Limit breaks as tank?

[Lyraele]

I've never actually used one of these, because it seems like these are shared by the group and if I use it the can't. And being new and all, I assume I know less about when and why to use them than the rest. So... When and if should a tank use a limit break? Thanks!

[Faeon]

No need to use it unless the fight requires it. We currently use it in A12 and Coil T13 which is raid content, and we used it on ultima extreme back in the day.

Other than that save it for dps or healer if you doing 8 Man.

[magnanimousCynic]

You don't even need it for T13 anymore unless you're doing it synced. You'll have more than enough health with at least i200.

But yeah, Tank LB is rarely used unless the fight basically demands the use of it.

[ChiiSoSeriouz]

In certain fights tank lb is a necessary strategy to survive the bosses ultimate attack, like the above post mentioned T13 and A12s. There are certain fights where it may not be absolutely necessary but it is highly recommended in order to ease a certain mechanic like ultima hard and A8s. That being said, a quick reaction by a tank using lb can save a run in different encounters as well, for example, going into an Akh Morn in nidhogg ex with several players down could be a wipe because damage is shared between everyone in the stack. A clutch tank lb3 can save the run in that situation provided you don't have a whm alive that can handle that type of damage.

[Fernosaur]

Akh Morn in nidhogg ex with several players down could be a wipe because damage is shared between everyone in the stack. A clutch tank lb3 can save the run in that situation provided you don't have a whm alive that can handle that type of damage.

This. So much this. I've had so many runs in PF ruined because there were only 5 people alive and the tanks didn't think of using LB2/3 for Akh Morn. Even worse, when I commented that the run could have been saved with a Tank LB the response was usually laughter or "now I've heard it all," and that kinda BS. We used to do it back when I was solo healing that shit on SCH because the last Ahk Morn hurts a little bit too much on at-the-time current IL, and actually one of my tank friends saved a doomed Akh Morn when we were only 6 of us alive. Scholar can't handle that shit, man.

Anyways, yes, as others have said, you won't be using Tank LB almost ever, save for heavily scripted fights. Which is a shame, really, cause I think it could be given more flexibility.

[Cabalabob]

Tank LB is pretty bad and to me honestly just feels like a PLD CD more than an LB (and in pvp PLD actually gets a CD that's better than tank LB2...).

So right now there's no reason to use tank LB outside of cop out mechanics where SE forces us to use it to justify its existence. Or niche scenarios to cheese certain failed mechanics.

[LilLemay]

The best time to use a tank LB is clearly whenever the rest of the party wipes and you wanna live just that little bit longer for them bada** points

On a serious note, I usually use tank LB for things like what everyone said above, when the fight demands it, or whenever I make the judgement call that not enough of us are alive to survive a stacking explosion mechanic, so I pop that

[Jim_Berry]

This. So much this. I've had so many runs in PF ruined because there were only 5 people alive and the tanks didn't think of using LB2/3 for Akh Morn. Even worse, when I commented that the run could have been saved with a Tank LB the response was usually laughter or "now I've heard it all," and that kinda BS. We used to do it back when I was solo healing that shit on SCH because the last Ahk Morn hurts a little bit too much on at-the-time current IL, and actually one of my tank friends saved a doomed Akh Morn when we were only 6 of us alive. Scholar can't handle that shit, man.

Anyways, yes, as others have said, you won't be using Tank LB almost ever, save for heavily scripted fights. Which is a shame, really, cause I think it could be given more flexibility.

I used it, and guess what happened? They yelled and said the Healer could have used it.

[SpookyGhost]

Tank LB is pretty bad and to me honestly just feels like a PLD CD more than an LB (and in pvp PLD actually gets a CD that's better than tank LB2...).

LB2 is a Rampart on the entire party and LB3 is 50% reduction which is stronger than Sentinel... and for the whole party.

The main pull of using tank LB is in a situation where you'd otherwise have people dying - IE, as mentioned, Akh Morn with 1 healer. Another use that doesn't get much play anymore is using tank LB in place of a healer CD to allow for a stronger pairing of healer CDs on a later mechanic.

Healer LB also works in these situations but you'll have a much more significant damage loss from needing everyone to die and then be revived (RIP stacks). Healer LB is really only useful for when half your team or more dies and you need them up.

[Cabalabob]

LB2 is a Rampart on the entire party and LB3 is 50% reduction which is stronger than Sentinel... and for the whole party.

The main pull of using tank LB is in a situation where you'd otherwise have people dying - IE, as mentioned, Akh Morn with 1 healer. Another use that doesn't get much play anymore is using tank LB in place of a healer CD to allow for a stronger pairing of healer CDs on a later mechanic.

Healer LB also works in these situations but you'll have a much more significant damage loss from needing everyone to die and then be revived (RIP stacks). Healer LB is really only useful for when half your team or more dies and you need them up.

That's the point though, it's useless outside of niche situations. Party wide mitigation is rarely needed and can usually be covered by a PLD and SCH and/or AST unless something has gone horribly wrong. That kind of effect really doesn't feel like you're breaking any limits.

The current effect would become infinitely more useful if there was no unmitigatable damage in the game. I.E. failed primal ultimates. If the tank could LB and save the party from a failed primal ultimate it would go from a niche use if something goes wrong, to something that can be used in basically any trial scenario if something goes wrong.

And don't cry balance. It's a limit break... Or why should a tank get to save the group from a failed mechanic? Why should dps get to prevent the group failing mechanics with their LB like they can on titan's heart or any other dps check mechanic?