~3 MIN
1. Intro
Tier lists in FFXIV are guidelines, not absolutes — a strong player will always outperform a weaker one, no matter the job. That said, here’s how tanks stack up in Patch 7.0 (Dawntrail):
| Tier | Job | Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Warrior | Extremely self-sufficient, ideal for dungeons and solo content | Great for beginners. Bloodwhetting makes it nearly unkillable. |
| A+ | Gunbreaker | High burst damage and raid utility | Demands awareness of cooldowns. Strong in Savage and Extreme Trials. |
| A | Paladin | Best progression tools with Clemency, Cover, and strong mitigation | Great for prog raiding and clutch plays. |
| A | Dark Knight | Good burst and strong magic mitigation; complex but rewarding | Best used by experienced players in high-end content. |
🧠 1.1 Difficulty Tiering
Each Tank plays differently. Here’s a breakdown of their learning curve:
| Job | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | ⭐ Easiest | Very forgiving rotation and incredible sustain. |
| Paladin | ⭐⭐ Easy | Simple structure, flexible burst windows. |
| Dark Knight | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | Many cooldowns and resource management. |
| Gunbreaker | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | Resource-tight, burst-heavy job with high reward. |
🛡️ 2. Tanks in a Nutshell
Tanks are the backbone of every party, responsible for:
- Maintaining aggro
- Using mitigation tools
- Maximizing uptime
- Keeping bosses positioned correctly
- Contributing consistent DPS
🎯 2.1 Role Expectations
A good Tank doesn’t just survive — they enable the whole party by:
- Holding boss aggro
- Reducing incoming damage
- Allowing melee jobs full positional uptime
- Managing mitigation for tankbusters, cleaves, and AoEs
🌀 2.2 Melee Uptime Tips
One of your biggest priorities as a Tank is maintaining uptime. Here’s how:
- Stand at max melee when dodging.
- Use gap-closers to return quickly after a mechanic.
- Time movement between GCDs.
🧰 2.3 Tank Tools Breakdown
🔗 2.3.1 Aggro & Enmity Tools
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Tank Stance | 10x enmity multiplier. Keep it active in group content. |
| Provoke | Instantly sets your enmity to the top + a small bonus. |
| Shirk | Transfers 25% of your enmity to co-tank. Use during tank swaps. |
🛡️ 2.3.2 Mitigation Tools
| Tool Type | Warrior | Paladin | Dark Knight | Gunbreaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Mitigation | Rampart (20%) | Rampart (20%) | Rampart (20%) | Rampart (20%) |
| Strong Mitigation | Vengeance (30%) | Sentinel (30%) | Shadow Wall (30%) | Nebula (30%) |
| Short Cooldown | Bloodwhetting | Holy Sheltron | The Blackest Night, Oblation | Heart of Corundum |
| Raid Mitigation | Shake It Off | Divine Veil, Passage | Dark Missionary (magic only) | Heart of Light (magic only) |
| Extra Personal CD | Thrill of Battle | Bulwark | Dark Mind (magic only) | Camouflage |
| Invuln Skill | Holmgang (4m cooldown) | Hallowed Ground (7m) | Living Dead (5m, conditional) | Superbolide (5m, HP to 1) |
💊 2.3.3 Utility & Healing
| Job | Self-Heals & Utility |
|---|---|
| Paladin | Clemency (strong casted heal), Cover (protects allies), Shield Bash |
| Warrior | Equilibrium, Nascent Flash |
| Gunbreaker | Aurora (HoT), Heart of Corundum |
| All Tanks | Arm’s Length, Interject, Low Blow (stun), Limit Break |
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🔁 3. Why Flex Between Tanks?
- Different fights favor different mitigation kits.
- Some jobs shine in Magic-heavy or AoE-heavy content.
- In Party Finder, duplicate jobs are often avoided.
- Having 2+ tanks increases your chances of finding groups quickly.
⚔️ Final Thoughts
In Patch 7.0 (Dawntrail), all tank jobs are viable — each with its unique flavor. Your comfort and experience with a job will always matter more than a tier list. But if you want to optimize, raid, or just flex your glamour in roulettes, Onlyfarms.gg is here to help.