Stalwart Soul Leveling Unlock Tweak

I find it absurd that DRK gets its AOE finisher all the way at lv72 while literally every other Tank including GNB gets it at lv40!

They should put Stalwart Soul as the level 45 quest reward that only restores MP since it's just blank right now and PLD/WAR's lv40 quests reward it with GNB being the exception with just getting it. So it wouldn't be too much of a gap compared to the other tanks. Not the first time a level unlocks two separate skills anyway.

In the lv72 slot just replace it with a trait that gives Stalwart Soul the Blood Gauge increase effect when landing a combo like WAR's Mastering the Beast trait at lv74. Maybe just call it "Enhanced Stalwart Soul" to save the devs the trouble.

Dark Knight is just boring to play in general this expansion... You're better off playing a different class/job/role if it's that big of a deal. Or play different game altogether that's fun to play in general.

And the fact that Stalwart Soul comes so late is partialy compensated by the fact that Unleash hits harder than any other aoe tank initial combo, but yes DRK issues run far deeper than lacking the full aoe combo for longer than other tanks. Heck in general in this expansion both tank and healing are a real mess

DRK gets Flood of Darkness at 30. You can't compare all the tanks' AoE potential just by looking at their AoE skillchains.

Code:

Lv Pot. Action Remarks DRK ** Darkside Always-on 10% bonus 06 150 Unleash 30 250 Flood of Darkness oGCD but MP-dependent; I don't have average number of uses per timespan available 52 300 Salted Earth 1 per 1m30 56 200 Abyssal Drain 1 per 60s 64 210 Quietus Gauge 72 160 Stalwart Soul 74 300 Flood of Shadow Replaces Flood of Darkness WAR ** Berserk Forces Crit/DHit for 10s every 90s 10 130 Overpower 40 200 Mythril Tempest 45 220* Steel Cyclone Gauge. When forced Crit/DHit, more like 410 60 250* Decimate Gauge. When forced Crit/Dhit, more like 460. 72 400 Chaotic Cyclone Replaces 1 Decimate per 30s. When forced Crit/Dhit, more like 750 PLD ** Fight or Flight 25% bonus for 25s every 60s 06 120 Total Eclipse 40 220 Prominence 50 295 Circle of Scorn 25s 72 375 Holy Circle Replaces 2.5 Prominence Combos per 60s, a gain of 1025 80 1,200 Confiteor Replaces 1 Holy Circle per 60s, a further gain of 825 per 60s GNB ** No Mercy 20% bonus for 20s every 60s 10 150 Demon Slice 40 250 Demon Slaughter 62 650 Bow Shock 1 per 60s 72 320 Fated Circle Gauge Rough AoE Weaponskill potency per minute at Lv30 DRK: 150 / 2.5 * 60 = 3,600 (3,960 with Darkside) WAR: 130 / 2.5 * 60 = 3,120 (3,575 with Berserk *assuming 1.5x crit multiplier) PLD: 120 / 2.5 * 60 = 2,880 (3,180 with Fight or Flight) GNB: 150 / 2.5 * 60 = 3,600 (3,840 with No Mercy) Rough AoE Skillchain potency per minute at Lv40 DRK: 150 / 2.5 * 60 = 3,600 (3,960 with Darkside) WAR: (130 + 200) / 5.0 * 60 = 3,960 (4,538 with Berserk *assuming 1.5x crit multiplier) PLD: (120 + 220) / 5.0 * 60 = 4,080 (4,505 with Fight or Flight) GNB: (150 + 250) / 5.0 * 60 = 4,800 (5,120 with No Mercy)

In terms of Floods of Darkness, DRK is behind GNB by 4.22 Floods of Darkness per minute at Lv40. I don't have exact numbers on how quickly DRK refreshes MP, but as Flood of Darkness only costs 3/10 of a bar, this doesn't sound like a problem since by Lv40 they have Blood Weapon to restore MP every 60s.

i consider they should reconsider the AoE gameplay of DRK extensively not bcs of dps potential but engaging gameplay, it was just perfect and the most rewarding part of the job on SB, the way they reduce it to current mindless rotation and force you to literally spam unleash over 72 levels with a ocasional oGCD and quietus spam is extremly dull considering how deep and interesting it use to be play with your resources and diferent attacks before, and getting stalwart soul just don't make it really more interesting at all.

They need to look at all of the tanks AoE kits, PLD is the only one in a good position if you discount holy circle.

Warrior gets their 2 part early yes BUT it doesn’t build beast gauge until into the 70s, you’ll hardly ever use steel cyclone or decimate outside of popping an infuriate or when you get inner release.

GBR has both of their AoE attacks early as well, however they don’t get a way to spend cartridges on AoE until in the 70s again.

DRK doesn’t get their second AoE until into the 70s, on top of not being able to build blood via AoE meaning quietus will only see use during delirium phases.

PLD has both of their base combo AoE skills at low level and gauge is used strictly on support skills, Holy Spirit comes early but can’t be relied upon for damage until requiescat and the trait that reduces the mp cost by half, and even then it still has a cast bar until you get another trait and access to holy circle in the 70s.

Imo all of these kits need to be looked at in some capacity because of either how late they come or not being able to use or generate resources from them.

On this note, please give PLD their dash before level 74!

They did make things a little boring for DRK yeah, but I still enjoy myself! I just look at someone leveling the job from 30 to 50 and thinking of that experience vs some of the other jobs from 1 to 50.