Marauders use huge two-handed axes and become the Warrior job later; I’ve played tanks and I’ll tell you plainly how Marauder works in Shadowbringers (Shadowbringers released July 2, 2019) and how things stand as of 2025. The tank role was simplified years ago, so you won’t need to babysit enmity like in older expansions. You will, however, need positioning, cooldown timing, and a sense for when to heal through damage.
🗡️ Starting Marauder
Pick Marauder at Limsa Lominsa’s Marauder’s Guild. You get basic tools fast: Heavy Swing, Maim, Tomahawk. Defiance (the tank stance) is available early and changes how you tank (think of it like an anchor that keeps enemies on you). In my experience it’s the single most consistent survival tool for new tanks.
Race choices like Roegadyn or Highlander give small early Strength/Vitality bumps. Honestly, they matter only at level 1–30; after you hit item level progression, aesthetics beat min-maxing (there are exceptions).
⚔️ Core Skills and Rotation
Keep it simple. Heavy Swing → Maim → Storm’s Eye is your backbone. Use Storm’s Path when you need HP return (it helps a lot in big pulls). Your Beast Gauge fills as you combo and opens up Fell Cleave later as a big spender.
Single target:
Heavy Swing
Maim
Storm’s Eye (buff) or Storm’s Path (heal)
Repeat
AOE:
Tomahawk to pull
Overpower spam for groups
Use your Beast Gauge spenders when availableWhy this order? Storm’s Eye raises your outgoing damage so party DPS stays healthy; Storm’s Path heals you so the healer doesn’t get burned out. That trade-off is why you choose one over the other.
đź“Š Gear and Stats (short version)
Priorities matter. As of 2025 I still recommend this order for typical Shadowbringers-era tanking:
| Stat | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vitality | Top | HP is straightforward survivability |
| Strength | High | Damage and enmity scale with it |
| Critical Hit | Medium | Better damage consistency |
| Determination | Medium | Flat damage increase |
| Direct Hit / Skill Speed | Low / Situational | Less value for a tank’s role |
Weapons give the biggest jump; always upgrade your weapon first. An item-level jump usually beats slightly better secondary stats on older gear. That’s a rule I repeat because I see players obsess over roll details instead of upgrading.
🛡️ Enmity, Positioning, Cooldowns
Start pulls with Tomahawk. That tags enemies and lets you run them where you want. Position bosses facing away from the party—simple. Positioning is like chess: predictable spaces win fights. (By the way, you’ll thank me later.)
Use defensive cooldowns proactively. Don’t wait until you’re at 10% and panicking. Pop them on big pulls or known mechanic windows. This doesn’t always work—depends on your healer and group—but it’s a reliable default.
Tip: Tell the healer “big pull” if you plan to gather three or more packs. Communicate early.
🌟 Leveling (1–80) — efficient path
Daily roulettes (Leveling and Main Scenario) give massive XP. Queue as a tank; you’ll usually see very short waits. Run the highest-level dungeons you can between roulettes. Do job quests every five levels for skills and XP.
- Daily Roulettes (Leveling, MSQ)
- Highest-level dungeon spam
- Beast tribe / FATEs if you want variety
Use rested XP, food (+3% exp), Free Company and other bonuses. They stack—take advantage. Want a controversial take? Avoid endless FATEs unless you enjoy mindless grinding; dungeons teach tanking better.
🏰 Dungeon Technique
Start with single-pack pulls when the group is unfamiliar. Move to double packs only after you’ve tested healer comfort. Gather enemies tight, position against a wall or corner if you can, then AOE them down with Overpower and Beast Gauge spenders.
Communication is key. If the healer is low on MP, reduce your pull size. If DPS are struggling with mechanics, slow down. You’ll learn this by doing; I learned the hard way by overpulling and — yeah — wiping the party. It happens.
Practical checklist
- Tomahawk to start
- Face boss away from party
- Keep Defiance up
- Rotate Storm’s Eye / Storm’s Path based on heal needs
- Use defensive CDs at set windows
Common mistakes:
- Overpulling when healer is new
- Forgetting to position
- Not upgrading your weapon firstOddly enough, some players still think racial stats matter at endgame. I disagree—early yes, late no. Between us: if you want to feel powerful quickly, pick what you like visually; it won’t ruin long-term play.
One counterintuitive insight: at lower tiers, a higher item level weapon with “bad” secondaries will carry you farther than perfect rolls on an older weapon. It’s boring but true.
Quick quote from my experience: “Good tanking is rhythm and timing—think drumbeat, not spreadsheet.”
Before you go—watch this: practice positioning in easy dungeons. You’ll improve faster than you expect! And—uh—don’t worry about being flawless. You’ll get there with time.
Want a short recap? Keep Defiance on, learn the Heavy Swing → Maim combo, use Tomahawk to start, upgrade your weapon, and communicate with your healer. Simple steps. They work. Seriously.
