Valor Edge can be beautiful at times, when the AI has done exactly what I want it to do it has tanked very well and when I was a low level in Yuhtunga Jungle the little guy impressed me. As I sent him after a IT Mandragora I aggrod a gobbie, I sacrificed the little guy to take on the Mandragora whilst we killed the goblin. I kept maneuvers going to increase his survivability, once the goblin was dead the automaton was still at it, so I gave in, chucked him a repair and helped him finish off while the party healed themselves. Of course, I reckon it was a fluke, because he must have used his shock absorber a lot. But still, I think it's a testament to how Valor Edge can take a beating and in parties I've found he's been a great back-up tank.

However, I have been taking a lot of love to Soulsoother, my gear between 60 and 70 has been rather gimp, but this guy takes good care of me. I found with using Soulsoother and enmity+ gear I can solo pretty well with PUP/NIN, because he'll enfeeble the enemy making it easier to keep shadows up, and when they're down the guy keeps you alive and also removes any harmful status effects. I find he's a great companion for soloing.

At the moment those 2 are my favourite, but then I've not given Sharpshooter a fair trial and once I've skilled him up I'm sure I shall and might find love for him, particularly as I love Ranger and love Corsair's ranger side (hence I'm normally COR/RNG), so it'll be interested in seeing how well Sharpshooter ranges.