Is there a good way to find PUGed raids aside from duty finder?

[TeraRamis]

I'd really like to get the Paladin sword from Wreath of Snakes (Ex). However, the queues are insane (as in it never pops; nobody seems to PUG it), and, even though I've watched multiple strat videos, I am really not comfortable tanking it my first couple of times in (thus lengthening my prospective time even further queueing as a DPS).

As a newer player, I was wondering: is there, like, a discord server where people put together PUGs or semi-PUGs with the benefit of voice chat that might make this whole thing easier? I only need to clear it 7 times, but the thought of "relearning" the fight with new random people every time without the benefit of voice chat seems very, very daunting.

[einschwartz]

You don't queue for EX and beyond.
Use Party Finder.
Another option is to join fellowship that farms older EX and find a group/discord from there.
These can be viewed in the Social Tab from the main menu.

[TeraRamis]

You don't queue for EX and beyond.
Use Party Finder.
Another option is to join fellowship that farms older EX and find a group/discord from there.
These can be viewed in the Social Tab from the main menu.

In your opinion, how many 80s are necessary to do Wreath Ex Unsynced? Do you still need to do the tank swap mechanic (so 2 tanks still)?

[einschwartz]

In your opinion, how many 80s are necessary to do Wreath Ex Unsynced? Do you still need to do the tank swap mechanic (so 2 tanks still)?

I have not done it myself so I can't provide an accurate answer. Hopefully somebody else can chime in.
However, judging from Heavensward EX still need at least duo (for mechanics, or kill faster to skip phases. Not as faceroll as ARR), I think you still need several people for Stormblood EX and the mechanics probably does matter even if unsync.

[Insertusernamehere]

You can swap tanks at double curse at second phase but if healer comfortable with it s/he can out heal both explosions.

Edit: Or use PLD invul.. to prevent explosion.

[Shahi]

Use PF. You just need 1 tank, 1 heal, rest is dps. If you watched videos it will be easy.

[Stepjam]

For Wreath of snakes EX, you'll still need 2 tanks unless one of them is paladin or gunbreaker. During curse, PLD/GNB has to use their invuln so they take zero damage (DRK and WAR can't do this because they still take damage during their invulns, they just can't die, but if they take any damage during curse, they explode and wipe the party). After that, you just have to have enough DPS to kill Seiryu before the second curse happens, because their invuln won't be back up before then.

Edit: Also yeah, for any content that's extreme difficulty or higher, you will need to use party finder. People generally don't queue for that kind of content with duty finder, especially not older content due to how much cooperation and fight knowledge is needed to clear. And on old extreme and savage content, generally speaking you'll need to make it unsync'd as few people want to run outdated content normally for gear.

[Flay_wind]

For Wreath of snakes EX, you'll still need 2 tanks unless one of them is paladin or gunbreaker. During curse, PLD/GNB has to use their invuln so they take zero damage (DRK and WAR can't do this because they still take damage during their invulns, they just can't die, but if they take any damage during curse, they explode and wipe the party). After that, you just have to have enough DPS to kill Seiryu before the second curse happens, because their invuln won't be back up before then.

Wreath of Snakes can be absolutely done with just solo DRK. You use TBN + Shadow Wall and you're practically set.