Advice, Guides, Links for New Tanks?

[tinythinker]

Hola.

Given that DRK is the poster child for 5.0 and that all tanks are reworked to look at lot cooler and be more accessible, along with many of the new and returning players as well as current players considering their hand at tanking, this seems like a good time to solicit the best advice for new tanks, either in forum comment form or links to videos or other sources.

Sure, guides to the new tanking meta won't be out just yet (can add those as they are released), but what about things that aspiring tanks should know regardless to help them on their way?

Thanks for the input

[Kanitezz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fS-FVrY74Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnGQkRNmAw

I think Graehl makes some good points.

[tinythinker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fS-FVrY74Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnGQkRNmAw

I think Graehl makes some good points.

Nice.

Going to add a couple about tanking anxiety:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSOPlqGZ8fk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5e1rPyWiIQ (some vulgar language if you find that offensive)

[Alyanna_Elingval]

I have a more specific question. Long story short, when I first started tanking I had parties where they wanted me to pull tons of mobs at once. I was uncomfortable and I wouldn't, so other people started pulling mobs themselves and would yell at me when I didn't take them. So I basically said to hell with other people and started running dungeons with my squadron if I wanted to play a tank. Now I've reached max level but I only know how to tank dungeons. I've never done any 8 man content. I hear main tank and off tank a lot, but I have no idea what the roles entail.

- Is this trial-specific, or are there common principles?
- Should I just wait until 5.0 to see how the changes are, or will the basic principles be the same and I can practice now?
- What are some easier trials to start with to learn the basics of two tank fights?
- I'm more of a casual player, so I probably wouldn't be doing any savage/extreme content.

I'm playing PLD if that helps. Thanks for any tips.

[TouchandFeel]

Answers in blue below

- MT / OT?
MT, or Main Tank, and OT, or Off Tank, are only in content where there is more than one tank, such as trials and raids.
The MT is the tank that directly holds the bosses attention, so basically what you do when you are tanking in dungeons.
The OT for the most part acts as additional dps but assists with certain things like special mechanics that will be fight specific, picking up adds that spawn and providing addition defensive support to the MT with your party utility abilities.
- Is this trial-specific, or are there common principles?
See above. There will be mechanics that are fight specific, but the basics apply to all content.
- Should I just wait until 5.0 to see how the changes are, or will the basic principles be the same and I can practice now?
Basic principals will be the same and can be practiced. How exactly you accomplish them will change with 5.0.
- What are some easier trials to start with to learn the basics of two tank fights?
You could try some of the earlier trial fights like Ifrit normal and then Ifrit hard but you may have trouble finding people to run those with you since they are pretty old. The Omega normal fights were pretty easy as well and those are more recent so you may have better luck finding people for those.

Also if you want to start tanking dungeons with other players and not just relying on squadrons or the trust system coming with 5.0, you will need to learn to and start getting comfortable with doing big pulls as they are pretty much considered the norm for a lot of dungeon content. Honestly doing big pulls is incredibly easy and it tends to be nerves that screw people up with them other than them being actually difficult.

[Alyanna_Elingval]

Answers in blue below



Also if you want to start tanking dungeons with other players and not just relying on squadrons or the trust system coming with 5.0, you will need to learn to and start getting comfortable with doing big pulls as they are pretty much considered the norm for a lot of dungeon content. Honestly doing big pulls is incredibly easy and it tends to be nerves that screw people up with them other than them being actually difficult.

I can do them now, I just had to learn. You can do multi-room pulls with a squadron. It's just not something I think people should force on new tanks, and if they don't feel comfortable, be forced to do it by party members pulling mobs. If you tell someone that you're new, they shouldn't expect you to play like you have extensive experience.

Thanks for the tips. Most tank videos just go over basics, but I already know things like my Emnity rotation, DOT rotation, DPS rotation and magic spam. I just couldn't find anything that talked about main and off tanking.