Actually in the case of a WAR tank a great offense is the best defense. A WAR stacking defensive stats is doing it wrong. Hitting harder and criting harder are invaluable for WAR, first for enmity and second for more healing from Rampage. It also has the considerably high crit chance from a frontal combo Steel Cyclone, as well as Bloodbath to hear more when doing more damage. Add to this that many bosses have their most severe attacks dodgeable, a WAR needs no defensive enhancements beyond what the AF gives already.

It is how self-sufficient the WAR is that has grabbed the attention of players and Yoshida alike. The highly skilled players didn't decide not to bring PLD for no reason. It's a conscious and smart decision. When a WAR can easily self sustain with a single WHM, there's no need for a PLD as it is right now. Only reason I can see is if the fight is melee heavy and the DDs take lots of damage, the Divine Regen may be desirable and a valid tactic. Beyond that though, WAR wins again hands down.

I feel like i jumped the gun on the global damage mitigation trait idea. Honestly, they really need to fix blocking. Make it worthwhile and reliable. Make it result in an actual, significant difference in damage taken. Which seems to be what they're doing. Even that isn't enough of course, as WAR is being re-balanced/focused as a DD primarily and tank secondarily with the nerf to Steel Cyclone and buff to Berserk.

Now, any experience you have stealing hate from a WAR tank is nice and all but such things depend on player skill. We're on the same server. I invite you to any run with our LS. Please come on PLD and try to steal hate from our WAR tank.