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PROLOGUE

Paladins take the front line, shielding their allies by absorbing damage and locking enemy attention on themselves. With strong defensive capabilities, mastery of shield mechanics, and reliable enmity tools, they form the core of any well-coordinated party. Thanks to Majesty, they also bring powerful AoE healing support-enhancing their own survivability and contributing meaningfully to group stability without stepping away from their tanking role.


• Excellent Defense: High block rate and strong damage mitigation allow Paladins to endure sustained pressure.
• Reliable Enmity Tools: Keeps enemies focused on both single targets and large groups.
• Majesty-Enhanced Healing: Grants +25% Cure Potency II, -25% recast, and AoE effect to Cure and Protect-allowing Paladins to efficiently support group healing while maintaining full aggro and positioning control.
• Supportive Role: Reduces incoming damage to the team and acts as a steadying presence in chaotic fights.


• Enmity Management: Requires proper ability rotation and good timing to hold threat effectively.
• Positioning Awareness: Effective blocking and AoE control rely heavily on correct positioning.
• Gear Optimization: Performance depends on adapting gear sets and HP balance to specific situations.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding enmity mechanics, cooldown management, and subjob synergy is key.
• Leadership Expectations: Paladins often set the pace for pulls and contribute to group decision-making.

Consumables underpin a Paladin's survival between heals. The right food reinforces Defense, HP and resistances during sustained combat; a well-stocked medicine pouch keeps you self-sufficient against status ailments; and drinks open a second buff slot for HP or MP recovery while standing.


• Food effects scale with your base stats - percentage-based bonuses (DEF%, HP%, Accuracy%) give more value the higher your base stat is. Always weigh what you actually need before picking a meal.


• Stat values below come from in-game tooltips. Click the icons to view each item on FFXIAH, or the names to read the full BG-Wiki entry.

Sub-job choice plays a crucial role in how a Paladin adapts to different content types. Whether prioritizing enmity, durability, magical defense, or support utility, each subjob unlocks unique tools that shape the Paladin’s effectiveness.


While Blue Mage stands out as the most versatile and reliable option, others like Rune Fencer or Scholar can shine in specific encounters when used with intention.


Below is a breakdown of the most relevant sub-jobs, with their strengths, weaknesses, and recommended usage.


Some say Paladin is a tank. Others say it wears heavy armor. But with Ullr in hand, the Paladin/Ranger becomes what Square Enix always secretly intended: a ranged destroyer in full plate.
It may not block... but the mobs are too far away to ever reach melee range.

Ferris Ullr's Day Off: A Guide to Ranged PLD

Below is the recommended Paladin merit allocation for endgame tanking. Group 1 maxes Sentinel and Rampart recasts (the two big defensive cooldowns); Group 2 caps Fealty, unlocks Chivalry, and fully invests in Guardian (Sentinel's Enmity Loss multiplier); the Others Group keeps Enmity+/Enmity- neutral for cross-job flexibility and caps Enemy Crit Rate + SIRD for defensive consistency. Allocations marked 0 are intentionally skipped - the Reason column explains why.

ENMITY

Healing yourself or party members generates CE and VE proportional to HP restored, then divided across every tagged enemy. In single-target fights, a Cure IV under Majesty is a meaningful passive spike (~565 CE per cast). In multi-target pulls the value collapses fast - by 3+ mobs the per-mob slice falls below dedicated AoE hate tools, and by 4+ it's irrelevant. The table below shows where self-healing stops being a viable hate source.


Cumulative Enmity (CE):
• CE = (HP Healed × 0.231)
• Divided by the number of enemies (min CE = 1)
Volatile Enmity (VE):
• VE = CE × 6


• Enmity+ increases CE & VE
• Enmity- can reduce CE to 1


• Self-healing set: Enmity+100% (Gear + Crusade = 70+30)
• Cure IV = 1222 HP restored
• Final CE = ((1222 × 0.231) ÷ mob count) × 2.00
• Final VE = Final CE × 6

DEFENSE

✦ VOL. I - ISSUE #47 ✦ MHAURA PRESS ✦ PRICE: 4 GIL ✦ GROUND TANKING MYTH OR REALITY? A Paladin Breaks the Silence - Exclusive Interview By Anonymous Correspondent ◆ Photographs: Hysoka, GEO Archives ── ❖ ── PROLOGUE - THE MEETING ── ❖ ── The rendez-vous is set in Rabao, behind the grand awning's crates, not far from Home Point #2 - a discreet spot, sheltered from foot traffic, overlooking the crystal and the reeds. Tetsouo is already there when we arrive: slumped in the shade, leaning against a crate, melon juice in hand. He doesn't rise. He doesn't even look up. He simply lifts his cup, gestures vaguely toward the empty crate across from him, and waits in silence - as if we had been late since the dawn of time. ── ❖ ── GREETINGS ── ❖ ── Journalist: Tetsouo, thank you for granting us this interview. Many in our community wonder about the philosophy behind your… approach to tanking. Tetsouo: (He takes a long sip of melon juice, then sets the cup down with calculated slowness.) Time is only precious to those who have never learned to lose it with majesty. You are fortunate to be sitting here. Few mortals have ever been granted access to my tactical reasoning. Take notes - your silence is worth more than a complete BiS set. Journalist: Very well. Shall we begin? Tetsouo: We began the moment I accepted your presence. ── ❖ ── THE INTERVIEW ── ❖ ── Journalist: Last week several witnesses thought you had died in Rabao after a Sheol Gaol boss run. How do you explain this persistent rumor? Tetsouo: (He smiles with pity.) I do not die. Let us clarify that immediately. What those ignorant onlookers observed was not a death - it was phase three of Advanced Ground Tanking. The party had reached its mental limit. Stress was rising. Mechanics were no longer being respected. So I chose to extend the demonstration into Rabao itself, so that everyone would understand the lesson. Some claim my Phalanx had worn off. A grotesque error. I removed it myself. Ground Tanking requires visible vulnerability - an active Phalanx would have ruined the silhouette. Journalist: Ground Tanking… what exactly is it? Tetsouo: A discipline. Rare. Subtle. Demanding. Beyond the reach of most. The vast majority of players will spend their entire careers without ever seeing a Paladin truly master the art of the controlled grounded posture. You have all seen tanks fall. I, on the other hand, install myself strategically at the horizontal. That nuance is the line between legends and pickup groups. Journalist: Could you explain how it works? Tetsouo: I will simplify, though it costs me intellectually. When a Paladin falls, the party panics: - The COR sweats. - The WHM spams Cure IV without a target. - The SAM opens his equipment menu. - The BRD wonders whether he forgot Marcato. - The RDM types "bug ???" in chat. - The GEO looks at his luopan like a disappointed father. It is precisely at that instant that I intervene. I create a psychological void. The party, deprived of my verticality, finally discovers its potential. Fear replaces routine. Panic takes the place of rotation. I do not "wipe" the party - I awaken it. "I do not 'wipe.' I demonstrate." - Tetsouo Journalist: Where did this technique come from? Tetsouo: Years ago, in West Ronfaure. I trained alone, against rabbits. One day, I simulated a perfect fall. The rabbit stepped back. Then it looked at me. For a long, long moment. Then it returned to grazing… but differently. At that instant, I understood: if even a primitive beast doubts in the face of my controlled abandonment of posture, imagine the effect on six already-fragile players. That day, Ground Tanking was born. Journalist: Some witnesses claim to have seen you fall multiple times during the same fight. Tetsouo: (He bursts into a contemptuous laugh.) Fall? No. Redeploy. Each successive Ground Tanking adds a layer of mental pressure on the enemy - and a layer of lucidity on the team. The Home Point trip between deployments? Intentional. What I call a mobile tactical reset. Most players walk to the battlefield. I meditate on the way back. Journalist: Are you saying that falling voluntarily in combat could be a defensive act? Tetsouo: Obviously. When I am standing, I tank the monster. When I am on the ground, I tank the emotions of the group. The second role is far heavier. Few would have the shoulders for it. I, on the other hand, do not even need to remain standing. Journalist: You claim your fall starts a chain reaction in the party. Could you elaborate? Tetsouo: When I Ground Tank: - The COR rolls without thinking, and it is Lucky every time. - The SAM never misses a Fudo - even blinded, even fasting. - The BRD rebuffs without using his 2-H, yet swears he did. - The RDM yells "server bug" while landing every spell with surgical precision. - The BLU lets something dark out, casting spells that should not even exist. - The GEO watches his luopan type into party chat: "on leave?" Chaos becomes order. Error becomes strategy. The wipe becomes content. And me? At the center of it all. Motionless. Indispensable. ── ❖ ── PARTY TESTIMONIALS ── ❖ ── "I thought it was the boss… turns out it was my roll." - Woonsul, COR, sweating bullets "Fudo didn't miss… but he dropped." - Timara, SAM, still in shock "Raise was cast. Nothing. So: bug." - Typioni, RDM, furious "I was sure I had popped 2-H." - Morphetrix, BRD, perplexed "Tried the technique. Insta-KO." - Gabvanstronger, BLU, dazed "The luopan really typed it. I haven't slept since." - Hysoka, GEO, suddenly believer ── ❖ ── CONCLUSION ── ❖ ── Journalist: "I must admit your statements are… disorienting. Your conviction is total, but it may be difficult for the community to adopt this vision of tanking." Tetsouo: "The community will adopt what it understands too late. Let me be clear: I have never died. Not once. What the weak call 'KO' is merely the primitive reading of a deliberate posture. Server lag? My initiative. Phalanx forgotten? My choice. Boss one-shot? My visual support. Other tanks absorb damage. I absorb History. Ground Tanking is not a method - it is an inevitable evolution. Soon, all will follow me. Often on the ground. But too late to equal the original." ✦ END OF EXCLUSIVE ✦ CONTINUED IN NEXT ISSUE ✦

JOB ABILITY

Hands - Caballarius Progression All Caballarius/Valor hands tiers carry the Shield Bash+ augment. The unique endgame value is the Dispel on Shield Bash effect that unlocks at Cab. +2 and persists through +3/+4. Color coding: +2 blue · +3 yellow · +4 green (BiS). All pieces with Shield Bash+ augment (Hands slot) • Valor Gauntlets (Lv72) - Bash+10 • Vlr. Gauntlets +1 (Lv75) - Bash+10 • Vlr. Gauntlets +2 (Lv90) - Bash+12 • Caballarius Gauntlets (99 / iLv109) - Bash+20 • Cab. Gauntlets +1 (iLv119) - Bash+25 • Cab. Gauntlets +2 ★ (iLv119) - Bash+30 + Dispel on Bash • Cab. Gauntlets +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Bash+35 + Dispel on Bash • Cab. Gauntlets +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Bash+35 + Dispel on Bash · Best base stats Version Bash+ Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Gauntlets +2 ★ +30 DEF:115, HP+114, VIT+42, MND+34, MEva+36, MDB+2, Haste+4%, Enmity+8 + Dispel on Bash Aurix • Handshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Bztavian Stinger Cab. Gauntlets +3 ★★ +35 DEF:125, HP+124, VIT+47, MND+39, MEva+46, MDB+3, Haste+4%, Enmity+9 + Dispel on Bash Aurix • Handshard: PLD ×2 • Voidhand: PLD ×2 • Macuil Plating ×2 Cab. Gauntlets +4 ★★★ BiS +35 DEF:130, HP+134, VIT+52, MND+39, MEva+86, MDB+4, Haste+4%, Enmity+9 + Dispel on Bash Reforged Armor +4 • 15,000 Temenos Units Dispel effect on +2/+3/+4: no log message displayed, but tested at ~100% application rate on dispelable effects.

Shield - Aegis Progression (PLD-only, Size 5) Aegis carries Bash+ on every tier of its Magian-Trial path, scaling +200 → +300 as the relic is upgraded. It is also one of only two shields (with Srivatsa) granting MDT II, letting MDT pass the normal −50% cap. Only the final tier (Lv99) is endgame BiS - the lower tiers are upgrade waypoints with the same block/cut profile but progressively lower Bash+ and MDT II. All Aegis tiers (relic shield, single line) • Aegis Lv75 (Lv75) - Bash+200, MDT II −25% • Aegis Lv80 (Lv80) - Bash+215, MDT II −30% • Aegis Lv85 (Lv85) - Bash+230, MDT II −35% • Aegis Lv90 (Lv90) - Bash+245, MDT II −40% • Aegis Lv95 (Lv95) - Bash+275, MDT II −45% • Aegis Lv99 ★★★ BiS (Lv99) - Bash+300, MDT II −50% (endgame BiS - also available as Afterglow Lv99 II via Trial 5056, identical stats, cosmetic only) Tier Bash+ MDT II Block Cut% Source Aegis Lv99 +300 −50% 50% 75% Trial of the Magians +300 at Lv99 confirmed empirically (148 samples, JP source 2019). In-game descriptions of Bash+ may differ from tested values across versions - trust the empirical numbers.

Other Bash+ Equipment - Useful Fenian Ring (Lv 71, ring - non-augmentable) Bash+50 (flat) · Enhances Banish vs Undead (+1/8 resistance reduction, see Banish Family card) ▸ Source: Uncapped BC The Blood-bathed Crown (La Vaule [S]) - requires Imperial Lineage ch. I~VIII Knightly Earring (Lv 59, ear) Shield Bash+10 · Weapon Bash+10 · Spell Interruption Rate −9% ▸ Source: Drop: Imdugud (Lv 58, Riverne Site B01) - lottery spawn from Nimbus Hippogryph at M-7

Feet - Creed → Chevalier's Sabatons Progression The Divine Emblem Bonus (Special Enmity Bonus boost) is carried by the entire Empyrean → Reforged Empyrean feet line, scaling +5% → +21%. Color coding: Chev +2 blue · Chev +3 yellow (BiS) - those are the endgame tiers and the only ones detailed below. All pieces with Divine Emblem (DE) Bonus augment (Feet slot) • Creed Sabatons +1 (Lv81) - DE Bonus +5% (SEB total 55%) • Creed Sabatons +2 (Lv81) - DE Bonus +10% (SEB total 60%) • Chev. Sabatons (iLv109) - DE Bonus +12% (SEB total 62%) • Chev. Sabatons +1 (iLv119) - DE Bonus +15% (SEB total 65%) • Chev. Sabatons +2 ★ (iLv119) - DE Bonus +18% (SEB total 68%) + FastCast+10% • Chev. Sabatons +3 ★★ BiS (iLv119) - DE Bonus +21% (SEB total 71%) + FastCast+13% - top tier Version DE Bonus Total SEB Key Stats Source / Materials Chev. Sabatons +2 ★ +18% 68% DEF:111, HP+42, VIT+35, Acc+50, MAcc+50, MEva+126, Haste+5%, Enmity+13, FastCast+10% Ruspix (Leafallia H-8) • Ra'Kaz. Sapphire • 10,000 Gallimaufry Chev. Sabatons +3 ★★ BiS +21% 71% DEF:121, HP+52, VIT+40, Acc+60, MAcc+60, MEva+136, Haste+5%, Enmity+15, FastCast+13% Ruspix (Leafallia H-8) • Ra'Kaz. Starstone • 70,000 Gallimaufry ▸ Timing rule (empirical) The Chev. Sabatons DE bonus is captured at JA activation, not at spell cast. Empirical tests (Atonement post-Flash): Chev equipped When DE Bonus Flash CE Atonement dmg No N/A ×1.50 270 44 Yes JA + Cast ×1.65 297 49 Yes Cast only ×1.50 270 44 ✗ Yes JA only ×1.65 297 49 ✓

Feet - Gallant → Reverence Leggings Progression Every tier from Gallant Leggings to Rev. Leggings +4 carries the same Holy Circle augment: Duration +50% / Potency +2% (180s → 270s total). The BiS differentiator is the Converts damage → MP passive on Rev. +2 / +3 / +4 - a separate, stackable effect on top of the shared augment. Color coding: Rev +2 blue · Rev +3 yellow · Rev +4 green (BiS). Only Rev. +2/+3/+4 are detailed below. All pieces with Holy Circle augment (Duration +50% / Potency +2%, Feet slot) • Gallant Leggings (Lv52) - shared HC augment only • Glt. Leggings +1 (Lv74) - shared HC augment only • Rev. Leggings (iLv109) - shared HC augment only • Rev. Leggings +1 (iLv119) - shared HC augment only • Rev. Leggings +2 ★ (iLv119) - + Converts 5% dmg → MP • Rev. Leggings +3 ★★ (iLv119) - + Converts 10% phys-blocked dmg → MP • Rev. Leggings +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - + Converts 10% Phys. dmg taken while blocking → MP Version Conversion Passive Key Stats Source / Materials Rev. Leggings +2 ★ Converts 5% dmg → MP DEF:99, HP+72, VIT+22, Acc+41, MEva+74, Haste+3%, Shield skill+19 Coelestrox (Reisenjima) • P. PLD Card ×3 • Ruthenium Ore • Abyssdiver's Feather Rev. Leggings +3 ★★ Converts 10% phys-blocked dmg → MP DEF:109, HP+82, VIT+27, Acc+51, MEva+84, Haste+3%, Shield skill+21 Coelestrox (Ethereal Ingress #10) - 2-day craft • Day 1: P. PLD Card ×9 + Kin's Scale • Day 2: Azure Cermet ×3 + Khoma Thread + Cyan Orb Rev. Leggings +4 ★★★ BiS Converts 10% Phys. dmg taken while blocking → MP DEF:114, HP+92, VIT+27, Acc+61, MAcc+61, MEva+109, Haste+3%, Shield skill+22 Apollyon Furnace (Limbus) • 10,000 Apollyon Units • Requires Apollyon verification key ▸ +3 description bug The in-game description on Rev. Leggings +3 reads "10% of damage taken" but testing confirms the effect only triggers on blocked physical hits. The +4 wording ("Phys. dam. taken while blocking") is the correct formulation - not a typo, the +3 description is wrong.

Legs - Valor → Caballarius Breeches Progression The Invincible Duration +10s augment lives exclusively on the Caballarius Breeches line (Reforged Relic) - every Cab. tier carries it, all granting the same +10s bonus. Color coding: Cab. NQ / +1 gray · Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). The +10s bonus is identical across every Cab. tier - the upgrade decision is driven by base stats (DEF, HP, MEva, MDB) since Invincible doesn't scale per tier. Important: to inherit the Invincible augment when crafting Caballarius Breeches NQ, you must start from Vlr. Breeches +2 augmented via Trial 4987 (Dynamis-Beaucedine or Dynamis-Tavnazia, 20,000 XP). The standard upgrade path does not transmit the bonus. All pieces with Invincible Duration+ augment (Legs slot) • Vlr. Breeches +2 (Lv90) - Duration +10s - requires Trial 4987 augment • Cab. Breeches (iLv109) - Duration +10s • Cab. Breeches +1 (iLv119) - Duration +10s • Cab. Breeches +2 ★ (iLv119) - Duration +10s • Cab. Breeches +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Duration +10s • Cab. Breeches +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Duration +10s - same Invincible bonus as +3, improved base stats Version Invincible+ Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Breeches +2 ★ Duration +10s DEF:141, HP+62, MP+90, STR+45, VIT+31, Acc+29, Atk+49, MEva+74, MDB+4, Haste+5%, Enmity+8, SIRD−7%, PDT−6% Aurix (Ru'Lude Gardens G-8) • Legshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Waktza Rostrum ×1 Cab. Breeches +3 ★★ Duration +10s DEF:151, HP+72, MP+100, STR+50, VIT+36, Acc+39, Atk+64, MEva+84, MDB+5, Haste+5%, Enmity+9, SIRD−10%, PDT−7% Aurix (Ru'Lude Gardens G-8) • Legshard: PLD ×2 • Voidleg: PLD ×2 • Tartarian Soul ×2 Cab. Breeches +4 ★★★ BiS Duration +10s DEF:156, HP+82, MP+110, STR+55, VIT+41, Acc+44, Atk+74, MEva+124, MDB+6, Haste+5%, Enmity+9, SIRD−10%, PDT−7% Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 25,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ The +10s bonus does not scale per tier Every Cab. Breeches tier (NQ → +4) grants the same +10s Invincible duration. The upgrade decision is therefore driven by base stats - DEF, HP, MEva, MDB, SIRD, PDT - not by the JA augment itself. Cab. Breeches +4 is BiS purely on stat sheet.

Feet - Valor → Caballarius Leggings Progression The Sentinel+ augment lives exclusively on the Caballarius Leggings line (Reforged Relic) - every Cab. tier carries it, scaling +10 → +25. Color coding: Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). Only Cab. +2/+3/+4 are detailed below (they push the PDT floor past −100%). The Relic predecessors Valor / Vlr. +1 / Vlr. +2 do not carry a labeled Sentinel+ augment, but contribute the same underlying base effect (PDT start −103%, equivalent to Cab. NQ's Sentinel+10). Vlr. +2 can also carry the Guardian augment (+2s Sentinel duration per Guardian merit, same as the Cab. line). PDT start values are in the PDT Starting Value mini-table above. All pieces with Sentinel+ augment (Feet slot) • Cab. Leggings (iLv109) - Sentinel+10 (PDT start −103%) • Cab. Leggings +1 (iLv119) - Sentinel+15 (PDT start −108%) • Cab. Leggings +2 ★ (iLv119) - Sentinel+20 (PDT start −114%) • Cab. Leggings +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Sentinel+25 (PDT start −128%, BiS for the Sentinel mechanic) • Cab. Leggings +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Sentinel+25 (PDT start −128%) - same Sentinel mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Sentinel+ Guardian Bonus Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Leggings +2 ★ +20 +2s/rank DEF:99, HP+53, VIT+22, Acc+26, Atk+46, MEva+74, MDT−6%, Haste+3%, Enmity+7 Aurix (Ru'Lude Gardens G-8) • Footshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Rockfin Tooth Cab. Leggings +3 ★★ +25 +2s/rank DEF:109, HP+63, VIT+27, Acc+36, Atk+61, MEva+84, MDT−7%, Haste+3%, Enmity+8 Aurix (Ru'Lude Gardens G-8) • Footshard: PLD ×2 • Voidfoot: PLD ×2 • Plovid Flesh ×2 Cab. Leggings +4 ★★★ BiS +25 +2s/rank DEF:114, HP+73, VIT+32, Acc+41, Atk+71, MEva+124, MDT−7%, Haste+3%, Enmity+8 Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 10,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ Sentinel+ and PDT overflow Cab. Leggings +3/+4 (Sentinel+25, start −128%) keep the floor at −100% for 4 extra ticks vs no feet - meaning more than half of the 30s duration is spent at 0 physical damage taken.

Head - Gallant → Reverence Coronet Progression (Cover duration) The entire AF → Empyrean head line carries Cover Duration+, scaling +5s → +10s. The interesting tier shifts happen at the iLv jumps: Rev. Coronet (IL109) brings the duration to +7s, Rev. +1/+2 to +9s, and Rev. +3/+4 cap the line at +10s. Color coding: Rev +2 blue · Rev +3 yellow · Rev +4 green (BiS). Only Rev. +2/+3/+4 are detailed below (the meaningful endgame tiers); lower tiers are listed in the bullet list for completeness. All pieces with Cover Duration+ augment (Head slot) • Gallant Coronet (Lv56) - Cover duration +5s • Glt. Coronet +1 (Lv74) - Cover duration +5s (Verification Needed) • Rev. Coronet (iLv109) - Cover duration +7s (Verification Needed) • Rev. Coronet +1 (iLv119) - Cover duration +9s • Rev. Coronet +2 ★ (iLv119) - Cover duration +9s • Rev. Coronet +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Cover duration +10s • Rev. Coronet +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Cover duration +10s - same mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Cover Dur+ Key Stats Source / Materials Rev. Coronet +2 ★ +9s DEF:129, HP+61, VIT+33, MND+25, Acc+37, MEva+42, MDB+2, Haste+7%, Enmity+6, PDT−6% Aurix • P. PLD Card ×4 • Ruthenium Ore • Emperor Arthro's Shell Rev. Coronet +3 ★★ +10s DEF:139, HP+71, VIT+38, MND+30, Acc+47, MEva+52, MDB+3, Haste+7%, Enmity+7, PDT−7% Coelestrox (Reisenjima) • P. PLD Card ×12 • Kin's Scale • Khoma Cloth • S. Faulpie Leather • Cyan Orb ×2 Rev. Coronet +4 ★★★ BiS +10s DEF:144, HP+81, VIT+38, MND+33, Acc+57, MAcc+57, Eva+93, MEva+77, MDB+4, Haste+7%, Enmity+7, PDT−7% Apollyon Furnace (Limbus) • 20,000 Apollyon Units • Requires Apollyon verification key ▸ Duration head used in the activation set only The duration bonus is captured the instant the JA pulses, so Rev. Coronet +4 only needs to be on the head slot during activation. Immediately afterward, swap to Sahip Helm (DT−12% during Cover) for the survivability window - the +10s remains banked.

Head - Sahip Helm (iLv119, non-augmentable - unique Cover-mitigation piece) Sahip Helm is the only head in the kit that carries a Damage Taken −12% during Cover augment - a flat multiplicative mitigation that stacks on top of PDT/MDT for the full window. It replaces Rev. Coronet +3 after activation: pulse Cover with the duration head equipped, then swap into Sahip for the intercepted hits. DT −12% during Cover · DEF:108, HP+71, MP+58, STR+23, DEX+22, VIT+23, AGI+22, INT+23, MND+18, CHR+19, Acc+20, Eva+44, MEva+53, MDB+2, Haste+8% ▸ Source: • Instance Puppet in Peril II (Jade Sepulcher, uncapped - entry: Puppet In Peril phantom gem) • Redeemed from Dealer Moogle - Port San d'Oria (I-9) · Port Bastok (L-8) · Port Windurst (F-6) · Chocobo Circuit (H-8) - trade Kupon AW-Mis or KI Mog Kupon AW-Mis

Body - Valor → Caballarius Surcoat Progression (Damage → MP conversion) The entire Vlr. → Cab. body line converts a percentage of physical intercepted damage into MP for the Paladin, scaling +20% → +41%. This is the BiS body during a Cover window: every hit the PLD eats refunds MP, fueling the spell rotation that follows. Color coding: Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). Spells are not converted - only physical landings. Cab. Surcoat tiers also enhance Fealty (+4s per merit), see the Fealty card. All pieces with Cover Conversion augment (Body slot) • Valor Surcoat (Lv75) - Converts 20% phys → MP • Vlr. Surcoat +1 (Lv75) - Converts 20% phys → MP • Vlr. Surcoat +2 (Lv90) - Converts 30% phys → MP • Caballarius Surcoat (iLv109) - Converts 32% phys → MP • Cab. Surcoat +1 (iLv119) - Converts 35% phys → MP • Cab. Surcoat +2 ★ (iLv119) - Converts 38% phys → MP • Cab. Surcoat +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Converts 41% phys → MP • Cab. Surcoat +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Converts 41% phys → MP - same mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Conversion Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Surcoat +2 ★ +38% DEF:161, HP+128, MP+100, VIT+34, MND+24, Acc+30, Atk+50, MEva+58, MDB+5, Haste+3%, Enmity+9, DT−11% Aurix • Torsoshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Yggdreant Bole Cab. Surcoat +3 ★★ +41% DEF:171, HP+138, MP+110, VIT+39, MND+29, Acc+40, Atk+65, MAcc+40, MEva+68, MDB+6, Haste+3%, Enmity+10, DT−12% Coelestrox (Reisenjima) • Torsoshard: PLD ×2 • Voidtorso: PLD ×2 • Hades' Claw ×2 Cab. Surcoat +4 ★★★ BiS +41% DEF:176, HP+148, MP+120, STR+44, VIT+44, MND+29, Acc+45, Atk+75, MAcc+45, Eva+86, MEva+108, MDB+7, Haste+3%, Enmity+10, DT−12% Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 30,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ Two augments on the same line The Cab. Surcoat line stacks two Cover-related effects: Phys damage → MP conversion and the Fealty duration enhancement. That makes it BiS for both the Cover survivability set and the Fealty activation set - one piece, two cards.

Main - Cover-Extension Weapons Three swords carry a Cover-relevant augment. Save the Queen III is the single largest duration jump in the kit (+30s) and feeds the Sentinel recast loop (−1s per Cover). Kheshig Blade is a budget alternative for non-StQ III players. The original Save the Queen (Lv65) is a low-level curiosity with a unique Accuracy+20 latent during Cover - informational only. Save the Queen III ★★ BiS (iLv119, Sword) DMG:182, Delay:264 · Sword+269, Parry+269, MAcc skill+269 · MND+30, Acc+40, MAcc+40, Enmity+10 · Cover duration +30s · Each Cover reduces Sentinel recast by 1s · Cure Potency II +20% (caps at 30% with Majesty) ▸ Source: Mog Bonanza Rank 1 prize - single-distribution event item, not obtainable through normal play Kheshig Blade ★ (iLv109, Sword) DMG:96, Delay:240 · Sword+108, Parry+108, MAcc skill+84 · Cover duration +8s · PDT−8% ▸ Source: Legion drop: XI Comitatensis II (Macrocosmic Orb, Chamber of Oracles) Informational - original Save the Queen (Lv65), listed for completeness: • Save the Queen - Lv65 sword. DMG:40, Delay:240. Cover duration +5s · Accuracy+20 latent during Cover (unique latent - only sword with this effect). Source: Antican Praefectus drop (Quicksand Caves).

Back - Volitional Mantle (Lv49, non-augmentable - latent VIT during Cover) Niche legacy back piece that grants VIT+10 as a latent effect while Cover is active. Trivially small in modern endgame compared to current iLv119 back pieces, but it is the only back in the game with a Cover-gated stat - informational entry for collectors and historical sets. DEF:6 · VIT+10 latent (active while Cover is up) ▸ Source: • Random reward from the Gobbie Mystery Box Special Dial • Rare/Ex - cannot be auctioned, traded, or bazaared

Head - Valor → Caballarius Coronet Progression (Rampart duration + IW Fast Cast) Every Cab. Coronet tier from NQ to +4 carries the same Rampart augment: Duration +30s + Iron Will Fast Cast latent (+3% per merit, max +15%). The relic line's true differentiator is base stats - the Rampart mechanic does not scale with tier. The augmented Valor Coronet +2 (Trial 4984) is the only non-relic head to carry both effects. Color coding: Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). Only Cab. +2/+3/+4 are detailed below - lower tiers are listed in the bullet list for completeness. All pieces with Rampart Duration+ augment (Head slot) • Valor Coronet (Lv73) - Duration +15s • Vlr. Coronet +1 (Lv75) - Duration +15s • Vlr. Coronet +2 (Lv90) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast (requires Trial 4984 augment - 20,000 XP in Dyna-Bastok/Qufim with the head equipped) • Caballarius Coronet (iLv109) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast • Cab. Coronet +1 (iLv119) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast • Cab. Coronet +2 ★ (iLv119) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast • Cab. Coronet +3 ★★ (iLv119) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast • Cab. Coronet +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - Duration +30s + IW Fast Cast - same mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Rampart Dur+ IW FC Latent Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Coronet +2 ★ +30s up to +15% DEF:130, HP+106, MP+88, VIT+38, Acc+27, Atk+47, MEva+42, MDB+3, Haste+7%, Enmity+8 Aurix • Headshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Gabbrath Horn Cab. Coronet +3 ★★ +30s up to +15% DEF:140, HP+116, MP+98, VIT+43, Acc+37, Atk+62, MEva+52, MDB+4, Haste+7%, Enmity+9 Aurix • Headshard: PLD ×2 • Voidhead: PLD ×2 • Defiant Scarf ×2 Cab. Coronet +4 ★★★ BiS +30s up to +15% DEF:145, HP+126, MP+108, VIT+48, Acc+42, Atk+72, MAcc+42, Eva+78, MEva+92, MDB+5, Haste+7%, Enmity+9 Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 20,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ Two augments on one slot, no tier scaling Every Cab. Coronet tier delivers the same Rampart effect: +30s duration and the IW Fast Cast latent. The relic line is a base-stats progression only - pick the highest tier you can craft and it just gets bigger/sturdier without changing the Rampart math. Vlr. Coronet +2 (Trial 4984): the only non-relic head with the full Cab.-tier Rampart kit. The trial requires 20,000 XP earned in Dynamis-Bastok or Dynamis-Qufim with the piece equipped - relevant only when the relic upgrade path is blocked.

Body - Valor → Caballarius Surcoat Progression (Enhances Fealty) The full Vlr. → Cab. Surcoat line carries a uniform +4s per merit invested Fealty augment (max +20s at 5/5). The augment value is flat across all tiers; only base stats (HP, MP, VIT, DT, MEva) scale up. Color coding: Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). The augment is gated on starting from Vlr. Surcoat +2 augmented via Trial 4985 - unaugmented Vlr. +2 will not transmit the bonus through the reforge chain. This is the same body piece used in the Cover survivability set - one item, two windows. All pieces with Enhances Fealty augment (Body slot) • Vlr. Surcoat +2 (Lv90) - +4s per merit (augment via Trial 4985) • Caballarius Surcoat (iLv109) - +4s per merit • Cab. Surcoat +1 (iLv119) - +4s per merit • Cab. Surcoat +2 ★ (iLv119) - +4s per merit • Cab. Surcoat +3 ★★ (iLv119) - +4s per merit • Cab. Surcoat +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - +4s per merit - same mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Augment Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Surcoat +2 ★ +4s / merit DEF:161, HP+128, MP+100, VIT+34, MND+24, Acc+30, Atk+50, MEva+58, MDB+5, Haste+3%, Enmity+9, DT−11% Aurix • Torsoshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Yggdreant Bole Cab. Surcoat +3 ★★ +4s / merit DEF:171, HP+138, MP+110, VIT+39, MND+29, Acc+40, Atk+65, MAcc+40, MEva+68, MDB+6, Haste+3%, Enmity+10, DT−12% Coelestrox (Reisenjima) • Torsoshard: PLD ×2 • Voidtorso: PLD ×2 • Hades' Claw ×2 Cab. Surcoat +4 ★★★ BiS +4s / merit DEF:176, HP+148, MP+120, STR+44, VIT+44, MND+29, Acc+45, Atk+75, MAcc+45, Eva+86, MEva+108, MDB+7, Haste+3%, Enmity+10, DT−12% Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 30,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ Two windows, one piece Cab. Surcoat is the BiS body for both Fealty (this card) and Cover (phys damage → MP conversion). Same item, double-duty. Augment is gated on Trial 4985 on Vlr. Surcoat +2 - verify before consuming Rem's Tale chapters.

Hands - Valor → Caballarius Gauntlets Progression (Enhances Chivalry) The full Vlr. → Cab. Gauntlets line carries the same +1 effective merit rank augment - equivalent to changing the TP multiplier from TP×0.05 to TP×0.10 per merit rank. The augment value does not improve at higher tiers; only base stats (HP, VIT, MND, Haste, Enmity) scale up. Color coding: Cab +2 blue · Cab +3 yellow · Cab +4 green (BiS). The augment is gated on starting from Vlr. Gauntlets +2 augmented via Trial 4986 - unaugmented Vlr. +2 will not transmit the bonus through the reforge chain. All pieces with Enhances Chivalry augment (Hands slot) • Vlr. Gauntlets +2 (Lv90) - +1 effective merit rank (augment via Trial 4986) • Caballarius Gauntlets (iLv109) - +1 effective merit rank • Cab. Gauntlets +1 (iLv119) - +1 effective merit rank (TP×0.05 → TP×0.10) • Cab. Gauntlets +2 ★ (iLv119) - +1 effective merit rank • Cab. Gauntlets +3 ★★ (iLv119) - +1 effective merit rank • Cab. Gauntlets +4 ★★★ BiS (iLv119) - +1 effective merit rank - same mechanic as +3, improved base stats Version Augment Key Stats Source / Materials Cab. Gauntlets +2 ★ +1 rank DEF:115, HP+114, VIT+42, MND+34, Acc+28, Atk+48, MEva+36, MDB+2, Haste+4%, Enmity+8, Shield Bash+30, Shield Bash: Dispel Aurix • Handshard: PLD ×2 • Ruthenium Ore • Bztavian Stinger Cab. Gauntlets +3 ★★ +1 rank DEF:125, HP+124, VIT+47, MND+39, Acc+38, Atk+63, MEva+46, MDB+3, Haste+4%, Enmity+9, Shield Bash+35, Shield Bash: Dispel Coelestrox (Reisenjima) • Handshard: PLD ×2 • Voidhand: PLD ×2 • Macuil Plating ×2 Cab. Gauntlets +4 ★★★ BiS +1 rank DEF:130, HP+134, STR+25, VIT+52, MND+39, Acc+43, Atk+73, Eva+67, MEva+86, MDB+4, Haste+4%, Enmity+9, Shield Bash+35, Shield Bash: Dispel Temenos Furnace (Limbus) • 15,000 Temenos Units • Requires Temenos verification key ▸ Augment gate - start from Vlr. Gauntlets +2 augmented The Chivalry augment is gated at the Trial 4986 step on Vlr. Gauntlets +2 (20,000 XP in Dynamis-San d'Oria or Dynamis-Buburimu with the item equipped). Skip this and the reforge chain produces a Cab. Gauntlets with no Chivalry bonus - same icon, no effect. Verify the augment on the Vlr. +2 before consuming Rem's Tale chapters.

MAGIC

Fenian Ring is the only piece equippable by PLD that augments the Banish family. It carries two distinct effects: a +5% Banish potency vs Undead (direct spell damage boost) AND a −1/8 (−4/64) extra resistance cut stacked on top of the spell's base debuff. Equip on cast, then swap back to the normal MND/Macc set. It also augments Shield Bash (+50 damage) - same piece covers both Banish and the Shield Bash undead-clear loop. Fenian Ring (Lv71, Ring slot, All Jobs - non-augmentable - the only PLD-equippable Banish-boost piece) Banish vs Undead +5% (potency) · Reduces Undead phys resistance by extra 1/8 under Banish · Shield Bash damage +50 ▸ Source: • Uncapped BCNM: The Blood-bathed Crown (La Vaule [S]) - requires Imperial Lineage ch. I–VIII • Rare/Ex - single per character

Main - Enlight Bonus Swords Two PLD swords carry a per-hit Enlight bonus that applies only on hits made with the sword equipped - there is no macro swap window between landings. Brilliance is the endgame option at +15 D (damage and accuracy on every Brilliance hit). Honorbound is the budget/pre-Sinister Reign option at +7 D. Engaged-set sword should be one of these whenever Enlight II is up. Brilliance ★★ BiS (Lv99 / iLv119, Sword) DMG:120, Delay:228 · Sword+242, Parry+242, MAcc skill+201 · MAB+14, Magic Damage+108, Enmity+7, DT−3% · Enlight damage and accuracy +15 (Brilliance hits only) · Sword enhancement spell duration +15 ▸ Source: • Sinister Reign - Sajj'aka drop • Augments via Oboro: DMG+15 / Shield Skill+10 / Divine Magic Skill+15 / Enmity+7 Honorbound ★ (Lv89, Sword) DMG:58, Delay:240 · HP+35, Divine Magic Skill+7 · Enlight damage +7 (Honorbound hits only) ▸ Source: • Bennu (Abyssea-Altepa) - proc blue abilities, trade Resplendent roc quill at the ??? (I-8)

PLD Cure Family - Essential Gear (6 cure-defining pieces) Cure Potency caps at +50% and Cure Potency II caps at +30% (separate stack). The six pieces below are the highest-impact PLD-equippable items in the kit - combine them with Majesty (+25 Cure Potency II flat) to push the multiplier toward the ×2.34 cap. Cure Received gear (Adamas shield, Shabti Armet +1, Sakpata's Plate, Flamma Dirs +2, etc.) is secondary - covered briefly in Idle / Engaged sets. Slot Piece Cure Bonus Notes Waist Sroda Belt Cure Potency +35% Largest single-slot potency bonus. PLD/RUN exclusive. +25% magic cost tradeoff. Main Save the Queen III Cure Potency II +20% Distinct cap from Cure Potency. With Majesty (+25 CP II), effective contribution is +5% (caps at 30%). Mog Bonanza Rank 1. Neck Sacro Gorget Cure Potency +10% PLD/RUN exclusive. Also Regen potency +10% + Enmity +5 - useful outside the cast set too. Earring Chev. Earring +2 Cure Potency +12% PLD exclusive (Chevalier line). Shield skill +12. MUST be right ear. +1 tier gives +11%. Body Jumalik Mail Potency +15% + CT −10% Best body for cure with double bonus. Sinister Reign drop (Outer Ra'Kaznar) - random augments. Feet Odyssean Greaves Pot. +7% · SIRD −20% · FC +5% Universal cure-set feet. Augmentable via Oseem (Norg) with Taupe / Fern / Pellucid stones or Dark Matter. ▸ Two distinct potency caps The +12% (Chev. Earring +2) + +10% (Sacro) + +15% (Jumalik) + +7% (Odyssean) + +35% (Sroda) exceeds the 50% Cure Potency cap. Drop the smallest contributor when stacking, OR keep Sroda for the headline +35% and combine 2-3 others to fill toward 50%. Save the Queen III always adds on top via the Cure Potency II cap (separate +30%).

Accessory - Protect & Shell Tier Bonus (2 pieces, do not stack) Two minor accessories add a small bonus when worn at the cast pulse - equip at midcast, swap back after. Critical caveat: since the 2022-07-11 patch, wearing both simultaneously applies only one of the two bonuses (not stacked, not cancelled - the legacy +20/+10 stack is gone). Pick whichever slot is freer in the midcast set. Cast Base bonus Accessory bonus Total with one accessory Protect V (Tier 5) +220 DEF +10 DEF (5×2) +230 DEF Protect IV (Tier 4) +140 DEF +8 DEF (4×2) +148 DEF Shell IV (Tier 4) −67/256 (~−26%) +4/256 (4÷64) −71/256 (~−27.7%) Shell III (Tier 3) −56/256 (~−22%) +3/256 −59/256 (~−23%) The Shell bonus is marginal (~+1-2% MDT) but free - wear one accessory in the Shell midcast set since the slot is rarely contested in defensive gear. Brachyura Earring (Lv91, All Jobs, Earring slot) MP+20 · +Protect Tier × 2 DEF at cast pulse (Protect V → +10 DEF) · +Shell Tier ÷ 256 MDB (Shell IV → +4/256) ▸ Source: • Treasure Casket - Korroloka Tunnel Sheltered Ring (Lv96, All Jobs, Ring slot) Regen +1 HP/tick · +Protect Tier × 2 DEF at cast pulse (Protect V → +10 DEF) · +Shell Tier ÷ 256 MDB (Shell IV → +4/256) ▸ Source: • Voidwatch Op - South Gustaberg (Bhishani, Riftworn Pyxis drop)