[Black Ork] Usefulness

[Tisaya]

2h tanks aren't wanted in ORVR, they die too fast. But you can totally be DPS SNB as BO. Just grab the block channel from the mid tree and feel free to go full ham. You will have probably the best panic button in the game that will allow you to turtle up when things go south and practically ignore guard damage.

[Rapzel]

ITT people talking bullocks..

BO used to be a semi tank/semi DPS it has been changed. It now falls within the tank archetype. While 2h in 40+ is a bit lackluster atm, 2h BO is insane in mid tier, it pops off at 24 and doesn't really stop until 40 where it falls off a cliff... Though to be fair all careers do.
But you are correct in your observation that BO is extremely weak for the first levels, Idk why it is this way but it is. At around rank 12-14 when you start to get some decent gear and tactics it changes, but I am quite sure a lot of people quit their black orc early because of the first 10-14 ranks.

On 40 SnB BO is just great, really tanky and great support abilities.

[rythornHN]

Removing CD reduction from Waaagh was crippling to the class. It probably halved the # of people playing them.

[Easysteps2]

2H tank works great for scenarios and small scale (2-12 player) RVR. For large scale RVR (keeps, forts), I find sword and board is much more useful, since you are face tanking for the WB.

If you are in large scale RVR, people will complain that you are using a 2H.

You’re right, even with full Str/crit/etc, you don’t do much damage compared to real DPS (at best 50%). Your role is to guard.

For 2H, in scenarios, ranks 1-19 are OK. Ranks 20-30 feel really good. Ranks 31-39 you feel like a god. And RR 40-50 feels awful, you don’t do damage and it feels like you are made from paper. Then it starts to get better again but you will never be as good as ranks 24-39.

This is from the perspective of your mirror, an SM.

[ShadowWar]

Like others said, 2h tanks work for solo pretty well. It's MUCH harder to make them work in ORvR, and you must have incredible gear. But you shouldn't be going for damage with a 2h tank in a warband. Sacrifice basically all your strength, max wounds, init, toughness.

For example: on order side, having one 2h knight is valuable, as they bring a LOT of AoE debuffs to the table (wounds debuff, increased crit chance on target, defense debuff are the biggies). I think the BG on Destro brings a lot to a Warband with a 2h build as well, but it's been a while since I played mine.

[Alubert]

Removing CD reduction from Waaagh was crippling to the class. It probably halved the # of people playing them.

In my opiniom 25% AA dmg is much better. At least from Choppa pov.

[TrainInVain]

I alternate armor sets as I level. 2h isn't the best for large scale, but either you find a guild who doesn't mind, or play pugs who are usually lucky to have full compliment of tanks.

Right before your BiS sovereign gear, get triumphant SnB which you are still very valuable in large scale RvR. Then for your BiS take the 2h gear you like. It doesn't have to be that complicated.

[rythornHN]

Removing CD reduction from Waaagh was crippling to the class. It probably halved the # of people playing them.

In my opiniom 25% AA dmg is much better. At least from Choppa pov.

Lol than -5s cooldowns? Yeah no. Literally helps every one of the choppa big damage skills and helps rest of group including healers which are keeping you alive to do more damage. And choppa can buff their auto attack by 35% already (doesn't stack with the 25%).

[Sinisterror]

Removing CD reduction from Waaagh was crippling to the class. It probably halved the # of people playing them.

In my opiniom 25% AA dmg is much better. At least from Choppa pov.

Lol than -5s cooldowns? Yeah no. Literally helps every one of the choppa big damage skills and helps rest of group including healers which are keeping you alive to do more damage. And choppa can buff their auto attack by 35% already (doesn't stack with the 25%).

AA haste (which choppa has 35%) and AA DMG are not the same thing.

[shoelessHN]

In my opiniom 25% AA dmg is much better. At least from Choppa pov.

Lol than -5s cooldowns? Yeah no. Literally helps every one of the choppa big damage skills and helps rest of group including healers which are keeping you alive to do more damage. And choppa can buff their auto attack by 35% already (doesn't stack with the 25%).

AA haste (which choppa has 35%) and AA DMG are not the same thing.

Good call forgot it mirrored blood of grim. Still doesnt matter on -5s cd though. They changed so many skills to have longer cd because they were OP when Chop Fasta or Waaagh were active.