I really like the Endwalker DRK...

After messing about lvl 90 drk and doing the EX fights we have now, I feel like DRK is gaining some form of a unique identity. It does build up from the ShB DRK and it does feel disappointing that it didn't change all that much, but the small changes that the class got here and there have made it so that I really enjoy tanking as DRK very much!

I just want to know what others feel about the job since it still has issues with it, stuff like how other tanks have a much nicer and less hassle invul and how bloodweapon is still a massive pain on my sides... but besides that I'm really digging it!

You need only to look at the vast amount of DRK forum posts and the megathread to see how many people are disappointed with DRK on here.

Though, I'd avoid looking at them so it doesn't ruin your enjoyment in this class. I too started with ShB DRK, but grew rather disappointed when I discovered how it really was back then. Real MP management, augmentation abilities, you name it.

I am happy to see you're enjoying the class though, so don't let anyone dictate your opinion.

I don't think you really know what identity means. Since it doesn't have anything to form an identity.

You like it because it's Dark Knight, don't try to fool yourself.

Well I identify drk as a crackhead tank that double weaves ever minute, and its so satisfying to do that. And honestly having two stacks of oblation is really fun as well. Whatever you say, this drk has a much better identity than ShB did. And man I love playing it so much! Yea I never played HW or SB drk but what we have now is honestly not as everyone make it out to be like its the worst tank ever… I just think drk is fun as hell!

The Delirium is strong with this one.

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Originally Posted by LordMaximos

After messing about lvl 90 drk and doing the EX fights we have now, I feel like DRK is gaining some form of a unique identity. It does build up from the ShB DRK and it does feel disappointing that it didn't change all that much, but the small changes that the class got here and there have made it so that I really enjoy tanking as DRK very much!

I just want to know what others feel about the job since it still has issues with it, stuff like how other tanks have a much nicer and less hassle invul and how bloodweapon is still a massive pain on my sides... but besides that I'm really digging it!

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I really enjoy DRK too even in its current iteration. I had all these plans to Level PLD to 90 1st blah blah but DRK is too much fun to play and seems made for me to take advantage of.

Don't let this forum or other people detract you from your fun or tell you that you're suppose to be disappointed or feel like shit, I've read all sorts of comments from here, FFXIV reddit, FFXIVdiscussion etc about how DRK is suppose to be this or that, or you should feel X or Y, fuck all that and fuck everyone else. If it feels natural to you, you're having a blast and can take advantage of what the current iteration of DRK has to offer then go all in and enjoy.

I leveled PLD to 90 first, and DRK to 90 2nd.

Its painful to run dungeons on PLD pre Requestcats* and pre TBN on DRK. I feel like both of them got things in ENDWALKER that feel mandatory to their kits. Its hard to play DRK without Obaltion/pepper'd earth now for some reason, and very hard to play PLD without their ENTIRE kit that is added in ENDWALKER.

I feel like I might have to level WAR or *shutter*Garbage breaker for a dungeon/duty tank.

It's probably the way lower level dungeons are tuned but Pre-70 I don't find DRK bad at all, you learn to respect that 1-2-3 Soul Eater Combo as your primary lifeline HP Sustain with or without mitigation CDs and along with Abyssal Drain will get you pass level 69 OK.

Maybe it is intentional design or something but I always fall back on 1-2-3 Soul Eater Combo on trash packs to keep up HP Sustain when Mitigation, TBN and incoming heals aren't enough. Seems to work so far in EW too but it doesn't feel good, I feel like Unleash + Stalwart Soul should have a similar effect like 200 Heal Potency per Combo at least so it can be the AOE version of Soul Eater Combo.

Doesn't have to heal per mob, just a flat 200 Heal Potency each time AOE Combo is done- that should be just enough while Mitigation CDs + TBN, Abyssal Drain takes care of the rest.

I don't know if Tuesday's Patch 6.01 will give DRK additional HP Sustain or Mitigation/TBN Damage Negation but if DRK is going to have a bone thrown at it I hope that Unleash + Stalwart Soul AOE Combo gets some heal potency at least if they don't plan to buff Oblation with a HOT. Haven't had any issues with Dungeon/Trial bosses regardless of level, Trash Mob Packs is where Mitigation/Negation/HP Sustain is needed most.

I agree there was a build up from ShB but DRK is severely lacking in self-sustain and HP recovery.

Problem is, this job needs a bit more attention than the three other tanks. Tanks overall feel.. underwhelming since 5.0 in my opinion.

We need an identity for this job; there's a bright future for DRK but it depends on the developers if they want to see it through.

Also nothing wrong with enjoying the current design, but people have a reference for the past regarding DRK and that's why you see so many people unsatisfied.

yea I understand that, I just hope if they are going to change and adjust, they don't nuke everything and start all over again cause I see a really fun class here that could use more to feel amazing! I guess that's wait and see till next ultimate drops

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Originally Posted by LordMaximos

yea I understand that, I just hope if they are going to change and adjust, they don't nuke everything and start all over again cause I see a really fun class here that could use more to feel amazing! I guess that's wait and see till next ultimate drops

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Check this post out: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...-the-kit%21%29

I really like this rework idea since it actually stays close to 5.0 DRK while adding some really interesting ideas into the mix.

Most of us who are unhappy with it are unhappy because we were fortunate enough to play DRK back in HW when it was at it's peak. The job had a clear identity back then with mechanics that were unique to that job alone. Back then, playing DRK really felt like controlling chaos itself and it was a f***ing blast. Every expansion since then we've had DRKs unique mechanics gutted, given to other tanks, and replaced with nothing of value save for TBN. ShB rework was a step in the right direction, but not quite enough. So when EW came around it was a real slap in the face to DRK players to learn that we would not be getting any of the cool sustains like the other tanks, and nothing all that new or extraordinary. Just my take, I haven't levelled it yet, but I'm tempering my expectations so hopefully I'll be mildly surprised if I enjoy it.

I'd be really ecstatic if DRK Devs replaced Enhanced Unmend with something way more useful like a Trait to help HP Sustain on AOE Mob Packs i.e. Enhanced Oblation, TBN, Abyssal Drain, Unleash + Stalwart Soul Combo but I don't expect much next week for Patch 6.01...

Could be something stupid like "Shadow Wall and Dark Mind now shares a CD, Hugs and Kisses, Thank You for Playing"

I'm glad you can find enjoyment in it, but I can't. And while I'd like to move on from the Heavensward DRK that I loved (although it really needed polish), what I've lost has never really been replaced. Although bless GNB's little heart for trying its best.

Comparing HW DRK to what it is rn, is a large difference. I'm pretty sure you'd have hopped on the DRK hate if you started in HW. At least you're enjoying which is ok but objectively DRK really does play bad, and no BIG DEEP PEE SSS numbers mean nothing if it's mechanically poor in comparison to other tanks.

DRK right now is like being the third tank in alliance raid you are just scuffed/blue dps.

I wish the DRK's shield was separated from the other actions because it sucks I have to choose either to shield or to use a DPS move, and then slowly try to build back MP.

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Originally Posted by Kaliesto

I wish the DRK's shield was separated from the other actions because it sucks I have to choose either to shield or to use a DPS move, and then slowly try to build back MP.

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A lot of people would like that but there's a vocal few that are very adamant there's some or any type of skill to having TBN be broken.

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Originally Posted by LordMaximos

After messing about lvl 90 drk and doing the EX fights we have now, I feel like DRK is gaining some form of a unique identity. It does build up from the ShB DRK and it does feel disappointing that it didn't change all that much, but the small changes that the class got here and there have made it so that I really enjoy tanking as DRK very much!

I just want to know what others feel about the job since it still has issues with it, stuff like how other tanks have a much nicer and less hassle invul and how bloodweapon is still a massive pain on my sides... but besides that I'm really digging it!

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I will say that it's always up to personal preferences. Glad you can find joy in the way that the current iteration of DRK plays.

Since you asked for other's opinions i will share mine.
I personally feel the job is in quite a bad spot (due to personal preferences in regards of importance of job differences and identity, as well as experience with the version of the DRK job back in Stormblood) Despite that i do think that the job in it's current iteration has a lot of potential that hasn't been realized by the developers. (examples being Darkside being a resource and the three mechanics interacting with each other to make more cohesion)

To be more precise, i think the job feels like it has no clear direction, it personally feels like a scatterbrained jumble of ideas tossed together to make the job, instead of having a real focus to it. It feels segmented as the Blood Gauge, MP Gauge and Darkside Timer have no interaction between each other along with certain clunky and unwanted changes or lack of changes (Blood Weapon not working well with AOE, A completely dead button in Dark Mind, Delirium being a less powerful Inner Release, Living Shadow not having any interaction with the rest of the job's kit, Living Dead still being the same after 6 years and a complete lack of sustain compared to every other tank)

Please understand that this is merely my personal thoughts and opinions towards the job, feel free to disagree. I would say more, but feel it's difficult to do so due to me not wanting to play the job in hopes it may improve more towards my personal tastes in the future.

While it is not for me, I'm glad at least someone's having a good time with it. Enjoy it, OP.

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Originally Posted by whiteblade89

Most of us who are unhappy with it are unhappy because we were fortunate enough to play DRK back in HW when it was at it's peak. The job had a clear identity back then with mechanics that were unique to that job alone. Back then, playing DRK really felt like controlling chaos itself and it was a f***ing blast. Every expansion since then we've had DRKs unique mechanics gutted, given to other tanks, and replaced with nothing of value save for TBN. ShB rework was a step in the right direction, but not quite enough. So when EW came around it was a real slap in the face to DRK players to learn that we would not be getting any of the cool sustains like the other tanks, and nothing all that new or extraordinary. Just my take, I haven't levelled it yet, but I'm tempering my expectations so hopefully I'll be mildly surprised if I enjoy it.

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I was around that time and to me during HW, like many other jobs, was a mess. A fun mess, but a mess for sure. Not to mention how braindead was to do dugeons with it thanks to abyssal drain spam + that skill that regenerate mana if you get hit.

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Originally Posted by Driavna

I was around that time and to me during HW, like many other jobs, was a mess. A fun mess, but a mess for sure. Not to mention how braindead was to do dugeons with it thanks to abyssal drain spam + that skill that regenerate mana if you get hit.

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It wasn't really that braindead since if you messed up you could run out of MP and your mitigation was pretty much the HP Drain. Since back then DRK needed MP for over half the things, that could mean also you lost aggro or died.

At the very least, you'd have to turn to turn dark side off and either make your group wait for your MP to come up before the next pull or pretend you have to answer the door before the next pull.

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Originally Posted by Mekhana

It wasn't really that braindead since if you messed up you could run out of MP and your mitigation was pretty much the HP Drain. Since back then DRK needed MP for over half the things, that could mean also you lost aggro or died.

At the very least, you'd have to turn to turn dark side off and either make your group wait for your MP to come up before the next pull or pretend you have to answer the door before the next pull.

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That only was a problem with mindless spam (today people complain of the same with TBN since saving enough for it "hard"). As long as that buff lasted you had infinite mana anyway. Outside those buff windows pretty much worked the same as today but with dark arts and stuff that contradicted itself or made no sense. Was the best tank for magic but we could not parry magic and we needed parry for certain skills. For pulls better not to use the parry increase buff (or to blind anyone) because parries did not trigger that skill, I can't remember the name off, as long was up.

Fun yet riddle with problems. To me SB (probably because after that small things like tank stance dance, turning off dark side during transitions to recover mana and the like are not longer there) was the better incarnation of the class after it got a few tweaks. Still, I enjoy current one fully aware of all the removal of all those small little things that made tanking more enjoyable.

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Originally Posted by Mekhana

It wasn't really that braindead since if you messed up you could run out of MP and your mitigation was pretty much the HP Drain. Since back then DRK needed MP for over half the things, that could mean also you lost aggro or died.

At the very least, you'd have to turn to turn dark side off and either make your group wait for your MP to come up before the next pull or pretend you have to answer the door before the next pull.

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i LOVED DRK in heavensward. the gameplay was less braindead then now and i loved the selfsustain you could do when things gone bad.
You had to chose DMG or Healing and i LOVED that.

Now its all Brainded Spammy DMG with almost 0 healing. and it sucks.

I also loved darks in heavensward. And scholars....