(07-01-2015, 04:02 PM)Gegenji Wrote: So, I suppose the recommended setup would be Bloodbath, Convalescence, Provoke, Mercy Stroke, and Awareness for raids (if Alexander too has dangerous crits that need to be avoided)? With Awareness being swapped out for Foresight in non-raid situations or when Awareness just isn't needed?
Awareness generally gets swapped in if you anticipate a large swarm of trash (usually more useful in dungeons than in trials) or else need to guarantee that a really hard-hitting series of attacks DOESN'T crit (the T11 example that Nat referenced). As previously mentioned, it doesn't see much use in boss fight environments such as the Primal EX fights or the later Coil instances.
...that said, Physical Defense has always been linear ever since FFXIV 2.1, so I suppose Foresight sucking back THEN doesn't necessarily mean it sucks NOW that we have higher PhysDef totals. I'd still rather take DR-granting skills like Rampart over Foresight any day, but sadly we don't have that option.
Provoke and Convalescence are guaranteed must-haves for tanks in XIV. From input and Feedback here, it seems Awareness is left out and the other skills taken, with Awareness being swapped in and the skill being swapped out depending on what's needed for the fight at hand.