DPS at End Game

[JayCommon]

IMO, all DPS are fun and bring good qualities to the table if one knows how to use them correctly and maximize rotational effectiveness. I agree with the general consensus that you should just choose what you will be happy playing, however I do lean towards Bard (biased) for a definitive class.

You asked about consistent damage. I've heard answers claiming for the other DPS classes but I'm not sure if I agree. Unless we are defining 'consistent' differently, anyway. When I think 'consistent', I am thinking of fastest continual DPS. As much DPS without downtime, if you will. MNK and DRG's have very few skills that aren't used in their GCD. BRD's don't have many either....but the DOT's we (should) throw up on every enemy let our Instant proc to immediately recast. Combine that with Internal Release/Straighter Shot (because the proc is based off the DOT Critting) and Bloodletter actually instantly respawns quite frequently. I have literally done 5 GCD rotations with 5 Instant Bloodletter in a row. When things like that happen, NO DPS out-hates me.

That doesn't even mention Barrage, which makes your auto-attack triple. With all buffs going, that triple auto attack can Crit with every arrow and deal upwards of 1200 total damage. On an auto-attack!!! I haven't played casters yet, but I know melee can't even get close to that with an auto-attack. At least on DRG.

The only thing that might make MNK comparable is the fact that tripled stacked Greased Lightning should be in effect at all times during the battle, and that does add a considerable amount of dmg/atk speed to what they can do. The first time I played a MNK at lvl 40 I almost couldn't keep up with the GCD at first. And with all the positioning to get the most out of your moves, it's definitely fun but it also might not be the first thing you want to focus end game on. End game throws a lot of mechanics at you as a DPS and you have to avoid them all. I'm not aware of your skill level (not trying to say it's bad or anything) but keeping "dodge AOEs" as a high priority will be easier to forget when your focusing on positional damage and maximizing your DPS. As a BRD, you just make sure you run out of the red and keep on attacking

In regards to DRG, they absolutely do the best burst damage out of melee DPS, but are just so sloooow compared to MNK and BRD it lost it's appeal for me. The moves are cool, and the rotation for maximum DPS is SICK....but I get bored DPSing as a DRG because I'm used to the faster paced rotations of BRD and MNK.

But these are just my 2gils. Honestly, becoming efficient in them all is prob the way to go. You won't ever get left out of a party because you don't have the DPS they require