Xeno's Warrior Tanking Guide

[Xenosys]

Just introduced awareness into my cross skills, good to see pros consider it too, main reason is when Shiva started to hit me pretty hard on bow, looks like awareness can be popped on each bow rotations n mitigates well, but then it' s just Shiva, dyu think we should set it for specifical fights like Shiva or it s overall worth on harder contents.

I definitely think so! Awareness is really good now with the addition of all the new 2.4 content
I cross-class it as well. Second wind got Da Boot! XD

[LuceliaUltima]

Outside of those, Awareness falls a bit flat compared to your other options.

I cross-class it as well. Second wind got Da Boot! XD

Got it, i will pay attention durin progression when it will reach his full potency, looks to be worth on T10 adds which is currently where we are.
We use ur guide, advices are good n clear, i gotta say it helps us a lot, also this war's guide is good, sounds like there s few things i gotta do better, it s like opening his eyes after bein blind. Ty!

[Raelen]

Just wanted to say thanks for this. Been a PLD for a while, but currently leveling up a WAR to be more versatile as a tank. Super helpful to see all of this laid out.

[Xenosys]

Greetings Friends! Just made a FB so I can talk shop with all you bada$$ Muthafukas. Hit me up anytime for some terror, advice, ways I can improve the stream and videos, or basically anything haha. Thx again for all the support I have been getting from the community!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006089568274

[Altijacek]

Wouldn't it be better to get rid of flash and put awareness and keep second wind? For single target bosses I mean. I mean you might want to flash to keep enmity when pacified, or put flash on your rotation to conserve TP. But other than those two uses , if you're not picking up adds ( and even then should use storm cyclone and an overpower once in a while) I think flash is nearly useless, and would prefer to boot that for awareness instead of second wind. Second wind can crit for a good 1.1k or so, and it can be a nice little cushion sometimes. It really isn't much at all but with a warrior that has str points it can be fairly handy.

[SirTaint]

Wouldn't it be better to get rid of flash and put awareness and keep second wind? For single target bosses I mean. I mean you might want to flash to keep enmity when pacified, or put flash on your rotation to conserve TP. But other than those two uses , if you're not picking up adds ( and even then should use storm cyclone and an overpower once in a while) I think flash is nearly useless, and would prefer to boot that for awareness instead of second wind. Second wind can crit for a good 1.1k or so, and it can be a nice little cushion sometimes. It really isn't much at all but with a warrior that has str points it can be fairly handy.

Second wind is terrible. 1.1k is a single cure spell with a huge CD. While Flash isn't much better any fight with an add it can be used. (which is every fight that matters)

[SpookyGhost]

Second Wind isn't terrible at all. It's purpose is to get you healed up before a big incoming hit, which it does really well and it will always have the same effect. Meanwhile, Awareness could be completely useless on any boss that doesn't have surefire crits. Using a cooldown for auto attacks that can possibly, maybe crit vs healing yourself up before a big attack is a no brainer, to me. This is not to say Awareness doesn't have its place, there are a few fights introduced this patch where Awareness truly shines - and it is good on mechanics like Akh Morn where auto attacks happening while it's being fired off. All that said, I realize we're not talking about Awareness vs Second Wind, however I think Second Wind is pretty universally good whereas Awareness not so much - the same goes for Flash. The only time where Flash is good is if, for some reason, you've either been pacified by Berserk and an add has spawned, you can't afford 120 TP to use the better option, or you don't have 5 Wrath to spend on SC instead. If an add has spawned you should either be using a combo'd SS/BB, Overpower, or Provoke and then either of those two. I think you shouldn't think of cross class skills as a set of 5 universal ones, though. There are staples that go with every encounter (Conv, Provoke, IR), but there are 4 major ones that can hold higher value depending on the encounter (Flash, Second Wind, Mantra, and Awareness). Whichever two of the four are optimal for the encounter are the ones you should be using.

[SirTaint]

Awareness is good in most of the new content. T9-13 for sure.

While flash is more of Niche move for WAR there are some good places for it. Picking up adds in 7 while voiced (hate while facing away), T10s adds you can stand in between them and hit both. Shiva's adds during the initial gather.

Second wind is a simple cure and a game mechanic that is better done better by healers. Its not like a tank is a forgotten DPS, you are the main focus of the healers and shouldn't be topping yourself off before a big hit.

[Ehayte]

I just ditched 2nd Wind for Awareness as well - especially pushing 2.4 content it is miles better to have the 0% crit chance than the top-off. 2nd Wind is an OhShit move, whereas Awareness should be a planned part of your CD rotation, used in specific instances - I like it on adds in T10 (the more hits coming in the better the chance that Awareness will have a smooth mitigating effect - same goes for Bulwark) and obviously on the square in T11.

Flash is still a must-have for me. Circular AE enmity generation that is TP free (or regenerative depending on how you look at it : D) is too good of a tool not to utilize.

I do have a quick question - I am starting to gear my tanks post 2.4 after deferring the decision on what jobs to gear. Are the i90 penta-meldeds really still better for WAR? I have 1 ironworks ring and 1 Dreadwyrm ring right now, is it worth itemizing around those two slots? Its hard for me to imagine that i90 even with the penta-melds can compete with the i130s. Thanks!

[Whiston]

The i90's are still a little bit better for a couple reasons.

For WAR, the skill speed is invaluable. That 421 mark that Xeno describes is pure gold. I even have mine up near 450 with a melded belt, just to be double sure I always get 9 hits in berserk.
Skill speed aside, the vitality from i130 gear is for the most part unnecessary. It could certainly have it's uses if your healers need a comfort zone, and in that case it is a better deal stats wise to re-allocate your 30 points into strength and wear vit accessories, due to i130 accessories having 27 vit, and only 24 for strength accessories.

Which brings us to the mixed main stat - i90 accessories still beat the 130 vit accessories by one main stat. You can have 13 strength and 15 vitality for 28 mixed mainstat points.

Add in the 80 total skill speed, 45 accuracy, and up 55 det (if you're crazy enough) and the accessories are still too good to pass up.
The other beautiful thing as of late is the insanely reduced prices for the Keeper's Hymn from the grand company. 250 seals to respec at any time, even in a dungeon.
I go through those things like candy now. If you go the full crafted accessories route and your healers are on point, 30 str it is. If they're having an off day or someone else is contributing to less healer focus, maybe you want to go 20/10 for the instance. The flexibility this provides in your stats is outrageous.

The only downside to i90 accessories now is that the i110 accessories may be dropping in about two months, so it is a sizable investment for what may be an inferior option in the near future.