An all-too-common mistake that tanks make.

[Reiterpallasch]

Since the game launched, I've done a ton of dungeons and played with a lot of tanks. Some good, some bad, some great, some terrible. Nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes here and there, and I don't expect to be coming across world class players in my duty finder dungeons. However there is a common mistake that almost every single tank I've been with has made:

They do not tank with all of the mobs in front of them!

That is to say, if a tank pulls a pack of 2-3 mobs, they will typically have one in front of them (the one they're targeting), and the others will be behind them. Almost none of the tanks have tried to position themselves in a way that the mobs are all in front of them. This makes things harder for the healer, harder for the dps, and harder for you.

Why is that, you ask? It's simple: You can NOT block and you can NOT parry any attack that does not come from in front of you. It's as simple as that really. You are going to take significantly more damage from enemies that attack from behind. I don't know if any other factors come into play, such as being able to dodge attacks and such, but these two are a given.

So the next time you're in a dungeon, remember that your shield can block and your sword can parry, but getting hit in the back of the head will only cause the group headaches.

EDIT - This got me curious though, as I'd merely taken this as read from a lot of key guides and discussion forums, so I decided to go and fully test anyway... and you know, I think people are sort of wrong.

You can DODGE from any direction (a dodge just means the mob missed their accuracy check on you, which is level based) but after faffing around with mobs out in the open I've yet to block a single auto attack with my back to things. I've noticed the following -

1 - You CANNOT block or parry "auto attacks" from mobs that come from behind you
2 - You CAN block special attacks with some kind of AOE effect with your back to the mob.

[Sapphidia]

Actually, this is incorrect. You CAN block and parry attacks in FFXIV that come from behind you.

Directional parry/blocking is something that was in WoW and other MMOs. There, yes, mobs behind you would hit you through your evasion/mitigation. In FF though, you can block and parry 360 degrees.

EDIT - This got me curious though, as I'd merely taken this as read from a lot of key guides and discussion forums, so I decided to go and fully test anyway... and you know, I think people are sort of wrong.

You can DODGE from any direction (a dodge just means the mob missed their accuracy check on you, which is level based) but after faffing around with mobs out in the open I've yet to block a single auto attack with my back to things. I've noticed the following -

1 - You CANNOT block or parry "auto attacks" from mobs that come from behind you
2 - You CAN block special attacks with some kind of AOE effect with your back to the mob.

So the OP is actually correct, albeit half-right. You DO take less damage in FF if mobs are infront of you, as that lets you block their weak auto attacks, but you can still block/parry SOME things from behind.

[Sephirah]

I also assumed I should be facing all the mobs initially, but you quickly realize that being attacked from behind does not prevent you from blocking the attacks.

Edit: now, it MAY reduce the rate in which you block/parry, I haven't done any testing on that. But if it does, it's not significant enough for it to matter.

That being said, it's just burned into me to get the mobs to face away from the party, so that just happens naturally.

[Reiterpallasch]

Actually, this is incorrect. You CAN block and parry attacks in FFXIV that come from behind you.

Directional parry/blocking is something that was in WoW and other MMOs. There, yes, mobs behind you would hit you through your evasion/mitigation. In FF though, you can block and parry 360 degrees.

No, you cannot. It is very easy to test, and you can not block/parry attacks from behind you. Attack a mob, and turn your back to it. You're not going to block/parry.

I don't know where you got your information, but I'm sorry to tell you that it is wrong.

[The_Last_Dragoon]

Actually, this is incorrect. You CAN block and parry attacks in FFXIV that come from behind you.

Directional parry/blocking is something that was in WoW and other MMOs. There, yes, mobs behind you would hit you through your evasion/mitigation. In FF though, you can block and parry 360 degrees.

This may be true, but turning the boss away from the group also aids in preventing tank-directed "cleave" or "breath" attacks from striking the whole party and also make it loads easier for Dragoons and Monks to position for the fight. There are a ton of tanks who don't know what they're doing though. Heck, my favorite response from a "bad" tank that occured during a Brayflox's Longstop run is "I'm the tank?"

[Sapphidia]

No, you cannot. It is very easy to test, and you can not block/parry attacks from behind you. Attack a mob, and turn your back to it. You're not going to block/parry.

I don't know where you got your information, but I'm sorry to tell you that it is wrong.

Read up for my edit ^^ You CAN block special attacks, it's only basic auto attacks that you can't block/parry from behind. Of course, on mob packs this is most of the damage as you can usually just step out of the special ones, but it explains why people assume you can block from behind.

I think it's to do with how the game models AOE. Once it detects you're in an AOE area for a move, it doesnt bother to check your facing in relation to a mob, so if the move is physical and blockable it'll do a block check. Easy mob to test this on is the 48 Natalan Watchwolves east of Camp Dragonhead. Aggro one, turn your back. They'll hit you with every auto attack (you'll see some Dodges of course), but if they do their Neck Rip ability you'll be able to block/parry it.

[Viridiana]

So, the only thing you can block/parry from behind is stuff you shouldn't be getting hit by to start with. >_>

[Delorean]

that actually isnt anywhere near as bad as only using flash or overpower once

[Jayded]

Tanking 101: mobs are in front of you, always.

[Kenka]

Isn't it sort of common sense to have your shield between you and the mobs that want to tear your face off?