Bard Defensive Cross Class: Featherfoot vs Keen Flurry?

The core cross class skills I plan to take are:
Second Wind
Internal Release
Invigorate
Blood for Blood

That leaves one spot for either Featherfoot (15% evade for 10s) or Keen Flurry (+80% parry for 20s) unless someone can make a good argument for one of the other cross class skills available.

With our high dex, our parry rate should be pretty high with the +80%, but without much strength on our end game gear, would it even block much? Evasion on the other hand I assume evades 100% of the damage? For now, I'm planning on Featherfoot, but was curious what others were taking.

Feint is actually really nice if you can take it. The 20% slow works on just about everything and can really cripple a boss's DPS.

But of those two, Featherfoot is usually better. If a higher-level boss attacks you, keen flurry will not save you.

i use haymaker instead of feint, i put in the macro

misery's end
bloodletter
haymaker
heavy shot

more damage, trigger when needed, slow added.

Btw featherfoot is better, you gonna move a lot, so is better to dodge than to parry. Also, better dodge trigger better haymaker.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I use Feint while soloing, but wasn't sure if I would need to be responsible for applying that in group content. I heard it has diminishing returns, so don't want to interfere if tank or another is already applying a slow. I'll slot it for sure though if no one else is. I'll plan to use Featherfoot for the most part and try out Haymaker until I unlock Blood for Blood--my lancer is still in the 20s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MudMonster

I heard it has diminishing returns, so don't want to interfere if tank or another is already applying a slow.

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Well only the following jobs can apply a Slow effect (unless summoner or scholar can provide one):
Warriors (Haymaker, lasts 12s)
Dragoons (Feint, 20s / Haymaker, 12s)
Monks (Feint 10s / Haymaker, 12s)
Bards (Feint, 10s / Haymaker, 12s)

The downside of Haymaker in group content is that it requires you to be attacked with a physical attack, and then for you to dodge it. Since Bards (usually) stand far enough back to avoid most PBAoE attacks, this means that it only applies when they have agro. Meanwhile Feint you can use whenever. The only time you don't need to do it is if you have a Dragoon with it, since theirs lasts twice as long and doesn't require them to pick it up from a cross-class thing.

I would go with featherfoot, because honestly you'd need a defensive cd to use. Feint's not as necessary in end-game raids in my opinion. That's pretty much the same cross skill set-up that I have too.