Trying to understand the complaints about DRK

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SleepyNeko

Also Raw Intuition/Bulwark > Dark Mind for fluff.

---

Tell me again how that's working out for you in o5s and o6s. Also, you don't use DM for fluff. TBN zeros out autos, and can be used frequently on demand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hierro

Tell me again how that's working out for you in o5s and o6s. Also, you don't use DM for fluff. TBN zeros out autos, and can be used frequently on demand.

---

I still do not know why most players do not understand this. Use tbn for fluff, and use darkmind/shadow wall for tank busters. Unless the boss is full magical, then yea add dark mind in for fluff with tbn. A 16k shield for fluff every 15 - 25 secs is pretty solid mitigation if you ask me. Just try your best to make sure you time it right and make it pop, so you can get as many blood spillers as possible.

If TBN was actually dps neutral, then you could certainly throw it out on random autos. It's not.

The dps value of TBN is variable. In some cases the blood gain is greater than the MP cost, as tends to be the case during raid burst windows. On average, though, it works out to be a minor dps loss.

This shouldn't discourage you from using it when you need to mitigate a cleave or tankbuster. But it's a bit of a waste to use it frivolously. If you're unsure of this, look up DRKs who are trying to optimise for speedruns. You'll find a much lower rate of TBN usage in general (on the order of 1-2 times per fight). I'm not saying that you should necessarily emulate this, but it's worth noting.

I think that TBN's design tries to be clever with its resource juggling, but falls a little short because the rest of DRK's kit doesn't really take full advantage of blood - MP conversions. If it's supposed to be a focal mechanic, they should've gone the route of turning DRK into a full Zarya tank. Throw out shields, hit harder, throw out more shields.

From the way people talk about IB, you'd think that nobody ever uses it. If so, they should consider just replacing IB with FC in Defiance during the next job action crunch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lyth

If TBN was actually dps neutral, then you could certainly throw it out on random autos. It's not.

The dps value of TBN is variable. In some cases the blood gain is greater than the MP cost, as tends to be the case during raid burst windows. On average, though, it works out to be a minor dps loss.

This shouldn't discourage you from using it when you need to mitigate a cleave or tankbuster. But it's a bit of a waste to use it frivolously. If you're unsure of this, look up DRKs who are trying to optimise for speedruns. You'll find a much lower rate of TBN usage in general (on the order of 1-2 times per fight). I'm not saying that you should necessarily emulate this, but it's worth noting.

---

Square should just make bloodspillers from TBN popping a obvious dps gain. From 400 to 500 potency would be nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rubytoe

Square should just make bloodspillers from TBN popping a obvious dps gain. From 400 to 500 potency would be nice.

---

The problem is, if TBN use is a flat DPS gain, then TBN becomes a DPS ability and you stop using it when it matters, but as much as possible.

Ah, TBN...so incredibly controversial. I feel like most of the problems Dark Knight is facing currently can be directly or indirectly traced back to it. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised then, that those most satisfied with Dark Knight currently are the biggest fans of this skill. I am not, however. It's a very cool concept that I like, but the implementation is maddeningly frustrating at worst, and feeling like it's missing something at best. I still feel Reprisal was a better fit for Dark Knight's skillset and wish they would have expanded on that instead of replace it entirely.

I personally feel with less spammy and dumbed down Dark Arts, TBN being reworked into something a bit less frustrating, and a little bit more damage overall, I'd be satisfied with Dark Knight for the rest of the expansion.

Of course, some kind of Souleater function out of Grit, Blood Price/Weapon being unlocked, Syphon Strike's silly dark arts effect being removed and shuffled into more Dark Passenger usage, some kind of knockback prevention or increased range for Plunge, Living Dead being less obtuse, all these would be kind of wishlist stuff but give me the aforementioned 3 things and I'd be alright with whatever place Dark Knight falls in the tank balance shenanigans until 5.0.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lyth

If TBN was actually dps neutral, then you could certainly throw it out on random autos. It's not.

The dps value of TBN is variable. In some cases the blood gain is greater than the MP cost, as tends to be the case during raid burst windows. On average, though, it works out to be a minor dps loss.

This shouldn't discourage you from using it when you need to mitigate a cleave or tankbuster. But it's a bit of a waste to use it frivolously. If you're unsure of this, look up DRKs who are trying to optimise for speedruns. You'll find a much lower rate of TBN usage in general (on the order of 1-2 times per fight). I'm not saying that you should necessarily emulate this, but it's worth noting.

I think that TBN's design tries to be clever with its resource juggling, but falls a little short because the rest of DRK's kit doesn't really take full advantage of blood - MP conversions. If it's supposed to be a focal mechanic, they should've gone the route of turning DRK into a full Zarya tank. Throw out shields, hit harder, throw out more shields.

---

It's not that bad. Looking at top 5 DRKs on godka, 3 of those used TBN ~1 time per minute, one didn't use it at all (?) and one used it nearly 2 times per minute. We are talking about the very top here. You probably could use it on cooldown (when it breaks ofc) and still get into 95+

Personally I don't like blood mechanic at all. I'd prefer them to just build on mana bar instead of adding totally separate resource. Feels clunky and forced.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Megguido

The problem is, if TBN use is a flat DPS gain, then TBN becomes a DPS ability and you stop using it when it matters, but as much as possible.

---

but that'd be up to the player's choice. Just like how black mage has to decide to move out an aoe and loose dps, or eat it "possibly die" and keep casting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rubytoe

but that'd be up to the player's choice. Just like how black mage has to decide to move out an aoe and loose dps, or eat it "possibly die" and keep casting.

---

You don't eat anything without the expressed permission and frustration of the healer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Megguido

The problem is, if TBN use is a flat DPS gain, then TBN becomes a DPS ability and you stop using it when it matters, but as much as possible.

---

I disagree, even with a change to 500 potency TBN returns would still be lower than sheltron returns on procing shield swipe at a 100 potency increase. People weren't standing in avoidable aoes for 150 potency, they aren't standing in avoidable damage for 100 potency, I doubt they would stand in avoidable damage for even less reward.

More parallels to sheltron, as long as you have enough guage to hit Sheltron when you need it you’ll be fine. If we switch one Dark Arts cast to one TBN it will hardly effect much except making us slightly more tanky.