New to Tanking

[Punintentional]

Hello all, I have been playing for less than 3 weeks as dps and want to change it up a bit so im going to start a tank. Thing is I dont know much about tanking, so first PLD vs WAR? I know there is the blah blah blah which is better.... but I just want to know the differences so that I can choose. Next any basics I should know or tips? feel free to help in anyway (even if it seems obvious). Thanks in advance.

[mosaicex]

For ease of learning, go with GLA/PLD. Make sure you read and learn what each skill do. etc, etc..

[Zaft]

Hello all, I have been playing for less than 3 weeks as dps and want to change it up a bit so im going to start a tank. Thing is I dont know much about tanking, so first PLD vs WAR? I know there is the blah blah blah which is better.... but I just want to know the differences so that I can choose. Next any basics I should know or tips? feel free to help in anyway (even if it seems obvious). Thanks in advance.

PLD is easier to play because it has only one combo and is more passive. They bring utility in the form of Rage of Halone and Cover. They rely on passive mitigation through blocking to lower damage. They get a tanking stance that decreases the damage they take. Because of the combination of block and parry, and the fact that they are both passive, they take slightly less damage overall than WAR.

WAR deals moderately higher damage than PLD and as such generates more threat. They bring utility in the form of Storm's Eye and Storm's Path. They rely on active mitigation (Inner Beast, IB) compared to PLD's passive mitigation (blocking) to decrease damage. They get a tanking stance that increases their HP and effects of healing on them. The uptime and "cooldown" (how long it takes to gain 5 Wrath) of IB means that WAR takes slightly more damage overall compared to PLD.

Cooldowns aren't worth going into with one exception. Both PLD and WAR share many defensive cooldowns, and both have light/heavy cooldowns and DPS/threat cooldowns. The big exception is their "invincibility" buttons. PLD has Hallowed Ground, which makes them take no damage for 10 seconds and has a 7 minute cooldown. WAR has Holmgang, which makes them unable to die (but they can still go down to 1 HP) for 6 seconds and has a 3 minute cooldown. These are very different, and should be used in different situations.

[MrsFluffyButt]

When it comes to which Tank is easy, the debate is kinda up in the air. WAR has it easy the first 30 lvls but gets much more complex later game, PLD is the other way round.

Though both are Tanks, WAR and PLD are totally different playstyles. WAR is more of a 'soak' tank; high hp, alot of health restore skills and rather high STR by default. PLD is the more cliche, 1 2 3, focus on pure damage reduction tank. Due to this you'll often get PLD mt's and WAR ot's. Though a good WAR can mt better than a PLD.

When it comes to endgame content, a respectable static will want both WAR and PLD as the two work very well together.

[Punintentional]

Thanks for the help and clarifications My current plan is to lvl both to 15 to see what I enjoy more and continue from there but I appreciate a civil discussion on both sides

[Zaft]

Thanks for the help and clarifications My current plan is to lvl both to 15 to see what I enjoy more and continue from there but I appreciate a civil discussion on both sides

Also something to note is that PLD generally MTs in most groups while WAR OTs. Might influence your choice.

[MrsFluffyButt]

When it comes to which Tank is easy, the debate is kinda up in the air. WAR has it easy the first 30 lvls but gets much more complex later game, PLD is the other way round.

Though both are Tanks, WAR and PLD are totally different playstyles. WAR is more of a 'soak' tank; high hp, alot of health restore skills and rather high STR by default. PLD is the more cliche, 1 2 3, focus on pure damage reduction tank. Due to this you'll often get PLD mt's and WAR ot's. Though a good WAR can mt better than a PLD.

When it comes to endgame content, a respectable static will want both WAR and PLD as the two work very well together.

[Punintentional]

What is MTvsOT I get main tank off tank but what is it? My understanding is MT takes hate first and if they need help OT will take hate off of them is this right?

[Zaft]

What is MTvsOT I get main tank off tank but what is it? My understanding is MT takes hate first and if they need help OT will take hate off of them is this right?

MT is the main tank. They generally tank the big boss and have less mechanics to deal with (outside of "don't die to the tank killer move"). The OT is the offtank. They generally pick up adds, and when they aren't, act as a DPS. Although we don't currently have much of it in FFXIV, some fights require the tanks to tank swap (swap at certain intervals for reasons such as a debuff stacking too high).