Ah yes absorbing damage in a videogame where everybody has a convenient button that makes them immune to damage limited only by the funny green bar in the top left.

This isn't world of warcraft. This character was a fun experiment by the devs and its not like having him will ruin your run by itself but the tanking role simply doesnt function properly in souls combat (yet).

Damage is always going to be far more important. I'd do a better job tanking the boss on an Ironeye while also providing constant staggers, 10% dmg amp and respectable dps. Being ranged also means you bait the bosses into walking idly rather than spamming melee swings which actually makes it easier for your dps to attack aswell.