WAR Questions

[stoxastic]

The usage of Storm's Path as a skill is one of the more debated topics when it comes to WAR tanking, and it's the reason why WAR is probably one of the most complex jobs in the game. Some people swear by it and make sure to keep it up 100% of the time, others will only keep it up during progression raiding, and even then some tanks will only use it before hard hitting moves.

The reason for this is the tradeoffs that are present. You give up a good amount of potency by using Storm's Path combo (150 + 190 + 250 = 590) compared to Storm's Eye combo (610) and Butcher's Block combo (630). Ideally, you will want to keep up Storm's Eye combo full time, and in order to have full up-time on Storm's Path, you'll need to completely omit Butcher's Block. This is fine as OT, but you may experience enmity problems at MT. Even as OT, you are giving up a potential +40 potency by using Storm's Path rather than Butcher's Block. So is letting that Storm's Path debuff drop for a bit in order to get that 40 extra potency worth it? That's the question that all WARs should be asking themselves.

In the first phase in T13, I make sure to have Storm's Path up for the Megaflare and subsequent Flatten + Flare Breaths. I don't refresh it for the Earthshakers because I don't feel it's necessary and use Butcher's Block instead for the extra damage.

MTing as WAR has even more decisions. Now you are forced to use Butcher's Block at least some of the time, which means it's impossible to keep up both debuffs full time. What do you do? Do you prioritize Storm's Path or Storm's Eye? Maybe you have a NIN in your group and they can keep up Dancing Edge during these times, allowing you full ability to keep up Storm's Path full time.

In the first phase of T11, I will alternate between Storm's Path and Storm's Eye as to not rip hate from the MT so keeping up both debuffs is not a problem. However, I will need to start using Butcher's Block on the Weapons Node (Sphere) when it spawns in order to grab and keep enmity. Since the Sphere also deals a large amount of AoE damage, keeping up Storm's Path is a pretty good idea right here. So in this instance, the NIN will be sure to keep up Dancing Edge here in order to maximize the effectiveness of our DPS while also keeping up the 10% reduction of damage.