In the sprawling realm of Final Fantasy XIV’s intricate combat system, the mantle of “best tank” is a coveted one, a distinction fiercely contested among the stalwart defenders of the realm. With each expansion bringing forth a plethora of new abilities and adjustments, the landscape of tanking is constantly shifting, presenting a formidable challenge for those seeking to master the art of mitigating damage and controlling the battlefield. Nonetheless, a select few tanks have emerged as formidable contenders, their unique strengths and playstyles setting them apart from the rest. As we delve into the depths of this prestigious class, let us embark on a comparative analysis of the most exceptional tanks in Final Fantasy XIV, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and the factors that elevate them above their peers. Prepare yourself for an in-depth exploration of the guardians who stand sentinel against the mightiest threats, their unwavering resolve and formidable abilities shaping the very fabric of combat in Eorzea.
The Paladin, a stalwart bastion of unwavering faith, stands as a beacon of resilience in the face of adversity. Their unmatched defensive prowess, bolstered by the divine power of the Holy Knights, renders them an impenetrable bulwark against both physical and magical onslaughts. With the ability to shield both themselves and their comrades from harm, Paladins excel in protecting their party from devastating blows. Furthermore, their capacity to heal themselves and mitigate damage through the judicious use of their skills allows them to endure the most punishing encounters with unwavering fortitude. However, their offensive capabilities, while respectable, pale in comparison to the more offensively-oriented tanks, limiting their versatility in certain situations.
In stark contrast to the Paladin’s steadfast defense, the Dark Knight embraces the allure of darkness, wielding it as both a weapon and a shield. Their exceptional damage output, fueled by the malevolent power of their Shadow Gauge, grants them the ability to unleash devastating attacks upon their foes. By sacrificing their own health to fuel their dark arts, Dark Knights gain access to potent abilities that enable them to control the ebb and flow of battle. Additionally, their unique stance system allows them to adapt their playstyle to specific encounters, enhancing either their damage output or their survivability as the situation demands. Yet, their reliance on self-damage can pose a significant challenge, requiring skilled players to manage their health effectively amidst the chaos of combat.
The Indomitable Paladin
The Paladin, the stalwart bulwark of Eorzea, stands as an unwavering protector of the realm. This holy knight wields both sword and shield with unmatched skill, embodying the ideals of valor and chivalry. As the bastion of the party, the Paladin bears the brunt of the enemy’s assault, inspiring allies and striking fear into the hearts of foes.
Their devotion to the element of Light grants them extraordinary abilities. Benediction, their signature healing spell, can swiftly restore fallen comrades to their feet, while Clemency grants them the unwavering resilience to endure even the most devastating blows. However, the Paladin’s true strength lies not only in their combat prowess but also in their unwavering determination and unwavering loyalty to their companions.
| Abilities |
|---|
| Shield Bash |
| Holy Blade |
| Divine Veil |
| Fight or Flight |
The Paladin’s resolve shines brightest in times of need. When their resolve is at its peak, they can unleash the devastating Holy Spirit, a righteous strike that shatters the defenses of the wicked and bolsters the spirits of their allies.
In the heat of battle, the Paladin’s aura of protection spreads to their companions, granting them solace and respite from the chaos of the fray. Sentinel, their stalwart defense, strengthens the resolve of their allies, while Cover grants them the selfless ability to intercept attacks intended for their less-protected comrades.
No matter the foe, the Paladin stands firm, a beacon of hope and an unyielding defender of all that is good. Their unwavering spirit and unwavering determination make them an indispensable asset to any adventuring party, ensuring victory even against the most formidable of threats.
The Enigmatic Gunbreaker
The Gunbreaker, a tank hailing from the war-torn nation of Garlemald, is a enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery. Their ability to wield both a firearm and a blade makes them a versatile and formidable foe on the battlefield.
The Gunbreaker’s Arsenal
The Gunbreaker’s unique arsenal consists of two weapons: a firearm known as a “gunblade” and a shield. The gunblade is capable of both ranged and melee attacks, allowing the Gunbreaker to adapt to any combat situation. The shield, on the other hand, provides the Gunbreaker with excellent defensive capabilities, making them a resilient tank.
In addition to their weapons, the Gunbreaker also possesses a unique set of abilities. These abilities include:
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Bladedance | A series of rapid melee attacks that deal moderate damage. |
| Solid Barrel | A powerful ranged attack that deals high burst damage. |
| Camouflage | A defensive ability that reduces the Gunbreaker’s aggro generation. |
These abilities, combined with the Gunbreaker’s versatility and mobility, make them a formidable tank in both single-player and multiplayer content.
The Unwavering Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a tank class known for its versatility and dark, brooding aesthetic. It utilizes a vast array of skills and abilities, ranging from powerful attacks to defensive stances, to protect their allies.
The Dark Knight’s rotation is complex yet rewarding, incorporating a unique system known as “Blood Weapon” that empowers their attacks while also consuming their health. This risk-reward mechanic requires careful timing and management to maximize damage output while maintaining survivability.
Blood Stance: The Core of Dark Knight Gameplay
Blood Stance is the cornerstone of the Dark Knight’s tanking abilities. It grants increased physical damage reduction and generates “Darkside” stacks, which fuel the Dark Knight’s core abilities. Maintaining Blood Stance at all times is crucial for maximizing both survivability and damage potential.
While in Blood Stance, the Dark Knight gains access to potent skills such as “Syphon Strike,” which deals damage and generates Darkside stacks, and “Quietus,” a powerful attack that consumes Darkside stacks for additional damage. Careful management of Darkside stacks is essential to optimize the Dark Knight’s effectiveness.
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Syphon Strike | Deals damage and generates Darkside stacks. |
| Quietus | Consumes Darkside stacks to deal additional damage. |
| Blood Weapon | Empowers Dark Knight’s attacks while consuming their health. |
The Versatile Warrior
Warriors are the quintessential melee tank, wielding a massive axe and clad in heavy armor. Their strength lies in their ability to mitigate damage and protect their allies, while also dealing significant damage themselves.
Iron Will
Warriors possess an unbreakable will, allowing them to endure the most brutal attacks. Their “Iron Will” ability grants them a powerful shield that absorbs damage and restores their health.
Fell Cleave
Warriors’ signature ability, “Fell Cleave,” unleashes a devastating attack that deals massive damage to a single target. Each use also grants them a stack of “Beast Gauge,” which they can spend on other powerful abilities.
Onslaught
In times of need, Warriors can activate “Onslaught” to unleash a furious chain of attacks on multiple enemies. This ability not only deals significant damage but also grants Warriors increased attack speed and critical strike chance.
Unleash the Berserker Within
At level 80, Warriors gain access to the powerful “Berserk” ability. This ability transforms them into a raging berserker, increasing their attack power and critical hit rate while also boosting their Beast Gauge generation. However, Berserk also increases the damage Warriors take, so it must be used strategically.
Warriors excel in fights where consistent damage mitigation and high burst damage are required. Their ability to protect their allies while dealing significant damage makes them a versatile and invaluable asset to any party.
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Iron Will | Grants a shield that absorbs damage and restores health |
| Fell Cleave | Massive single-target damage |
| Onslaught | Chain of attacks on multiple enemies |
| Berserk | Transformed into a berserker with increased attack power, critical hit rate, and Beast Gauge generation |
The Adaptive Dragoon
Known for its high mobility and incredible damage output, the Dragoon has carved a niche as one of the most coveted tanks in Final Fantasy XIV Online. With an expansive suite of abilities and a unique playstyle, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.
Core Gameplay
The Dragoon’s primary role is to mitigate damage and control the battlefield. Utilizing the power of its lance, it can perform devastating thrusts and lunges, while simultaneously using its abilities to prevent enemy attacks.
Unique Mechanics
One of the Dragoon’s most iconic abilities is its Jump mechanic. By building up stacks of Jumps, the Dragoon can unleash powerful piercing attacks that deal massive damage. Additionally, it possesses a unique ability known as “Elusive Jump,” which allows it to instantly reposition itself, providing unparalleled evasion capabilities.
Role Actions
The Dragoon shares several role actions with other tanks, including Provoke, Rampart, and Sentinel. These abilities enhance its defensive capabilities and allow it to protect party members from incoming threats.
Equipment and Stats
The Dragoon heavily prioritizes Strength, Vitality, and Determination. These stats enhance its damage output, survivability, and threat generation, respectively.
Recent Adjustments
In recent patches, the Dragoon has received significant adjustments. Its Jump skills have been reworked to provide consistent damage, and its ability to maintain enmity has been improved. Additionally, its survivability has been enhanced with increased HP and defensive buffs.
| Version | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | Jump potency increased by 10% |
| 6.1 | Elusive Jump cooldown reduced by 20% |
| 6.2 | HP increased by 5%, Rampart duration increased by 10% |
The Mighty Monk
Basics of the Monk
The Monk is a melee damage dealer known for its fast-paced attacks and high mobility. It uses its fists and feet to deliver devastating blows to enemies, with a focus on positional attacks.
Role in the Party
As a melee DPS, the Monk’s primary role is to deal damage to enemies. Its high mobility allows it to quickly reposition and avoid enemy attacks while maintaining consistent damage output.
Abilities and Skills
The Monk has a wide range of abilities and skills, including:
- Perfect Balance: Allows the Monk to ignore positionals for a limited time.
- Tornado Kick: A powerful AoE attack that deals damage to nearby enemies.
- Fists of Fire: A single-target attack that deals damage over time.
Optimal Rotation
The Monk’s optimal rotation involves maintaining the Riddle of Fire buff, which increases its damage output. This is done by using Fists of Fire and Demolish on cooldown, while weaving in Perfect Balance to ignore positionals and increase mobility.
Positioning and Mobility
Positioning is crucial for the Monk. It must constantly adjust its position to maximize its damage output and avoid enemy attacks. Its high mobility, thanks to abilities like Six-Sided Star and Dragon Kick, allows it to do this effectively.
Advanced Techniques
Advanced techniques for the Monk include optimizing the use of Perfect Balance for maximum damage boost, utilizing the Chakra system to enhance specific abilities, and learning how to weave in attacks between GCDs to maximize DPS.
| Chakra | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fire | Increases damage dealt |
| Earth | Reduces damage taken |
| Wind | Increases movement speed and attack speed |
The Agile Ninja
The Ninja is a versatile and nimble tank that combines speed and agility to outmaneuver and strike enemies. While they may not have the raw defensive prowess of other tanks, their mobility and evasiveness more than make up for it. They excel in smaller group content and solo play, where their ability to dodge and weave between attacks is invaluable.
Ninki Gauge and Huton
The Ninja’s unique gauge is called Ninki, which builds up as they perform actions and use abilities. When it reaches certain thresholds, it grants them access to powerful abilities like Bunshin, which creates a decoy to distract enemies, and Shukuchi, which allows them to teleport a short distance. Huton is another key ability that grants them increased damage and critical hit chance, and it synergizes well with Ninki abilities.
Mudras and Ninjutsu
Ninjas utilize a system of hand gestures called Mudras to cast various Ninjutsu abilities. These include both offensive and defensive techniques, such as Raiton, which deals damage and applies a DoT, and Suiton, which heals them and restores TP. The timing of the Mudras is crucial for maximizing the potency of the abilities.
Kassatsu and Fuma Shuriken
Kassatsu is a powerful ability that greatly enhances the Ninja’s next attack, with its potency increasing with the amount of Ninki consumed. Fuma Shuriken is another notable ability that allows them to throw multiple shurikens at enemies, dealing significant damage and reducing their movement speed.
Party Utility
In addition to their offensive and defensive capabilities, Ninjas also bring some valuable utility to the party. They can use Trick Attack to boost the critical hit chance of another party member, and Smoke Bomb to grant temporary invulnerability to the party.
Advanced Techniques
Experienced Ninja players master the following techniques to further enhance their effectiveness:
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Shadow Fang | An instant, single-target attack that restores Ninki on successful hits. |
| Spinning Edge | A higher-potency attack that deals damage to multiple enemies in a line. |
| Mug | An ability that steals MP from an enemy, restoring the Ninja’s own MP. |
| Perfect Dodge | A passive ability that grants a chance to completely evade an attack. |
| Smoke Bomb | A powerful defensive ability that grants temporary invulnerability to the party. |
The Elusive Samurai
The iconic Samurai class makes its debut in Final Fantasy XIV with a unique blend of high mobility and devastating single-target damage. Mastering this class requires finesse, a keen eye for detail, and unwavering focus.
8. The Power of the Kenki Meter
The Kenki meter is the lifeblood of the Samurai, empowering them to execute powerful abilities. Kenki is primarily generated through regular attacks and abilities such as Yukikaze and Shifu. Careful management of Kenki is crucial to maximizing Samurai’s damage output. Here’s a breakdown of its key uses:
Kenki Expenditure
| Ability | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hakaze | 25 | Delivers potent single-target damage |
| Meikyo Shisui | 50 | Increases potency of next Hakaze |
| Tenka Goken | 100 | Devastating finishing move with a long cooldown |
Kenki Generation
| Ability | Gain | Effect | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukikaze | 10 | Provides high-potency single-target attack | ||||||||||||||
| Shifu | 15 | Delivers moderate single-target damage | ||||||||||||||
| Midare Setsugekka | 20 | Sequence of attacks with high total potency |
| Buff | Effect |
|---|---|
| Embolden | Increases melee and ranged damage |
| Manafication | Reduces magic damage taken and increases healing received |
The Red Mage also offers a unique skill called ‘Verraise’, which allows them to revive KO’d allies. This ability makes them invaluable in high-stakes encounters where recovery is crucial.
Overall, the Red Mage is a highly adaptable and engaging job that offers a blend of damage, mobility, and utility. Their versatility makes them a valuable asset in various party compositions and content.
The Enchanting Summoner
The Summoner is a magical DPS class that summons powerful eidolons to fight alongside them. They are highly versatile, able to adapt to any situation with their wide range of spells and abilities.
Eidolons
The Summoner’s signature ability is summoning powerful eidolons to aid them in battle. Each eidolon has its own unique abilities and playstyle.
* Garuda: A wind-based eidolon that excels at sustained damage over time.
* Titan: An earth-based eidolon that focuses on dealing heavy burst damage.
* Ifrit: A fire-based eidolon that combines high damage output with mobility.
* Shiva: An ice-based eidolon that specializes in crowd control and party support.
* Ramuh: A lightning-based eidolon that excels at single-target damage and providing party buffs.
Summoners can freely switch between eidolons during combat, allowing them to tailor their playstyle to the specific encounter.
Bahamut
At level 80, Summoners unlock the powerful Bahamut eidolon. Bahamut grants Summoners access to powerful new abilities, including:
*
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | Summons a phoenix that deals fire damage over time and provides healing to the party. |
| Diamond Dust | Casts a powerful ice attack that deals heavy damage to a single target while freezing smaller enemies. |
| Enkindle Bahamut | Summons the true form of Bahamut to unleash a devastating attack. |
Playstyle
Summoners have a ranged playstyle and rely on their pets to deal the majority of their damage. They are relatively fragile and require careful positioning to avoid taking damage. Summoners must also manage their pet’s abilities and cooldowns to maximize their effectiveness.
Best Tank in FFXIV
When it comes to choosing the best tank in Final Fantasy XIV, there is no easy answer. Each tank job has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for you will depend on your own playstyle and preferences.
However, if we look at the overall performance of each tank job in the current meta, the Gunbreaker stands out as the strongest option. Gunbreakers have high damage output, excellent self-healing abilities, and a variety of utility skills that make them a valuable asset to any party.
Other strong tank options include the Paladin and the Warrior. Paladins have the highest defensive stats of any tank job, making them ideal for soaking up damage in difficult content. Warriors, on the other hand, have the highest damage output of any tank job, making them a great choice for pushing through content as quickly as possible.
People Also Ask
What is the best tank for beginners in FFXIV?
The best tank for beginners in FFXIV is the Paladin. Paladins have a simple and straightforward playstyle, and their high defensive stats make them forgiving of mistakes.
What is the best tank for endgame content in FFXIV?
The best tank for endgame content in FFXIV is the Gunbreaker. Gunbreakers have high damage output, excellent self-healing abilities, and a variety of utility skills that make them a valuable asset to any party.
What are the different tank jobs in FFXIV?
The different tank jobs in FFXIV are the Paladin, the Warrior, the Gunbreaker, and the Dark Knight.
