Remove potential to lag from bat.
My elf champ didn't tank that well until he used fend, but he could potentially be lagged out before that.
Also being disarmed was a serious threat and could happen. People tend to overestimate the effectiveness of the anti disarm.
Either elf champs tank better now, or people are prepping with something, or a virtue is helping. (I had hope which had uses but not for tanking.)
Also shaapa had eagle staff and belt iirc. The belt is kind of op, when it can be combined with the staff.