Thread: 3.0 gives us four new abilities

Originally Posted by Andevom

DRG HP absorption abilities have never been all that potent, nor has it been "a staple".

FFII: Ricard is the only DRG in the game, doesn't have this ability (can't jump either, but that's another matter).
FFIII: DRGs don't have this ability, even in the remake versions.
FFIV: Kain doesn't have this ability.
FFV: First appearance of the "Lance/Lancet" ability. Fairly weak HP absorption abilities, best used on mage classes for MP absorption.
FFVII: Cid's "Dragon" Limit Break absorbs HP/MP based on damage dealt. The most potent example of the ability in the series, but can't be used very often.
FFIX: Freya's "Lancer" only drains MP.
FFX: Kimahri's "Lancet" drains a very small amount of HP/MP, and is mainly used as a method of learning new Overdrives.
FFXI: DRGs have no HP absorption abilities against enemies.
FF Dimensons: "Lancet" appears again, still fairly weak in proportion to the DRG's HP.

So considering this, an ability that gives you up to 10% of your HP back every minute (remember, the trait DRGs get reduce the recast to 60 seconds) is pretty on par with other variants of similar abilities in past FF games.

Except in most of those games DRG also had other skills that healed them, DRG in XIV does not. The only self healing aside from Life Surge that DRG gets is Second Wind from PGL, which recovers around 600 hp and can only be used once every four minutes. Also, mp has absolutely zero relevance to DRGs in XIV so their "lancet" type ability is still severely underpowered by any standard of the franchise.

(To be perfectly honest, even compared to it's own 1.0 and 1.23 iterations, DRGs self healing is severely underpowered.)