Offensive(Vanguards) VS Defensive(Wardens) Tanks: They need to be defined better.

Hey All I wanted to make a post about tanks here in LoL. First of all. I am a major tank player, jugg second. so I wanted to better define what exactly a tank is, as I have seen people discuss or argue about what a tank really, but the truth is that is a bit more complicated than that.

So, as we all know. Riot has redone their role system but they haven't implemented it yet, at least until the pre season. So I wanted to do A little talk about what makes a tank because to be frank, people are still arguing about what makes a tank a tank, and calling a champion that builds defensively "tanky" causes the sodium levels in my blood to spike like an eruption. So here is what makes qualification that makes a champion a tank.

KIT!!!: Yes I had to bold n' cap it. Kit is what makes a Tank what they are. they will have a defensive kit that includes good CC, durability and utility to help protect and defend their team. It all depends on the champ.

Durability: A tank is meant to eat attacks and protect their allies, so if they can't take a hit they are not really tanks, more like CC support bots that peel. A lot they need it for when they get into the fight as they are the ones that are meant to stand in the way of the enemy team from slaughtering your more frail allies.

CC: Yes CC is needed for a tank to protect and help set up kills for your ADC's It's both and offensive and a defensive tool as you need it to either hold the enemy off of for initiation.

Damage(in spades): look not look tanks should have insane damage but some need it to create threat, especially Vanguards(the two subjects I will discuss later) Damage is good both from an supportive and obviously offensive perspective as a tank with decent damage can help to set up kills by dealing enough damage for the Carries to deal damage to their counterparts.

Threat: Now this is the big one. Threat is needed to mess up the enemy team's formation and distract them from attacking your allies and in general, be a pain in their asses. It's can be done with damage, CC or even utility as they will either have the entire team could either have just as much health as the tank when he is in their ranks, tearing shit up, they will have blown off some of their precious abilities and it's on CD while they are preparing to strike as they have worn themselves down.

Defending: Yes tanks are there to the be the shield of your team, some will be a barrier that stays in fornt of you as they allow you do deal some good damage while others will be bashing the enemy along with you. either way defending the carry while being capable to stopping, body blocking or intercepting attacks to your allies is key to being a tank, can that is where durability also comes into play along with some of the tanks baseline durability or their kit.

Not that I am done with that Let's talk about Wardens and Vanguards.

Wardens: Wardens are meant to be the toughest of the toughest, having some of the highest defensive power in the game, both passively and actively. they are meant to be the ones that stop all damage and keep the carry safe no matter what and will die for the team if they have to. Wardens are tanks that have very poor damage but make up for it with good defensive utility such as shields, damage reduction, granting armor etc. this means that they can't support the team with some damage and rely on the carries to deal the damage needed to end the enemy team while they make sure they do as much as they can without interrupting or danger.

Champions that would fit the Warden Category would be:

(Taric is a mix bag: He is more of a juggernaut-Healer hybrid)

Vanguards: Vanguards are the more offensively inclined tanks, they are all about getting into the enemy enemy team and dealing as much damage as they can while being tough enough that they leave a mark or even nearly kill them all if they themselves are not killed, Vanguards favor damage over defensive utility, so they have means of outright protecting their allies but more themselves as they continue to harass the enemy team, it them or the enemy team but preferably them as their allies help them deal but loads of damage to the enemy. because they lack any defensive utility they are poor at actually protecting their allies but can still do some good intercepting if the situation calls for it, another advantage they also have is the psychological edge at having good damage and CC so if they catch someone out, they can ruin the enemy team. Vanguards are strange mix of diver and juggernaut they need to get into the fight but also are pretty slow, but can have a surprising amount of mobility when they need it, they more "stiff" compared to the actual mobile champions.

An example of Vanguard Champions would be: (Fighter/mage but counts as he has durability. CC and damage) (Hybrid)

In short Vanguards are all about being in the enemy teams face while Wardens are about sticking with their own team.

Anyways hope this cleared things out. Peace.