[Nindo]

So I've been working on leveling my PLD, and I'm currently level 71. I've been reading various forums, asking 75 PLDs on my server, and trying to do most my own research, but I keep getting very mixed responses on what gear I should be wearing now/aiming for. I'm trying to decide between the Iron Ram gear, and the Adaman, or if I should mix and get pieces out of each set. I've had various PLDs tell me to go for IR over Adaman because of the Emn. and HP, and I've had others tell me Adaman over IR and to keep IR just for endgame and macro in for Provoke. So far I've got the Adaman Cuirass and Adaman Gauntlets, and none of the IR set. Before I spend anymore gil or notes, I was hoping to ask for advice as to which would be the better choice. Or if I should just get both. If so, I'd like to know what situations would I be using each for. Basically I need alot of help since im trying to learn PLD and finding that im getting alot of opinions but not very much fact or stuff backed up with reason as to what I should be wearing.

I currently have the following on:
Joyeuse
Iron Ram Shield (I have a Koenig Shield for when I hit 73)
Bibiki Seashell
Gallant Coronet
Parade Gorget, Chivalrous Chain, and I have Harmonia's Torque for when I hit 72
Titanis Earring and Harvest Earring (I know my earrings are kind of lol, but the earrings I do want are expensive on my server so I'm saving up.)
Gallant Surcoat, Haubergeon, Vermy Cloak (for resting I promise lol), and Adaman Cuirass when I ding 73
Gallant Gauntlets, and Adaman Gauntlets when I ding 73
Jelly Ring, Guardian's Ring, Unyielding Ring, and Hercules' Ring
High Breath Mantle
Warwolf Belt
Gallant Breeches
Gallant Leggings

So basically my question is what gear should I be aiming for. I know I want to try and get relic of course, but til then I'd like to know what pieces I could get now til I can get relic. I've already finished ACP and have the body piece, but I got it for my RDM instead of PLD, and would prefer to keep it for RDM if I can. But if the ACP body for PLD is better choice to get right now I am willing to drop it and do the fight again. I appreciate any advice or help given since this all very new to me. And I apologize if these questions of mine have been answered.

[Prothescar]

Joyeuse - Good. Pick up a Macuahuitl +1 and an Iron Ram Lance for kited fights, depending on which you do. Tutelary is nice too for some limited things.

Iron Ram Shield (I have a Koenig Shield for when I hit 73) - Fine

Bibiki Seashell - No, Tiphia Sting, RSE Satchet, What have you.

Gallant Coronet - Fine for now, but switch to Walahra Turban when you hit 75.

Parade Gorget, Chivalrous Chain, and I have Harmonia's Torque for when I hit 72 - Idle in Chiv Chain and swap in the Harmonia's for spells/abilities.

Titanis Earring and Harvest Earring (I know my earrings are kind of lol, but the earrings I do want are expensive on my server so I'm saving up.) - Plenty of better options including assault earring, etehreal, coral, merman's, etc.

Gallant Surcoat, Haubergeon, Vermy Cloak (for resting I promise lol), and Adaman Cuirass when I ding 73 - Idle in Haub, macro in enmity, or if you get the ACP piece for PLD, that for abilities/spells.

Gallant Gauntlets, and Adaman Gauntlets when I ding 73 - Get DD gloves I.E. dusk, homam, or even askar.

Jelly Ring, Guardian's Ring, Unyielding Ring, and Hercules' Ring - ACC rings for idle, macro in the Herc and a Mermaid ring for spells/abilities.

High Breath Mantle - Amemet +1/Cerb/Forager for idle, go camp resentment cape unless you plan on recieving cerb. or valor cape soon, any of those 3 enmity backs are useful for spell/ability swaps.

Warwolf Belt - Swift belt, macro in warwolf/trance for abilities and spells.

Gallant Breeches - Aurum, Homam, Askar, or similar DD pants for idle, macro in an enmity piece for spells/abilities. I.E. Adaman/Gem, Gallant, Valor, I.R.

Gallant Leggings - Dusk, homam, aurum, or similar DD feet


Assuming you don't have Atonement yet, you can use your TP for Chivalry, which you should merit immediately, and Spirits Within. If the mob can resist Spirits, use another WS. The extra DD is gonna beat idling in enmity. /NIN is gonna be your sub of choice for almost anything. Assuming you're going /WAR to anything, I would go with physical damage reduction with HP in slots that you can't add that. VIT/DEF are gonna do little to nothing for you. Some examples: Darksteel +1 armour, jelly ring (if the mob doesn't cast), etc.

For further reference, check my FFXIAH Item Sets.

Edit: As a quick edit, if you didn't know this already, macro in Valor feet for sentinel, valor hands for bash, etc. Maximize your JAs effectiveness and the enmity you receive from them.

[Saxonian]

Bibiki Seashell - No, Tiphia Sting, RSE Satchet, What have you.

Gallant Coronet - Fine for now, but switch to Walahra Turban when you hit 75.

Parade Gorget, Chivalrous Chain, and I have Harmonia's Torque for when I hit 72 - Idle in Chiv Chain and swap in the Harmonia's for spells/abilities.

Titanis Earring and Harvest Earring (I know my earrings are kind of lol, but the earrings I do want are expensive on my server so I'm saving up.) - Plenty of better options including assault earring, etehreal, coral, merman's, etc.


Jelly Ring, Guardian's Ring, Unyielding Ring, and Hercules' Ring - ACC rings for idle, macro in the Herc and a Mermaid ring for spells/abilities.

Lamia+1 Bow or hell even a rosenbogen or happy egg. I'm not a fan of Tiphia.

Mhead for shield. IR head for enmity actions as well as obvious turban usage.

If you're low on mp pop on your parade/vcloak for a few ticks, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem with the correct support.

Buckler earring too. Since you're suggesting ethereal as an earring, Loq+Suppa+Brutal too.

I have a blitz ring I like to use on casts like utsu and flash. Probable more beneficial than a 2nd enmity ring w/o capped recasts.

But since I only actually read the first two lines of OP. Iron Ram is better than Adaman in all of the available slots.

[mightyg]

i wouldn't bother with Adaman if you've got all your Iron Ram. Iron Ram isn't the best choice for harder hitting enemies, but magic defense bonus and resistances are great for various mage mobs, or even macroing in for heavy ga spells. especially once the body comes out in the coming days, I really don't see any reason to justify getting adaman. I.R. will tide you over till you can get some better stuff, AF+1, Koenig, ACP bodies. obviously you'll also want to work on a haste set, Homam and or Askar for pld/nin. But yeah, i say skip Adaman altogether.

[AsDraBael]

i wouldn't bother with Adaman if you've got all your Iron Ram. Iron Ram isn't the best choice for harder hitting enemies, but magic defense bonus and resistances are great for various mage mobs, or even macroing in for heavy ga spells. especially once the body comes out in the coming days, I really don't see any reason to justify getting adaman. I.R. will tide you over till you can get some better stuff, AF+1, Koenig, ACP bodies. obviously you'll also want to work on a haste set, Homam and or Askar for pld/nin. But yeah, i say skip Adaman altogether.

Why the hell is there so much love for af+1 body? It doesn't even have more enmity than the original, and nothing particularly good added other than a spiffy whitebox.

And koenig? Seriously?

[Hitoseijuro]

So basically my question is what gear should I be aiming for.

The gear to aim for depends on the actions being done.

Get the gear that allows you to land your swings, and land them fast. Wear that gear while you swing your sword.

When you perform actions , wear gear that generates more hate

when you cast a spell, wear gear that lowers the timer to recast it, then wear gear that generates hate in the other spots.

When you are taking damage, wear gear that reduces it, vit/def is not the answer, shield/-damage gear is.


I didnt list the gear ,because someone already gave you a small run down of gear you can wear. What I did was list reasons why we wear the gear we advise others to wear. Iron ram is decent to have, but you will not be wearing it full time, but only uses it as a macro piece. For example, Iron Ram hands, I doubt you can tell me what the HP and enmity do while you swing your sword, but I can tell you what dusk/homam/askar does while you swing.

[pathwriter]

Why the hell is there so much love for af+1 body? It doesn't even have more enmity than the original, and nothing particularly good added other than a spiffy whitebox.

It's white, not blue, and if you squint, you might convince yourself that it is Valor Cuirass. I'm being serious, I imagine people want it for the whitebox effect and because they like how Gallant Cuirass looks compared to being a blueberry.

[Saxonian]

20hp vs 1enmity.

looking back, i should have just lived with the stigma of lolbluebody and been a better tank

[FurionStormRage]

The difference in Adaman and AF+1 body are so minimal, I mean 1 Enmity shouldn't make a difference in your ability to properly cap out VE and accumulate CE, and 20 HP *shouldn't* make or break your survivability.

I used AF+1 purely because I liked how it looked, and I found the extra HP to save my ass (only once or twice, but still), until I started using a Hauby+1 and finished Ares's.

[Corrderio]

The difference in Adaman and AF+1 body are so minimal, I mean 1 Enmity shouldn't make a difference in your ability to properly cap out VE and accumulate CE, and 20 HP *shouldn't* make or break your survivability.

I used AF+1 purely because I liked how it looked, and I found the extra HP to save my ass (only once or twice, but still), until I started using a Hauby+1 and finished Ares's.

This, I used AF+1 as my main body before Valor because of the extra HP, and the VIT bonus is a VERY minor boost to I suppose.

[Saxonian]

How is the HP any bonus at all considering you are all using Haubs like you preach to every new person in here to do?

[AsDraBael]

How is the HP any bonus at all considering you are all using Haubs like you preach to every new person in here to do?

Basicly this. Its not something you should be idling in so the HP doesn't matter, and its only 2 enmity so if you're being really anal you still need adaman body to swap on during flash/cures unless you have ACP body. It seems like a big fat waste of coins.

[FurionStormRage]

Apparently you missed the part where I said "Until I started using Hauby +1", so let me make that clear for you, because reading must be hard.

Until I started using Hauby +1

[AsDraBael]

Apparently you missed the part where I said "Until I started using Hauby +1", so let me make that clear for you, because reading must be hard.

Until I started using Hauby +1

I saw that, and my point still stands. It was a big fat waste of coins

I dunno, I've just always looked at af+1 body as being in the same league as adaman feet because both just seem like a pointless thing to carry around. Nothing wrong with using AF body until something better comes along, but seriously why upgrade it unless you're just pissing away coins and don't need gil? The extra 3 vit and 3 divine skill? Surely you could have found something better to do with 30 AB's than that, even if its just selling them. Even now thats over 200k worth of coins, and theres no telling what it was worth way back when you did it.

[FurionStormRage]

Nowadays I'll agree 110% with you, and I do wish I hadn't wasted coins on that and a Charger Mantle, but things were different back then.

I got it years ago, when nobody idled in DD gear, Kanican's Enmity testing didn't exist, Atonement didn't exist, Sentinel and Rampart were nothing but hate spikes, Shield Mastery and Auto-Refresh were just things we dreamed about, and on our server at least, PLD/NIN was widely considered to be retarded. Heck at that point, it was NIN or GTFO as far as tanking was concerned.

When I first heard of people using PLD/NIN there was hardly any info beyond "gear like a NIN, Haste and Enmity", it was far from commonplace, the job has changed tremendously since I got into tanking (which I'm thankful for, it's so easy now), and HP was what saved your ass. (Or leveling NIN if you wanted to tank anything past Faust)

The knowledge we have now is immense, and obviously something like AF+1 body isn't lauded to be good like it once was. Heck people loved Valor Surcoat up until fairly recently, and when I got mine it was nothing more than a Cover piece and sentimental attachment.

But my statement still stands, if you're only going to compare Adaman and AF body, I'd still prefer AF for the HP. I don't use either, I have far superior options, but if I was forced to use one of the two, 1 Enmity doesn't mean anything.

[Prothescar]

AF+1 body is pretty nice for Rampart if you don't have m.body.

[Saxonian]

Apparently you missed the part where I said "Until I started using Hauby +1", so let me make that clear for you, because reading must be hard.

Until I started using Hauby +1

No I didn't see that and I apologise. I posted it at 6am and I was tired :/

[FurionStormRage]

No I didn't see that and I apologise. I posted it at 6am and I was tired :/

Totally understood, I just assumed people only read what they could make an argument over. (Seems to be the case a lot)

[Konda]

specially once the body comes out in the coming days

Body will be reward for finishing WoTG like rajas etc.

Totally calling it now~

[Kobayashimaru]

Body will be reward for finishing WoTG like rajas etc.

Totally calling it now~

I highly doubt that. They are adding two new campaign ranks along with the body pieces, so ideally we will be able to purchase the body pieces when we attain the new ranks. That, and WoTG is nowhere near finished with this update, we JUST met the potential mega-boss at the end of last mission, the story is just getting started in my opinion.