Defensive cooldowns

[Morningstar1337]

Okay So as a DPS who also dabbiling in the Tank and Helaer roles I noticed that PLDs have defensive cool downs and I want to know if's it best to use them all at once or to use one after the other wears off like a status rotation so to speak.

Some examples for illustration

• All at once: A macro that uses Senitnel, Rampart and Bulwak
• One at a Time: Using Rampart after Sentinel wears off and then Bulwak after Rampart wears off

And before anyone asks. Yes I'm new to the tanking business (my GLA is sitting at 30 right now.) and the example rotation is just that; an example. I just want to know which is the best method for using defensive cooldowns (and what other cooldowns can they use, apart from maybe Convalescence)

[Ultimatecalibur]

Most end game defensive cooldown use is "save them for a big hit(Mountain Buster/Death Sentence/Etc...) and use one to mitigate it."

[Kuwagami]

hmm

Firstly, defensive cooldowns aren't like offensive cooldowns. Using more than one at a time becomes detrimental to their effect. Sure it gives more defense, but less than the skill could give alone and overall it's a waste. (only exception being foresight, as it modifies your defense and is not a %damage reduction).

Second, you shouldn't use them all as soon as possible. They are usually occasional. In a SR like Brayflox, use them all in order, sure. But in a raid or trial you want to time them for the big hits that are coming.

[Cessna]

Pretty much what everybody else has said. There's only one instance I can think of where poping all your defensive cooldowns at once is benificial and that would be solo tank turn 8 when the dreadnought is spawned and is grabbed by the tank. Outside of that, you should never stack major cooldowns like that.

Cooldowns are used to survive predictable high amounts of incomming damage. Usually the boss will do something in its rotation to signify its going to hit you hard wiether it be a add spawning or it hiting you with a small move first that hits slighter harder before a really big hit like 4k+. For example Rock Buster then Mountain buster in titan hm. Some times there will be a cast bar like death sentence.

[Rufalus]

Yeah the paladin defense moves have long cooldowns so you gotta save them for when big damage is coming. Select the right one depending on how severe the situation is, more than one if its really severe, and hallowed ground for full immunity when things are crazy.

[Morningstar1337]

I see, so macro it is then (those rare occasions). But I'm curious. Are there specific fights that need specific buffs?

[SeraviEdalborez]

I see, so macro it is then (those rare occasions). But I'm curious. Are there specific fights that need specific buffs?

Some cooldowns aren't going to do anything in certain fights. Foresight and Bulwark for example have no effect on ADS in Turn 1/2, or Leviathan's head. Because they both only use magic attacks.

Aside from that, not really. Paladin's "big" regular-use cooldowns are just Rampart and Sentinel. Usually if your entire defensive cooldown "rotation" is just being used for big moves (Mountain Buster, Death Sentence, Ravensbeak) and not much else, you would use multiple weaker cooldowns* when one of your big 2 is not up. For example I will usually pair Bulwark with Foresight, just because Foresight on its own isn't that impressive. Or in the case of Titan EX when you are holding it for a long time or solo tanking, pop progressively stronger cooldowns (Foresight on 2nd or 3rd, Rampart on 3rd or 4th, Sentinel, Hallowed if needed).

*Disclaimer: Not saying Bulwark or Convalescence are weak, just that they aren't 100% reliable (former) and don't directly mitigate a large hit (latter).

[Tyrial]

I see, so macro it is then (those rare occasions). But I'm curious. Are there specific fights that need specific buffs?

Not so much specific buffs, but being able to know when a big hit is coming and softening the blow. Some fights it's not really a big deal, others it is. There's lots of patterns to learn for tanking if you want to do more than just stand there and have your face punched in repeatedly. Use the actual Titan rotation as an example. By knowing what move is coming next you can have a CD up and ready for that hit, same with Twintania and Turn 9 among others.

[Ashkendor]

I see, so macro it is then (those rare occasions). But I'm curious. Are there specific fights that need specific buffs?

Honestly, the only macro I use is Fight or Flight + Bloodbath. I don't think macroing your defensive cd's together is a good idea myself. I prefer to manually decide which one I should be using for a given situation.

[Euphe]

So to put it simply just get out there and practice, practice, practice. The pally in my FC is so good at timing his defensive CDs that it takes him forever to drop below 50% health with no heals unless it's a huge hit from a boss; even then he only drops to about 70%-80% only to be healed to full immediately after by one of our healers. PLDs make amazing tanks once they are geared and know their stuff. Good luck!