Specific Paladin Buff/Change Suggestion

[aodhan_ofinnegain]

You say defensive options but you do realise, Paladin still has the least amount of personal mitigation out of all four tanks, right?

You state "the strength of PLD's utility" but:

Passage of Arms is at the expense of one additional personal cooldown, compared to the other three tanks.

Divine Veil is equivalent to Shake it Off, Dark Missionary and Heart of Light, but a degree worse off, as it does not affect the Paladin that used it (while people like to make excuse to deny Paladin have Veil affect them, "but you're a tank you don't need it," fine, remove the others affecting the tank using it instead?)

Cover costs gauge, and has a 120 second cooldown, that's cost enough for "utility" when it has little to no use outside of niche scenarios. Animation delay for the skill activating, the fact a lot of raid wides either ignore Cover, or are potent enough will just one shot you, makes it useless in most cases. Once upon a time, Cover was good, not anymore.

Clemency costs both MP and GCDs to use, it's not infinite usage and its usage is at the expense of DPS and desyncing rotation.

These are aspects people never factor in, they sheepishly utter but utility without any forethought in the job's process of said utility, when Paladin's ask for any kind of buff, it's actually stupid Paladin's aren't seemingly allowed to ask for a buff anymore.

Paladin has already paid its price for the utility it has, damage should not be a further cost, otherwise you step into realms of double jeopardy, punishing something twice for the same thing.

[TouchandFeel]

Once upon a time, Cover was good, not anymore.

The diminishment of Cover to something so niche it is basically non-existent as part of the kit has rankled me for a while. Asides from the ability to use white magic, Cover is the iconic ability of the classic Knight/Paladin job in the Final Fantasy series and it is sad that it has essentially been tossed in the corner and forgotten instead of being a discernible part of PLDs' kit.

I think they should remove the Oath cost on it, reduce the cooldown to 90s and increase it's range slightly to 12y like other proximity tether buffs or potentially even more since abilities like Intervention have ranges like 30y. Maybe even add back some mitigation to it now that Intervention and the defensive utility abilities of the other tanks were made so strong in Endwalker. It really should be an ability that you want to use when you can in place of Intervention, paired with Holy Sheltron and/or other defensives to greater effect.

Along with the Cover changes I would also like to see Passage of Arms have its recast changed to 90s. It would make very little difference in usage of the ability due to the way it functions but it would then have all 3 of the more "unique"/"quirky" PLD abilities on the same 90s recast which would match with the 90s recast of the other tanks unique extra defensive abilities (Thrill of Battle, Camouflage) and partywide defensives.

[aodhan_ofinnegain]

The diminishment of Cover to something so niche it is basically non-existent as part of the kit has rankled me for a while. Asides from the ability to use white magic, Cover is the iconic ability of the classic Knight/Paladin job in the Final Fantasy series and it is sad that it has essentially been tossed in the corner and forgotten instead of being a discernible part of PLDs' kit.

I think they should remove the Oath cost on it, reduce the cooldown to 90s and increase it's range slightly to 12y like other proximity tether buffs or potentially even more since abilities like Intervention have ranges like 30y. Maybe even add back some mitigation to it now that Intervention and the defensive utility abilities of the other tanks were made so strong in Endwalker. It really should be an ability that you want to use when you can in place of Intervention, paired with Holy Sheltron and/or other defensives to greater effect.

Along with the Cover changes I would also like to see Passage of Arms have its recast changed to 90s. It would make very little difference in usage of the ability due to the way it functions but it would then have all 3 of the more "unique"/"quirky" PLD abilities on the same 90s recast which would match with the 90s recast of the other tanks unique extra defensive abilities (Thrill of Battle, Camouflage) and partywide defensives.

It truly is disappointing Cover has become what it is now, I genuinely miss using it in SB, it was so versatile in it's usage, and I would like to see something done with Cover. I personally find it's range to be more than fine, as more often than not, no one should be so far spread apart that it's range becomes an issue, but of course randoms in DF aren't always so aware. But as of now, Intervention is just too strong compared to Cover to even consider spending 50 gauge on anything other than Intervention in a situation you could use Cover, outside of niche circumstances, none of which exist in 90 content presently that I am aware of.

As for Passage, I agree with your assessment that it wouldn't really make a difference in it's usage it adjust it's recast, it's somewhat particular in how it's used effectively, so you might get an extra use on a savage fight over current 120 second cooldown, but only if the fight lines up to allow it. Passage can be very fight dependent, in organised groups it use will be better used compared to a random DF/ PF group, but at no point will it ever be a mandatory ability, only due to the fact that it very optional due to no other tank having it. Simply because comps can comprise of no Paladin present, and fights are designed to be cleared with any comp, so at best it will always be a nice to have skill but nothing more.

As of right now though, I do agree with OP that Paladin does need a potency buff more than it needs anything else, preferably on Royal Authority and Atonement primarily, to allow 4 Atonement Fight or Flights to be a gain once more. This separated Paladin from the other tanks in GCD manipulation that made it fun to play, while the barrier in difficulty to execute has dropped a tad due to the extended stack duration, the Fight or Flight duration would be the only difficult part in it's execution. Any extra potency that may need be added should be given to the on hit potencies of the Blades combo. Overall, just tired of seeing people use the utility of the job as an excuse to have Paladin be bottom of the pack or deny any pleas for buffs.

[Undeadfire]

Overall, just tired of seeing people use the utility of the job as an excuse to have Paladin be bottom of the pack or deny any pleas for buffs.

Just blind tinted sunglasses, Warriors utility is far above.

[Zordrage]

Just blind tinted sunglasses, Warriors utility is far above.

Warriors are broken and need some serious tuning down.

[Risvertasashi]

You say defensive options but you do realise, Paladin still has the least amount of personal mitigation out of all four tanks, right?

You state "the strength of PLD's utility" but:

Passage of Arms is at the expense of one additional personal cooldown, compared to the other three tanks.

Divine Veil is equivalent to Shake it Off, Dark Missionary and Heart of Light, but a degree worse off, as it does not affect the Paladin that used it (while people like to make excuse to deny Paladin have Veil affect them, "but you're a tank you don't need it," fine, remove the others affecting the tank using it instead?)

Cover costs gauge, and has a 120 second cooldown, that's cost enough for "utility" when it has little to no use outside of niche scenarios. Animation delay for the skill activating, the fact a lot of raid wides either ignore Cover, or are potent enough will just one shot you, makes it useless in most cases. Once upon a time, Cover was good, not anymore.

Clemency costs both MP and GCDs to use, it's not infinite usage and its usage is at the expense of DPS and desyncing rotation.

These are aspects people never factor in, they sheepishly utter but utility without any forethought in the job's process of said utility, when Paladin's ask for any kind of buff, it's actually stupid Paladin's aren't seemingly allowed to ask for a buff anymore.

Paladin has already paid its price for the utility it has, damage should not be a further cost, otherwise you step into realms of double jeopardy, punishing something twice for the same thing.

You're out of date - you're still thinking of PLD in shadowbringers.

PLD's MP economy has never been better, and clemency no longer desyncs the overall rotation. It still costs a GCD which is not good, but it's easier than ever to use.

But also, shelltron and requiescat self heal at no cost so you get a lot of sustainability without ever needing to fear losing a GCD to clemency. But if you do need even more, you can use it with far less penalty now.

Just blind tinted sunglasses, Warriors utility is far above.

Warrior gets disproportionate attention because its crazy good in dungeons. In a raid/single target setting, however, PLD really shines.

[Zordrage]

You're out of date - you're still thinking of PLD in shadowbringers.

PLD's MP economy has never been better, and clemency no longer desyncs the overall rotation. It still costs a GCD which is not good, but it's easier than ever to use.

But also, shelltron and requiescat self heal at no cost so you get a lot of sustainability without ever needing to fear losing a GCD to clemency. But if you do need even more, you can use it with far less penalty now.

Shelltron spam is crazy good.

[Undeadfire]

Warrior gets disproportionate attention because its crazy good in dungeons. In a raid/single target setting, however, PLD really shines.

Holmgang, on demand super heal, on demand counter part Veil, Bloodwhetting/Nascent Flash are crazy stronger than Sheltron/Intervention. Sheltron/Intervention can soak more damage, BW/NS heal far more in value.

Holmgang is more broken than ever, 10s buff, 4 mins cooldown.

[Risvertasashi]

Holmgang, on demand super heal, on demand counter part Veil, Bloodwhetting/Nascent Flash are crazy stronger than Sheltron/Intervention. Sheltron/Intervention can soak more damage, BW/NS heal far more in value.

Holmgang is more broken than ever, 10s buff, 4 mins cooldown.

You're just showing, once more, that you don't know the jobs very well.

Warrior super heal is not a super heal unless it has multiple targets.

In fact, in a raid setting, nascent is the exact same strength as holy spirit's self heal. And if you have a 2.4 GCD, you can use holy shelltron every 24s - very similar to that warrior 25s CD - which makes up for the parts of nascent/bloodwhetting that holy spirit doesn't have, and that you "only" get to spam holy spirit every minute.

Jeez, and here I thought only the healer forums got into this kind of stuff...

(Yeah, holmgang is good in its way, but has a higher healing requirement, and PLD has other stuff to compensate)

[Undeadfire]

You're just showing, once more, that you don't know the jobs very well.

Warrior super heal is not a super heal unless it has multiple targets.

In fact, in a raid setting, nascent is the exact same strength as holy spirit's self heal. And if you have a 2.4 GCD, you can use holy shelltron every 24s - very similar to that warrior 25s CD - which makes up for the parts of nascent/bloodwhetting that holy spirit doesn't have, and that you "only" get to spam holy spirit every minute.

Jeez, and here I thought only the healer forums got into this kind of stuff...

(Yeah, holmgang is good in its way, but has a higher healing requirement, and PLD has other stuff to compensate)

Bruh....

Equilibrium is so strong Thrill buffs it, now Equilibrium has Regen.

Doesn't matter if Paladin has Holy Sheltron/Holy Spirit healing.

Thrill is a cure, Equlibrium is a super heal + Regen, Storm Path heals. BW/NS feeds heal, damage reduction + barrier.

Holmgang can be popped 2-3x in a fight, HG is only 1-2x a fight.