Optimizing Paladin

[Seabhacgra]

Good evening all! I've been seriously enjoying my Paladin for the last month or two now after settling on this as my favorite tank. I'm now trying to optimize the BIS gear, tactics and strategies to become one of the best.. I'm sitting in half Deepshadow gear and half overmelded 450 faceted. I've setup mostly Direct Hit Materia on my gear and am now contemplating ways to upgrade with the new augmented faceted 460 gear from the trader in Eulmore. My request is this.. what makes the best tank, specifically Paladin. Gear wise, and what are your best ideas on strategies and tactics to be the best.. thanks!

[ArianeEwah]

My request is this.. what makes the best tank, [specifically Paladin].

Knowing, mapping and executing your DPS- and CD-rotation. It's not the class/job what makes the best tank, but the player behind said tank.

Gear wise, and what are your best ideas on strategies and tactics to be the best.. thanks!

Gear-wise? Don't get too much SkS, a GCD of 2.43-2.40 is enough. Go for whatever you like after that, TEN/DET/CRIT/DH, doesn't really matter outside of savage content. (Even then you out-gear it at this point, 'optimizing' gear is not necessary)
If you still wanna go for 'that BiS', go for DH-Crit, or DH-Det builds until you reach 3k Crit.

Strategies and tactics? You have to know the fight to optimize your rotation. You can start a fight with standard FoF into Requiescat opener, it's your bread and butter opener. Yet, the Requiescat into FoF opener is more benefical in certain fights where you need to disengage from the target. Know when to save an Intervene for more uptime etc.
Use your defensive CDs efficently. A cooldown not used is a wasted cooldown! Opt for max uptime on CD while still mitigation most or lethal damage.