The Definitive Dark Knight Guide

[Miyuyu]

e:

I lied.

Does anyone know how our mana bar scales? (if it scales at all)

[AngusHH]

Its viable MT only with Darkside up?? For AoE and Single MT i should always use Darkside and Grit???

[Xenosan]

Does anyone know how our mana bar scales? (if it scales at all)

If I'm understanding your question correctly:

As DRK is leveled the MP cost of spells scales up along with our MP/PIE, as does the MP regeneration of our CDs like Blood Weapon & Blood Price, and WS Syphon.

Granted I'm 60 and can't go back to check without level syncing something, but from testing before, Dark Arts cost about 25% of our total MP.

(In fact, regardless of your level; I bet you your Syphon Strike's MP return - multiplied by 2 - is equal to the MP cost of Dark Arts)

The scaling is uniform across all aspects, MP cost, native regen, Darkside degen, Syphon gains, CD returns, etc.

So the only difference DRK should be feeling is: as you level up, there are more ways to spend your MP.

Its viable MT only with Darkside up?? For AoE and Single MT i should always use Darkside and Grit???

You want to maintain 100% uptime with Darkside whilst in combat, but can't forget the priority of Hate > DPS.

If you run the risk of exhausting all your MP with no way to regain it, it is worth dropping. Especially so if it's near the end of the encounter and there is another engagement shortly to follow -- don't want to start the next fight on empty (all DRK pulling / aoe enmity WSs have an MP cost [exception of Plunge, but that doesn't have an enmity modifier), or create down-time by sitting idly for some MP to regen.

Should also get in the habit of dropping Darkside after each fight. Even in dungeons. It doesn't matter in dungeons so much because between pulls is considered Out of Combat, so Darkside degen won't kill your MP. But things like Ex primals and Coil, when the boss leaves the board for those divebombs, Heavensfall, etc -- your status remains In Combat; you will lose all your MP during these phases if you forget to drop Darkside. So create the habit of dropping it now.

[Laelius]

I'm sorry if this has been answered before haven't read the whole posts. I have a question possibly someone already tested. Does the abyssal drain or the other mp skill for AoE eminity get "values" from the weapon you have? I reached 60 but it was a hard time maintain aggro with a monk doing single target even while spamming abyssal drain. Was wondering if was because my weapon was ilvl 135 (or something) and the monk had the law upgraded.

[Rbstr]

I'm sorry if this has been answered before haven't read the whole posts. I have a question possibly someone already tested. Does the abyssal drain or the other mp skill for AoE eminity get "values" from the weapon you have? I reached 60 but it was a hard time maintain aggro with a monk doing single target even while spamming abyssal drain. Was wondering if was because my weapon was ilvl 135 (or something) and the monk had the law upgraded.

All of their damage appears to scale with stats like any other class including the "magic". So Strength, Weapon Damage, Determination will all increase damage and hate accordingly.

[Laelius]

All of their damage appears to scale with stats like any other class including the "magic". So Strength, Weapon Damage, Determination will all increase damage and hate accordingly.

Thank you, I'll be getting the weapon soon. Was just weird that eminity was being pretty hard and I see all around that a eminity combo with dark arts gives a ton! (didn't had any trouble before 60). So I assumed it would be gear, but wanted to shoot the question also

[Felorr]

Should also get in the habit of dropping Darkside after each fight. Even in dungeons. It doesn't matter in dungeons so much because between pulls is considered Out of Combat, so Darkside degen won't kill your MP. But things like Ex primals and Coil, when the boss leaves the board for those divebombs, Heavensfall, etc -- your status remains In Combat; you will lose all your MP during these phases if you forget to drop Darkside. So create the habit of dropping it now.

I can't post my findings now, but keep in mind reapplying Darkside has an mp cost of roughly 12 seconds worth of uptime mp drain. Dropping dark side and reapplying it before 12 seconds is a loss of mp.

Fights like Ravana Ex seemed to have been designed with DRKs in mind. Lots of phases with no damage perfect for dropping grit and getting blood weapon time in to regrn MP to use.

[Kaidam]

Hi guys, just came back to FF14 after nearly 2 years of not playing.

Just a few dumb questions, I'm getting the impression that as DK, the default tanking stance is Darkside instead of Grit with the mechanics of dark arts tied to Darkside.

If that is the case, when exactly do you switch to grit stance?

Also, is it a must to use Dark Arts everytime it's up? And what is the go to skill to use Dark Arts on for single target tanking vs mob tanking?

Thanks in advance. I planned to switch to DK from PLD once I finish the main scenario quest.

[Falgern]

...

Grit is the only stance, Darkside is just a buff with no time limit. Stay in Grit and keep Darkside on as much as you can, it should be 100% or near 100%.


You should not use dark arts everytime it's up.

For single target you generally use dark arts for Carve & Spit, Souleater and Dark Mind. Depending what you need. I generally use dark arts every 2-3 Syphon Strikes.

AOE, just use unleash, if there are a lot and you are taking heavy damage i would do dark arts + dark passenger but this hurts your MP a lot. Only use if you pull one group too many
Abyssal drain looks cool but the MP cost doesn't make it that much better than Unleash, there is only one pull I use dark arts on abyssal drain, and it's mostly to see big healing numbers.
No real point in using dark arts for aoe. Just use weaponskills between every few unleashes. Don't use too much MP.

[Kaidam]

Thanks for the clarification. Much appreciated. Can't wait to try DK out. Now just need to clear 50 more quests...