Barik

Learn how to best utilize Barik as a tank in Tyranny. Discover his strengths, weaknesses, and essential skill training for survivability.

Alright, let's talk about Barik! He's your go-to guy if you want a solid tank early on, especially if your own character is a bit on the fragile side. Think of him as your personal bodyguard in Act I.

Now, Tyranny's combat is a bit different from Pillars of Eternity when it comes to tanks. Even with taunts, enemies are pretty aggressive and will try to break away from melee. Plus, it's tough to get defenses so high that you're completely untouchable, especially with guaranteed critical hits and precision attacks flying around. So, don't expect one single tank to soak up all the damage like in other games.

If Barik's your tank, you absolutely *need* to focus on his Athletics skill. His main taunt ability relies on it, and by default, he's not exactly a star athlete. You'll have to train this skill aggressively. Honestly, you might even want to consider using 'Frightened' afflictions to make enemies more susceptible to his taunts. It really helps bring their Willpower down to a more manageable level.

One more thing about Barik: he can't get new armor, only upgrades. This is super important to remember, especially because upgrading heavy armor in Tyranny is ridiculously expensive. If you're planning on crafting some powerful metal artifacts, you might not have enough coin to upgrade Barik's armor much beyond the basic 'Fine' level. If you get your hands on a Forge early, you might be able to push it to the next tier, but don't count on it.

Here are a couple of key things to remember about Barik:

• Normal Combo: Honestly, this is probably a better taunt than his AoE talent tree taunt. It's guaranteed to land and lasts forever until another taunt overrides it. Plus, it makes the enemy way easier for everyone to hit temporarily. Use this on the biggest threat first.
• Wrath Combo: This is a lifesaver! It petrifies everyone in a massive area. It doesn't stick around for long, but it can give you the crucial breathing room you need to survive a tough fight.