Healing DRK tanks sucks.

[Nadirah]

Just throwing this out there.

I've healed in MMOs for 10 years. 10. Years. I generally don't have issues with keeping tanks alive.

But holy Hate.. wtf? This reminds me of the Wrath of the Lich King release when all the Death Knights came about, thinking they could tank, and sucked at it.

Most of them can hold aggro decently, but holy mother of Hate I end up spamming Benefic II the entire time praying to God they don't drop like a rock.

I'd like to think that it's not just the class, but unless a whole lot of incompetents picked this class, something has to be up.

Not just me healing either. Ran a bunch as BRD last night. Same thing. Every tank I got was DRK, and they were near dead most of the time.

*sigh*

I've been running for *hours* today.


Only non DRK tank I got today was a paladin that refused to use Shield Oath, had a full MP bar the entire time, and kvetched at the DPS for pulling aggro. Healing him wasn't a problem, healing the other two dps however got me heal aggro something fierce because he wasn't doing *anything* for aoe threat.

I actually look at my tanks when there's issues. Gear, what classes they have at 50. If they have another tank class at 50 my assumption is that they have a general principle on how to gain and hold threat.

This might be a mechanics issue, which is why I'm asking. Death Knights in WoW are parry tanks, and their mitigation toolset involves self heals and absorbs. They're either incredibly squishy or stupid easy to heal. Folks that know how to rotate CDs on a complex class(well, was complex til Draenor) are a godsend, but the higher skill cap makes it so that others aren't so much.

My other healer past 40 is SCH, and I've never once had to leave a dungeon because I just can't handle that incoming damage. Heal size/potency doesn't seem to be a problem... it's that they're taking damage faster than I can recover it.

I didn't have this problem at all until I got into Cutter's Cry and Stone Vigil. Feels like my tanks are made out of toilet paper.

Edit because post limit hit making it a pain to continue a discussion I freaking started.

[Hundred]

While I am not playing Dark Knight.
I have found astrologian heals underwhelming in Heavensward, given after multiple runs of dungeons and trials, pretty much the only 2 failures have been astrologian heal output. Does that class really heal as potently as the WHM or scholar?

Granted even still it's not a particularly big deal given these issues were player made more then class.
There are multiple people playing dark knight right now, I'll presume this is partially coincidence.

[h0tNstilettos]

While I am not playing Dark Knight.
I have found astrologian heals underwhelming in Heavensward, given after multiple runs of dungeons and trials, pretty much the only 2 failures have been astrologian heal output. Does that class really heal as potently as the WHM or scholar?

Granted even still it's not a particularly big deal given these issues were player made more then class.
There are multiple people playing dark knight right now, I'll presume this is partially coincidence.

When I was closer to level 30 the healing potency of AST seemed much lower than when I was there with WHM. But after getting beyond level 40 and finally to 50 the heals seem really strong, especially the emergency burst heal.

[Timat]

IF you are talking about lower level stuff (pre 50) Its likely due to them not having appropriate gear around level 45 most DRK tanks will still have mid 30 gear.

[Seoulstar]

Not like the DRK just came out a day or so ago and people are still learning the job..let alone might not even have the proper gear.

[VanilleFang]

I've noticed this too.

While people are still getting the hang of it most actually have up to date gear (that I've had, I always check when the mobs are chunking their health). I have had o problem healing either of the other tanks as AST.

I'll ask this though, does DRK have cooldowns? Because I haven't seen any used by them except cross-class and its only ever been Convalescence.

[Dyvid]

I haven't had too many issues with DRK. Make sure I keep Aspected Benefic up for regen and just popping benefic to keep them up with stoneskin here and there. The biggest issue I had today was a WAR @ Vigil in Brayflox gear.... He was very squashy.

[Dualblade]

I've noticed this too.

While people are still getting the hang of it most actually have up to date gear (that I've had, I always check when the mobs are chunking their health). I have had o problem healing either of the other tanks as AST.

I'll ask this though, does DRK have cooldowns? Because I haven't seen any used by them except cross-class and its only ever been Convalescence.

I don't remember the name right off the top of my head but they do have one defensive CD by 30 (I don't remember the "level" it would have been learned at if they all started at lvl 1.) So yes they do have atleast one, probably a second one. Don't have the skills infront of me.

[LycorisSelunis]

DRK is like any tank- easy to heal when played well. DRK have Shadowskin off the bat-its like rampart. They should be using that. They should be using grit. They will dance in and out of dark aura. Higher lvl drk start getting things that are defensive but need to be in darkside to use. They do involve selfheals like wow dks.

Ast is not as potent as whm or sch. they are quick though (emergency heal is great) and very spammy.

It's only two days into early acess though, expect bumps from the people who don't read tooltips

[SovereignAegis]

While I am not playing Dark Knight.
I have found astrologian heals underwhelming in Heavensward, given after multiple runs of dungeons and trials, pretty much the only 2 failures have been astrologian heal output. Does that class really heal as potently as the WHM or scholar?

Granted even still it's not a particularly big deal given these issues were player made more then class.
There are multiple people playing dark knight right now, I'll presume this is partially coincidence.

I am going to level ast after I get scholar to 60.

However it's heals seem stronger than SCH but it doesn't have the offset capacity a scholar has. So it is a better healer but doesn't have the debuffs.