Issues dodging as a melee DPS.

Hello everyone so I recently got a DRG to lvl 50 and I'm gong through the endgame stuff. Problem is on many encounters I seem to be having issues dodging various bosses moves (Titan HM had some trouble on Copperbell HM). Not sure if it may be related to internet or me just failing. It seems like sometimes i make it out of the move yet am hit anyway or it seems even when the move starts its just impossible to get out in time. I kinda feel like I'm just not cut out for a melee DPS so any kind of pointers or tips would be much appreciated thanks in advance.

Have you set your game movement style to classic? If your character do back steps when you press back step key, you need to change the movement setting so that your character run backward.

Some endgame stuff can be intimidating for a fresh 50 melee. A lot of it is knowing what and when things are coming. As you practice these fights you will find yourself getting better and better as you start to know what the fight is. If per chance it is lag, there is a free trial of WTFast I'd recommend trying. It solved the lag issues on my end at least (SE is a whole other story there). Just remember if any part of you is in the aoe indicator when it disappears you are considered "in it". Also, don't "hug" a mob, stand as far away as you can without going out of range of hitting it so you have less ground to cover to get out of the circular aoe's. I'd consider myself mediocre at best so someone might have better advice but these things have helped me.

Best thing to do is spend time focusing on your rotation (target dummy practice) until you've got it down by muscle memory. This will boost your awareness as you don't need to spend much attention to what you plan on doing next. Use this awareness to pay attention to what the boss is doing and enviornmental hazards. Recognize patterns in the boss behavior (you can learn when a wicked wheel is coming from garuda for example) to avoid unecessary damage. Eventually you'll learn when it's safe to activate blood for blood and your jumps.

It could be that your internet is letting you down as well. I had real trouble till I installed leatrix, and now I find mechanics manageable and less difficult. For any fight you are new to, leave your jumps out of rotation until you know when it is safe. In Copperbell HM could it be that you are getting hit by the final boss's 'Power Strike' (<== i think thats what its called) anyways, its a very fast cast and I have never dodged it myself. I don't like to say that marked aoe's are 'impossible' to dodge but that one... i don't know yet how.

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Originally Posted by Warrlordd

In Copperbell HM could it be that you are getting hit by the final boss's 'Power Strike' (<== i think thats what its called) anyways, its a very fast cast and I have never dodged it myself. I don't like to say that marked aoe's are 'impossible' to dodge but that one... i don't know yet how.

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I found the only way I could dodge it is to already be running or move preemptively. Your character has this little slower animation where they start running so if you're just standing still you probably won't be able to dodge it. Alternatively Elusive Jump if drg.

Agreed with the more you do the fights the more you get used to them and expect whats coming in addition, and classic movement will help you for more then 1 reason.
Dodging in straight lines is your enemy you need to curve or "staple"
Once you are out use something so it knows your out if you can
Don't attack on your way out

Why below, you can stop reading if you don't care why.
The game does not use true positioning, it predicts where you are at based on its last 3 good sample points which have various triggers and a 4th point that it assumes you will be in. These are automatically every .22 seconds when you are in a static position or moving linearly. So if you do not just a technique to create more of these points once you are out then you need to be out for almost a full second to be out server side. Other triggers are when initiating an ability, completing an ability (same info as initiating in this case), when it receives erratic control inputs (non-linear) these are sampled ever .03 seconds once detected by the server. Once it receives a new point it corrects your position as seen on the server.

Ensuring you remove the position checks inside the aoe should be your objective once out.

Curving during the whole dodge the server is constantly updating your position every .3 after the initial .66 seconds it takes the server to recognize non-linear movement across the entire dodge. This isn't always possible when you are trying to clear larger circular aoes (wotl)

Stapling at the end, of a dodge forces the server to pick up additional positional checks outside of the aoe. In this case you are already laying down a line of checks so the last on on the staple takes .28 seconds to lay your 3 down outside the aoe as opposed to the .66 once you are out if you continue to run or just stop in place.

Using an ability lays down 3 checks at the same time in the case of instant use abilities, the server will predict your position is static because the only checks it has to work with are in one spot the pick up time is .22 seconds if you are out. The problem is if you use an ability while you are still in it takes its 3 check from the position you used the ability in. This makes the server predict your movement and thus position as slower from that point to the remainder of your dodge.Assuming you are barely making it out on your screen before said aoe goes off the server still registers you as inside it based on its prediction model.

Playing a melee class, if it is Dragoon or Monk, is going to take time learning what the boss does. Nothing much different then what everyone else here has posted for you mate. Most of the bosses, have a set rotation of abilities they will cycle through, in a set order. Learning these orders will be key for any melee. Even with a great connection, if you are new to the encounter, until you learn it will be rough on you.

Many people here already have pointed out things about your connection. Latency plays a big part in any online game. Battleping is my option of choice, but there are many different ones out there. I like the others, Battleping has a trial version that you can download and try out for free, just will DC you from game after 20 mins while using the trial.

The best fight I can suggest using something to test your latency, would be Titan HD. Seeing the plumes getting outside of them but still getting hit, to seeing them and dancing on the edge of a plume is a major difference. Works well the the trial of Battleping as well, since you have plenty of time to see the effect it has on your game.

So in my opinion, it is probably a little combination of both, learning mechanics of end game, and latency.

For keyboard...
- set a camera lock button on my mouse
- change my A and D keys from rotate to strafe (move left and right)
- lock the camera and run around for smaller mobs with directional attacks
- unlock the camera and land positionals within the models of larger bosses
- pop defensive cool downs proactively and move through the boss to the tank position in an emergency to avoid rear attacks (some fights you should never ever do this bit it's ok with many)

I feel safer on Titan H on MNK than SMN.

Thanks a ton for all the advice! I'll definitely put all this to the test I printed out a rotation for Titan HM so with all the stuff going on with that fight I feel if I get the hang of all that I'll be a bit more confident in my ability also I am using mouse and keyboard I have a controller for the computer does that work a bit better with melee in anybody's experience.

G13 gamepad here, works fine with no issues what so ever.
I do not use the set up from SE, just my own that I have grown accustom to in other games

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Originally Posted by Faeye

Have you set your game movement style to classic? If your character do back steps when you press back step key, you need to change the movement setting so that your character run backward.

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Not always a the preferred style. I play DRG in end-game content and personally I prefer Legacy controls, but its just a matter of preference.