Where to start in End-Game content? (Paladin)

[Darksword]

What I would do now, if I were you (I did this as WAR, but before 2.1)

1: Don't unlock the new dungeons yet.
2: Do the high level and Main Scenario roulettes every day.
3: Do WP runs via the Duty Finder.

What you should go for before moving on to harder content:

All Darklight Accessories of Fending. These are pretty cheap, you'll have all of them within a week if you're even an everage player.

Darklight Heavy Gauntlets
Darklight Heavy Plate Belt

Vermillion Haubergeon, Coif, Sabatons, and Sollerets from chest drops in WP and AK.
Darklight Macahuitl sword from the Tonberry King.
Darklight Kite Shield from the Tonberry King

With that gear setup there, you should be able to tackle Ifrit, Garuda, and HM Haukke and Copperbell without any major issues.

At this point you should start your Relic weapon quest. You should be good to go for everything up through Ifrit and Garuda.

Also by this point you should have some Myth Tomes saved up. Buy yourself a Thavnairan Mist. You're going to want 3 of these, so stash it away for a rainy day.

Now you're running Haukke and Copperbell Hard Modes. What you want is the Hoplite and Lords sets. Body/Feet/Legs/Head. Any combination is good. As you're running these, save up 900 Philosophy Tomes and buy a bottle of Radz-at-Han Quenching Oil.

Once you have some of this new gear, go ahead and go after HM Ifrit. You can farm him in the Duty Finder - most groups rarely lose to him. You want his sword to upgrade you.

Now you have full DL Accessories, Ifrit's Blade, Darklight Kite Shield, and all Hoplite/Lords armor. You should have 3 bottles of Thavnairan Mist and a bottle of Radz-at-Han Oil stashed away. Time for Crystal Tower. Your goal is to upgrade your body armor to the Warrior of Light body, a level 80 piece. It'll take you a few runs to get it, so don't lot on anything else. By the time you get it, you'll probably have enough tomes to buy the Heavy Darklight Flanchard to armor your legs and feet.

Now you have Warrior of Light armor, DL Legs/Feet, and everything else still looking good.

Now go kill Titan and complete your Relic weapon. You already have the Radz Oil that will be the last item you need, and you can turn right around to Relic Dude's forge and make your new Curtana and Shield both +1. Now you're ready to start eyeing Coil.

[ArkAurelius]

Thanks everyone, for the advice and giving a clearer goal on what to work on. Started fighting Ifrit HM, still lacking the sword but the battle's easy enough to MT. Just gonna continue farming it until I get the sword and all the daily roulettes till I have enough ToPs for the accesories.

Even with Party Finder, maintaining a party of 4 and up is rare since people cant seem to wait for a light or even a full. I try to get my friends to help though theyre rarely on. I'll work on the Relic eventually but for now, I'll find a suitable replacement with Trial/Dungeon Drops and Phil. with your recommendations.

This is another question. Is the HQ iLv70 Sword worth getting or is it just for vanity's sake? Of course the Relic outstats it initially but Materias can help going for a specific stat going higher. I'm only asking for the weapon, I dont find the Heavy Armor appealing at all.