Why is DRK so squishy and how do I stop it?

[Krissey]

I have a level 38 DRK, and I have full Calvary Set with HQ crafted Weapon, Pants, and all right side VIT accessories - yet I still seem to be quite squishy even when rotating all my cooldowns (-20% Damage, 20% Parry Increase, +Healing Received, Bloodbath, etc..)

Keeping both Grit and the Darkside up. What am I doing wrong? Is my level 32 gear already so bad?

[Alistaire]

Yes. Tanks more than other roles have a much more noticeably difficult time with gear that's not kept up to date.

[ashwich]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much. If you're rotating CDs properly, it's just a matter of mindset. I think there are a few dungeons that hit relatively hard around that level, most of the time healers are required to do a bit more than just regen. So if that makes you feel squishy, you might be overthinking.

[KrenianKandos]

Even six levels difference between the Green and the regular type armor is a difference. And as Alistaire stated: Tanks are by far one of the most gear demanding classes to be able to reduce the damage. You want to always keep yourself updated with the right gear, otherwise you are going to be smaller.

Try doing less big pulls. A lot of times, fledgling tanks try to mimic the other tanks who have done the run and do more pulls when their gear doesn't allow it. Remember that when we go in, we normally get the best gear possible, as if it was blue. That's a sizable difference in health and armor to mitigate damage.

[Sarcatica]

You sure the healers weren't trash tier? Or just maybe that you were overthinking? Healers do need to top you up sooner or later. Those gears are good enough to last for quite long. IIRC, i didn't experience such difficulty to survive at all when levelling.

[Krissey]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much. If you're rotating CDs properly, it's just a matter of mindset. I think there are a few dungeons that hit relatively hard around that level, most of the time healers are required to do a bit more than just regen. So if that makes you feel squishy, you might be overthinking.

In Temple of Qarn on the 3 spider monsters and the blue ghost blob right before the Golem boss I dropped dead both times. Both times the healers said "I wasn't expecting the squish" despite using the -20% inc damage CD (Shadowskin?) and also the Parry Buff (Dark Dance), then after those went off I would use Bloodbath in addition to +healing received (convalescence?)

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters?

However on the same pull after the boss we didn't die - so maybe they were just in cruise control mode and those are special monsters they were surprised by at first

[ashwich]

the group of 4 does hit harder than a regular pack, especially if you don't separate the ghost blob. This is a case of healer under-estimating incoming damage and stayed in clerics too long it sounds like. nothing to worry about.

[Februs]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much.

I wouldn't say that this is the only difference between them. Pld's passive block mitigation is a more obvious distinction between them, but there's also a pretty subtle (but substantial) difference in how their CD's are used, particularly in how they are timed. A lot of people see the Drk skill sets and say, "oh, it's kind of like Pld," and they're not wrong. It is "kind of" like Pld, but if someone tries to play them the same way then I can understand why they'd feel squishier.

[ashwich]

I wouldn't say that this is the only difference between them. Pld's passive block mitigation is a more obvious distinction between them, but there's also a pretty subtle (but substantial) difference in how their CD's are used, particularly in how they are timed. A lot of people see the Drk skill sets and say, "oh, it's kind of like Pld," and they're not wrong. It is "kind of" like Pld, but if someone tries to play them the same way then I can understand why they'd feel squishier.

so in this scenario... what you're saying is OP didn't use all of his cooldowns, when in fact he stated that he did... or there's a cooldown a pld would've used that he didn't have access to?

I don't understand this PLD use cooldown better sentiment.... how is the ability to utilize your resource something you generalize by class?

[Quor]

Did perhaps a piece of gear break? That will drastically lower your tanking power.

But, if it the healer was in CS as you said, that's likely the issue. Spammed heals from a healer in CS won't keep anyone up beyond a 2-mob pull at that level.