Torcleaver numbers.

[Quetzacoatl]

I happen to take DRK very seriously, mainly because its such a god awful job compared to others, so you absolutely cannot half ass it. So whats the point of playing it if you arent playing to be the absolute very best?

Gradd nailed it right on the head here- we're under the influence that DRK is a very poor job on its own, so we DRKs end up creating an absolutist mentality that we have to go after Empyreans, Relics, and the highest-quality gear possible to make up for the fact that we can't even be on par with average DD jobs. Unfortunately, it's all true. Our mechanics hinder our ability to be useful among the community- "If you're not a DRK with the absolute best stuff, then you can kindly f%#@ off."

It's even easier when you lose faith in your job when you get beaten out by a WAR who hasn't even put the time or effort into his gear (think Perle and a mix of pre-abyssea gear) and can pull out better numbers than a DRK who has worked all his life to make his job become worthwhile. Even SAMs and DRGs can topple DRK for what it is: A Damage Dealer. What should be happening is, a highly dedicated WAR of the same quality of those DRKs I've described should be the ones we DRKs should humbly accept defeat to.

Apocalypse? A THF or NIN can hit harder and faster compared to what the aftermath can offer us now. Quietus? LOL CRITICAL-HIT WEAPON SKILLS. Ragnarok? Close, but it's hard to tell its standing with how underused Great Swords are. The only weapon really worth it is Caladbolg, because Torcleaver really reflects what we desire so much- to be on par with other DDs. Now, I'm not saying a DRK should be better than a WAR...but the job needs some desperate help at this time of the game to make all the growing DRKs like myself be satisfied knowing our job isn't an endless struggle to compete in the DD department, and all the Empyrean and relic holders can make more bloodshed than before.

If I want to play WAR, I'd rather play WAR, simple as that. But don't tell us that because our melee capability is hindered so much that we should play another job instead. Yes, the fact that we also have black magical capabilities doesn't mean all of our spells are useful. But the spells we use often (Stun, Absorb-TP, Drain, Drain II, Aspir, Aspir II, Dread Spikes) are all we really need currently, but we would humbly accept worthwhile upgrades to our magical ability as long as it helps our melee output in the meantime.

I tried not to turn this into another "DRK is low tier wah wah" post, but I felt compelled to analyze what Gradd said here.