WAR Questions

[Purrfectstorm]

I've been maining PLD for a while but am thinking about switching back to WAR. My goal is to have a stat/gear setup to be the best tank I can be from the easiest content to the hardest. I also PvP a lot and want to have the best setup there as well. I've done some research on my own but I was hoping for more comprehensive answers. This is what I've found:

1) For stats, go with STR not VIT.
2) Current ACC cap is 568.
3) Parry is not very useful.
4) I want to get around 420 SSpd for 9-hit berserks.

Is this information accurate? I'm about to meld my Novus weapon. What stats should I meld on it? For accessories, should I continue to use the i120 or go with melded gear? I understand when 2.5 comes out there will be i110 accessories?

Also, what kind of pointers can you all give me about doing big pulls during speedruns? (How do you prioritize getting hate and cooldowns?) I have been doing a few Flashes then Heavy Swing, Infuriate, Unchained, Maim, Berserk, Overpower, Bloodbath, Overpower, etc. Then I'll add other CD as needed.

Lastly, how do you all feel about PLD vs. WAR? I want to play WAR because I started as WAR and feel it is more fun (but I'm really rusty with it) and I also want to be a little different (PLD seem to be the way more popular tank). Perhaps this popularity speaks for itself - I know that Stoneskin in fight "down time" is really useful and PLD can silence and have Hallowed Ground, can chain stun, Cover, etc. That makes me really wonder why anyone would want a WAR. So even though I really want to go back to playing WAR, I worry I would just be a worse tank. Please convince me that's not true! LOL

Thanks in advance for all your help

[Abbul_Stonecleaver]

To clarify on the Strength vs Vit: you'll still want enough Vit for you and your healer(s) to be comfortable in the given fight.

The skill speed baseline varies depending on latency usually, but the commonly accepted range is 390-420. 390 seemingly more common.

For big pulls in dungeons, I personally prefer Vit as I can't trust random DF groups to keep me alive or kill the packs fast enough. I only do big pulls with an ae composition with the dps though.

[ZhycranaDranix]

WARs for T13 I recommend nothing under 10K still as your CD's aren't as great as a PLD's for defense and also if your IBs are off good luck. Then on second thought WARs are generally the OT coming into most FcOB so STR helps a bit for tight dps checks and also if you have competent healers.

[Donjo]

1. Depends on the content you're doing, the skill of your entire party, and whether or not you're the MT.
2. I thought the cap was 558?
3. Parry does exactly what it's supposed to do, which is exactly half of what anyone who thinks of stacking it wants it to do. If only we could parry magic... then it would eliminate one situation where it is of absolutely no help!
4. 9 hit zerks are the stuff of legends. If that last hit is a crit BB, threat is never an issue again :P

[SpookyGhost]

1. VIT > STR. But only VIT to a point. This can vary from content to content. Once you're at a comfortable level of HP, you invest anything excess into STR.
2. 558 is T13.
3. Parry isn't worthwhile, especially as WAR. That said, don't pass up a higher ilvl piece just because it has Parry on it.
4. This is more important than it seems, though 390 is the magic number for a comfortable 9 hit Berserk. Anything higher just makes it easier or accounts for lag.

Weapon -> Det/Crit/Acc

Accessories -> Best place to get more STR. As of right now, i90 melded Ruby are optimal for progression. You can also mix and match i120 VIT/STR pieces to get a similar effect. All VIT is only if you need all VIT.

Speedrun basics:

HS -> Maim as you run by the packs you're pulling together

Unchained -> OP -> Bloodbath -> Berserk -> OP spam {-> if you haven't applied HS -> Maim before now apply it here}

You also can use one big CD per pull, so Vengeance or Thrill + Conv. If you're comfortable enough you can also split all 3 of those.

WAR is more fun than PLD, though PLD allows you to be more aware due to the simplicity. Play whichever gets the job done for you.

[Sleigh]

Lastly, how do you all feel about PLD vs. WAR? I want to play WAR because I started as WAR and feel it is more fun (but I'm really rusty with it) and I also want to be a little different (PLD seem to be the way more popular tank). Perhaps this popularity speaks for itself - I know that Stoneskin in fight "down time" is really useful and PLD can silence and have Hallowed Ground, can chain stun, Cover, etc. That makes me really wonder why anyone would want a WAR. So even though I really want to go back to playing WAR, I worry I would just be a worse tank. Please convince me that's not true! LOL

Thanks in advance for all your help

WAR is brought for Storm's Path (completely irreplaceable by any other debuff, and affects magic damage including raid damage so it's godly) and Storm's Eye (can be given by NIN but if you don't have a NIN there is no reason to run PLD PLD, WAR PLD will always be the more DPS option). These two things are the primary reason no high-end group runs PLD PLD in FCoB, and the same goes for Rage of Halone's STR debuff from PLD.

[Izsha]

Melded gear is generally preferred assuming you meet you target HP and have the accuracy (it's a little harder to get acc using melded accs). Melded str accs also make hitting 390+ SS very easy. Supposedly 110 versions will be out in 2.5. If you have the money these will be great. I know I'm saving up for them as we speak.

On mass pulls I tend to
*use flash to grab mobs and Toma for any I missed so I have full tp for the good part.
*Infuriate as I get near the end of the pull.
*Vengeance when I stop to ease that initial ouch when they all catch up.
*1 OP to secure threat (each mob also has 1 flash or Toma from the pull).
*heavy> bloodbath(30 sec)> maim (24 sec)> unchain/zerk> OP> internal release> OPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOP.
*conva/ToB/foresight etc as needed depending on how it's going. If multiple pulls I'll vengeance 1 and tob+conva the other.

That's my general way. But the instants get shuffled around. Not the end of the world if you use bloodbath 2 sec later or whatever. If mobs are weak (hm dungeon or whatever) then I'll delay vengeance until unchain/zerk are up to buff the damage return for the full duration since I'm not as afraid for my life I'll make it more offensive.

[Ehayte]

Are you being FCoB? This conversation changes dramatically based on that.

[MeridaQ]

Yeah I agree with Ehayte it depends on what content your running. As a War for Fcob 9500 health is all you need so you can push dps. Full str accessories I would say wait for the patch though. Let us know so we can help!

[Ehayte]

DEFINITELY wait for the patch. I am saving my gil and random materia to see what the i110 crafted accessories shake out to be (if any) before I spend any poe or gil on anything.

I think unless they just straight don't release them BiS for FCoB WAR will a mix of the i130 on the left, and a mix of i110 crafted and i130 dps accessories in the right.

You basically want to have 10-10.5k hp and as much str as possible while meeting your accur cap and not going above 425 SkSp.