It doesn't matter how good of a DRG you are.

[LandricFrey]

I remember all of the DRG jokes about them dying so much. I believe they got a survivability buff and now its always NIN who are are taking the dirt naps, at least that's who I'm always rezing. I like DRG; they look cool and show style while fighting. Then again, I'm not running endgame content, and don't know if their dmg output is 1% lower than the other DPS, making them blatantly and relentlessly inferior. :P

[axemtitanium]

It is well documented that post-buff, DRG+NIN is the highest raid damage composition in a two melee party (assuming there will be a bard to benefit from Disembowel). It is higher damage than even MNK+MNK which was the previous highest damage composition. The DRG buff broke the balance between the three melee classes. DRG does more damage than MNK and with less effort and less danger to boot. Maintaining GL3 for MNK is an optimization problem that the ENTIRE raid has to bend over backwards to accomplish in exchange for the highest single target DPS in the game. Now DRG handily out-damages MNK without having to worry about maintaining stacks. Currently, the only reason to bring a MNK is for Dragon Kick int debuff, for which there is no content in the game where it is still necessary at ilv 130.

[Velox]

You're talking about a job that wears black plate armor with spikes, wields an abnormally large spear, and has the word "dragon" in its name. It's just one of those "cool" factor jobs like Ninja that are notorious for attracting all sorts of bad players.

Don't worry though, Dark Knight will suffer the same fate. Only difference is that there will be much more rage since bad DRKs will cause the whole party to kiss the dirt.

[aisustrong]

It is well documented that post-buff, DRG+NIN is the highest raid damage composition in a two melee party (assuming there will be a bard to benefit from Disembowel). It is higher damage than even MNK+MNK which was the previous highest damage composition. The DRG buff broke the balance between the three melee classes. DRG does more damage than MNK and with less effort and less danger to boot. Maintaining GL3 for MNK is an optimization problem that the ENTIRE raid has to bend over backwards to accomplish in exchange for the highest single target DPS in the game. Now DRG handily out-damages MNK without having to worry about maintaining stacks. Currently, the only reason to bring a MNK is for Dragon Kick int debuff, for which there is no content in the game where it is still necessary at ilv 130.

poking things in the butt is the new punching things in the butt

[PArcher]

Funnily enough, most end-all groups I see switch between mnk and nin, always keeping a Drg. Some groups think nin is better than mnk (easier to play and goad), others mnk > nin (more DPS, mantra, Dragon kick); but they always seem to have that Drg for dependable damage and disembowel (cause very few leave town without a brd)

[Eidolon]

It is well documented that post-buff, DRG+NIN is the highest raid damage composition in a two melee party (assuming there will be a bard to benefit from Disembowel).

You say it's well documented? Do you have links by chance?

[Elusana_Celah]

Funnily enough, most end-all groups I see switch between mnk and nin, always keeping a Drg. Some groups think nin is better than mnk (easier to play and goad), others mnk > nin (more DPS, mantra, Dragon kick); but they always seem to have that Drg for dependable damage and disembowel (cause very few leave town without a brd)

This kind of class analyzing always makes me have a hearty laugh. Groups care too much about perfect class optimization even if it doesn't really matter as long as the players are good then you can win anyways lol.

[TruebladeNuke]

My experience with DRG's is such that the bad ones are REALLY bad... but the good ones are some of the best players on my server. Leads me to believe that it is obviously one of the most difficult classes, but probably the most rewarding. I have nothing but mad respect for the DRG's that own the deeps charts.

One of my FC members pulled this off during a run we did together in WoD. He's trying to get DRG and BLM gear from WoD, so he went in as a DRG. I went in as a MNK as I'm trying to get MNK and NIN gear from WoD. (For the record, my DRG is getting buffed from the Poetics gear, like my Tank classes are)

During the battle against Cloud of Darkness, my FC member nearly got her aggro once just from hitting her so hard as said DRG. Used evasive jump to lose that aggro. Moments later, he got it back anyway and died for it. I followed suit, as I somehow stole her aggro from MNKing her too hard apparently. I just looked over at my FC member and typed in chat "Well, at least you know we're doing our job as DPS if we somehow managed to steal aggro."

I do wonder what the Tanks were thinking in round 1 though against her. Were they too busy doing other things or something or just simply not trying hard enough to maintain aggro? Round 2 went way better, as a Tank actually held her aggro the whole time in round 2.

As for the loldrg joke... people already stated why those jokes were flying around. Personally, even though DRG is my #1 go to melee DPS class, I still just kinda roll with it.

[Decrith]

You say it's well documented? Do you have links by chance?

It's a bit misleading but, because of how high the burst damage of a DRG + NIN comp is, fights phase faster and thus making the fight shorter, and dps higher (shorter fight duration = more burst = more dps). A MNK's dps, while definitely stronger, takes a while to reach that point.

[kehn]

Monk is the hardest class to play efficiently in this game. there are no bad mnks pushing better numbers than great drg im calling bs on that
now, both playing at their best is a different story... a good mnk will likely win. but is very hard to be a good mnk