Paladin: Guide to PLD/NIN tanking by Thycian

About this guide
I wrote this guide, cause i wanted to put together all informations I have about the new wave of /nin tanking Paladins. This is only recommended for HNM and god fights. In exp parties you won't get hit that hard and need a fast hate producer like Provoke. So all things described in this guide refer to Lv.75 Paladins. I hope i get alot of feedback and suggestions to become better. I apologize for my bad english, this is not my native. Please tell me any mistakes. I hope you like it. Thycian

How to tank as PLD/NIN
Some people may may call this guide "Paladins want to be Ninjas". In some ways this is true. There are alot of things you have to do like a Ninja would. But on the other hand you do it completely different.

First of all forget VIT and DEF. Your main goal has to be keeping up the shadows and holding hate. So you have to focus on Haste for shorter recast timers on everything, Enmity for more hate and HP in case shadows are down and you're being hit.

How do I keep up my shadows
First off all stack as many Haste as you get to shorten the recast time of Utsusemi spells, but dont forget that Haste caps at 50%. So if you already reached the cap, focus on another stat. To shorten the casting time use Fast Cast items. There are two for Paladin: Loquacious Earring and Homam Cosciales. Fast Cast also shortens the recast timer.
 * Haste from RDM, WHM or SMN: 15%
 * Advancing March caps at 9%
 * Victory March caps at 11%
 * Loquacious Earring cast -1%, recast -2%
 * Homam Cosciales cast -2%, recast -4%

Use a shield. You have the Dual Wield ability, but it is more usefull to use a shield. If you block an attack with your shield while casting a spell, you wont get interrupted. Make a macro to switch in Shield Skill+ items in case of not getting up the shadows.

How do I hold hate
You don't have Provoke meaning you'll miss your best hate producer. But on the other hand you won't loose as much HP as you would as /war. Loosing HP always means loosing hate also. Seen that over a long fight you will hold hate better as you would as /war. Believe it or try it.

Stack Enmity+ items and macro them in for any spells and jobabilities. I don't like to switch visible armor, cause its harder for healers to target me, but that's up to you.

Use Flash as soon as it is ready. With capped Haste you can shorten your recast timer for Flash down to 27 seconds.

Another good hate producer are your Cures. Cure yourself or your Alliance member if they get hit by AoE's or take other damage. Cure IV does more hate than Cure III but needs more MP and time to cast. Use it situational. Some PLD/NIN have a macro with -HP gear. Switching between this and their tanking gear results in loosing some HP which can be cured with a Cure III or Cure IV for additional hate.

Tank Party Setup
PLD/NIN, PLD/NIN, BRD, RDM, WHM, X

The BRD will cast his two March songs, RDM for Refresh and Haste, WHM to keep you alive. The last spot could be any job you like. Maybe a WHM, COR or a second BRD for additional buffs like Ballad.

Recommended Equipment
As you will see there is alot of equipment that will take some efford and/or gil to aquire. I tried to show at least two items you can use for each slot beginning with the best. Some of these items are situational like Iron Ram Lance. Other items are only macro'd in for Enmity+ or Shield Skill+. I only listed the NQ versions (Macuahuitl NQ has no Enmity so i listed only the HQ version) - HQ's are always better.

Weapon

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 * Hauteclaire
 * DMG:46, Delay:240, Accuracy +7, Divine Magic Skill +8, Physical Damage Taken -7%, Additional Effect: Damage
 * If you can get it, use it. In my opinion the best Sword you can get as Paladin. The Physical Damage Taken Minus is awsome and helps alot if you can't get your Shadows up and it is a nice piece for your Magic Defense Build. Only thing you'll miss is the 4 Enmity from Macuahuitl +1.
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 * Macuahuitl +1
 * DMG:37, Delay:227, Accuracy -4, Attack +11, Enmity +4
 * Just one word: Enmity.
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 * Iron Ram Lance
 * DMG:70, Delay:365, HP +10, MP +10, Enhances "Resist Silence" effect, Damage taken -10%
 * This is for your Magic Defense Build. You don't need it if you have Aegis and Hauteclaire.
 * }

Shield

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 * Aegis
 * DEF:40, Enhances "Shield Bash" Effect, Magic Damage Taken -25%
 * It's worth all efford. Highest Proc-rate, highest damage reduction, ten times damage from Shield Bash and Magic Damage Taken Minus - you know the stuff, get it!
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Koenig Shield
 * DEF:22, Vitality +5, Charisma +5, Enmity +3, Enhances Beast Killer Effect
 * This or its HQ version are the second best Shields due to the Enmity+ and VIT+ that reduces damage if you can't get your Shadows up.
 * }

Range/Ammo

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 * Lamian Kaman
 * DMG:19, Delay:270, MP +10, Magic Defense Bonus +1
 * Its HQ version gives MDB+2 - better get this. MP+ helps too for more Cures and Flashes. I use it all the time.
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 * Fenrir's Stone
 * Daytime: HP +30, Nighttime: Evasion +10
 * More HP Daytime - that's it. You wont evade any attack.
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 * Rosenbogen
 * DMG:38, Delay:360, HP +10, Vitality +3
 * Good ol' Rosenbogen. This or its HQ version offers HP+ and VIT+.
 * }

Head

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 * Walahra Turban
 * HP+30, MP+30, Haste (Status Effect) +5%
 * More HP, more MP, alot of Haste, easy to get. What do you want more?
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 * Bahamut's Mask
 * DEF:32, Enhances Dragon Killer Effect, Enmity +8
 * Macro this in for JA's and Cures.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Koenig Schaller
 * DEF:40, HP +30, Strength -5, Dexterity -5, Vitality +10, Charisma +10, Shield Skill +5
 * Macro this in if you have trouble getting your shadows up.
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 * Iron Ram Sallet
 * DEF:29, HP +20, Enmity +5, Magic Defense Bonus +3, Set: Increases all elemental resistances
 * This is for your Magic Defense Build. It has some nice Enmity too.
 * }

Neck

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 * Parade Gorget
 * DEF:5, MP +10, Latent Effect: Adds Refresh Effect
 * More MP and more Refresh for more Cures and Flashes. Latent activates when HP in white.
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 * Ritter Gorget
 * DEF:8, HP +25, Evasion +5, Enmity +3
 * Macro this in for jobabilities and magics for more hate due to Enmity. You can use Harmonia's Torque too, it has the same Enmity.
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 * Shield Torque
 * HP +7, Shield Skill +7
 * Macro this in if you have trouble getting your shadows up. The additional Shield Skill will help you not getting interrupted.
 * }

Earrings

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 * Loquacious Earring
 * MP +30, Enhances Fast Cast Effect
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 * Hades Earring
 * MP +11, +11, Enmity +1
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 * Ethereal Earring
 * HP +15, Attack +5, Evasion +5, Converts 3% of Damage Taken to MP
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 * Buckler Earring
 * Shield Skill +3
 * }
 * Buckler Earring
 * Shield Skill +3
 * }
 * }

Body

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 * Ares's Cuirass
 * DEF:55, HP +3%, MP +3%, Strength +12, Vitality +12, Attack +24, Adds Refresh Effect
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 * Valor Surcoat
 * DEF:55, HP +23, Dexterity +3, Enmity +4, Enhances Cover Ability Effect
 * }
 * }
 * }

Hands

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 * Homam Manopolas
 * DEF:20, HP +20, MP +20, Accuracy +4, Enmity +3, Haste +3%
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 * Dusk Gloves
 * DEF:24, HP +20, Attack +5, Haste +3%, Decreases Movement Speed
 * }
 * }
 * }

Rings

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 * Defending Ring
 * Damage Taken -10%
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 * Sattva Ring
 * HP +15~30, Vitality +2~5, Agility +2~5, Enmity +3
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 * Hercules' Ring
 * Enmity +3, Latent Effect: Adds 'Regen' Effect, Latent Effect: Adds 'Refresh' Effect
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 * Bomb Queen Ring
 * HP +75, -75
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 * Shadow Ring
 * Occasionally Annulls Magic Damage Taken, Enhances Resistance Against Death, Darksday: Magic Defense Bonus
 * }
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Shadow Ring
 * Occasionally Annulls Magic Damage Taken, Enhances Resistance Against Death, Darksday: Magic Defense Bonus
 * }
 * }

Back

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 * Valor Cape
 * DEF:16, HP +40, Vitality +6, Enmity +3
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 * High Breath Mantle
 * DEF:5, +5, Enchantment: HP +38 Enmity +5, &lt;50/50 0:30/[30:00, 0:30]&gt;
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 * Boxer's Mantle
 * DEF:8, Guard Skill +10, Evasion Skill +10, Shield Skill +10, Parrying Skill +10
 * }
 * DEF:8, Guard Skill +10, Evasion Skill +10, Shield Skill +10, Parrying Skill +10
 * }
 * }

Waist

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 * Ninurta's Sash
 * Attack +6, Haste +6%, Subtle Blow +6, Spell Interruption Rate -6%
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 * Speed Belt
 * Haste +6%
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 * Swift Belt
 * Accuracy +3, Attack -5, Haste +4%
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 * Trance Belt
 * HP +14, Enmity +4
 * Macro this in for jobabilities and magics due to the enmity+.
 * }
 * HP +14, Enmity +4
 * Macro this in for jobabilities and magics due to the enmity+.
 * }

Legs

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 * Homam Cosciales
 * DEF:35, HP +26, MP +26, Accuracy +3, Enhances Fast Cast Effect, Haste +3%
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Valor Breeches
 * DEF:43, HP +20, Strength +5, Enmity +3, Spell Interruption Rate -10%
 * }
 * }
 * }

Feet

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 * Homam Gambieras
 * DEF:16, HP +31, MP +31, Accuracy +6, Ranged Accuracy +6, Haste +3%, Wyvern: HP +50
 * This is your Haste piece for this slot.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Gallant Leggings
 * DEF:14, HP +15, Charisma +5, Shield Skill +10, Enhances Holy Circle Effect
 * It's your AF, but the most important feet you can get. Macro this (or better its HQ version) in for casting Utsusemi: Ichi.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Askar Gambieras
 * DEF:17, MP +30, Strength +3, Agility +3, Damage Taken -2%, Enmity +2
 * Macro this in for additional Enmity on JA's and Cures and for your Magic Defense Build.
 * }

Food

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 * Tavnazian Taco
 * }
 * }
 * }