[Opener/Tips/Advices] How to play Drk

[saber_alter]

don't slot points into strength, your not a dps that is all I have

you get about 700 hp from those extra points. not even worth mentioning.

there is such thing as having too much Vitality.

[Aiio]

snip

Hi OP, I think I understand where you are coming from, since you are possibly looking for DRK openers/rotation for savage based content..?
Anyway, when I think of maximizing DPS as DRK, there are a few things I would like to point out for starters:

Salted Earth
I see numerous DRK players opening by placing Salted Earth down before the pull, or using it as the first skill in your pull. When placing it down so that it is there before the pull, that is inefficient as you are wasting potential DPS on the boss (unless the duration of Salted Earth is shorter than the phase for whatever reason). This is because Salted Earth does have a cooldown, and therefore, when cast, should damage the boss for the full duration of its use. So pretty much use it like any other oGCD skill, to maximize your DPS uptime on target.
If Salted Earth is the first point of damage the boss takes then make sure you are using a GCD to ensure DPS uptime (example would be Salted Earth > Unmend > etc).
Plunge
Whilst it might look and feel cool for your first point of damage skill, it is actually quite inefficient since it has an animation lock and therefore does not allow you to use any other skill until that animation is over, even oGCD (like all DRG jump abilities, etc). Therefore, you should use it inbetween GCD, by itself to make sure you aren't eating away at any GCD uptime.
Scourge
I always try to apply this on the opener, usually as the first or second skill depending on the boss (mainly as second skill in A4S). I don't think I need to explain why you should try have this skill at 100% uptime, or the DoT clipping, etc.

Moving onto the opener itself...

Notes:
DPS combo = DA + Soul Eater or Delirium (depending on MP management)
Enmity combo = Power Slash combo
Just remember, for tanking and pulling, I think it really depends on your group, and whether or not you can afford to only use one enmity combo before changing to DPS combo. Pretty much rule of thumb is you want to be using your DPS combo as much as possible.

Single Target without Shadewalker assuming Grit
I will bold every GCD skill

Dark Arts (<8sec to pull) > Unmend > Carve and Split > Scourge > Salted Earth > Hard Slash > Plunge > Spinning Slash > Dark Passenger > Power Slash > x

As you can see, it follows the basic rule of maximizing GCD uptime, as to not stack more than one oGCD within each GCD.
Now I won't really add what it's like without Shadewalker, because if you afford to pull without Grit then it should also mean you don't really need to use your enmity combo - but the most important and dynamic part of tanking is that where you trade your Enmity Combo for your DPS combo - and this all works with your experience with the group you are with.

I'm not really sure how much further in-depth you would to go, maybe if you have some inquiries on specific encounters with specific party members/composition.
Edit: Oh I also completely forgot about Low Blow since I'm used to saving stun for A4S! And also a comment about double weaving oGCD if you can afford to (since I can't with my high ping I also forgot about that). But also remember animation lock on some of DRK's oGCD are quite long.

[Syzygian]

I've been trying to improve my Dark Knight now that im getting new abilities and rearranging my layout. I've been using this video set as a starting point while I'm getting use to the new abilities from 52 ~ 60.

Openers:Rotations and they are listed in the description.

Intros and basics

Stats or what ever will work for you There is no right or wrong, just play style and how much your healer likes you for it.

Oh goodness, be careful about linking my guides on the official forums. I have some playstyle choices that could get me crucified on here. There's some dated info too, but I recently posted an addendum that corrects most of that.

[Freyyy]

As you can see, it follows the basic rule of maximizing GCD uptime, as to not stack more than one oGCD within each GCD.

Hi, I have no problem fitting 2 oGCDs in between each GCD without delaying anything. Take that with a grain of salt. It highly depends on your ping. In EU, I was rarely able to do that before the server transfer, but now it's a piece of cake even with Blood Weapon on.

[Syzygian]

Hi, I have no problem fitting 2 oGCDs in between each GCD without delaying anything. Take that with a grain of salt. It highly depends on your ping. In EU, I was rarely able to do that before the server transfer, but now it's a piece of cake even with Blood Weapon on.

Low Blow, Dark Arts, Blood Weapon, and particularly Plunge have longer animation locks. Carve, Dark Passenger and Reprisal are super short. It may be latency on my end but I frequently get a delay (although not all the time), when trying to double weave with Low Blow or Dark Arts. Obviously with Plunge is best to not even try.

To the OP, test with your connection and figure out what you can get away with weaving. DRK is a very weaving-heavy job, particularly for a tank. If you have any experience playing DRG or another melee DPS it helps.

[Freyyy]

snip

Oh ? I have no issue weaving Low Blow with DA and BW. It may depend on the distance between your location and the servers yeah. The only one that is impossible to double-weave without delaying is Plunge. This one has an annoyingly long animation-lock.

And yeah, OP, if your DRK friend has any experience with DRG/NIN, it will help a lot to get used to weave a lot of oGCDs in his rotations. DRK is one of the jobs that has the most oGCD moves in the game, if not THE one considering their low cooldowns, the reset of Low Blow, and the very frequent Dark Arts usage. That's why I highly recommend to get used to double-weaving if your latency isn't gonna be an issue.

[saber_alter]

-snip-

this, also i would add that i normally prime a dark arts shortly before i pull so i can get off carve and spit as early as possible.

for the moment this is what i normally use as an opener

dark arts>unmend (carve and spit)>hard slash (salted earth)> spinning slash (blood price)>power slash (plunge)>scrouge (dark passenger)

if reprisal procs i just use it immediately after a gcd skill and push everything back. low blow goes off the first free gcd i get, if i get enchanced unleash this gets fit into the opening.

[KairiLionheart]

dye all your gears into black.

reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q1cr5udb-8

[MagiusNecros]

dye all your gears into black.

reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q1cr5udb-8

If only the +5% DPS increase was actually a thing.

[PogueX]

The first thing you have to know about Dark Knights is that they are driven by anger and sadness. Therefore, you should immediately have your entire group start making fun of the Dark Knight however they can. Tease, ridicule, and berate him/her constantly. Don't pull your punches, either - get really personal with it. Passive aggressive stuff works, too. This will fuel their dark powers and give them a massive increase in DPS.

To play DRK you just need to be as nihilist as Squall and answer "mehh...whatever" to every question