Putting the thread back on track: DRK plays fine as it is currently, the problem is the amount of damage it spits out for the amount of effort you put into it. Attempting to prep enough mana and gauge for 1-2 bloodspiller(s) and 1 C&S every minute for a NIN's trick attack window is a lot more challenging than your PLD's FoF GB-RA-RA Req-HS spam rotation that ignores party buff windows, imo.

Even if you do execute DRK's rotation perfectly in a speedrun, PLDs will still out damage you if they do their set rotation perfectly as well. On top of that, PLDs defensive rotation is the easiest to manage out of all the tanks. With PLDs not needing to keep track of their gauge, their sheltron (-26%, 10 whopping seconds duration) will always be up for every tankbuster. I'm okay with PLDs having easy defensive management, but not okay with them having such a easy time doing damage too. Might as well take 2 PLDs for ultimate prog, they are already close enough to WAR damage.