DRKs just falling behind even more.

[DRKoftheAzure]

Can't self heal like a WAR or PLD can. LAWL 19-20k equilibrium.
Can't push out dps like a WAR OR PLD(Even with PLD nerf lawl).
Can't do group utility like a WAR and PLD can.
Don't have good mitigation like a WAR and PLD does.

Don't forget that DRK sucks at holding aggro, especially in Alliance Raids... seriously they need to rework DRK SO MUCH to where it actually feels like it deserves to be a tank rather than a glorified DPS that wears plate armor and needs to the maiming gear like DRG...

[Ortheri]

I doesn't mean a whole lot but here is an observation that seems kind of telling...

PLD has 29 abilities and 6 traits

WAR has 27 abilities and 5 traits

DRK has 24 abilities and 5 traits.

Don't get me wrong more button mashing (or rather more abilities that we have to DA to be of any use at all) is not what drk needs just thought that mimics the state of DRK IE: To little DPS, Too little Defensive Cool Downs, Too little raid utility.

[Kabooa]

DRK has 24 abilities and 5 traits.

Honestly, this can realistically be reduced to 22 Abilities. Traits don't mean much as they tend to get folded into the abilities come expansion and just sort of serve as "Hey this is what happened to you!"

Unmend and Unleash are effectively rendered moot with Abyssal Drain, outside level sync reasons.

[Delily]

I doesn't mean a whole lot but here is an observation that seems kind of telling...

PLD has 29 abilities and 6 traits

WAR has 27 abilities and 5 traits

DRK has 24 abilities and 5 traits.

Don't get me wrong more button mashing (or rather more abilities that we have to DA to be of any use at all) is not what drk needs just thought that mimics the state of DRK IE: To little DPS, Too little Defensive Cool Downs, Too little raid utility.

The bolded part is the core identity of DRK, we sacrifice our MP for boosts to our abilities. That's where the improvements need to be made, we don't need an overhaul, we don't need more abilities, we need more more compelling differences on the DA toggle.

[Delily]

Don't forget that DRK sucks at holding aggro, especially in Alliance Raids... seriously they need to rework DRK SO MUCH to where it actually feels like it deserves to be a tank rather than a glorified DPS that wears plate armor and needs to the maiming gear like DRG...

We have Unmend, Unleash, Provoke, Abyssal Drain, Ultimatum, and Power Slash. If you're having issues holding emnity, throw up Grit and weave in Dark Arts to 2 Power Slash combos. This is the least of our worries. If really am getting tired of the MT, it's trivial to rip emnity from them.

[Rasikko]

Don't forget that DRK sucks at holding aggro,

First of all, don't anybody believe that. It's not true.

Dude.. you can't expect to hold aggro by never using Grit.

[shao32]

Dude.. you can't expect to hold aggro by never using Grit.

probably he means DRK suffer a lot more on holding agro after the first combo on grit compared to the other 2 and turn grit on again its just a personal dps killer.

[Claire_Pendragon]

First of all, don't anybody believe that. It's not true.

Dude.. you can't expect to hold aggro by never using Grit.

He means in comparison to WAR and PLD. Which is true, and has been true even in HW. It was darn near mandatory for DRK to have a NIN in their PT in HW for keeping DPS above a PLD. Otherwise a PLD out DPSed a DRK from how much the DRK used power slash.

EDIT: For clarification, a PLD can use the threat combo in sword oath and lose their MP regeneration for DPSing. A WAR can use their threat combo for a DPS gain occasionally, and when its not a DPS gain, its only a 10 beast guage loss.
DRK loses BOTH the MP gain, AND the blood gain. Even with the changes to threat on moves, DRK is still king of least threat, and WAR with highest threat. (Also why WAR should open, for higher threat gain, and to pass that onto the DRK during vokes.)

EDIT #2: Also, current WAR can tank every fight starting in Deliverance btw, and never switching to defiance. Where as PLD and DRK can't. (There's also no reason for a WAR to do this, with the changes, but it was done in O4S)

[TouchandFeel]

Unfortunately, that all is still only part of the disparity.

PLD also has the abilities Circle of Scorn and Shield Swipe that are part of their regular rotation.
WAR, with the changes in 4.2, have Onslaught as part of their optimal burst rotation.

Both PLD and WAR have abilities that provide passive extra agro generation by being part of their standard rotation for doing optimal dps.
DRK has nothing of the sort.

One suggestion that I had in my old DRK rework thread was to make Unleash an OGCD ability like follows.


Unleash - Lvl.6 – Spell
Cast: Instant – Recast: 2s – Cost: 800 MP – Range: 0y – Radius: 5y
Deals unaspected damage to all nearby enemies with a potency of 50.
Additional Effect: Increased Enmity.
MP cost reduced from 1080MP to 800MP. Taken off the GCD.
The focus of these changes was to do two things; first I wanted to provide a stronger identity and purpose to Unleash since Abyssal Drain virtually overwrites it once obtained. Second, these changes make Unleash a good enmity generator that can be woven into the basic flow of GCD combat.

Making Unleash an OGCD that is approximately dps/cost neutral would help provide a "passive" agro generator that would have it's own unique style while addressing some of the other issues with DRK's kit such as redundant abilities and help minimize "from the ground up" reworking for the job.

[Claire_Pendragon]

Unleash - Lvl.6 – Spell
Cast: Instant – Recast: 2s – Cost: 800 MP – Range: 0y – Radius: 5y
Deals unaspected damage to all nearby enemies with a potency of 50.
Additional Effect: Increased Enmity.
MP cost reduced from 1080MP to 800MP. Taken off the GCD.
The focus of these changes was to do two things; first I wanted to provide a stronger identity and purpose to Unleash since Abyssal Drain virtually overwrites it once obtained. Second, these changes make Unleash a good enmity generator that can be woven into the basic flow of GCD combat.

While the oGCD is a cool effect, it now has to fight with DP.