Completely new and learning

[jisoo]

Hi there everyone!

I'm totally new to FFXIV. I bought the game years ago- and just recently came back to it a week ago. I'm actually playing a class I've never even touched in my whole life of MMOs. Generally I'm a DPS class but for this, I decided to go do Paladin.

Any big tips? In the game and as a Tank in general. I feel like I'm such a mess sometimes as a Tank since I'm not used to making sure hate is on me and such. I'm watching Videos and reading guides though since I don't want to be the world's worst tank, but what can you do there- just gotta learn and try not to let people die in the process.

Anyways! I'm always up for making friends.

My discord is - jisoo#6348

[van_arn]

Learn by tanking.

First, read your tooltips. Second, stay out of the fire. You've made a solid start and seem to have the right mindset going into this, with plenty of self-criticism and study.

Don't get sidetracked by what some might consider "easy" leveling systems, like POTD or HOH-- save those for your alts, if you absolutely must.

Get at least one solid clear on each dungeon and (non-extreme) trial, required and optional, on your way to 70. If you aren't happy with how you did in a run, then just rerun that one dungeon again. You don't need perfection, but you do need to have confidence with the mechanics.

Get through the main storyline as your second priority, but your class quests are you highest priority. Avoid sidequests, unless they unlock a dungeon. You don't need to do sidequests for experience, since you can just run a dungeon if you need to level to unlock more of the main storyline. An exception can be made for sidequests that unlock flying in expansion areas.

If you hit level 70 and haven't completed the main storyline, that 70 just doesn't count-- keep pushing that main storyline so you see everything you can unlock, and as a result have an opportunity to learn the basic mechanics the dungeons and trials will teach you.

Listen to your parties, and if you ever don't know what to do just ask them. By and large people are more than willing to share strategies and give you hints, they just need to know you're fresh. The flipside is if you ask for advice, follow it-- there's no point asking if you won't follow through.

Your ultimate goal is to clear the storyline to the point where you're ready for Shadowbringers, have a set of 380-390 gear, and have the confidence to handle the mechanics of every dungeon and trial (non-extreme/savage) on the way. That will put you ahead of a solid half of the playerbase.

If you do all of this, it's trivial to double back and level alts through a method of your choice. You'll have enough experience with the game and mechanics to be able to handle just about anything, on any role you decide to play next. Alternatively, you could progress to extreme/savage.

*the above applies for content past level 28 or so. Below that, the dungeons are so weak the healer can tank them, so there's not too much to learn as a tank. Just be a facsimile of a tank until then. Shield Oath is your "I'm an actual tank" signal.

[SoulEchelon]

First off, welcome to FFXIV! <3

Before you start getting into dungeons, I highly, HIGHLY suggest you do Hall of the Novice.
https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w..._of_the_Novice

and https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...3d2c4227dfdc2e

It starts at level 15, and shows you the basics of your current role: Tank, DPS, or Healer. You'll be rewarded with some good gear that should get you to about level 20-25 and an exp boost ring that lasts until level 30.
You can find Hall of the Novice npcs at all the main city Adventure Guilds (The places where you start your first quests in the game. Usually situated at the inn or tavern in these cities). Its headquarters is just outside the first dungeon in the game. a big green symbol with a golden budding plant will be hovering over the head of the npc in question.

There are also things called Guildhests. https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Guildhest

These are basically really really tiny dungeons with certain goals in mind. The first few are "Kill all the things and don't die", and you'll be paired with other people. I highly suggest doing the first few before you dive into the first dungeon so you can get a handle of aggroing enemies and keeping them all in check. That said, don't be disheartened if you see your dpses (or sometimes even healers) running off on their own. They're new to the game and will eventually have to learn the hard way to stay with their tank.

When you do finally get to the first dungeon, make sure to tell your team that you're new. The way FFXIV keeps older dungeon content alive is by giving higher level players the incentive to do them by way of the Roulette system (which you'll learn about later). Some times these higher levels forget that lower level players are still a thing. And don't expect higher level players to carry you either damage output-wise, as everyone's gear and abilities are nerfed down to the level of the dungeon/instance in question.

Other than all that, practice! With Paladin, don't hesitate to use your Flash ability whenever needed. Keep it in your ability rotation. Make sure you're attacking the enemy your team is attacking, and then add a Flash once in awhile to make sure all enemies nearby are focused on you, because eventually your Healer will aggro the other enemies you're not attacking due to their healing.

Not much else to say I don't think. Do your best, and above all - have fun. That's what it's all about.

[Neoyoshi]

Try to get into the habit of Marking targets, it's a dying art, but people will love you long time when they see it. ♥

Welcome to Eorzea!

[Gemina]

Try to get into the habit of Marking targets, it's a dying art, but people will love you long time when they see it. ♥

Welcome to Eorzea!

You really only need to do this if you want the DPS to prioritize a target. Some examples would be the bees in Qarn and also the Golem's Soulstone in the same dungeon, the Voracious Maw of the first boss in the Lost City of Amdapor when he devours a player, or which ever part of the Damaged Adjudicator that glows red before it disappears in Qarn HM. However, the [1], [2], [3] markers on trash mobs in the days of old is unnecessary in most cases.

[Rongway]

Try to get into the habit of Marking targets, it's a dying art, but people will love you long time when they see it. ♥

Welcome to Eorzea!

It's a dying art because it's generally unnecessary. There are specific mechanically important enemies that need to be marked in specific situations. Other than that, Flash/Overpower/Unleash three or four times and cycle your targets to maintain enmity on everything. AoE and DoTs are a thing, so often DDs will be switching to targets with more health rather than killing off things that are going to die to AoE/DoT anyway.

[Niqote]

Thank you for watching videos, reading guides and trying to play well.

From a healers perspective.
In a dungeon you are my one true partner. When I am with a tank who knows how to properly mitigate and place mobs, everything is so much cleaner, simpler and I can trust you will not drop dead the second I decide to holy bomb the group you are tanking (Which by the way gives you extra time since for a few seconds they will be unable to hit you).

When you are experienced enough and confident enough to pull all the mobs in a dungeon you possibly can, people will really appreciate your efficiency.
Keep learning regardless of your level, you are the leader of the dungeon and people will follow you even if you run the wrong way (Which is hilarious).
If you hit a wall with a duty, swap to a DPS and run it while watching the other tanks work.

In dutys with 2 tanks, there will be a main tank and an off tank. Ask them if you can be your preferred choice (MT or OT), you can communicate this by putting on the respective ability that signals DPS or Mitigation stances as well in the event there is a language barrier.

Don't ever be afraid to say 'Hey its my first time here so ill take it slow' or 'Other tank, do you have any tips for this duty?' or 'Healer, i'm going to practice doing multiple pulls, is that ok with you?'
If you run into a jerk... you are a tank. They need you more then you need them. So just smile and shield bash/fell cleave/wrist something.

Try to get into the habit of Marking targets, it's a dying art, but people will love you long time when they see it. ♥

Welcome to Eorzea!

Generally its not needed as people will kill whatever has the lowest health OR is the largest known threat. Sometimes people don't know what the priority target is, so the tank using macros to mark targets will benefit everyone in this case. ^_^

[Vadrythen]

Hi there everyone!

I'm totally new to FFXIV. I bought the game years ago- and just recently came back to it a week ago. I'm actually playing a class I've never even touched in my whole life of MMOs. Generally I'm a DPS class but for this, I decided to go do Paladin.

Any big tips? In the game and as a Tank in general. I feel like I'm such a mess sometimes as a Tank since I'm not used to making sure hate is on me and such. I'm watching Videos and reading guides though since I don't want to be the world's worst tank, but what can you do there- just gotta learn and try not to let people die in the process.

Anyways! I'm always up for making friends.

My discord is - jisoo#6348

Not sure if anyone mentioned, but if you want to know if you have hate on you (you may figured this out already) is when you're targeting something, check your party bar - underneath the job icon for each party is a bar. If yours is red, you have hate. Tab to next target. Cycling your hate moves this way means you won't waste threat moves on targets you have hate for days on. It also means you'll be able to predict when you don't even need to hit that mob anymore since it's about to die from dots and in-progress casts even though it's still half-health - it'll be dead before you lose threat, so move on to the next. That means your dps can be placed more efficiently as well (since you won't bring as much dps, you wanna spend it wisely).

[manamoppet]

Not sure if anyone mentioned, but if you want to know if you have hate on you (you may figured this out already) is when you're targeting something, check your party bar - underneath the job icon for each party is a bar. If yours is red, you have hate. Tab to next target.

If one have problems with color vision - as I've seen some on the forum have mentioned they have, enmity also have stages shown in the enemy list:

- Green (circle): None or little enmity from this enemy. This what the other party members want, but not the tank.
- Yellow (upward triangle): Close to having enmity priority from enemy. As a tank you're losing enmity to a party member.
- Red (downward triangle): "Tied" enmity with another party member, but should have its attention still if you previously had top enmity.
- Red (square): Top enmity, with a good margin. This is what a tank wants.

Checking the symbols/colors in the enemy list make it easier to know what enemies to prioritize for enmity management.

[Rongway]

If one have problems with color vision - as I've seen some on the forum have mentioned they have, enmity also have stages shown in the enemy list:

- Green (circle): None or little enmity from this enemy. This what the other party members want, but not the tank.
- Yellow (upward triangle): Close to having enmity priority from enemy. As a tank you're losing enmity to a party member. About half as much enmity as the person with the highest enmity.
- Red orange (downward triangle): "Tied" enmity with another party member, but should have its attention still if you previously had top enmity. Near top enmity, but someone is higher than you.
- Red (square): Top enmity, with a good margin. even if it's only by 1 point. This is what a tank wants.

All the tank's enmity gems should be red squares. Always. If they are anything but a red square, you've lost a mob and it has already hit someone else. This actually means that the party list is not a good indicator of how you are doing compared to the rest of the party. Tab around and check the meters in the party list.