Tanking - WAR and PLD. There is no "Better".

[Gingen]

I have seen many rants, complaints, opinions, and anything else that falls under a person's ability to speak their mind, about tanking as a WAR vs a PLD (or vise-versa). Let me start off by saying that neither is "Better". Both have their own style of tanking and both are more than viable in their current states, to tank anything in the game; this includes Titan and Coil.

I have seen many rants, complaints, opinions, and anything else that falls under a person's ability to speak their mind, about tanking as a WAR vs a PLD (or vise-versa). Let me start off by saying that neither is "Better". Both have their own style of tanking and both are more than viable in their current states, to tank anything in the game; this includes Titan and Coil.

The biggest thing I want to point out, is that PLD is not better than WAR (Nor WAR to PLD). They tank in two distinct ways. Paladins tank through damage mitigation and blocking. Blocking is the way to pick up slack for lack of HP and for when DMG Mitigation abilities are on cooldown. Warriors on the other hand are HP and Sustain tanks. High HP and the ability to heal yourself with damaging abilities, attacks, and having statuses that ease the load on healers, is how a Warrior works without damage mit and blocks.

While a Warrior can parry, it should never be thought of as a necessity. You cannot rely on parry as a means of damage mitigation. You CAN however, rely on your STR and VIT to keep you up. Most abilities for healing on Warrior, depend upon how much damage you do (eg. Inner Beast, Bloodbath, Storm's Path), and others will be reliant on convalescence and other sustains (eg. Thrill of Battle and the effects of Infuriate).

I see people boasting about how STR is the only way to go as a warrior. Parry and damage is great, however balancing the two (VIT and STR), as a preference of mine, could yield better results. More VIT = more HP on defiance. More HP = Longer lasting. Longer lasting = Healers have more time to keep you up and you have more time to use abilities for sustain (all the while these abilities continue to damage and hold the mob on you).

Warriors should never be regarded as a DPS class specifically, however they shouldn't be discounted as a damage dealing off tank. With STR jewlery and defiance off, crits can range from 500-600 damage. While a DD focused class will be dealing 600-800 on a crit, it cannot be ignored that 500-600 damage per crit is still a great deal of damage.

Paladins are able to damage too but I would not consider them capable damage dealers. Those claiming 180dps on a PLD may need a new parser.

Paladins are nice as single target tanks. I feel Warrior has an upper hand on this one as single and multi target enmity holds are quite easy on a warrior. This makes both classes situational and preferential at the same time. I would say a Paladin is easier to grasp in terms of learning and maintaining as a tank, whereas warrior is a bit more involved due to constant skill usage (This is not a bad thing).

Titan HM is more than doable (and quite easy) as a Warrior tank. at 7k HP, Titan's table flip rarely gets you below 4k HP if you're helping the mages keep your HP topped off with sustain abilities. Due to the length of time between table flips, a warrior has plenty of time to regain wrath or wait for infuriate to cooldown. Paladins have an easier time AS a tank, simply due to damage mit abilities, however when those abilities are not available, it can spell danger for a PLD tank. Not topping off a Warrior is equally risky. Both classes require attention and both have ways of helping the healers. This can apply to Coil as well. (I speak from experience).

In conclusion (as unorganized and spontaneously thought as this whole thread is), PLD vs WAR is non existent. There is no "Better". There is no "Worse". A good tank is the sum of the player's skill and ability to know their class and know it well. Deciding between the two is not fact, it is simply Preference. Preference based on what we feel we are better at using or what we like to use more. There is no perfect rotation and there is no perfect class. If you want to take up a tank, don't base it on the ungrounded stigma of "blank is better than blank", instead take up what you want to. Both are equally suitable as a tank.

Furthermore, know your class. Do dungeons, ask for advice, practice, and be patient. You will NOT learn to tank in fates. Just because you are level 50 doesn't mean you are a tank. Being a tank class does not make you a tank. Being a tank class means you have the potential to be a tank. Learn it, practice it, perfect it. Whatever your choice, stick by it because you like it, and never stop learning and improving. Tanks are the guardian of the party; making sure that the target stays off of the group.

Thank you,
-Gingen, Tank

[Gamemako]

I'm sorry, but you're just wrong about pretty much everything you said.

[HeiZei]

Paladin is better.

[Gingen]

I'm sorry, but you're just wrong about pretty much everything you said.

So you believe that being a PLD instantly makes you a tank and that fates are enough to teach you your class? Did you even read my post? lol

[HeiZei]

So you believe that being a PLD instantly makes you a tank and that fates are enough to teach you your class? Did you even read my post? lol

I think main tanking Coil turns 1-4 for the past month makes me a tank, and no one has said a thing about FATEs. Do you even tank?

[Gingen]

I think main tanking Coil turns 1-4 for the past month makes me a tank, and no one has said a thing about FATEs. Do you even tank?

By your logic I too am a tank as I've tanked coil and titan HM as a warrior for the past month. Main tank. also that comment you quoted was not directed at you.

[Gingen]

Lol why is it so hard for people to accept that both warrior and paladin are equally useful and it comes down to preference?

[HeiZei]

By your logic I too am a tank as I've tanked coil and titan HM as a warrior for the past month. Main tank. also that comment you quoted was not directed at you.

The only serious comment that I'll give towards you as to why Paladins are the better tanks is this: From personal experiences doing HM Primals on my BLM, Warrior tanks cannot hold enough enmity required for the amount of heals they need. A Paladin never loses aggro to a WHM, unless he is unskilled or lazy. A Warrior almost always loses aggro to a WHM, not because he is unskilled or lazy, but because a WHM is forced to heal a Warrior much more. Throw in the fact that Paladins have higher parry, shield block, and more defensive cooldowns, there is no question as to who is the better "tank".

[EddieFong]

Ure so wrong pally is a better tank so far... Because of their tanking spell.. I am a WARRIOR and I tank coil of bahamut till turn 5. I still said warrior poor than pally... It feel so much pain and tanking 2 dreadnaught is impossible . Feel free to see to watch my video every turn in coil at kaos-guild.enjin.com. Don't just talk.. Down the boss urself then talk to me as a main tank warrior. Do it .. talk less

[ERob3000]

The only reason people think that PLD is better, because they don't know how WAR works or how to play with one. Healing for a WAR is a lot different than healing for a PLD, yet I use inner beast and healers waist large heals on me. I don't think either tank is better than the other, but if people complain that the WAR can't do what a PLD does, then the WAR will always come up short. But I know for a fact that they're are plenty of things a WAR can do that a PLD can't.