Quote Originally Posted by silvach View Post
So, PLD and MRD perform similar and fit both for OT and MT. Even when there is more AoE content than single target, PLD is doing similar to MRD? The problem is, that MRD does better in AoE and same when facing 1T. That makes one of them inferior. Ain't it? MLD fits for AoE and 1T MT, PLD fits in 1T MT but his usefulness goes down whenever there is any AoE content.
The point is that PLDs, even if they generate less enmity than a WAR in an AoE situation, still generate enough to keep aggro on all targets. Tanking is most important on bosses, who are often single targets, or small groups. PLD is great on small groups because you can combo one, combo the other, and so on, and you'll have PLENTY of enmity.

All that said, in ST, I find as a PLD, I often lose aggro to similarly geared WARs on single targets (and AoE targets). But, I still generate plenty to MT if no one is fighting with me over it. However, WARs tend to die faster is the healers are busy since they have fewer good CDs than PLD. So, it's all rather balanced, if you take in the whole picture.

In summary, the only real difference that matters between WAR and PLD:
- WAR does more damage (but still nowhere near what a DPS does) and generates a bit more enmity.
- PLD has better mitigation cooldowns (but WAR can tank just fine - Defiance and Shield Oath do the same thing, except PLDs have a ~4% bigger boost to healing) and some interesting (though rarely, if ever, game changing) utility skills (Stone Skin, Tempered Will, Cover).

The only thing I would change about PLD vs WAR is to give PLDs either Esuna as a cross-class skill, or allow PLD's Raise to be used in combat. Too many of the PLD cross class skills are just terrible.

/PLDvsWARdebate