyway, having a high AC means nothing. a 20 always hits and if the boss relzies your AC he will attack the one doing damage (high Ac means not twohanded wepaon and likely not spellcaster). So you need to do damage to keep the enemy. But to survive the enemy you need AC.

Smart enemies will fly up and nuke the healer/DPS caster and and Mind Controle the fighter types.

The best Tank in Pathfinder would thus be the Paladin. High Saves, can have high AC and damage because of Smite to some bad guys.

A figher can try to tank, if they focus on Combat Manuvers like trip, bull rush and such. But know, bad guys can fly/have many legs and be simply to big to use your manuver on. If you DM loves human size enimies a fighter can be ok.

[TarkXT]

SunsetPsychosis wrote:

Paladin is a terrible choice for a TWF sword and board. They just don't have the feats and class features to make it viable.

That depends entirely on how you build them. Granted udner a point buy system it's difficult to balnce your needs but if you roll well enough it's definitely viable. You really don't have to have greater two weapon fighting. By the level that becomes available you'll be gettin bashing finish adn a scimitar. So isntead of extra low end swings with your shield you get a free attack everytime you crit.

Now it's true fighters are better at it because of the sheer number of feats they get but paladins still have their other abilities and the bonuses to saves will be most desirable in this build.

[Davor]

TWF + Smite Evil = EPIC WIN

I once played a Goblin Paladin of Sarenrae that focused on Two-Weapon fighting with his scimitar. Now, that's about as sub-optimal as you can get. Then the party got into a fight with a nasty Sea Drake that nuked us pretty hard. Easily made the reflex save, popped a smitey-smite, and proceeded to go to friggin' town on the thing. It never knew what hit it.

[sphar]

@Sunset:I've found that TWF S&B Paladins can be incredibly effective.They don't have to have a high Strength because they have smite as well as a full BAB.
Dervish Dancers with a 20 Dex can have decent AC,as well as FF and Touch AC.If your DM allows you to use a buckler with Dervish Dance,it goes even higher(technically a buckler isn't off-hand,it's on your wrist).Also,if you take the Duelist PrC and have a decent Int,it goes even higher.ALSO,they can take great advantage of the Combat Reflexes feat for extra stickiness.

@Atarlost:You can't continuosly kite with a Zen Monk.Enemies won't bother to run after a ranged fighter forever.

@Ddgon:Yup,having a high AC means nothing because my enemies have a 5% chance to crit on me.Wow,this whole thread just lost its purpose.Also,you can have a high AC with a 2Her.I do agree with you that paladins are awesome tanks,though.

[Dragonsong]

Paladin has several spells to actually you know force someone to attack them few things have anything remotely like the ability to force opponents to attack them. If you want a MMORPG type tank then pally it is.