What if Paladins got a "Dragon Kick" ability?

[SirTaint]

Snip.

The shield is their special ability. 35% perma blockrate is very nice and is the reason a lot of groups use Swordoath PLDs as MTs in FCoB.

HG is the best Defensive CD and can cheese major boss attacks allowing healers to DPS or regen mana.

The chain stunning was very useful for initial Levi farms, it was also useful for Ifrit and in most dungeons. (nothing coil tier that I can think of)

The silence was useful in T1,T2,T9 along with lessor fights/dungeons.

DRK will need something potent to compete with PLD for progression content. Otherwise I could see it being PLD/DRK or PLD/WAR then once we are over geared WAR/DRK.

[Rbstr]

Dreadknights in T5, when it was current, is another example of a place where it was very useful.

[VargasVermillion]

When I said useless I meant in most cases. Specific mechanics are an exception, for example storms eye and storms path are always useful for either tank.
PLD utility is very situational, especially stuns and silence as only a handful of enemies in raids are actually affected by them. They are useful when they are needed but they have to be intended to do so on specific encounters, especially the stuns.

[Zaft]

snip

I have to disagree.

First, tank damage intake is not a problem in this game, and I don't see that changing in Alexander. It's why tanks wear STR accessories instead of VIT; the damage output gained is far more important than the increased damage intake. Second, while the things you listed are nice, none of them are unique to PLD. WAR can holmgang in place of HG and just have the healer drop a Bene on him at the end. Multiple classes can stun. Multiple classes can silence.

Second, what makes WAR a permanent fixture in raids is slashing resistance down (which can be replaced by a NIN) and raid damage down by 10% (which CANNOT be replaced, yet). Until another class brings the utility that WAR brings, WAR will not be replaced. On the other hand, PLD can easily be replaced. Their only real raid utility, STR down, effects only auto-attacks and a choice few abilities (since the large majority of attacks are magic based).

So honestly, if DRK gets any sort of raid utility (magic down, int down, etc), I can easily see PLD being placed aside in serious progression groups. What I'm hoping will happen is PLD will obtain better utility in the expansion, and DRK will gain INT down so that MNKs aren't a necessity for cutting edge raiding.

[aisustrong]

the advantage to pld is that it requires less thought and less foresight to play than war, the mitigation is there all the time, unlike war, you dont have to work for it
dont buff it, it doesnt need it
something to combo off of riot would be nice though

[VargasVermillion]

the advantage to pld is that it requires less thought and less foresight to play than war, the mitigation is there all the time, unlike war, you dont have to work for it
dont buff it, it doesnt need it
something to combo off of riot would be nice though

If anything I think more utility would work better for that kind of design. Take bard for example, it's one of the easier dps roles to use but has a lot of utility to complement that kind of design choice.

[Domira]

Most of the party utility that PLD seemingly offers is useless: blind is useless, shield bash is useless, pacification is useless. Only thing it has is stoneskin (which isn't even one of their skills) and strength down, Cover is ok but would benefit more if it could protect against magic damage as well.

As for what abilities could be added I'll wait and see what they get in Heavensward first.

YEP!

Its sad how most of PLD utility is absolutely useless in a raid environment.

[melflomil]

Raid utility is indeed bland unless AOE physical attacks is big in a fight. If anything dark knights might get int down

[TouchandFeel]

My general thoughts on stuff brought up.
- Agree so much that Cover needs to be both physical and magic damage since end-game is so magic damage heavy.
- PLD definitely needs a debuff that increases group/raid damage, not big on the blunt damage though as it seems like an odd fit.
- So much being immune to Blind and Pacification needs to be dialed back a bit.
- Definitely hoping DRK gets magic/int themed party/raid debuffs to help fill that niche.

[Cabalabob]

My only issue with riot blade being made into a repeatedly used combo is that it would be a TP monster.

I think that it would actually be more interesting for PLD to get a SPELL that combos with riot blade. Possibly Astra or dia. A light elemental spell that has extremely high potency, like 800 or more, and high MP cost, like 500+ MP, (the high potency is to make up for the fact Paladin has no magic damage and low INT). And make it grant some kind of debuff like lowers opponent's magic resistance by 5%. Making it combo well with itself and with mages. Then make the combo bonus something like, performing it after riot blade makes it AoE, or after riot blade it is half MP cost.

Or maybe even both these effects, based on what you combo off of, performing it after rage of halone makes it AoE while performing it after riot blade makes it half MP cost.