3. Royal Authority is a better DPS option than risking Goring Blade\\'s lack of threat. The loss of not having Goring Blade up is 100 potency for the 3 GCDs it takes to apply Halone instead. The potency increase from Halone to Royal is 80. The potency per GCD of a Royal combo is 230, a 20 potency increase from Shield Swipe, adding up to the 100 discrepancy.

In conclusion:
Opening with Goring is less threat, a DPS loss if you have to Shield Swipe even once, and delays Halone\\'s Str Down.

The optimal PLD pull is Halone, Goring, Royal, at which point, you might even have enough threat for a second Royal(under FoF).