Molo Combat Style? (SK of Bst)

I've returned after several years and plan to Molo with either an SK or BST.
I don't intend to Raid, but I want to hunt Named and enjoy Quests.

My question is about the combat style for SK or BST. I've never played Solo/Molo with either class (only did the tutorial).

Does an SK use Darkness + DoT Kiting style? Or do they engage in melee combat and survive with Taps and mercenary Heals?
For BST, Which does Pet or player act as the Tank?

I understand that it may vary depending on the level, but I'm particularly interested in how it works at higher levels.

MOLO KOMBAT!

[techno intensifies]

I'm too lazy for kiting so I just tank it and let the healer merc heal unless it's a weaker mob, then I just keep healed with taps/epic/etc

For BSTs, it depends. The pet will keep aggro as long as you aren't generating a ton of aggro (bestial bloodrage, and probably frenzy of spirit should not be used if the pet is tanking). However there are cases like missions or raids where it uses the older style aggro where the mob will attack the closest player regardless of the pet's aggro.

BST will out-DPS an SK, so faster kills, but pet has no AE aggro tools and BST has no pulling, CC or snare tools. Also, inside missions, mobs will ignore your warder if your BST is inside melee range. Outside of that, when 1-on-1 on mobs, BST warder is a great tank. Adding Bard box fixes most of BST shortcomings, but not the lack of pet-tanking inside missions. (Missions becomes a bigger and bigger factor the further you get in game, which is why my BST now has WAR and SK personas.)

SK's have a pet, but just for extra DPS. SK's directly engage in combat, and tap for self healing. They will outlive a BST in most cases, but kills will be slower. SK has better pulling tools, snare, mitigation tools and AE aggro, but limited buffs, so you will need to carry around more potions or get buffs from others. Adding a low-click DPS class, like a Rog will address some of the DPS deficiency. Overall, I would say that SK will be able to do more content than BST, but at a slower rate.

SHD tanks when they molo. If you want to kite with a SHD, play a NEC instead.

I understand BST can tank or hide behind their pet.

The most important part about SHD vs BST when molo is going to be gear quality. If you are not going to play enough to properly gear the SHD, then you are better off playing with BST. The BST pet is minimally impacted by your gear and can likely perform the SHD. If you are going to put in the time to get great gear, then the SHD has the potential to out perform the BST in some ways.

SKs are the God's of EQ.



Now given that:



SKs are tanks. Their combat style is standing toe to toe and trading blows. They have abilities to reduce incoming damage..they also have buffs and abilities that let them steal life force from their enemies through spells and melee swings.



Only downside: very gear dependent. You'll spend more time upgrading gear before moving on in your exploits. But once you're upgraded, you're an unstoppable juggernaut.



BST: in the event of molo, you'll use your pet as a tank, letting the mobs beat on him while you attack the mob. Your pet is a very capable tank as well. BSTs will have considerably higher DPS than an SK, and require less gear to advance.



For what youre looking for, Beastlord will be the way to go.

I solo molo a lot as an SK when im not boxing , always have in fact I solod to 65 when that was tops. Not 100% but for the better part. Problem was back then fear kiting worked great. No mercs just you and your lil bony pal. When they got rid of fear working on most all mobs it became melee. Still doable epsecially if you are going to use a merc.

What Randomized said above is true. I play both daily and like them both but SK is and will always be my favorite class, even before it became the flavor of the day.

Yes, Shd's kick a** and live to sing about it!