SMN WP adds

[Maelwys]

I used to think this, too. Then I realized that WAR has more than 5k hp, and PLD has Hallowed Ground. I think the only tanks who should be concerned about a 5-stack are WARs who are both undergeared and stacking STR.

Even without using Hallowed Ground, a PLD in raw AF can take 3 Rancor comfortably, or 4 with Stoneskin/Sentinel. Adding Darklight pushes that to 4/5 stacks. A little i90 pushes that to 5/6 stacks.

It's certainly true that you can kite *EVERYTHING* in that fight and AoE it all at once, then HG through the next Grudge. But killing everything as it spawns/as it gets near the middle? A reasonably geared tank should never need to pop HG. The most I've ever seen in that fight was 7 stacks, and I managed to survive that with double-digit HP (with VIT food, Stoneskin, and Sentinel up!!) - I have used Hallowed Ground on that boss before, but that's been less to weather Grudge itself and more to weather a Grudge followed by about 5-6 simultaneous Tonberry "Throat Stabs".

I routinely do a "two mob pull" on the final WP boss corridor even on the most rubbish DF groups, in order that our group can completely avoid the Stalker and immediately focus the three Tonberries to get the door open. I'll usually pop HG in that fight, because I'm comfortable with being able to tank through 6 stacks of rancor on the boss without it (whereas I'm much more concerned about the ability of random Duty Finder teammates to keep me alive whilst killing the double-mob!)

[Viridiana]

Even without using Hallowed Ground, a PLD in raw AF can take 3 Rancor comfortably, or 4 with Stoneskin/Sentinel. Adding Darklight pushes that to 4/5 stacks. A little i90 pushes that to 5/6 stacks.

I was thinking more for low gear + high stacks, since my comment was in response to a comment about undergeared tanks.