As I start running my own Abyssea static, we started to face one challenge that needs to be solved, that is the lack of real tank.
Ever since Abyssea release, "Tank" and "DD" pretty much means the same thing now. We all know that MNK(or NIN) are probably the best tank in abyssea not just because their survivability, but also because their dmg output is very good. Therefore MNK(or NIN)+ WHM is a very efficient lowman setup...in theory.
Of course you can argue that every DD job can tank with a WHM Cure V spam, but the truth is not everyone's DD job can tank with a WHM. In fact not even everyone's MNK or NIN is capable of tanking every NM in abyssea. While there are many good MNK or NIN that can tank everything, I've met a couple of MNK or NIN that got pwned by some higher tier NMs that's supposed to be duoable. The difference between a good MNK or NIN and bad MNK or NIN is just too big. This makes me wonder if tanking is really that hard.
Right now the static has no MNK or NIN, so most of the time Returner ended up tanking on DRK/MNK. Although it works quite well against many NMs, lack of shadows can be a problem sometimes. Sometimes I have Connavarr tank on DNC, and the result is that he ended up wanting to lv MNK ._. Of course I can ask them to job change to PLD, but PLD without Almace the dmg and pt killing speed can be a problem........
So solution No.1: Afania go lv NIN or MNK and be main tank of static!.....ok this probably won't work. It's gonna be another bandwagon pink MNK or NIN that can't tank shit.
Solution No.2: Afania go tank on BLU!
Ok solution No.2 that is! Project Building tanking BLU start!
So far I usually play BLU as a DD/TE farm ppl in Abyssea, sometimes it act as a support or healer if needed. Depending on the situation I come BLU/THF for TH whoring if no THF in pt. Play BLU as a DD or healer or TH whore are very easy, don't really need much skill. DD just smack and whack, healer just keep haste up and HP full, TH whore just leech '_' |b. Tanking however, it's one area I never bother to touch, or too afraid to touch, since it plays an important role in the pt and fail tank usually means pt wipe. I have to admit I like to play as support BLU a bit more, but if facing a new challenge is needed to get stuff done efficiently, I guess I'll go for it.
I've heard BLU/MNK works very well as a tank, and since BLU can create it's own shadows it probably has less problem DRK/MNK has(although not every WS move can be absorb by blink spell). BLU has additional magic def+ spells and curing spells, which is some advantage MNK doesn't have. In theory it just need a bit of work and it can tank decently no? Sounds like a bit of work and I can have a tank job :>
Ok so Project tanking BLU to-do list:
Get all merit abyssites: No merit abyssite no tank.
Get MNK to lv 45: Just to test if /MNK works. BLU tanking it's either /NIN or /MNK.
Work on Eva and PDT- set: Probably need to do 2x eva sword and 2x PDT- sword. ARGGGH
I tested a bit with my current gimpy eva set, with GH atma and atma of Kirin, and tested on fly NM for Zeig's Carabosse pop set, it works pretty well so far, as an evasion tank, but that's one of the weakest NM in abyssea. If I want to tank anything worthwhile, merit abyssite and better Eva/PDT-/MDT- set is a must. Also, if I use MM and 2 more tanking atma(such as AGI atma to boost eva, or HP atma to boost HP), I start to face the problem of gimp dmg output, while my BLU dmg output is already gimp enough with full DD atma.
So prehaps I need to work on an Almace? Just to get my dmg output up. ARGGGH more magian damn it.
Prehaps I pt with Ager's BLU way too often that I more or less feel inferior when I play with my BLU. After a bit of practice I finally able to mass farm TE in abyssea without dying(that's after I finally learned Dream flower, this spell is too useful to be true), so the next step is learn how to tank!
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MNKs tank effectively with their extraordinarily high HP in Abyssea without losing any damage output.
ReplyDeleteNINs tank with shadows, evasion, and very similar damage output.
In theory, a THF can do the same thing a NIN can do--but only if the THF is fairly exceptional.
I used to think my NIN was second-class at best, but after playing alongside some others outside of Abyssea I'm realizing differently. There's really a whole spectrum of both good and bad NINs, but it boils down to one simple fact: if you're staying alive and holding hate, you're doing a good job.
From what I've heard, MNK>NIN>THF in terms of dmg output, MNK can deal dmg while doing defensive moves(Counter) and NIN has to cast shadows.
ReplyDeleteIn terms survivability, both MNK and NIN has their own advantage and disadvantages. But I doubt THF can tank as good as NIN (if skill/gear are on same lv) NIN has more shadows, and a bunch of ninjutsu for survivability. And all THF got was just higher evasion. Ok I may be biased since I don't have THF and there are other advantage THF has but I don't know about.
THF however, has TH which increase the drop rate. In lowman situation if a THF is capable of tanking the NM without dying I'd use THF over NIN just for TH.
In terms of tanking, the order of MNK > NIN > THF is usually true. However, like you pointed out, if your tank sucks, then there's no point.
ReplyDeleteOn the THF subject, a good thief can almost do the same as a ninja tank. Looking at both: With haste, they attack invariably quick with crit rate making DoT ridiculous, shadows and eva for surviving, a crit ws.
The plus side of ninja is more shadows and the access to multiple red procs. The plus side for thief is the exceptional eva and hate control.
Establishing hate is never an issue with both jobs unless the mob specifically has a hate reset or is shadow unfriendly. As such, blood tanking on a heavy DD -monk or otherwise- is the way to go.
Just a personal experience, a group of friends went to do glavoid with a mnk tank and failed hard. Then they brought in a thf tank and did much much better. In this case, a ninja could have easily done the same but the thf tanked it straight through with no problem.
Mnk is the best tank.. Dnc is also very good and needs to be added. Allot think dnc is better than thf or nin. Evasion gear is the key to tanking now. With high evasion and evasion atmas shadows can last along time.
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