Single target it feels like it hasn’t really changed at all, yes they added new buttons but they just replace the old ones, like instead of a royal authority combo you use atonement, instead of a 5th Holy Spirit you use confiteor. I guess if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, but I was hoping for something to mix the gameplay up a bit compared to Stormblood and intervene doesn’t really scratch that itch.

AoE feels great, definitely fits the theme set by the single target rotation and makes PLD feel like it’s actually contributing to large trash packs.

I’ll miss all our fluff mitigation, the thing that made PLD fun for me on that front was having so many options to nullify trash damage compared to the other tanks. Now it feels pretty much the same as all the other tanks, compounded by the cover nerf which was something that let PLD handle busters in a unique way.

And of course I’m sad to see shield swipe go, it was always a fun part of PLD trying to find places you could pop a sheltron whether you were MT or OT to try and get that extra damage boost. I really wanted to see more of that in tanking, not less.

Same with the enmity gameplay, I’ll miss that whole dynamic of trying to push out more damage while also keeping hate, I get that they want to lessen the skill gap but it does make tanking in general feel a lot more basic.