------------------------ To avoid linking to a forum post which will go down eventually, this is copy-and-pasted from "Nanofox1" from the AO forum --------------------------------------------------

I'll explain the difference of Nanobot Shielding, and Nanobot Guard.

They are both similar, and both come from the same nano crystal (yes 2 nanos from 1 crystal).

Something both nanos do, is divert a % of damage to our nanopool, instead of our HP.

For Nanomage this is 90% of damage, Solitus/Opifex 85%, and Atrox 80%.

Now, the cost to our nanopools isn't direct numbers, if we are hit for 1k damage, our HP goes down (for nanomage) only 100hp (the 10% left over).

That doesn't mean 900 nanopool is emptied also, its actually a lot more, 150% for nanomage, 175% for soli/Opi and 200% for trox, so it would be 1350 nanopool taken, for a nanomage. For other breeds the defence gets worse, trox worst of all.

Now this defence lasts 25s. During the duration, we get a -500 nano dot for 5 ticks, and the second the nano ends, our pool is hit for -50k nano (empties it). On top of this, not only do we now have no nano, we also get another -nano dot, this time -3k nano per tick.

Now, both versions do all of the above, I'll explain the differences now.

Nanobot Guard is purely defensive, Shielding is offensive.

Guards nanodot lasts 35s after guard expires, shieldings lasts 95s after it expires.

Guard only does what is stated above, shielding does extra. The extra shielding does:

Adds 1k nano init
+75 to all damage types (does nothing unless using a weapon)
Sets nanocost to 55% (or adds 55%, im not sure, but think reduces it)
Sets Nuke damage to 200% of base values (all other + nanodamage stuff is overwritten)

The 200% damage when combined with triple is what causes the 3x40% hits.

Guard can be used once per minute if so wished, though with the heavy loss of nano a NT will struggle to a good defence on the second use. Using Guard will stop you from using Shielding for 30 minutes. Shielding can be

...Sheilding can be used once per 30 minutes only, and locks use of Guard during that 30 minutes.

Too finish where that cut off... :)

wtb NG lasting the full 25 second duration

I'll sum it up more succinctly- If you really, really, really want someone dead, or you dont plan to pvp for the next 30 minutes, use nanobot shielding + triple for an easy instant kill.
If you are going to be doing pvp continuously though, use deck nukes, stay in defensive focus, and use nanobot guard instead of shielding.
Your general routine in pvp should be root, cast self illumination, cast detonation matrix, then start chaining izgimmer's ultamatium, with additional detos spaced every 10 seconds. If the enemy can break out of your root and get next to you, use nullity sphere first. If you cant kill them in those 17 seconds, then use nanobot guard, nano regain perks, and continue to hammer them. Once nanobot guard pops you will only have a few seconds till you get another nullity sphere. Just make sure youve got a buttload of nanopool, and that you keep izgimmer's wealth on at all times.