How To: Sleeper Tank

So, today I'm going to teach you all a new tanking technique. It's called Sleeper Tanking.

Sleeper tanking is mostly a PvP-only way to tank, as the way it works is very different then your normal tank. I find a PvP fit drake works just fine for this, as it's the first ship I used for it and worked with to get the result I did. 

The way I found this handy little trick was an engagement gone wrong. As in, no probes and we lost wrong. So we're warping around, trying to avoid dying for whatever reason, when it occurs to me. "I got in this ship. I have already come to terms with the fact that I will lose it. I'm finishing this my own way." So at a relative safe spot (relative in that two full flights of combat probes were scanning me down), I did a quick system scan. I pick up a Core Garrison. 

Perfect.

So I warp to it. We're doing this on my terms, damn it! The sleepers instantly lock me and do their thing while I get traversal and start moving, waiting for their combats to lock me down. A minute or so later, a massive fleet lands on it. Luckily for me, this is where the sleeper tank shines.

You see, sleepers love new targets. So when they get an entire selection of new friends to play with, they immediately switch targets. I remember seeing a hurricane pop before my own drake exploded. However, due to them being in PvP fit ships, they were extremely hesitant to throw a bubble up to catch my pod because that leaves them at the mercy of the sleepers. My drake explodes gloriously and my pod makes a quick getaway to a safe where I promptly High Sec express myself out so I could carry on my merry way.

So! To sleeper tank, you require them to both know where you are and to acknowledge that you will most likely die. Other than that, it's simple. You just warp into a sleeper site and wait for friends to show up. Then, fight as you normally would. Give it a try today!

Blue Probes Out.