How to adapt your DPS build for the current tank meta shift?

The ever-evolving meta in multiplayer games constantly challenges players to adapt. Recently, a significant shift in the “tank meta” has redefined how frontlines operate, subsequently demanding DPS players re-evaluate their strategies and builds.

Understanding the Current Tank Meta

This meta shift typically involves tanks becoming more resilient, either through increased health pools, higher damage mitigation, or enhanced self-sustain capabilities. They might also possess more impactful crowd control or engage tools, making them harder to burst down and more effective at controlling the battlefield.

For DPS players, this means the days of easily melting enemy tanks are largely over. A more strategic approach is required to contribute effectively and secure victories.

Key DPS Adaptations for Tank-Heavy Environments

Prioritize Sustain Damage Over Pure Burst

While burst remains valuable for squishier targets, against fortified tanks, sustained damage over time (DoT) and consistent pressure are often more effective. Builds that favor damage-over-time effects, high attack speed, or repeated ability usage tend to shine.

Embrace Armor/Magic Penetration

This is arguably the most crucial adjustment. Items, talents, or runes that grant armor penetration (for physical DPS) or magic penetration (for magical DPS) become indispensable. Ignoring these stats will leave your damage numbers significantly lower against high-resistance targets.

Utility and Crowd Control Contribution

A DPS player’s role isn’t solely about raw damage. Contributing utility through mild crowd control (slows, stuns, silences) can help peel for your own team, disrupt enemy tank engages, or create windows of vulnerability for your team to exploit.

Smart Target Prioritization

While it might seem counter-intuitive, sometimes focusing tanks is necessary if they are the primary threat or isolating them creates an advantage. However, often the better strategy is to path around the tanks to eliminate high-priority squishy targets (enemy DPS, healers) first, or at least apply pressure that forces the tanks to react defensively.

Positional Play and Resource Management

Tanks excel at zone control and punishing poor positioning. DPS players must refine their positioning to maximize uptime on targets while minimizing exposure to tank CC and damage. Efficient mana/resource management becomes more critical in longer engagements against durable foes.

Build Adjustments to Consider

Review your current gear and talent trees. Are you investing heavily in raw damage stats that might be less effective against high resistances? Consider swapping out certain items or abilities for those offering penetration, sustain, or utility.

For some classes, specific build paths might open up that weren’t optimal before. For instance, a character previously built for full critical strike chance might now benefit more from a hybrid build incorporating armor shred or on-hit effects.

Adapting Your Playstyle

Engage in longer, more methodical fights. Don’t expect to one-shot tanks; instead, aim to chip away at their health, create opportunities for your team, and control the flow of the battle.

Communication with your team is paramount. Coordinate focus fire, CC chains, and defensive cooldown usage to effectively dismantle the enemy frontline or bypass it for backline access.

Be prepared to switch targets more frequently. If a tank is unkillable, shift focus to other threats or objectives, returning to the tank only when they are vulnerable or your team commits fully.

Conclusion

The tank meta shift is a challenge, but also an opportunity for DPS players to demonstrate adaptability and strategic depth. By understanding the changes, prioritizing sustain damage and penetration, leveraging utility, and refining positional play, you can continue to be a dominant force on the battlefield, no matter how tough the tanks get.