Dragoon vs Lancer, is there a secret benefit?

[Bardo]

As others have said, you get a STR bonus when you equip the DRG soulstone.
At 50, that STR bonus out-weighs any of the cross class skills you could pick up by staying LNC.

[Kasandaro]

Two passing thoughts:

* Cure/Physick are so strongly tied to the MND stat that they're downright laughable on a non-DoM job. Even GLD who get access don't use it, since the return is so horrible. (Go check the Tank forum. It's really that bad.)
* Eye for an Eye can't be cast on self, only another party member (including pets). It would be incredibly situational, as much as Raise.

[Ericyu]

well hopefully in 2.1, we'll get more cross class skills that benefit our DPS more. Currently we really only have Internal Release and Fracture =/. You can count mercy stroke if you want but its cd is 90 secs and can only be used once a target's hp is 20% -... Everything else like skull sunder...etc i have no idea why its under the DRG tree but we'll see.

[Ayvar]

well hopefully in 2.1, we'll get more cross class skills that benefit our DPS more. Currently we really only have Internal Release and Fracture =/. You can count mercy stroke if you want but its cd is 90 secs and can only be used once a target's hp is 20% -... Everything else like skull sunder...etc i have no idea why its under the DRG tree but we'll see.

You'd actually be surprised at Mercy Stroke sometimes. On Turn 4 it gets used a lot because there are multiple targets throughout the fight that have to be taken down quickly. Can usually get about 4-5 off depending on your group. Skull Sunder has its uses, there's a rook in the third bug wave in Turn 4 that you can snap aggro with a LS+Skull Sunder combo and then tank until it dies.

The thing with cross-class abilities is not to pick only 5 and stick with them forever. You can swap them in and out as needed depending on the fight. Even if an ability has only one or two uses, I'm still glad to have it on those occasions when I need it.

[Acaelus]

Dragoon will always be better than Lancer, no matter how you try to swing it. The testing is done and the numbers are in!

[Xal]

dragon ftw

[MagoArcano]

Jump is a nice skill that can also get you killed if bad timed. Spineshatter and Dragonfire are less dangerous.

These jumps help a lot on fights where you have to move from mob to mob. Walking from mob to mob reduces your dps. Other than that and idk the specific weapon, lancer is better when you have the cross class skilled activated.