How is DRK supposed to be played?

Hey all,

Been playing DRK in PvP for quite some time. From my experience, it has this "high risk high reward" playstyle, but I struggle pretty hard with it.

A way I can sum up how I think it's supposed to be played:

Let the enemy team get me low enough so I can deal good damage, while using TBN to get free ShB procs and use Bloodspiller to deal 10-12k damage.

I save my LB for times when I need to hold up the cargo, but I can never do anything when I use it cause I get CC'd all the way till Undead Rebirth runs out.


It's probably me being trash, but DRK doesn't feel as powerful as it should feel. Can I get some tips?

Letting the enemy hit you can be a good thing for a DRK but do note that you will disappear if they finish you off with a silence or stun. Only play to your kit if you are confident you can take the damage i.e 1v1s.

Best to play safe, like a more timid WAR.

As for making the most out of your Limit break, imo its best as a damage all in tool than a delaying tool. Sure you can try to delay but as you realised, it doesn't take much for a smart team to simply pepper you with CC and not allow you to heal one bit. You do more damage the more health you have (its BS I know), which goes up to 20k. Its a good way to burst down a group so align it with another LB (WHM's Stun Laser, DRG's Sky Shatter, SAM's Zantetsuken, etc, etc).

Delaying use cases are slim so don't beat yourself up if you don't manage to stop the team alone, Guard only lasts that long and Purify can only get you so far.

This is what I do now:

You either try to bait all CC with TBN Guard then heal back with salted earth and quietus.

Offensive Engage (Plunge to chase):
TBN> Sprint > GCD> Salted Earth > GCD/Quietus > Salted Earth > Quietus
You can use SB after any gcd if you are good on life but you want to end the combo with quietus to heal back.

Deffensive Engage (use guard whenever after first saltes earth)
TBN/Plunge > GCD> Salted Earth > GCD/Quietus > Salted Earth > Quietus


Plunge:
Try to use plunge on sure dead targets or coordinate with your party so you can abuse it. (Dont engage with it -for kills- because its our only mobility tool)
Its fine to use this to quickly get in the crystal.

Salted Earth:
The area of salted earth is mitigation for you and damage up for opponents, you can place it in the middle of the enemies get low and guard and you'll get the regen and mitigation on top of guard. (Both Guard and Salted Earth are on 30 secs CD)

LB:
LB does more damage on activation the more life you have. Your priorities are focusing a target with SS to heal enough to spam SB and stay at low HP. This LB is really weak to CC.
If you manage to not get CC'd to death during LB you can squeze 3 or 4 gdc.
So combo without TBN popped: BS -> Soul Eater combo>SB -> BS-> Quietus
With TBN or Killing SS target: BS>SB -> BS>SB -> BS -> Quietus
Sadly the healing from GCDs is not immediaty so you need to do one filler GCD to weave SB.
Also Quietus heals double during LB so ending with that will give you a chunck of life.

Party Utility:
TBN and Salted Earth can help save a party member.
Plunge is great in a coordinated party that chain CCs and focus a single target.
Salted Earth pulls enemies in but the 2nd cast for the root can be somewhat unreliable (enemies can jump off after first cast)

These are actually really good tips. Thanks for enlightening me you two! Just did a match using what I've been told and it went much better for me.

Cheers!