Turning DRK into a tank was a huge mistake.

[Alexika]

I main WAR but also play PLD and DRK and stack STR and so does my static DRK co-tank. Our healers have zero issue. The problem is the "fad" players who just pick up this job with zero tanking skills and thinking that because veteran tanks can do it in all STR and pump good DPS that so can they. Once again, the problem is the bad players.

[FrostRot]

Regarding STR gear. I have to point out that VIT doesn't.... DOESN'T give you more Defense or Magical Defense... Someone with 2000 more vit is same squishy... VIT is only necessary or helps if there's a cap in some mega boss of raid attack... Or if the healer is not too alert to your vit. By far, when I use tanks I prefer to go STR, even if I still using CDs and stuff.

Do you suggest putting points into dex (for avoidance stats)?

[Twilite]

Let's start with the first part.

There is no such thing as a tank in console RPGs.

FF7. Cover materia mastered(100% cover). 255 VIT, 9999HP.

Tank.

[FrostRot]

This is actually a by-product of this community's (somewhat unhealthy) obsession with non-DPS jobs doing DPS.

trying to make a tank focus on dps is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Learn to MMO people staying alive is always greater than dps if your role is tank, to say other wise is the words of a bad.

[Noxifer]

Secondly, if we're talking about armor and HP relative to tank status in an MMORPG,

Um, no, we didn't. We said that since there's no actual "tank" capability in a single-player game (outside of characters having skills such as Cover to protect others), characters are instead separated into groups of various squishiness depending on what armour they're allowed to equip.

[Valoiz]

That DRK has significantly more defense and magic defense than that DRG. It also has defensive CDs to mitigate damage. If health were everything, why let DRK or PLD MT at all? Surely WAR is the best MT, what with all that health they have.

I heal a DRK yesterday (Fractal) with only 12k hp and was terrible. Adds hit him betwen 7.5k (skills he doesnt dodge) / 3.5k and 2k. So 7.5k + 3.5 consecutive hits = dead... I didnt saw a parry on my log during all the dungeon (he prolly did some but i cant find any).... even more sad... when he died MNK grab the boss and was easier to heal (11k hp- lol?) all cuz he had STR jewelry and adds at his back btw....

[Eisen-Zorn]

Why not just compromise and wear STR rings and the rest of your accessories as VIT if you're worried about DPS checks? Besides, the STR advantage you're getting overall is pretty minor in comparison the actual DPS members of your party.

[Velthice]

As a progression tank, I'll say this. Vitality should be treated like accuracy. You need it, but once you have enough, any extra is worthless. STR on the other hand is always useful, you can never have enough, and as long as you're not dying, the more you have the better.

[Recaldy]

FF7. Cover materia mastered(100% cover). 255 VIT, 9999HP.

Tank.

No counter linked to it? Get gud. :b

[BubblyBoar]

MFW when people still trying to say that DRK is supposed to be a DPS. Turn off your FFXI goggles please. DRK has always been a tanky class, just like Warriors and Knights in all the previous games. FFXI was just that weird one that screw things up. Like letting NIN be a tank (LOL). However, DRK has always been one of the tankier classes in the games. And just because the games didn't have defined roles (they were single player games after all) doesn't me they can be shrugged off and FFXI is the only example ever. That's just dumb. What's even more dumb is that people are ignoring the BLAIRINGLY obvious tell that DRK is a tank. It's a dark KNIGHT!