Is Drk ok or should I level Pld? (also one other tank question)

Hello everyone. I've been wanting to work on other class since I finished Rdm and Smn and I don't really have anything left to do with my Smn at the moment. I was considering Drk since I did play it briefly in Heavensward, but due to a bad first run of Weeping City I had quit the job. I'm wanting to go back to tanking to try to redeem myself, but I'm wondering if Drk is still a good job to play or should I jump onto the Pld bandwagon?

Also, on a slightly related and not related note, what stats should I focus on as a tank?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Renryuu

Hello everyone. I've been wanting to work on other class since I finished Rdm and Smn and I don't really have anything left to do with my Smn at the moment. I was considering Drk since I did play it briefly in Heavensward, but due to a bad first run of Weeping City I had quit the job. I'm wanting to go back to tanking to try to redeem myself, but I'm wondering if Drk is still a good job to play or should I jump onto the Pld bandwagon?

Also, on a slightly related and not related note, what stats should I focus on as a tank?

---

You should get used to bad runs. The main reason most people say or what I ve been told from others folks that they don't want to tank is the fear of messing up. It will happen and it's not a big deal. You have to learn new class and mechanics and positioning so you don't have the boss towards group and etc. Start with harder dungeons and then try out Savage content as learning party. Just don't give up after 1 bad run.

If you're afraid of messing up, why not try tanking in Command Missions for a while? At least then if you mess up you don't have to worry about the other people since they're all AI.

Then once you're comfortable enough with those, work your way up to instances with real people, and eventually high end instances.

All jobs are still good jobs to play. Even though DRK is considered "not as good" for this patch as other tanks, that didn't stop World First winners from having one. In the end it'll end up more about mastering your skills than what's "better".

Play what you like the best. If I would have to be playing the best class and I wouldn't enjoy it, I would count it as a wasted time. Don't focus on Meta. All 3 tanks are viable, pick the one that suits you and your playstyle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DamianTenbe

You should get used to bad runs. The main reason most people say or what I ve been told from others folks that they don't want to tank is the fear of messing up. It will happen and it's not a big deal. You have to learn new class and mechanics and positioning so you don't have the boss towards group and etc. Start with harder dungeons and then try out Savage content as learning party. Just don't give up after 1 bad run.

---

Thank you, but I think I may have miscommunicated why I quit. It wasn't really just 1 bad run since before that moment I had done numerous dungeon runs and was loving tanking even when I made mistakes. This particular run was extremely bad because my friend decided he wanted to run with me (who at the time claimed to be a pld master tank despite having never tanked since Nin came out) and he kept giving me strategies that were the complete opposite of what the group was trying to explain to me, which resulted in me dying a lot because of being so utterly confused that I ended up giving up tanking since I didn't want to deal with my friend any more at the time. Now he's finally admitted to giving up on tanking in favor of being a SAM main, so I figure now is a good time to try tanking once more now that my friend can't try to give me tanking advice now that he admits to giving up on tanking. Now it's just a problem of choosing which sword tank to go for lol.

Well then to answer your question.
From best to last.
1. Paladin. 2. Warrior. 3. Dark night
Why? Paladin offers self heal, party wide mitigation, reasonable damage, ranged cleves and good mitigation.

I think that is how most of the tank community feels. I personally play WAR, PLD. DRK not so much. It just doesn't do the job for me after Stormblood. Its all my thoughts tho.

Alrighty, I'll try to level up Pld and see if I can find joy in playing it like I do with Drk. So far my pld is around 42 so I dunno if this is just a dull point of Pld or not, but perhaps playing it in PoTD may give me a better idea of it to see if I'd enjoy it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Renryuu

I'm wondering if Drk is still a good job to play or should I jump onto the WARRIOR bandwagon?

---

Put on your big boy subligar and pay Curious Gorge a visit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Anienai

Put on your big boy subligar and pay Curious Gorge a visit.

---

But... warriors don't use swords :(

Also I ended up on Warrior in Heavensward and was the job I ended up quitting tanking on. Dunno if it's better, worse, or the same.

Tbh, pld is pretty boring at 70. Nothing really changes. Oooh RA combo at 60 and an actual dps use for mp with Holy Spirit, yippee!! lol. But it’s the safest play get getting back on the tank wagon. Drk is in such a bad spot, it’s not even worth picking up to take it to max until it gets some love.

I'll attempt to go into detail after this "over simplified" comparison.

Going from 1-5, where 1 is being bad, and 5 is being good.
Lets say your personal skill at a job is a 1
performance is going to roughly be;
(1)
DRK > PLD > WAR

then going to
(3) PLD > DRK > WAR

then going to
(5)
WAR > PLD > DRK

It's a bit weird, but if you're really bad at the game, you're better off being DRK.
If your mediocre, then PLD will be a better fit.
If you're really good, then WAR will be a better fit.

Of course "difficulty" varies from person to person, but this is a generalization that should fit the largest number of people.

Now for more complexity.

DRK is meant to sacrifice its MP to try and match what the other tanks do.

So it can try to use MP for trash pulls, to gain more mitigation.
It can use MP for mitigating tank busters.
It can use MP to help a party member survive an attack, maybe.
You can use MP to help mitigate magical attacks.
You can spend MP to gain more enmity.

but MP is used for DPS, so you can use MP to raise your DPS.

These are all "Catch up" options, to help you catch up to PLD and WAR.
but in most cases, spending the MP on anything short of DPS, means ur going to lag further behind in DPS from the other tanks. (And atm, DRK is just barely under both tanks in DPS, even if all MP is devoted to DPS)
So if you spend your MP solely for DPS gains, you now lost out on some of your options.

But if you pretend you had those options anyways, DRK has less "filler" mitigation for auto attacks/cleaves, compared to the other tanks.
So when a boss uses a big attack, you're always ready, but for medium/light attacks, you'll find yourself out of mitigations to use. (Luckily a healer can just waste more MP and carry you. Though they would contribute less DPS probably)

You're defensive utility is a single target ability, while PLD and WAR have a similar buff that protects the WHOLE party, not just one person.
So you best be picking the ONE person you feel will die that moment. (Anyone else will just have to die, if they would have died. But luckily not too much content atm requires this save, just unlucky situations. And Healers may or may not have to spend another AoE heal on the group)

You're enmity is lower than the other tanks, unless you spend your MP, then its higher.
But spending your MP is a DPS loss.
Using enmity moves is a DPS loss in all tanks most of the time, but its an even bigger loss on DRK.

If your group doesnt have a NIN, SAM, or WAR for some reason, you'll also be contributing less DPS, since you cant put up a slashing debuff like WAR can.

Normally DRKs living dead is considered pretty useful, but current content makes it worse than hallowed ground/holmgang. (maybe next patch cycle will change that, as its really dependent on when bosses use mechanics)

The hardest content doesnt require the extra defensive utility of PLD/WAR, nor does it require the extra threat/DPS they offer. So its possible to beat content as DRK, but you would be making it slightly harder.
But if you find DRK fun, stick with it. Pick a group of people who dont mind.

But I should mention DRK is better with sustained AoE DPS in dungeons (with WAR being the better burst AoE tank), and people tell me they are great for PvP, though i prefer my PLD for PvP

Play the one you like the best. PLD is probably better over all, but DRK can still clear the content. Hopefully SE Fixes it soon.

Play the one that makes the most sense to you and one that you will have fun with.
There is plenty of information and statistics about which one is best at any given time.
However, my tanks are:
DRK lvl 70
WAR lvl 61
PLD lvl 23

DRK "feels" right for me and I like the story. PLD is lamelist - too much goody two shoes. WAR got lost after SB :confused:

So "my" order is opposite of what is recommended because of how it "feels". :cool:

Have fun!

DRK isn't bad but it's not anything special. PLD is the way to go. (I say this as a war main)

Lv WAR. At it's current pace of getting buffs you will be able to solo all content in a couple patches

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Renryuu

Hello everyone. I've been wanting to work on other class since I finished Rdm and Smn and I don't really have anything left to do with my Smn at the moment. I was considering Drk since I did play it briefly in Heavensward, but due to a bad first run of Weeping City I had quit the job. I'm wanting to go back to tanking to try to redeem myself, but I'm wondering if Drk is still a good job to play or should I jump onto the Pld bandwagon?

Also, on a slightly related and not related note, what stats should I focus on as a tank?

---

To be honest it depends on your play style. I prefer overall DRK and second PLD depending on content. I keep WAR as well maxed in case certain groups prefer that, yet over all I main DRK. IF you specialize in playing tank roles though I would suggest having PLD specially if your doing endgame. WAR and DRK would depend more on you or if your int a pleasing the crowed and they want that. Otherwise DRK should be fine as long as you have mastered DRK arts and are not one of those DRK who think they know how to tank with out taking full advantage of it skills. Sorry I main Tank DRK and hate seeing people who think they know DRK and reality lack knowledge. Practice, learn how all skills work, and manage your MP for Darkside. I also hope you know how Shirk works with tanks...if you don't then I may suggest you learn how to use it specially on swaps.

PLD is the easiest to learn and master in my opinion just make sure you know your rotations on mobs and such.

All tanks are viable. Personally I use PLD for 8 man stuff and DRK for 4 man. I also find DRK a tad more fun.

Shake it off was a mistake.

Play both tanks and look which one you like more. Some classes are in a good place and others need a little bit love, just know that just because class X is in a good place right now, doesnt mean it will stay like that. Having leveled all 3 tanks and tanked level 70 dungeons time, I can tell you that all 3 are viable. Personaly, Paladin was the easiest for me to play, I had alot of defensive buffs, self-heal and AoE tanking is very easy with the new level 40 skill.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DamianTenbe

Well then to answer your question.
From best to last.
1. Paladin. 2. Warrior. 3. Dark night
Why? Paladin offers self heal, party wide mitigation, reasonable damage, ranged cleves and good mitigation.

I think that is how most of the tank community feels. I personally play WAR, PLD. DRK not so much. It just doesn't do the job for me after Stormblood. Its all my thoughts tho.

---

Pffft, you mean Paladins offer a nice comfy blanket and some coco for people who need their noses wiped for them. Pick a warrior if you're hanging out with MEN (Or some extremely violent WOMEN) and you want to have fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Galgarion

WARRIOR

---

Dilly dilly

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Galgarion

Pffft, you mean Paladins offer a nice comfy blanket and some coco for people who need their noses wiped for them. Pick a warrior if you're hanging out with MEN (Or some extremely violent WOMEN) and you want to have fun.

---

I'd have thought the deluge of Warrior tears back at Stormbloods release would have killed this extreme MAN mode meme.

You guys handled your nerfing in 4.0 with all the manliness of a toddler :p .

I was sub DRK in Heavensward, but not anymore in Stormblood.

But first of all, anything can be played with the DRK. Anything. If you want to play DRK, so go playing DRK.

On the other hand, DRK is the worst tank between the three. Less CDs, and surely the worst rotation (very easy and quite always the same).

Hello, so I finally managed to get Pld to 60 and I find that I'm enjoying it just as much as I do Drk (in some ways a tad more since I'm not dealing with Dark Arts lol). Also I notice something of an oddity with myself. Usually when I try to level melee dps, I struggle to do so and most often give up on leveling them in favor of going back to a caster job. Same with Brd and Mch, always ditching them to go back to Smn (and Rdm when it first came out). However when it comes to tanks, I can level them up with no problem and even enjoy the process. Paladin was the only tank that I couldn't level for a long while and that was because it always felt too simple to me in the early levels. Also when it comes to playing melee, I'd much prefer and very much enjoy being one of the tanks over being a melee dps. Heck, I could even see myself giving up my casters in favor of tanking. It's just so weird to me that I would always go for a dps job and be afraid of tanking and yet now it's tanking that I'm starting to enjoy more and the whole dps racing that I dislike.

I am playing DRK in SB, however I only run lvl 70 content on my DRK. For any content under lvl 70 such as leveling roulettes, mentor roulette, trials roulette, etc. I use PLD, this is due to the defensive kit for DRK being far behind the other 2 tanks in content outside of lvl70. Even at lvl70 PLD's kit is far superior and has better DPS. But I prefer DRK because that is my favorite job to play.

I levelled all tanks but find Dark Knight the most fun for some reason, followed by Warrior and then Paladin. :)

If you like the idea, theme, and feel of DRK more than PLD, play DRK.

DRK is a bit behind PLD and WAR at the moment, but isn't horribly far behind and is completely viable for all content.

If you do want to constantly play the meta tanks, you will need to level all of them anyway, including DRK, because the balance is subject to change

One of the glaring problems with DRK is that it just doesn't suit the meta of this tier. Who knows, maybe next tier will sport tank buster magic dmg constantly throughout all 4 instances? That would be nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Warrlordd

One of the glaring problems with DRK is that it just doesn't suit the meta of this tier. Who knows, maybe next tier will sport tank buster magic dmg constantly throughout all 4 instances? That would be nice.

---

Even with this sheltron does it better more frequently. It would have to be multi hit tank busters spaced a minute apart with a duration of less than 10 seconds. That is dark knights mitigation niche lol

I would go pld over drk. Drk just don't hold agro as well as Pld does in large pulls. See them always loosing agro and mobs attacking my summoner all the time when there doing a large pull. Never seen once a Pld loose agro.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Galgarion

Pffft, you mean Paladins offer a nice comfy blanket and some coco for people who need their noses wiped for them. Pick a warrior if you're hanging out with MEN (Or some extremely violent WOMEN) and you want to have fun.

---

f yes!!!!!!! lol

Play what you want! All tanks have completed all content, and all tanks are viable. Unless you're planning on doing speedkills of Ultimate and need that extra bit of oomph, there's not a lot of difference in your 80% play. I personally prefer WAR, but I raid as PLD, but the DRK story knocks the rest out of the ground.

Level them all, play what you prefer, and ignore the haters!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Warrlordd

One of the glaring problems with DRK is that it just doesn't suit the meta of this tier. Who knows, maybe next tier will sport tank buster magic dmg constantly throughout all 4 instances? That would be nice.

---

Yes, Dark Mind is just completely useless in a tier where 4 out of 5 bosses have magical tank busters and the one fight that doesn't has hard hitting magic adds and a boss with a habit of casting magical raid wides during times of high damage from other sources.

DRK has poor cooldowns below level 70 but TBN fills a lot of gaps and gives DRK cooldowns on par with or slightly better than PLD, depending on the fight.

DRK is where it's at, how can you say no to being BATMAN >:)