Who tanks?

I just leveled up a DRK and started running 8 and 24 man content. I'm just wondering how we decide who main tanks when there are multiple tanks, but only one boss. In 24 mans, it looks like it's always group A's tank unless there is a discussion beforehand (like group A's tank is undergeared and asks to pass on main tanking).

For 8 man content, I've just stood there for around 10 seconds to see if the other tank goes, then I go main tank if we are still standing there.

When there are two different tank classes in the dungeon, does one take priority as main tank, like PLD > DRK > WAR, mostly because war can dps so well?

It also seems like the top geared tanks never want to tank. I'm assuming this is because they can put out a lot more dps, so the lesser geared tank should be the one focused on tanking?

In short, is there an etiquette for choosing the main tank so that I don't have to sit there waiting to see if the other tank wants to?

I feel in most occasions it's whoever has the most patience. Some tanks will just stand there with no intention of going tank stance, but eventually someone has to go mt. Generally I'll give it a few seconds and if the other tank seems like they only want to DPS them I'll start things off, otherwise you can try communicating as well and just saying what is your preferred stance. In 24 man there is the risk of anyone in the entire raid pulling prematurely so there is less time to mess about on waiting for someone to decide is tanking. All tanks are viable though and WAR can easily main tank in Deliverance if they know what they are doing.

Generally speaking, WAR is the best pulling Tank. However in my experience when I pug on WAR I end up with co-tanks that have the "WAR is OT" mindset, so then I just switch to Deliverance and let them pull (or sometimes I pull and they fight for aggro anyway, so I just Shirk and let them MT).

In 24 mans you should just put in chat if you want to MT, and if someone else runs in and pulls instead then let them have it.

I personally think whoever has the ninja should tank since hopefully the ninja shadewalks the tank. If no ninja is there than up to whoever wants to.

TL;DR - There is no best MT or OT for every situation. Encounters vary in the type of damage they do and the utility they need, making all 3 tanks very useful in different situations. WAR is the most commonly used MT, but good parties will choose tanks to fit the current situation.

In all content except hardcore end game raiding, it doesn't matter at all who tanks and it is mostly random. When I tank, I tend to just MT all the time so that we can get through content faster without having to sit around and decide.

Technically, some tanks are superior at MT and OT at lower levels, while the roles switch around a bit at higher levels.

In lvl 50 content, the DRK actually makes the best OT because it has access to more DPS capability (Dark Arts) than WAR or PLD. PLD gets most of its DPS abilities between levels 50 and 60, and WAR doesn't even get its DPS stance until lvl 52.

Between level 60-69, DRK really falls behind as MT because they don't get The Blackest Night until 70, while both PLD and WAR have virtually all of their kits and are only missing mostly fluff abilities.

At lvl 70, for casual content (basically everything except hardcore 8 man raiding), the 3 tanks are all equally viable and it makes little to no difference who tanks. Enemies just don't do enough damage for it to matter, so it is basically just player choice.

For lvl 70 hardcore content, WAR is generally the strongest puller and MT due to their ability to put out high threat in their opener, even without their tank stance. WAR's Holmgang is also ridiculously good, with its low CD, so WAR tends to be preferred a lot of the time for MT. They lose virtually no DPS, whereas the other 2 tanks lose a bit more. PLD easily loses the most, so if in a DRK/PLD composition, then the DRK should pull.

The last consideration is the fight itself. DRK gets special consideration for fights that have magical tankbusters because of how strong Dark Mind is for those abilities. PLD is always a good choice for the mountain of additional utility and party mitigation they bring as well.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just start taking the main tank mindset. It seems like most tanks don't actually want to tabk, as they all sit there waiting to see if I pull, just like I was doing with them. I was trying to let them decide since I'm usually the nooby of the two tanks.

Im not to the hardcore content yet, and yeah, it does seem like anyone can tank current easier content. I mostly just wanted to know if there were unspoken rules, like certain classes get to MT more, or better gear = should be dpsing because they get more out of it, etc... It doesn't seem to be the case though.

In practical terms for PUGs I generally assume whoever has the higher unbuffed health tanks. Usually whomever has higher health is better geared with the exception of pentamelded accessories. And if they are using pentamelded accessories just let them stretch their epeen and DPS anyway. Barring that, if they won't go tank stance (or turn theirs off!) then I'll go ahead and do it. It makes me happy when the other tank steps up. Not because I get to DPS, but because then I get to do all the voke/shirk and external cooldown stuff most people ignore when they OT.

I wait until the Duty Commenced message to see if the other tank puts on their tank stance. If not, I just ask. I don't mind taking either role.

Unless it's Steps of Faith, then screw that noise, I'm going for a cannon. Mostly because nobody ever seems to want to do that, lately.

On JPN servers, it's generally agreed that in alliance raids, the B alliance Maintanks.

On english speaking servers, I'll go first, and if someone else tries to fight me, it'll be a small duel to see who grabs the aggro first. Generally, I'll win, and they jump to OT...

Although there's one recent case where they refused to let it go, so I dropped to DPS stance with irritation.

In pug 8-man stuff? Whichever dude turns on tank stance first.
In pug 24-mans whoever is in A / whichever one takes over if(/when) that dude dies.

that's what I've seen at the norm. If all else fails, just ask 'em.