Terrified...

[Alisi]

... to pick up a tank class/job. Truly, I am. I've never played a tank class in any MMO game I've played. I've always played healers with a couple DPS on the side. But I want to try in this game so ... Which is the easiest tanking class to try? Is there any good websites or youtube videos that explain it to a complete newbie? Anything else? XD

[fm_fenrir]

PLD is probably the easier of the two starting tanks. It has a more complete toolbox that doesn't really require any cross-class skills, and you're going to have to level it for some skills you need as a WAR or DRK anyway.

[RiisWolf]

PLDs are not a great choice to start with.
They have the weakest threat and not cause of damage, the threat modifier are literally lower than the WAR and DRK, both which whom are stronger than the Paladin.
Your defenses are as effective as everyone elses. Seriously, the RNG is weak, the long CDs are gone for too long for the 20%s they block.
They have no self sustainability, which is a big no, no considering who weak they are at defense.
You're ability to deal AoE damage is inept.\
Flash is powered by strength and weapon power, cannot crit, and cannot be boosted in any other way.
Also, Sword Oath!
Does poorly in drawn out fight, and is ill-equip at making them end faster.
Very, VERY bad design.
Can stunlock things for the longest time. Stunned enemies can't hurt you, but GCD will prevent you from making other actions if you intend on stunlocking for the max 10 seconds.
Anti-physical
EDIT: Oh I forgot! Additionally, because they don't have a frontal cone, this leads to some thinking some garbage such as tanking with things backstabbing you, when in fact even as a PLD you have to keep all the enemies in front of you. You cannot block or parry anything from behind. Guess how this affect Warriors and DRKs who just don't get it. . . .

I'd go with Warrior first. They get their tank stance at 30. They can sustain themselves. They deal reliable damage, not that it should matter to tanks like paladins, because damage powers your lifesteals. Overpower reaches wider and further than flash, and if your not confident in managing your TP, then cross class flash. It does drain the most TP of the tanks. General purpose, can reduce all damage. Thing is that without Inner Beast at 35, TP management will be an issue. Best way to deal with it is to do all you can to make sure there is no way the DPS can get threat the moment you cool off. Don't conserve Berserk at all. Also do not conserve wrath stacks, when you get to 35; there's no reason for it. Don't conserve bloodbath.

Dark Knight may be a good choice if you can manage the MP. Without MP you are absolutely shut down. It's strength and issues are similar more to the paladin. They rely on long CDs for defense. Has poor self sustainability vs multiple foes. Poor design It cannot synergize certain CDs because that will sabotage yourself. Regenerating MP after 38 requires being hit. It relies too much on getting hit while tanking, so enemies that attack slow will give you a hard time with the class. Is anti-magic. It's a disjointed mess.

Remember. Hit EVERYTHING, preferably all at the same time. Keep control of your resources. That doesn't mean conserve BEFORE you establish threat. Equip STR so that you can actually outthreat players better geared than you. Summoners will ALWAYS AoE. Don't follow the flash twice trend of failure like a robot, do more to maintain control. Do not EVER use provoke to start pulls. Do not EVER try to save the combo between pulls (for example not starting a pull with tomahawk cause you wanted to use butcher block before the combo expires).

[RiisWolf]

PLD is probably the easier of the two starting tanks. It has a more complete toolbox that doesn't really require any cross-class skills, and you're going to have to level it for some skills you need as a WAR or DRK anyway.

Yeah lots will say it's easy cause the Rage of Halone combo. Without considering the things wrong with the class. The low threat paired with being the weakest tank paired with players better geared than you leads to some seriously miserable times. Especially when you get to level 30. Some will even have you think that stacking all vitality is the best route when the healers have no problem keeping pure str tanks alive in leveling dungeon. Considering Sword Oath and the bad design of Paladins, it's pretty obvious you will need to boost threat to be a good tank. Defenses are useless when everyone ignores you. Frankly with all tanks, you'll be better off allocating your points to STR. If you can, you could take advantage of melding.

Also do not EVER stack in parry. It is the worst stat in all of MMO. It blocks little of the little amount of hits it does block.

[RapBreon]

I wondered how long it would take until those who believe PLDs inefficiency at absolute end game raiding has an impact on leveling and regular play.

PLDs are the simplest; they don't have to juggle an MP bar, damage buff or stacks. They hit stuff with their only combo that is also their tanking combo. They have plenty of cool-downs and the best flat mitigation. This is most relevant during leveling, because usually trash will kill you, not a boss. It gets a bit more complicated post 50, but still not on the level of DRK. This leaves you plenty of time to think and concentrate on the basics of tanking; holding threat, not dying and doing damage as you have no distractions and class specific duties vying for your attention.

If you ever find that you want to transition to full-time tanking with a serious progression group aimed at first week(s) clears, then yes right now PLD isn't the best choice. But if you want to tanking, you still need PLD anyway. Might as well do it first, it really is the best place to get your feet wet with the whole concept.

[Shining_Tiger_Excalibur]

Honestly since you're on Behemoth it would be a great idea to send MTQCapture (Mizzteq Aran on the server) a message or whisper for some solid advice on tanking. At low level you're going to have an absolute miserable time on Paladin (Gladiator) unless you empty your MP bar on Flashing with each pull. I slightly exaggerated the amount of flashing you need to do, but at least three per pull is a good idea. Low level isn't nice to the tanks in general but it's going to be the worst on Paladin since you don't get your real tank stance until 40. A mixture of strength and vitality accessories is best but you can play around with those depending on how much you trust the healer. Learn the general sense of the tank you choose from doing FATEs and learn it like the back of your hand doing dungeons. If your heart is set on tanking don't give up, don't let people rush you when you aren't comfortable, and don't let anyone's attitude hurt you. Other than healing, tanking is probably the hardest job in this game (despite what people say) and it takes a long time to get over tunnel vision.

The most important part is finding a person that will walk you through things and teach you the right way to tank. If it comes right down to it, make a pre-formed party of two tanks, a dps, and a healer and have that person literally show you what to do. This will honestly take months of doing all forms of content since the pacing differs greatly from level to level and dungeon to dungeon. If MTQCapture isn't available to help just ask her to refer you to a tank she trusts and you can go from there. There's a lot of misinformation when it concerns the tanks so keep that in mind.

[McVade]

My experience is that if I'm playing my White Mage effectively in leveling dungeons, DPsing and healing when necessary, and there's a Paladin in the group... yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and be the tank as well. Paladins just don't have the tools to keep aggro and leveling instances (pre 36 or so) don't seem particularly punishing, so I can heal-tank just fine.

I'm still working my way through this game and have no end game experience... but from a leveling dungeon PoV, Paladins do need a bit of love, I think. Even the best played Paladins are lame compared to Warriors/Dark Knights in almost anything pre-50.

[fm_fenrir]

Paladins just don't have the tools to keep aggro

In early dungeons, Fight or Flight is your best friend. +30% damage gives you a pretty significant DPS advantage over your real DPS, and if you just Fast-Riot-Flash you'll never lose aggro.

Also, keep in mind that PLD in OT role uses Sword Oath, which still leaves them with Halone as their highest potency combo (before level 60) and it's their enmity combo. A SwO PLD who pops FOF on pull and goes to town is going to rip right off a Defiance or Grit tank unless the real MT is prepared to counter with Berserk or DAPS. I've done it by accident in trial roulette, and I haven't tanked MSQ roulette in ShO in weeks.

[Freyyy]

Pick PLD if you are afraid of tanking. It's the easiest to play from 1 to 50 and only becomes weak compared to the other tanks after level 50. (tho the level 30 to 40 part is pretty tough because you still don't have your tanking stance while the other tanks have it).

Also, even if you would rather play a WAR or DRK, you need PLD at least level 34 for cross-class abilities. So start with PLD. After that, if you happen to like tanking, I highly recommend you to try WAR. It kills things.

[Violette]

Pick PLD if you are afraid of tanking. It's the easiest to play from 1 to 50 and only becomes weak compared to the other tanks after level 50. (tho the level 30 to 40 part is pretty tough because you still don't have your tanking stance while the other tanks have it).

Also, even if you would rather play a WAR or DRK, you need PLD at least level 34 for cross-class abilities. So start with PLD. After that, if you happen to like tanking, I highly recommend you to try WAR. It kills things.

Frey on point as always.

Marauder/Warrior also has the added advantage of being super tanky without cooldowns due to it's massive health pool, and a lot of its abilities regenerate health.

Gladiator/Paladin will feel a bit less tanky, but you're also taking less damage. If you just want to be a super tank, they are still pretty good from 40-60 and through Alexander Normal and Rav Ex.