~4 MIN
Intro
Tanking in Final Fantasy XIV is a rewarding and essential role for any party composition — especially in high-end content like Savage Raids, Extreme Trials, and Deep Dungeons. Whether you’re a new player or a veteran looking to optimize, this guide will cover everything: tank jobs, playstyle, gear, mitigation, and more.
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What is the Tank Playstyle?
Tanks are responsible for:
- Holding aggro (enmity) from bosses and mobs
- Soaking tankbusters and auto-attacks
- Using mitigation tools to reduce incoming damage
- Maximizing DPS to help beat enrage timers
- Positioning bosses for optimal raid uptime
Yes — tanks must contribute damage. High-end content is tuned around everyone, including tanks and healers, pulling their weight in DPS.
Available Tank Jobs in FFXIV
There are four tank jobs in Endwalker:
| Tank Job | Playstyle Summary | Skill Floor | Skill Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Sustain-heavy, burst every 60s, easy rotation | Low | Moderate |
| Paladin | Flexible rotation, utility-based, strong raid mitigation | Low | Moderate |
| Dark Knight | Buff-aligned burst windows, strong magic mitigation | Moderate | High |
| Gunbreaker | High APM, tight burst window, requires resource prep | Moderate | High |
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Job Breakdown
Warrior
- Massive self-healing and the best dungeon mitigation via Bloodwhetting
- Easy burst window with Inner Release
- Great for beginners and dungeon grinders
Paladin
- Hybrid rotation with Fight or Flight and Requiescat
- Great utility via Clemency and Cover
- Excellent for raid progression with more party mitigation
Dark Knight
- Burst-focused, buff-aligned gameplay with The Blackest Night
- Strong in magic-heavy encounters
- Resource pooling for powerful windows
Gunbreaker
- Fast-paced with No Mercy burst every 60s
- Complex rotation due to weaving many off-GCD skills
- Well-rounded mitigation and self-healing
Omni-Tank Best-in-Slot Gear
All tanks can share the same BiS gear thanks to similar stat priorities and cooldown windows. Below is a simplified look:
| Tank | GCD Range | Compatible Gearing |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | 2.40–2.50 | Shared gear with DRK |
| Dark Knight | 2.40–2.50 | Shared gear with WAR |
| Paladin | Flexible | Uses universal tank BiS |
| Gunbreaker | Flexible | Uses universal tank BiS |
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Tank Optimization Tips
| Goal | Tip |
|---|---|
| Keep melee uptime | Use disengage windows between GCDs; avoid ranged skills unless needed |
| Mitigate smart | Don’t overlap cooldowns; rotate Rampart, short CDs, and invulns properly |
| Max DPS | Follow burst windows and raid buff timings; no downtime allowed! |
Mitigation in Trials and Raids
Every tank has:
- Rampart (30% DR cooldown)
- A short CD personal mitigation (Bloodwhetting, Holy Sheltron, etc.)
- An invulnerability (e.g., Hallowed Ground)
- Reprisal (AoE raid damage mitigation)
Mitigation Rule of Thumb:
| Situation | Mitigation Plan |
|---|---|
| Tankbuster | Rampart + short cooldown |
| AoE Raid Damage | Reprisal |
| Massive damage spike | Use invuln (best where it saves healer CDs) |
| Dungeon trash mobs | Rotate mitigation; avoid overlapping major CDs |
Tanking in Dungeons: Quick Tips
- Turn on tank stance — No stance = no aggro.
- Use AoE combo — Don’t spam single-target on trash.
- Mitigate trash > bosses — Dungeon bosses are easier than mobs.
- Don’t overlap big CDs — Spread them out for uptime.
- Sprint early — Pull fast, run faster.
Choosing Your First Tank Job
| Job | Best For |
|---|---|
| Warrior | New players, solo content, dungeon tanking |
| Paladin | Group utility, raid progression |
| Dark Knight | Buff-aligned optimization and burst DPS |
| Gunbreaker | High APM, offensive-oriented tanking |
All four tanks are capable of clearing any content in the game. Choose what feels fun and fits your fantasy — not what the meta says.
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Final Thoughts
Tanks in FFXIV are the glue that holds the party together — and when played well, they’re also top-tier DPS contributors, mitigators, and shot-callers. Mastering tanking is both empowering and rewarding, and with the right tools, you can handle anything the game throws at you.