Tank Jobs' Opinion on Summoners Tanking

[Darksword]

So what are the formal tank jobs' opinion of Summoners and our tank pets?

Love them? Hate them? Useful or not?

Throughout the game I've found numerous uses for Topaz/Titan in parties. Usually as an "OH !@#$!" measure when things go south, but also for helping the main tank out with adds or kiting bosses. I've also tanked high level FATE bosses, as well as Aiatar and the final boss of Darkhold on many different occasions. Most recently I co-tanked the Tonberry King. Only twice have I ever gotten lip for using "a tank pet" in a dungeon sequence, but I wonder what the actual tanks have to say about it?

[Seriat]

You spanked it, you tank it.

Seriously tho as a PLD my rule is this: If I lost hate from something I did/didn't do, I will do w/e I have to do to get it back. If you pull hate because you have no self control, enjoy tanking the mob!

[Hachiko]

I would like to see more summoners tanking stuff with titan pet.

In fact I now wonder if this is a strat that would work on turn 4. I don't know how much healing titan pet really requires, but if it could pick up a knight or a soldier that would be awesome. Probably can't though, given how much healing is going out.

[Paikis]

For anything that matters, your tank pet is useless.

For things that don't matter, you're slowing us down by not using a damage pet.

Titan is worthless in groups.

[Tronic]

For anything that matters, your tank pet is useless.

For things that don't matter, you're slowing us down by not using a damage pet.

Titan is worthless in groups.

^
/10char

[Lumines]

It was useful once when I was in AK doing a huge pull. Healer was absent minded and died to Dullahan cleaving. If they don't release right away, I'm sure brez would have solved any issues, but every situation is different. Summoner swiftcast summoned titan egi to split the amount damage I would take and we avoided a full a wipe. However, for that one instance of usefulness, it has also been a huge source of grief especially on mobs/bosses with cleave pulling a fast one on everyone. Tact is key here, use your better judgement and for the most part (99% of the time), we want you to DPS, not help us tank. So a Garuda is prefered. This has nothing to do with if the titan is tanky enough, i just prefer to have full control of mob positioning when I'm tanking and not leave it to a pet.

[Darksword]

It was useful once when I was in AK doing a huge pull. Healer was absent minded and died to Dullahan cleaving. Summoner swiftcast summoned titan egi to split the amount damage I would take and we avoided a full a wipe. However, for that one instance of usefulness, it has also been a huge source of grief especially on mobs/bosses with cleave pulling a fast one on everyone. Tact is key here, use your better judgement and for the most part (99% of the time), we want you to DPS, not help us tank. So a Garuda is prefered.

Naturally. I never use a tank unless its part of a strategy agreed to by the party. The only exception was like the other night in WP when the Stalker herded us into two big groups of skeletons and the tank suddenly died. Titan held them off for a few precious seconds while Res and Raise got cast.

[Koltik]

I would be annoyed, honestly. There is no reason for a tank to not be able to tank dungeon content by himself. If you have a bad tank, then sure use Titan; otherwise please stick to DPS pets.

[calamityz]

I would just leave the group if the summoner thinks this could be viable at all.

[Aurelious]

Low level example, but honestly Summoner using Titan in Sunken Temple of Qarn is a blessing. With the Final Sting bees, Titan aggro's one and just dies to it, PLD can grab the second one, dps focus it then go back to primary mob (either the 1st boss or just whatever else is in the trash pack you are working on. For the second boss switch to Ifrit. For the third boss (Abjudicator) what we actually did was let titan tank him while I (PLD) tanked and handled the Sun Jurors while DPS focused on boss. This way we go ahead and get them out of the way so they don't cause issue.. Found that SMN did not do well killing the ForceField Verges so Titan would tank while Me and DRG would go kill those to prevent the Force Pulse, then go back to working on the Abjudicator. Regardless enjoyed this and honestly do not see why in basic dungeons and lower content that titan couldn't tank if you wanted an alternate way. Of course, people always want the quickest but sometimes it's nice to switch it up a bit.

So me personally? Doesn't bother me unless it's a boss that has frontal AoE and Titan is causing more people to get hit than should. Otherwise, a pet is renewable source of HP, I am not so for adds and stuff its not the worst idea. But it requires a lot of coordination.