How to start end-game?

[Myrin]

Ifrit shouldn't be that demanding if you're OffTanking, but it's not really rewarding.
Don't enter AK yet if you don't have stuff, but you should be able to enter Palace and maybe drop some stuff.
You can also try to run Castrum Meridianum multiple time to get Philosophal tome (100 per run), it takes 20 to 30min depending on the group and get Darklight gear.
With 2-3 piece of Palace/DarkLight you'll be able to enter AK, there you'll get some nice stuff, philosophal and mythologique Tome.

Whatever you stuff is you can farm Ifrit for your weapon, but it's a 1/9 chance if you're the only paladin.

If you beat Ifrit, don't try Garuda if you don't have somme AK/DK piece, otherwise you'll drag the group down.

[Taika]

If you beat Ifrit, don't try Garuda if you don't have somme AK/DK piece, otherwise you'll drag the group down.

Nonsense, we've had PLD in pretty much full AF main tanking Garuda without issues.

Don't listen to the people trying to bring useless gear elitism to the very starting level of endgame.