Originally Posted by
Kander
Using old sets doesn't really give you huge advantage since you can no longer reach caps on crit + mastery + finesse without full new gear. Also mits are terrible in DPS gear unless you use new gear. And honestly with improved animation time you can still stack all big bleeds without the set unless it's a mobile fight.
For tanking...you won't be able to cap mits+ avoids on a non warden tank. With T3 gear maybe it is possible to cap mitigations fully on guard or captain and still get some spot for other essences but if that's the case then wardens will be able to save at least 2 physical and 3 tactical mitigation essences only with conviction, leaving spot to a huge morale increase, huge incoming healing or even some offensive stats or crit for self healing. All that considering bpe completely useless for all new instances tanking which it isn't. I'd say you can save at least the worth of 6 essences on warden only with easily sustainable self buffs over a captain or guardian.
We can get lot of stat ratings from gambit buffs which worth lot of essence slots, this is true, but guardians with their passive % boosts save lot of essence slots too. How many essence slots worth guardian's passive buffs +10% armour, +5% block, +5% parry, +5% incomming healing. They have also lot more armour on their gear, which is free stat bonus over medium tanks.
Compare tanks with survival skills and their potency and cooldowns. For that perspective, warden is not so good
Guardian: Jugernaut, Pledge, Redirect, Warrior's Heart, Catch a Breath
Captain: Last Stand, Shield of Dunadain
Warden: Never Surrender, Resolution on many mobs
Laurelin: Kinship - Outcasts
Ilwee - Warden, Krindel - Minstrel, Krinborn - Lore-Master, Gislin - Burglar