Trial of Valor Tanking Guide

In this guide, you’ll find simple tanking strategies for the Trial of Valor raid in Legion. It covers LFR, normal, heroic, and mythic (though some versions are still being iterated on).

Labels
Positioning Change Position / Movement Cleave / Watch Positioning Adds / Change Targets Tank Swap Defensive Cooldown / Active Mitigation Environmental Dangers Interrupt

Changes in heroic. Includes mechanics that might have existed in easier difficulties, but might not have been relevant until harder difficulties.

Changes in mythic. Includes mechanics that might have existed in easier difficulties, but might not have been relevant until harder difficulties.

Odyn

LFR / NormalHeroicMythicNotes
Phase 1 | Might of the Valarjar | Hymdall & Hyrja
  • Separate Bosses One tank on each boss, and position them on opposite sides of the area so that they can’t protect themselves from damage with Valarjar’s Bond.
  • Stand in the Light Hyrja: Stand in the beam of light (Shield of Light) to help soak it.
  • Circle of Damage Hymdall: Run out of the projection circle around him when he casts Horn of Valor.
Phase 2 | The Prime Designate | Odyn
  • Tank Swap Taunt swap regularly to keep stacks of Odyn’s Test low.
  • Spearheads Pull the boss away from Spear of Light and dodge the orbs of Glowing Fragment that burst from them.
  • Match Runes If you are focused by a Runebearer when Odyn begins to Draw Power, drag them to their matching rune.
Phase 3 | The Final Test | Odyn
Phase 1 | Might of the Valarjar | Hymdall & Hyrja
  • Separate Bosses One tank on each boss, and position them on opposite sides of the area so that they can’t protect themselves from damage with Valarjar’s Bond.
  • Stand in the Light Hyrja: Stand in the beam of light (Shield of Light) to help soak it.
  • Circle of Damage Hymdall: Run out of the projection circle around him when he casts Horn of Valor.
Phase 2 | The Prime Designate | Odyn
  • Tank Swap Taunt swap regularly to keep stacks of Odyn’s Test low.
  • Spearheads Pull the boss away from Spear of Light and dodge the orbs of Glowing Fragment that burst from them.
  • Match Runes If you are focused by a Runebearer when Odyn begins to Draw Power, drag them to their matching rune.
  • Separate Bosses When Hyrja or Hymdall reappear, one tank needs to pull them across the room from Odyn (Valarjar’s Bond).
    • Stand in the Light Hyrja: Stand in the beam of light (Shield of Light) to help soak it.
    • Circle of Damage Hymdall: Run out of the projection circle around him when he casts Horn of Valor.
Phase 3 | The Final Test| Odyn
Phase 1 | Might of the Valarjar | Hymdall & Hyrja
  • Separate Bosses One tank on each boss, and position them on opposite sides of the area so that they can’t protect themselves from damage with Valarjar’s Bond.
  • Stand in the Light Hyrja: Stand in the beam of light (Shield of Light) to help soak it.
  • Circle of Damage Hymdall: Run out of the projection circle around him when he casts Horn of Valor.
  • Match Rune After killing the Runebearers, quickly run to the rune that matches your debuff to prevent death from the lethal Unerring Blast.
Phase 2 | The Prime Designate | Odyn
  • Tank Swap Taunt swap regularly to keep stacks of Odyn’s Test low.
  • Spearheads Pull the boss away from Spear of Light and dodge the orbs of Glowing Fragment that burst from them.
  • Match Runes If you are focused by a Runebearer when Odyn begins to Draw Power, drag them to their matching rune.
  • Separate Bosses When Hyrja or Hymdall reappear, one tank needs to pull them across the room from Odyn (Valarjar’s Bond).
    • Stand in the Light Hyrja: Stand in the beam of light (Shield of Light) to help soak it.
    • Circle of Damage Hymdall: Run out of the projection circle around him when he casts Horn of Valor.
  • Match Rune After killing the Runebearers, quickly run to the rune that matches your debuff to prevent death from the lethal Unerring Blast.
Phase 3 | The Final Test| Odyn
  • Detailed Guide: Wowhead
  • Video: Fatboss
  • Lots and lots of movement during this fight, especially during phase 3. Things like run speed increases are very nice.
  • Brewmasters don’t have to run far from the Spear as long as they have Ironskin Brew up. If shit hits the fan, you can also use Zen Meditation to greatly reduce the damage.
  • In mythic, if you fail to match your rune in time, Zen Meditation can save your life.

Guarm

LFR / Normal / HeroicMythicTrashNotes
  • Stand in your color The raid will be organized in three groups, one to soak each elemental breath from Guardian’s Breath. The placement changes each time, so run for the colored ground that indicates where your breath will soon be cast.
  • Tanks Stack Tanks must stand near each other and move together to properly split Multi-headed.
  • Cleave Physical Damage Reduction Face Guarm away from nearby allies so that they don’t get hit by Flashing Fangs.
  • Run Out of Charge Run out of the path of Headlong Charge.
  • Stand in your color The raid will be organized in three groups, one to soak each elemental breath from Guardian’s Breath. The placement changes each time, so run for the colored ground that indicates where your breath will soon be cast.
  • Tanks Stack Tanks must stand near each other and move together to properly split Multi-headed.
  • Cleave Physical Damage Reduction Face Guarm away from nearby allies so that they don’t get hit by Flashing Fangs.
  • Run Out of Charge Run out of the path of Headlong Charge.
  • If targeted by a Foam debuff (Flaming, Briney, Shadowy) that does not match your breath color, stand near someone who does match and call for a dispel.
  • Pull the trash on the side of the stairs. Otherwise, they’ll grip your teammates up with them and won’t let them leave.
  • The trash is also a bit of a gauntlet, since adds keep spawning from the portal until you kill the last one.
  • Detailed Guide: Wowhead
  • Video: Fatboss
  • Always save some physical AM for Flashing Fangs. It really hurts, and given how much damage you take in the fight as a whole it can be tempting to use AM when you drop low. Just leave something for Flashing Fangs.

Helya

LFR / NormalHeroicMythicNotes
Phase 1 | Low Tide | Helya
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya near one of the edges of the area (but not too near, so that your raid can deal with adds without running up stairs), and taunt swap after Bilewater Breath.
  • Kite When you have Orb of Corruption, kite it away from the raid. Don’t let it hit you or others. If it’s on you while tanking, you’ll just have to eat it.
  • Spread Out If you are effected by Taint of the Sea, move to the side so that it can be safely dispelled without splashing the raid. Wait until after the breath before asking for a dispel.
Phase 2 | From the Mists | Adds
  • Adds Positioning Tank the Grimelord and Mariner, and position them near the tentacles for cleave damage. The other adds that appear aren’t tankable.
  • Physical Damage Grimelord: Use Active Mitigation or cooldowns after you get knocked into the air with Anchor. You can also taunt swap, though it’s not required since the increased damage only lasts 6 seconds.
  • Attack Speed Increase Mariner: Use minor defensives while he goes into a Ghostly Rage.
Phase 3 | Helheim’s Last Stand | Helya & Adds
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya toward one of the edges of the area, and taunt swap after Corrupted Breath.
  • Adds The tank who is not currently on Helya should pick up the Mariner.
  • Kite When you have Orb of Corrosion, kite it away from the raid, over other pools if possible (because it drops more pools). If it’s on you while tanking or when you have to tank swap, you’ll just have to eat it.
Phase 1 | Low Tide | Helya
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya toward one of the edges of the area, and taunt swap after Bilewater Breath.
  • The tank who is not currently on Helya should run to her tentacle and help soak Tentacle Strike. The tentacle will either spawn up with the melee or in the back. They can also help kill slimes.
  • Kite When you have Orb of Corruption, kite it away from the raid. Don’t let it hit you or others.
  • Spread Out If you are effected by Taint of the Sea, move to the side so that it can be safely dispelled without splashing the raid. Wait until after the breath before getting dispelled.
Phase 2 | From the Mists | Adds
  • Adds Positioning Tank the Grimelord and Mariner, and position them near the tentacles for cleave damage.
  • Physical Damage Taunt Swap Taunt swap the Grimelord after one tank gets knocked into the air with Anchor. Or, you can save your largest cooldowns and tank through it, as it only lasts 6 seconds.
  • Attack Speed Increase Use defensives while the Mariner goes into a Ghostly Rage.
Phase 3 | Helheim’s Last Stand | Helya & Adds
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya toward one of the edges of the area, and taunt swap after Corrupted Breath.
    • After the breath, help intercept the bolts that land in that area, Corrupted Axion.
  • Adds The tank who is not currently on Helya should pick up the Mariner.
  • Kite When you have Orb of Corrosion, kite it away from the raid. Don’t let it hit you or others. This orb also drops pools as it moves.
  • Environmental Danger Run up the stairs to escape the waves of Fury of the Maw.
Phase 1 | Low Tide | Helya
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya toward one of the edges of the area, and taunt swap after Bilewater Breath.
    • Damage Reduction Because the orb happens at the same time as the breath, the debuffed tank will have to hold the boss until the offtank returns. Use cooldowns to counter the armor-reducing debuff, Bilewater Redox.
  • Kite When you have Orb of Corruption, kite it away from the raid. Don’t let it hit you or others.
    • All three orbs are connected by Corrosive Slicer, so eligible players should stack and quickly move in the same direct so that no one gets their heads sliced off.
  • Spread Out If you are effected by Taint of the Sea, move to the side so that it can be safely dispelled without splashing the raid. Wait until after the breath before getting dispelled.
Phase 2 | From the Mists | Adds
  • Split into groups, one tank to each side. The tentacles need on each side need to die at the same time.
  • Adds Positioning Tank the Grimelord and Mariner, and position them near the tentacles for cleave damage.
    • Focus damage on the Mistwatcher, but do not interrupt her until the very end of her long cast.
  • Physical Damage] Use cooldowns for Anchor.
  • Attack Speed Increase Use defensives while the Mariner goes into a Ghostly Rage.
Phase 3 | Helheim’s Last Stand | Helya & Adds
  • Cleave Taunt Swap Face Helya toward one of the edges of the area, and taunt swap after Corrupted Breath.
    • After the breath, help intercept the bolts that land in that area, Corrupted Axion. Those that intercept the bolts must be healed up quickly to avoid being mind-controlled.
  • Adds The tank who is not currently on Helya should pick up the Mariner.
  • Detailed Guide: Wowhead
  • Video: Fatboss
  • Brewmaster
    • Transcendence on top of the stairs or back of the room so you can escape the Orbs.
    • Fortifying Brew if you have to sit in an orb and taunt the boss at the same time.
  • Vengeance
    • Sigil of Chains to help group the adds in phase 2 for dps.
    • Fiery Brand for taunt swaps, especially if you’re also sitting in an orb.
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