Anyone who does not want a WAR in 2.1 is ignorant and likely someone you do not want to be running with in the first place. If this was 2.0, then maybe they might have some reason to say they didn't want a WAR as they were weaker (even though they were fine for all content, some needed to be paired with a PLD).

So lets talk individual fights:


Ifrit HM, 2.1's change to stun resistance means no need for PLD off tank to spam stuns. WAR as only tank is fine for this now.

Garuda HM, WAR have been solo tanking this since 2.0 with a single healer so no need to talk about this.

Titan HM, WAR been fine always for this also, but with the added ability to time IB for mountain busters, I'd prefer a WAR who knows the fight.

T1, any 2 tanks are fine for Snake, potentially want a PLD for silence for mini ADS but 2brds or a mnk can handle this if have 2WAR

T2, ok I agree 2WAR would need 2BRD so this is a fight you likely would always WAR/PLD fight. People can say they dont want WAR since its easier for silence, but lets be honest, anyone who so wants easy mode will have 5 ranged for this fight and likely at least 1 BRD so WAR/PLD is fine. its actually easiest for 2BRD to do the silencing (if you can find 2 brds, which is often hard), so once again why no WAR?

T4, WAR is the better off tank in this fight imo and is very capable of MT since 2.1 so why no WAR?

T5, WAR brings alot more burst DPS then pld for things like conflags if OT, and with +25% HP and -20% dmg (inner beast) timed for each death sentance and contant upkeap of storms path (-10% dmg) a skilled WAR is arguably the better MT for this fight also.

Garuda Em, any 2 tanks work and no real reason to prefer one tank over the other; OT has a very easy job and any tank works, even undergeared.

Titan Em, most people seem to think WAR is better OT in picking up adds, and with the timing of IB just like in HM makes WAR very nice in the fight. No reason to exclude, but I do find WAR/PLD to be best here.

Ifrit Em, IMO WARS are better tanks in this fight because of the debuff. PLD Max HP get very low while a WAR's MAX HP with 4stacks is still above that of a PLD with 0 or 1 stack, and timed IB for when breaths come (scripted so easy to know when to use IB) also gives the -20% dmg that pld have from Shield Oath for the breath attacks. Add in -10% dmg on top of that and WAR shine in this fight. The only advantage PLD have here is the ability to use hollowed ground durring the final nail phase to make the healers life easier in the most hectic part of the fight, but that's not required by any means.

CT/Ultima - joke fights so no reason to discuss specific tanks in this area