[Guide]Personal tanking tips

I have done fairly well at tanking so far (just finished Titan) and I know that there will be more difficult dungeons later on. Still, this guide will contain my understanding and experience about tanking in FFXIV: ARR.

First of all, there are a few useful facts that everyone may need to know:
- To take and hold threat (hate/aggro) is easier than to steal threat back from someone else.
- Once you click (target) a mob, the game will show if that mob has a link (or links) to another (other) mob around. If it is linked then no matter how far the distance between those mobs, pull one and you will pull the whole group.
- On the left hand side of your group info (name, HP, MP, TP) are the threat meters. They will be updated each time you change the (enemy) target. If a person has a full bar (white), that person is being targeted by that mob (indicated by 'A' letter). Others' threat meter will be numbered 1, 2, 3 depending on their threat level on that mob.
- Marking enemies with 1, 2, 3 is useful to help your team mates focusing on one target. It helps every single position (tank, DD, healer) of the team. You can find the marking list at the Sign icon (very close to the Emotes list).

Tanking means taking damage for others. This involves attracting attention of enemies and staying alive. This guide will only focus on the former area. The latter is up to you when choosing cross-class skills.


I. SKILL LISTS
First of all, to tank well you need to know your tool. Here I will list them out in parallel between Gladiator (Paladin) and Marauder (Warrior)
- Opening melee skill [OS]: gains threat by pure damage but necessary for combo: GLA: Fast Blade (LVL1); MRD: Heavy Swing (LVL1)

- First melee single target enmity increase skill [MS1]: GLA: Savage Blade (LVL 4); MRD: Skull Sunder (LVL 26)

- Second melee single target enmity increase skill [MS2]: GLA: Rage of Halone (LVL 4); MRD: Butcher's Block (LVL 30)

- AOE enmity increase skill [AS]: GLA: Flash (LVL 8); MRD: Overpower (LVL 12)

- Main range enmity increase skill [RS]: GLA: Shield Lob (LVL 15); MRD: Tomahawk (LVL15)

- Additional aggro skill: GLA: Provoke (LVL 22)

- Enmity increase buff [EB]: PLD: Shield Oath (LVL 40); MRD: Defiance (LVL 30)


II. TANKING SIMULATION:
I will explain the tanking/threat mechanic in terms of scenario. This assumes no support (sleep/bind) is available unless state otherwise.

Scenario 1: a very common scenario: 3 targets called Mob1, Mob2 and Mob 3. Your team includes 1 tank (you), 1 melee DD, 1 range DD and 1 healer, assuming no AOE is used
- First of all, if you click on any 1 of those 3 targets, you will see that it is linked to the other 2. Approaching one, or use [RS] on 1 will also pull the other 2.

- 2nd step: Having target and pull mob 1, a common mistake here is to use the [OS] + [MS1] on it. Mob2 and Mob3 simply target you but you have 0 threat on their meters. Assuming that you have marked Mob1 as 1 and both DDs are focusing on it, then both of them will not gain any threat on Mob2 and Mob3. However, the healer will always gain threat on all mobs upon healing (similar to AOE damage). Therefore the first heal will pull Mob2 and Mob3 towards the healer unless you have done some prevention measure. That prevention measure is the [AS]: Flash or Overpower.

- 3rd step: Now that you have gained some threat on all targets, another common mistake here is to focus only on Mob1 and forget about Mob2 and Mob3. As the healer continue to heal you, he/she will still gain aggro on Mob2 and Mob3. Therefore you need to rotate your aggro skills on them. At lower level, it means to cast another [AS]. At higher level, it means to switch target mid combo. For example, use [OS] + [MS1] on Mob1, change target to Mob2 and use [MS2], back to [OS] on Mob2, change to Mob1 > [MS1], change to Mob3 > [MS2]. It doesn't have always be like this. You need to be flexible and keep checking the threat meters and use [MS1], [MS2] and [AS] appropriately.


Scenario 2: same number of targets, same team. Range DD pulls first (on Mob1).
- Here's the thing: no matter how many [RS] you throw on Mob1, you won't get Mob1's attention back on you. Also, once the healer casts the first heal, Mob2 and Mob3 will be on him/her. If you're lucky, the melee DD will be on Mob1 instead of one of the other 2.

- What to do: Use [AS] first so as to protect the healer from the first heal. If the range DD runs far away from you, let him/her kite the mob until he/she runs back to you or if he/she manages to kill Mob1. In the mean time, start chaining combo on Mob2 & Mob3 like in Scenario 1, focus on melee DD's target if he/she is not on Mob1. Remember to maintain threat on both Mob2 and Mob3 to protect the healer.

*Special case: I think GLA's provoke can reset threat meter so if you use provoke on Mob1 + [RS], you might be able to pull it back. In such case, deal with the rest like in Scenario 1.


Scenario 3: continue of scenario 2 but you have taken back control on all targets. However, range DD is on Mob1, melee DD is on Mob2, Mob3 is awake.
- There's nothing critical about this scenario. However, you need to treat both Mob1 and Mob2 as main targets. Maybe one over another, depending on which DD is stronger and generate more threat.
- If you have managed to land a [MS1] or [MS2] on Mob3, it should focus on you for at least 2 more combos ([OS]+[MS1]+[MS2]). How often you need to go back to Mob3 depends on how much damage you receive thus how much healing the healer has to do.


Scenario 4: same or higher number of targets, same team but AOE is massively used by the range DD, melee DD is still on Mob1.
- Assume that step 1 & 2 in Scenario 1 have been cleared.
- Range DD starts spamming AOE on all targets. At this point, your 1st [AS] won't be able to hold for one combo. You need to spam [AS] at least twice if you haven't got the self-buff [BS]. Once you manage to create some distance between yours and the range DD's threat meters, i.e. yours are full on all targets whereas range DD's are about half, you can start the combo and rotation among targets (even if you only have [MS1] and no [MS2]).
- Alternative for Marauder/Warrior: Turn on all of your damage buff and spam Overpower, but slow down if you're low on TP (maybe once every 6s).


Scenario 5: facing a group of 4+ linked enemies with no effective AOE skill available + you can't stand and tank all of them.
- This condition rules out the option to wipe out all targets at once.
- If your team has sleep (Repose), tell your team to use it (on mobs marked as '3' or unmarked) to control the encounter
- If your team does not have sleep, use all damage reduction, parry, dodging buff that you have (maybe in sequence), pull them with [AS] and run around. Mark 1 on the mob targeted by the range DD and hopefully the melee DD will focus on it too. Keep running around and use [AS] occasionally to keep the healer safe. The two DD will have to tank for themselves. Given the number of mobs, they probably are the weak type.
- If a mob happens to target the healer, you need to mix in the combo on your rotation, on that mob, while still use [AS] to control others of course, or again, use Provoke to to reset the threat meter.


Scenario 6: Boss fight + minions (adds)
- All minions will have a short period of pausing before they target someone. Make sure you zoom out and be the first to notice their appearance
- In this situation, there's a big chance that the adds will target your team mates first. In such situation, if those adds are the weak type (die in a few hits), use [AS] once or twice to get the attention of some and let the DDs deal with them (even if you haven't pulled all of them).
- However, if those adds are the strong type then focus on protecting the healer first, use either provoke or combo to pull adds away. Make sure you eventually get hold of all of them because if the DDs keep running around and your healer keep healing, the adds will eventually turn to your healer.
- Don't be too worried about the boss, you can just drag it around as you chase adds. If you have been focused on it, it should take 6-7 attack skills on the boss from the DD or 6-7 heals from the healer for you to lose the attention of the boss.


Hopefully after reading these scenarios, you will finally figure out the mechanic of tanking in this game. It's more about practice and reacting on situation than doing a specific set of commands. I'd like to say tanking between Paladin and Warrior is quite different. Paladin, despite being able to take on a lot more punishment, never really have the option of doing AOE damage to keep control of multiple targets, for which the Warrior excels at. Also, the fact that Paladin needs to wait until level 40 for Shield Oath while Warrior gets Defiance at level 30 makes a whole difference. With a huge amount of HP and higher enmity generation (from damage & buff), Warrior feels more effective at tanking than Paladin from 30 to 40 if not even before that (Overpower vs Flash). Paladin is like a late bloomer in the business. As a Warrior, sometimes I wish I were a Paladin, especially when taking the full damage from boss's AOE. Yet again, to each of his own, there's always a plus and a minus.

Bump for finish. Any comment is welcomed :)

Good guide. Haven't seen one like this yet.

Great guide, I'd suggest if possible this thread be renamed "Beginner Tanking Guide" considering the things you go over are basic information if you're an MMO veteran.

Keep up the good work!

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Originally Posted by Titancleaver

Great guide, I'd suggest if possible this thread be renamed "Beginner Tanking Guide" considering the things you go over are basic information if you're an MMO veteran.

Keep up the good work!

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Thanks, it's a nice suggestion.

EDIT: I tried to change the title but it seems to only change the post's title and not the thread :(

Thanks for this, I've done ok up to now, but Im having real trouble with Brayflox, these tips will help!

Thanks for the breakdown! I appreciate the time and effort you took and I know this will help me out a lot.

You have just helped me tremendously. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this up.
I'm going to just go through the low level dungeons over and over until I have the basics down. This is the first game I have ever rolled a tank in, and wow, I have such a deeper appreciation of the strategy and skill it takes to do well.
Thanks again!

Thanks for all the comments. I'm glad my guide helps :D

Just wanted to say thanks for this and is there a way we can stickie it for general info?

I'm not overly fond of guides that tell you what to do but I like how this one is written. ^^ Also I do like the end where you added it is more about practice rather then some set in stone rotation.

Scenario 2 is off. If a ranged DD pulls first you either Provoke it, then Shield Lob/Tomahawk and it's back on you without any trouble. For the rest of the linked enemies just stand in line between their walking path and the ranged DD and use Flash when they cross you. When the one the ranged DD attacked comes back to you just Flash or Combo it right away. Provoke doesn't generate or reset enmity, it puts you 1 enmity ahead of the current person being attacked. So if you are being attacked Provoke does zero enmity. That's why you need to use Shield Lob/Tomahawk or just any Enmity generating skill right after or you will lose hate in a matter of 1second again.

I hope some of the new players read this... I have seen far too many tanks who do not know what their skills do and when to utilize them.

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Originally Posted by TirionCrey

Scenario 2 is off. If a ranged DD pulls first you either Provoke it, then Shield Lob/Tomahawk and it's back on you without any trouble. For the rest of the linked enemies just stand in line between their walking path and the ranged DD and use Flash when they cross you. When the one the ranged DD attacked comes back to you just Flash or Combo it right away. Provoke doesn't generate or reset enmity, it puts you 1 enmity ahead of the current person being attacked. So if you are being attacked Provoke does zero enmity. That's why you need to use Shield Lob/Tomahawk or just any Enmity generating skill right after or you will lose hate in a matter of 1second again.

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I did mention that as a special case since I'm not too sure about Provoke. Personally, depending on whether it's a genuine mistake on the range DD or he/she just doesn't care I'd choose to pull the mob back or not.

Never stop doing anything. Never consider anything out of the ordinary. There is only so much a PLD can do, and the only thing one can not afford is doing nothing.

Wear the best equipment you can get. Try the hardest you can. DPS can take hits but healers can not, spell interruption will ruin the day.

Don't spam flash. Besides enmity the blind is extremely potent, but the enemy will quickly grow resistance to it. An example is the lv25 class quest where a monk uses hundred fists, more like hundred swings.

Joking aside, shield swipe is a mere 40 TP with a potency of 210. Use this as often as you can. This is a better ratio of damage concerning TP/GCD than even triple combo (considering accuracy, three swings is much easier to miss than one swipe)

Shield bash is also incredibly useful, the stun has a high proc rate. Stunning enemy abilities is my go to method rather than running out of range of AoE.

End game you will use shield oath, taking your damage production down to a hilt. Spirits Within every 30 sec, do not wait for HP (70-100% is normal). If HP is a big deal, learn to cure yourself.

COVER! Cover your support tank. Let him know you are in a fight to keep hate with him. Let him know you think he's good, but you will never give up. Even if you are better than him, give him the illusion he is the best.

Pretty smooth flyin', "Fox".

A guide like this will be useful for those who prefer to have a "visual" of a particualar playstyle. Certainly helped me out!

Very good begginer's guide. Thank you very mutch.

I am going to translate it to russian and place it to my blog (with your author's note of course), if you allow it.

Thank you for this. I plan on implementing some if not most of these tips during my tanking. Great job.

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Originally Posted by Pro100Fox

Very good begginer's guide. Thank you very mutch.

I am going to translate it to russian and place it to my blog (with your author's note of course), if you allow it.

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No problem at all, please feel free to use it :)

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Originally Posted by Rajah

End game you will use shield oath, taking your damage production down to a hilt. Spirits Within every 30 sec, do not wait for HP (70-100% is normal). If HP is a big deal, learn to cure yourself.

COVER! Cover your support tank. Let him know you are in a fight to keep hate with him. Let him know you think he's good, but you will never give up. Even if you are better than him, give him the illusion he is the best.

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PLD doesn't have any self-cures worth using. Spirits Within is actually a situational move, that you wanna use for interrupting strong casts, not just spam it when it's ready. And what do you mean by Support Tank? There are currently no bosses where 2 Tanks have to fight over the enmity of one mob. One Tank just straight tanks everything to the end.

to add to this - i play as healer or dps usually, and if there's 1 thing i really hate - it's tanks that go kiting mobs. why?
1. Mob AoE effects create chaos when its constantly moving around.
2. Melee DPS will have a lower dps when they're running after the boss, instead of positioning behind the boss for a perfect hit.

Let me know your thoughts, but in my experience, kiting does not work well in party play :)

Only 30, so I haven't seen many bosses. Outside of the Ichorous Ire in CopperBell, I don't see any reason for a tank to kite things. At least, not yet.

Ah, pretty helpful. This should put my mind and the minds of my party members more at ease if I can follow these general tips.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm a new tank with little experience due to login problems, hope you can help with my questions.

1) I've marked my mobs 1 and 2, is there any hotkey to go back to mob marked 1?

2) I've done a defensive macro like below, but "Second Wind" always fails. Is there any reason?
/ac “Rampart” <me>
/ac “Foresight” <me>
/ac “Keen Flurry” <me>
/ac “Featherfoot” <me>
/ac “Second Wind” <me>
/ac “Convalescence <me>

Thank you for this! After my first dungeon I realized how clueless I really was. This is a great help to me.

nice tips thanks a lot

I've noticed something: if your other party members did more damage on the monsters than you (the tank) monsters will go aggro on those members. So better ready those Provoke and Flash skills when that happens and don't forget to rotate the damage dealing on all mobs.

A few tricks to add:

• Use your defensive CD(like Rampart or Sentinel), just before pulling. Taking less damage in the initial pull = less healing needed = less aggro for the healer.
• Don't use Convalecence unless you are certain the healer is low on the aggro list. The extre healing recieved = more aggro building for the healer.
• (this one I'm not 100% sure about) On boss, where adds are no problem, use your provoke inbetween. Using it should increase aggro building for the abilities used right after.

Very much appreciate you writing this guide. I've been wanting to play Paladin, so I started lvling Gladiator an became very discouraged with my lack of tanking ability/knowledge. After I finish getting Bard im going to give tanking a 2nd go after reading this. Thanks for the info ^^

nicely done
personally i like to have gld class accompany me :D

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Originally Posted by Walle

A few tricks to add:

• (this one I'm not 100% sure about) On boss, where adds are no problem, use your provoke inbetween. Using it should increase aggro building for the abilities used right after.

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Provoke doesn't work like that. Provoke will put you equal to the enmity level of the highest person + 1. So using provoke while you have hate will do nothing at all. It's used to re-grab anything that you may lose aggro on, or for adds that come in and aggro someone other than you. As a PLD, if I lose aggro on something (rarely happens, but it does) I've had great luck targetting it and hitting provoke, and following it with a flash. If a healer took aggro on a slept add, this will usually get it back under your control (a second flash if it is reslept might be needed). If DPS was focusing wrong mob, pop a cover on em (if you are 35+) and follow with rotation.

Thanks TS, because of this guide, i learned my mistake. I won't attack first again (archer here xD).