Let me start saying that english is not my primary language, so if I miss a word or sentence, let me know and I will correct it.


Well, I main tank since 2.1. Main PLD, but swap to WAR and DRK sometimes. I think I'm a decent tank, at least.
But since "decent" is not enough for me, I'm always looking for tips and ways to improve my gameplay.

Watching videos, reading forums and guides, hearing more experienced players, i'm always after good information. Back into 2.1~2.5, the general rule for defensive CDs was: "Learn the fight and save your CDs to mitigate spike dmg. Healers have the entire party to keep alive, so make theirs lives easier and avoid being killed".

Since 3.0 I think something changed. I see a lot of talk now about: "Save your CDs. Turn off your Defensive Stance, turn on Ofensive Stance and use a defensive CD. Burst burst burst, back to D. Stance and go back to O.Stance when you have another CD to use."

So, i'm a bit confused here. Did something changed? What should I do? Learn the fight and optimize my defense? Or learn to do stance dance in the middle of fight and maximize dps?

Side note: I DO stance dance, but just in specific situations, e.g. when Ravana is slowly charging attack, or in the final boss of The Vault, in the "fire ball phase". I never did stance dance in the heat of battle.