Which of the Tank classes feels the most complete earliest?

[NewAgeDoom]

In terms of having access to the full kit it needs to do everything it's best at?

While I've finally managed to decide on an overall main job (It's Dragoon, by the way! ^^), I want to level 1 of each of the other roles (tank, healer).

Thoughts on this?

[Frizze]

I dont play a tank, so consider this hearsay. Everything ive heard from other people who do play these classes would indicate that Paladin is probly the one to look at. It seems to get the important parts of its kit earliest, and is generally considered the easiest to learn/play.

[Hasrat]

PLD also sorta stays the most boring the longest, probably. I'm over here hitting 57, and it doesn't feel like it's playing any differently than 47.

I might even argue they're all pretty similar at lower levels, and by the time you'll get somewhere where any of this really starts to matter, you'll probably enjoy WAR more.

[Frizze]

PLD also sorta stays the most boring the longest, probably. I'm over here hitting 57, and it doesn't feel like it's playing any differently than 47.

I might even argue they're all pretty similar at lower levels, and by the time you'll get somewhere where any of this really starts to matter, you'll probably enjoy WAR more.

You say that, but thats true for a lot of classes. Look at BLM. The gameplay/single-target rotation you learn at level 6(stance switching for damage and regen is level 4, 6 is where you can add your DoT to it) doesnt really change until level 34/40. And that change is just how you cycle elements(tier 3 spells rather then transpose). The feel and timing of the rotation doesnt actually change until you get Fire 4 at level 60. And honestly, nothing after that changes the core of what you do.

[Hasrat]

You say that, but thats true for a lot of classes. Look at BLM. The gameplay/single-target rotation you learn at level 6(stance switching for damage and regen is level 4, 6 is where you can add your DoT to it) doesnt really change until level 34/40. And that change is just how you cycle elements(tier 3 spells rather then transpose). The feel and timing of the rotation doesnt actually change until you get Fire 4 at level 60. And honestly, nothing after that changes the core of what you do.

Yeah, but... BLM isn't a tank. I'm just comparing the tanks to each other. And PLD seems to have a lot less to do for a lot longer.

[Mikazuki]

Hi! I'm newly back to the game and wanted to go for a tank role, I wanted to be a central part of a team rather than play wack-a-mole with MNK which I originally started with.

From my research and questions GLD/PLD came out on top for those newest to the game due to it's ease of use and getting everything a tank needs fairly early on in the game. I'm still only 39 due to little game time but I feel I have pretty much everything I need to tank.

I like the idea of leveling one of each and if I had more time to play would definitely level Arcanist for a healer type, just seems a bit different than WHM!

Good luck choosing

[ChameleonMS]

PLD is the tankiest tank in the early game if you are MSQ locked.
DRK is the most complete tank early if you have already reached Heavensward on a different class. You start at lv30.

AoE damage, very important when pulling larger packs:
PLD - Total Ecplise lv46, and Circle of Scorn at lv50
DRK - Unleash lv6, Dark Passenger lv40, and Salted Earth lv52

Single DPS target rotation:
PLD - Fast Blade, Riot Blade, Goring Blade lv54 / Riot Blade lv60
DRK - Hard Slash, Siphon Strike and Soul Eater lv38

In all situations, DRK gets more of its toolkit soon than the PLD.

[Maeka]

PLD is the tankiest tank in the early game if you are MSQ locked.
DRK is the most complete tank early if you have already reached Heavensward on a different class. You start at lv30.

AoE damage, very important when pulling larger packs:
PLD - Total Ecplise lv46, and Circle of Scorn at lv50
DRK - Unleash lv6, Dark Passenger lv40, and Salted Earth lv52

Single DPS target rotation:
PLD - Fast Blade, Riot Blade, Goring Blade lv54 / Riot Blade lv60
DRK - Hard Slash, Siphon Strike and Soul Eater lv38

In all situations, DRK gets more of its toolkit soon than the PLD.

You do not need Total Eclipse whatsoever for a PLD. Shield Oath (Lv30) and Flash is more than enough to grab and hold aggro. Before Lv30, use two Flashes at the beginning of each pull and if it's taking awhile to kill everything, throw a third a little bit later. You should never, ever, ever lose hate.

PLDs get Rage of Halone by the time they get to Haukke Manor, so you have a 3-button combo by Lv30. It isn't Goring Blade, but it works fine up until HW levels.

PLD rotation changes when you get Royal Authority at Level 60 (you should use it instead of RoH) but it's still a 1-2-3. Sheltron and Clemency gives you extra tools to optionally use, and later on, Holy Spirit enters the picture (which makes Sheltron and Riot Blade even more important).

In the late 40s and 50 you get Spirits Within and Circle of Scorn, but they are oGCD abilities and can easily be weaved in. You get Total Eclipse, but I find that I only use that when we're facing exceptionally large packs of enemies. I use it for DPS, rather than enmity because seriously, Shield Oath+Flash and/or Circle of Scorn is way more than you should ever need.

[Shurrikhan]

Probably Warrior, though it would feel a lot more complete far earlier if only Wrath wasn't wasted upon leaving Defiance (prior, ofc, to having access to Deliverance), or -- better yet -- able to be generated even outside Defiance.

[Maero]

I would say PLD is the most user friendly to those just starting out as a tank. Warrior feels more complete much later on