Shadowbringers Melee DPS Role: Complaints, Feedback, and Suggestions

[ssunny2008]

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First of all, your math lacks a bit. Your example was about the loss of 2 GCD´s, which means 300 potency with 2 range attacks. Then you´re going to start your combo again, which means you get additional 290 potency if it´s unbuffed. This means you´ve done damage with 590 potency. Even IF you´re at Full Thrust with its 530 potency, it´s still more to use 2 range attacks, isn´t it?
Now we could go forward with FT until your combo ends, which means 530 + 370 + 370 potency at max. = 1270 potency.
On the other hand you could go those 2 ways: 150 + 150 + 290 + 350 + 530 = 1470 potency OR 150 + 150 + 290 + 320 + 330 = 1240 potency with the bonus to refresh your damage buff and DoT with 50 potency.

So what is more worth in the end?! We can´t even real argue about "but my later rotation gets delayed", because it´ll get delayed via downtime as it will get delayed with your range attacks. And if your combo isn´t at FT at this moment, the max. potency without range attacks is even less. The only thing that could change the overall math is the moment of your combo when prismatic starts, because it definately is a difference if you hit FT or TT as last hit.

In the end it might depend on the moment "where your combo is" and how things going on. But even if you would use PT only one time, it´s still a minimum of 440 potency compared to "nothing + the next combo skill". So tbh... just because someone in a guide or so says "it´s worthless", doesn´t mean that it´s worthless. It always depends on its use and the timing on any skill.

Second... i don´t dismiss my own argument. Those 2 GCD´s means nothing over the whole fight unless you wipe at 0,01%. You´re the one who has an issue with such RARE cases, not me. I gave you examples how to handle it, it´s up to you if you try or ignore them. The mechanic is playable.

Third: Changing range abilites to not break your combo or with superior potency would change a lot in kind of gameplay. You would use it at any mistake and you could ignore timings pretty much. It would make melees way more forgivable against their only con: "the need to stay in melee range". And yes, the AOE of DRG might have 20 potency more, but less range. I wouldn´t call it bad design, maybe "bad thought" when players can use the AOE instead of their range tool. But overall it´s a part of balancing and the big part of being a melee, is to stay in melee range. Any superior range tool will take out the effort a player needs to find a way around such situations. It would be laughable and boring af.

At last... E8s? There are tons of uptime strats and a lot is way easier to play for those who have both, backdash + dash (SAM & DRG). The only mechanic, where you would lose probably a half GCD with a good timing, should be Ilya with an orb-tether. I´ve never tried it, but it might be even possible to greed for the last GCD, run fast around your ball, jump to the boss, do 2 GCD´s and move in the tower. I´ve played it with SAM and used one range attack instead of a dash to the boss.
Another big mechanic would be the song of i&f. But if you play safe, you can surely go for the 3-4 range attacks since it should be even worth in your eyes. On the other hand... you can greed, jump to the boss and left-right-left on max. melee range to bait the aoe´s. Everything else got pretty much uptime strats or is really good playable with jumps / dashes. You just need to preposition yourself and time them.

(And well, you should keep in mind, that even the best pf-strats are not the best strats overall. A lot of stuff can be done better for the group or to cater a single player. E.g. It even makes a difference if i play M1 or M2 as MNK at E11s. M2 forces me to use my RoE more than M1 based on the RNG mechanics, unless the strat says "tanks + healer move".)