DRK Question - Dark Arts

[Kytori]

So I just got this skill and at first it seemed too good to be true. A massive amp to some skills with a 5 second recast. I thought it was going to be a part of every rotation. But then I realized the cost is like 27% of your mp while Darkside is active making it significantly harder to maintain MP if you tried.

So I can see how it plays out like this:

Need health? Souleater+
Need aggro? Power Slash+
Need both? Abyssal Drain+ (Though I don't have this yet)
Need to dodge? Dark Dance+
Need to not take Magic damage? Dark Mind+
Need to blind? Dark Passenger+

So I can see how it's uses are nice (though the last two feel very situational) but is it little more then an oh snap button? How often should I be using this and should I be following it by deactivating Darkside to rebuild mp?

[Darkstride]

Don't forget about Carve and Spit if you just want to dish out a heavy attack.

Also, if you've got the MP for it, Dark Passenger can be pretty good. If you've got a large group of mobs, under Dark Arts you are hitting them with a 250 Potency AoE and a Blind effect.

[Kytori]

Yeah, I still haven't got it yet lol. Just trying to find it's place in my rotation right now.

[Syzygian]

I made a thing that could help you: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ng-On-The-Edge

Dark Arts is pricey but you have so many ways to recover that cost. You recover the cost of DA every 2 combos just by doing an optimal rotation, Blood Weapon is about ~2500-3K MP, and Blood Price can recover even more (or less, depends on what you're tanking).

I assume you're not 50 yet. When you get Delirium it'll make more sense. Anyway DRK is like any job, you can't really judge it till you're at level cap. Sit tight and keep leveling and it'll make sense soon.

[Kytori]

Thanks, I was actually looking for the DRK guide on the forum and was having trouble finding it. I guess I just missed it lol

[Aaliyahrose]

If you are in dungeons, the only time you should be using power slash is when you lose hate. Unleash every 2 GCD abilities and Syphon Strike is more than enough to keep hate consistenly while managing your MP. The abilities that cost the most MP, but also efficient in every large pull are DA + Drk Dance, DA + Drk Passenger, (great DRK primary mitigation abilities for the dodge and blind combo) and Dark Arts + Abyssal Drain. Abyssal Drain is great against a large group of enemies that can be burned down quickly.

I dont remember when you get Sole Survivor, but with this ability + Carve and Spit, MP management becomes easier to deal with.

If you want to focus on DPS in tanking a large group of mobs, Using DRK primary CDs (Stoneskin and Shadow Wall) are enough to manage your MP while at the same time, staying above 15% mana.
A good rule for DRK is to neither stay at full MP for too long, nor drop below 15-10% MP.

[Soular]

Also, unless its been changed, do not ever waste Dark Arts on Power Slash.

You don't really have need for that much aggro generation, and if you did, it likely wouldn't make a difference anyway.
Better to use that MP on something else and increase your damage or mitigation potential.

[Jim_Berry]

So I just got this skill and at first it seemed too good to be true. A massive amp to some skills with a 5 second recast. I thought it was going to be a part of every rotation. But then I realized the cost is like 27% of your mp while Darkside is active making it significantly harder to maintain MP if you tried.

So I can see how it plays out like this:

Need health? Souleater+
Need aggro? Power Slash+
Need both? Abyssal Drain+ (Though I don't have this yet)
Need to dodge? Dark Dance+
Need to not take Magic damage? Dark Mind+
Need to blind? Dark Passenger+

So I can see how it's uses are nice (though the last two feel very situational) but is it little more then an oh snap button? How often should I be using this and should I be following it by deactivating Darkside to rebuild mp?

Be sure to spam Blood Price. Also, you don't have to spam the Power Slash combo.

[Sarynth]

Don\\'t forget about Carve and Spit if you just want to dish out a heavy attack.

Also, if you\\'ve got the MP for it, Dark Passenger can be pretty good. If you\\'ve got a large group of mobs, under Dark Arts you are hitting them with a 250 Potency AoE and a Blind effect.

Can second this. Almost broke 4k with da + carve and spit.

[JackFross]

This goes over the basics of DRK play. I made it a while back.

The MP priority is:

Dark Arts + Carve and Spit (2x SS for +350 potency)
Dark Passenger (1x SS for 150 potency)
Dark Arts + Souleater (2x SS for +120 potency)

Basically, if the thing ABOVE is ready or about to be ready, don't waste mana on a lower thing. Always have mana for CaS when it's back. Always have mana for DP when it's back. And, in the cases where you have neither coming up soon and excess mana, DA+SE.

DA+DP is more MP efficient than DA+SE when there are 2+ enemies to hit with it (DA+SE uses DA mana for +120 potency; DA+DP uses the same mana for +200 potency on 2 enemies) and it beats DA+CaS on 4+ (350 v 400). So, when there's 4+ enemies, it's generally better to use CaS for mana regen. Otherwise, Dark Arts it.

The entire crux of the class centers around your mana and how you manage it, after all.