Dungeons, WAR vs DRK

[VenKitsune]

DRK and WAR are the two most defensive tanks now, so either works, its not like dungeons are very hard content so it really doesnt matter what you play in them. That being said, i prefer DRK in dungeons over WAR for two reasons - #1: TBN and #2: WAR's aoe's start with a cone, which is annoying.

[ReviaInfantry]

If only comparison to DRK and WAR, I'd suggest WAR first.

It is actually simple and friendlier to learn, it has usual cooldowns, a cooldown that make sure glued things stayed glued.

Almost every expansion give you a form of heal. (Thrill in ARR, Equilibrium in HW, nascent in ShB).

You only need to perform different rotations to maintain buff or generated better gauge and slight mitigation.

The trade-off is your ogcd is far less. Only cooldown and one gap closer and one gauge spending efficient single. Also these 2 are HW tier stuff so late access.

DRK, on the other hand, is faster to generate dmg buff using mana ogcd, which is as early as ... Lv35.

For gauge though need to check between mana and blood gauge. But the amount of AoE and single Ogcd is more, especially when going through HW. (pretty much everything core skills are learnt during HW though)

And then lv70 is a transition where Leman Russ goes Viking while Lion El Johnson starts his real stoic...

[Falar]

PLD is amazing again this expansion, if you're maining it I can't see you really liking the other two you're mentioning.

Amazing damage, still great mitigation, even more AoE, still a crazy amount of party utility.

[Early_Lily]

Having recently leveled my last tank to 80 being WAR, I honestly enjoyed it the most. The opening rotation is fun, bursty and easy if you're feeling tired and thematically it feels great as a Job.

[lulunami]

I feel DRK is the strongest dungeon tank because of TBN. Just save 3000 MP for TBN. It is up so often for large packs and every boss tank buster. DRK has good AoE dps as well. Living Dead is not so great with random healers or without WHM Benediction, but the rest of DRK's kit is solid.

[Bhearil]

I feel DRK is the strongest dungeon tank because of TBN. Just save 3000 MP for TBN. It is up so often for large packs and every boss tank buster. DRK has good AoE dps as well. Living Dead is not so great with random healers or without WHM Benediction, but the rest of DRK's kit is solid.

Personally i think DRK is only viable thanks to a magic damage meta allowing him/her to take full advantage of Dark Mind and TBN being ridiculously busted compared to other tank's equivalent. The moment DRK gets a nerf on TBN and on a lesser scale Dark Mind, its value as tank will plummet hard.

Not mentioning the current DRK gameplay that is a snore fest devoid of any complexity mimicking WAR gameplay in quite a few aspects since I was talking about "being viable" not "being fun"

[Lucy_Pyre]

Personally i think DRK is only viable thanks to a magic damage meta allowing him/her to take full advantage of Dark Mind and TBN being ridiculously busted compared to other tank's equivalent. The moment DRK gets a nerf on TBN and on a lesser scale Dark Mind, its value as tank will plummet hard.

Not mentioning the current DRK gameplay that is a snore fest devoid of any complexity mimicking WAR gameplay in quite a few aspects since I was talking about "being viable" not "being fun"

There really isn't a "magic damage meta". This tier has a very good mix between physical and magical for heavy damage intake. Furthermore, there's little to no reason to nerf TBN and/or Dark Mind. The only tank that realistically needs any form of nerf would be PLD, and even then only a slight DPS one.

[SamRF]

One thing I don't like about WAR in dungeons is that uncomfortable stress to keep up Storm's Eye between mob pulls. Not that it's very hard or that it matters too much, just annoying imo.

[ctcc42]

I have PLD and WAR at 80, and enjoy both. I just recently caught GNB and DRK up to 72, still working on them. I was never too attracted to either GNB or DRK, but people keep going on about how good the blackest night is, and how good GNB's powder combo is.

So far my impression of both GNB and DRK is that they are over hyped. Given how people go on and on about how DRK finally gets good at 70 I was expecting a lot more from TBN then I got. Ok its a good ability that I can use often. But honestly it doesn't make up for the three downsides of being a DRK.

1) DRK's animations are super slow, making it look like the weight of its sword is substantial, but the sound effects of its impact just don't live up to the animation.
2) Most of the games content is level locked to points where DRK has neither a good tanking kit or a two hit aoe combo.
3) Being a broody black wearing warrior of light just makes you seem like some pathetic emo teenager that has been kicked out of their mom's basement.

Gunbreaker on the other hand is fine. It's just eclipsed by warrior and paladin. Paladin has better utility, warrior has better sound effects.

[Bhearil]

Personally I consider tanks like this:

Damage: GNB>PLD>DRK>WAR
Defence: DRK>PLD>WAR>GNB
Sustain: PLD>WAR>GNB>DRK
Utility: PLD>Everyone else
(fun)Gameplay: GNB>PLD>WAR>DRK

So power wise overall, PLD stands as the Tank King overall of this expansion(really nice moment for PLD mains), followed by DRK due to how powerful is defensive wise right now despite its bland gameplay GNB is next due to the damage it deals, with WAR being dead last(due to WAR kit reducing group buffs effectiveness).