Most Wanted Melee DPS at Endgame?

[LunarEmerald]

Dragoon

Because they let bards do more damage and every group has at least one bard.

[Itseotle]

I might be a little biased as I play DRG, but I would almost say DRG eeks out a little more because of mobility. A MNK has access to Shoulder Tackle which is more than they need on fights with the occasional disconnect, but a DRG has access to 3 gap closers, making them more mobile in fights like T6. All the above points are indeed also valid. MNK does more DPS in a longer, higher uptime fight. A DRG can do high DPS as well, but a DRG can put out more burst than MNK too I believe. This is important on fights with any add, so basically T4 and onward.

If your looking for the "ideal" melee per coil turn, I would have to say MNK is slightly better in T1, T2, and T5. A DRG may have slightly better performance in T4, T6, and T7, although this is just my opinion and I can't comment on T8 or 9.

[Vodomir]

... a DRG has access to 3 gap closers

I might be missing out on something but as far as I know we only have 2 gap closers (Spineshatter Dive and Dragonfire Dive), with one of them not always being valid to use due to its stun effect (e.g. spineshatter diving over to a dreadknight in T5 is not the best idea if you have a PLD on stun duty). Jump only acts as kind of a ranged attack as it will place you at the starting position of the jump again (so you don't actually close any gap).

DPS-wise I'd say bringing a DRG to your party is more beneficial than bringing a MNK, as both classes are quite close in terms of DPS and any advantage the MNK might have is easily offset by the DRG increasing the BRDs DPS, as long as your BRD actually knows how to DPS. MNK do have other advantages though like silencing or the debuff to magical attacks. In the end it's like everyone else already said, go with the more skilled player, both classes can shine if played well.

[rickyguo]

I might be missing out on something but as far as I know we only have 2 gap closers (Spineshatter Dive and Dragonfire Dive), with one of them not always being valid to use due to its stun effect (e.g. spineshatter diving over to a dreadknight in T5 is not the best idea if you have a PLD on stun duty). Jump only acts as kind of a ranged attack as it will place you at the starting position of the jump again (so you don't actually close any gap).
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Elusive jump is our best gap closer and a well played monk will outdamage the drg+ the bonus from the bard but it's not so great that it's significant.

[Vodomir]

Elusive jump is our best gap closer

Only when you are at a very specific range to your target and turn your back precisely at the target. So I'd say no, it's not our best gap closer.

... a well played monk will outdamage the drg+ the bonus from the bard but it's not so great that it's significant.

Which is just as much a personal anecdote of your own experience as my view is skewed by my personal experience. The theorycrafting faction in these forums have calculated the Monk to pull ahead by approximately 8%, but only if the encounter is more or less static and allows for a 100% uptime on GL3, otherwise the theoretical advantage melts away. Now a DRG will push BRD DPS by ~10%. Seeing that a BRD has lower base DPS both setups should come out about equal, maybe slightly in favour of the DRG+BRD combo, as the BRD usually has more DPS uptime than any other class.

[SeraviEdalborez]

Only when you are at a very specific range to your target and turn your back precisely at the target. So I'd say no, it's not our best gap closer.

Which is practically no extra effort with practice. It is a good gap closer.

[Judge_Xero]

Monk. Because they increase mages blunt damage from AA Damage.

[JetBrooks]

This game is well balanced! Different jarbs shine in different fights! Play what you think is fun!

[ryuuken]

So many spout this "DRG because bards" over and over :S

It almost flat out is dependent on player skill and knowledge, as equally geared classes, the better person will edge out the worse person in almost all cases.

As a MNK, I personally have not been topped by a DRG, or even had a DRG+BRD combo together come out ahead. DRG has better AoE than MNK, but MNK will always stay ahead in single target. The increase to BRD DPS is okay, but it still doesn't edge out a well played MNK in equal gear levels.

However, I do know DRGs that play the class to quite an extreme end, and depending on encounter/RNG, we can come out closer together than usual.

MNKs will do more in sustained, DRGs better in burst/shorter fights.

And just to reference that post saying the DRGs may be better in T4, 6, and 7...

As a MNK I crush T4, I'm always top in T6, T7 is a little bit dependent on RNG because of the shrieks/voices and such, but even then with proper PB usage and knowing when/how to maintain GL, MNK can come out on top.

T8 is absolute MNK heaven, 400+ DPS, DRG's boosting BRDs don't close that gap enough to not warrant just bringing another MNK instead lol.

But again, ultimately it comes down to how skilled/geared the person is, as both MNK and DRG are designed to be able to do all content in the game just fine (as is every class obviously), so performance and preference are what it should be based off of.

[ZeroAmano]

I don't know what you people saying why drg is better. Look at BG groups. THEY DONT EVEN BOTHER TO BRING A DRG TO REPLACE THEIR BARD.
And most DRG player skill is just awful. A LOT SHITTY DRG can't even break 200 dps in T6 and T7. Monk is only choice for end game.