Gearing a Tank: Low 40s - End Game

Hi all,

I've run into kind of a gear roadblock. I'm in mostly quest stuff, one Stone Vigil drop (the sword) and I hate to say it but the rest of my gear goes from "meh" to crap.

I have done Stone Vigil 4 times, and have only seen one upgrade (the sword). In fact, that's the only item I've been able to roll on as "need". Am I just getting supremely unlucky and not getting the drops from that dungeon? I don't really have severe survivability issues, and obviously I'd like to just burn to the end game and get all of that gear ASAP, but I am starting to see my hp spike more, etc, indicating I might be getting undergeared for the content.

Any advice on the best way to even out my gear?

get to 45 and get 4 piece of AF gear and for the weapon just buy them from market

Get an ARM to make you a set of HQ Mythril Armor, bring enough materia so you can fill the sockets, that set is level 40 and will last you till 45 when you get your relic gear, the chest can last till 50 when you get your relic chest. Or Run DD a bunch and get the Sentinel Gear in their which is 44 but it seems like such a waste.

I'm pretty sure there's a few Grand Company pieces at lv. 38/40, Plus at 44 you can get the GC axe which is nice as well. To be honest, you can solo everything just fine (of course you have to do Darkhold for the story line, but it's not that bad of an instance) in quest gear of level equivalent gear. Plus as many mentioned, you can visit the marketboards for crafted accessories etc and at 45 you get your 4 pieces of AF that will last till 50.

get sword with grand company seals, and get an armorer to make you some mythril stuff

IIRC, I ran the Calvary gear from Brayflox until 45 and AF. Mixed a couple pieces of Sentinels in from Darkhold to tide me over. I remember using the Stone Vigil sword and a Scorpion Shield (not sure where its from, purchased mine of AH) for the majority of 40-50.

Once you got the full Gallant set from Paladin quests, get GC weapon and start gathering tokens for Darklight. Also worth running Ifrit hardmode because it's really easy, very short and the weapon he drops is pretty good.

I ran with pretty awful gear till AF at 45 and 50. Personally I would worry about things at 50 as you can get away with a lot in he lower dungeons. Grab quest rewards that are upgrades and roll with that. Also you're on my server! Look me up if you need a weapon made for leveling or for when you hit 50 and need your relic.