Returning player, looking to try Melee DPS

[Techau]

Hello!

I am a returning player, coming back after being gone for a year. So far, it's been alright, but I've come to realize I've grown bored with RDPS, and want to take a look at melee DPS.

I haven't fully read up on a lot of the changes, but I wanted to know where things stand, and which Melee DPS is the most forgiving and "noob" friendly. I don't think with my latency that NIN will be an option, but I'm open to hearing about what you'd like to share.

Any feedback you can give would be excellent, and I would love to hear what you can share with me.

Thank you all in advance!

[popotaro]

Except MNK (not in a bad spot, but have some glaring design issues) you'll be alrigth with either DRG and NIN. SAM isn't half bad too but could use a lil potency boost to live up to its "selfish dps" status.

[Shouko]

SAM is pretty good for not messing up skills too much when lag is an issue.
DRG i haven't really played since ARR/HW so kinda out of the loop on their skills but from the little i've played in POTD it's not exactly my cup of tea.
Ninja is fast and light and fun as hell but prone to using hand sign failure a lot, due to the latency involved with hitting skills
MNK is super heavy on rotation and positional aka need to be to the side or behind, but it's not too bad but not great for solo either, since they need to be behind or to the side, of course if you can get someone to hold the aggro or a tank choco then it's probably a bit more acceptable.

Out of the 4 I suggest SAM or DRG it's the least likely to fail and easiest of the 4 to use.

[RenOkamiya]

For me personaly I'd suggest in order of forgiveness Samurai, Ninja if latency is no issue, Dragoon if it is, then Monk.
If you are looking to find any party however, Ninja or Dragoon are the most "valuable" in terms of utility and it might be easier to find something.

On the side note, Samurai and Monk share gear besides the weapon, so you could in theory try them both (even if it would not be optimal for neither of them, but to give it a try I'd say why not)

But in term of fun, Ninja is the best one to me followed by Samurai (just to see some crazy numbers) ^^

[RylaBee]

Im still leveling Dragoon (now lvl60).
Long story short: NOT a noob friendly class. It gets the results, but it steals the FUN

[popotaro]

Im still leveling Dragoon (now lvl60).
Long story short: NOT a noob friendly class. It gets the results, but it steals the FUN

Usually with DRG, lvling is a pain and fun starts when you have all of your skills.

[RylaBee]

Nope, it was most fun around lvls 30-50ish.
Once you get Blood of The Dragon and your two 3-combo chains turn into 4-combo chains & Jump+Spineshatter become compulsory, is feels much less free and much more stone-set rotation.
Less is sometimes more.
The only thing with max level is, that all the hassle with BoTD starts paying off due to Nastrond, bud that does not make it less hassle.

btw weird thing: Nastrond is advertized as this ultimate ability, but in fact deals less damage then even BoTD buffed "Jump" (thou on shorter cooldown).

[popotaro]

Nope, it was most fun around lvls 30-50ish.
Once you get Blood of The Dragon and your two 3-combo chains turn into 4-combo chains & Jump+Spineshatter become compulsory, is feels much less free and much more stone-set rotation.
Less is sometimes more.
The only thing with max level is, that all the hassle with BoTD starts paying off due to Nastrond, bud that does not make it less hassle.

btw weird thing: Nastrond is advertized as this ultimate ability, but in fact deals less damage then even BoTD buffed "Jump" (thou on shorter cooldown).

Well I only lvl'd DRG to 50 back in the ARR days. Maybe it changed.

[Algol_Daruna]

Nope, it was most fun around lvls 30-50ish.
Once you get Blood of The Dragon and your two 3-combo chains turn into 4-combo chains & Jump+Spineshatter become compulsory, is feels much less free and much more stone-set rotation.
Less is sometimes more.
The only thing with max level is, that all the hassle with BoTD starts paying off due to Nastrond, bud that does not make it less hassle.

btw weird thing: Nastrond is advertized as this ultimate ability, but in fact deals less damage then even BoTD buffed "Jump" (thou on shorter cooldown).

I can't echo this sentiment enough. DRG was one of my favorite classes until the 60s, then trying to wedge each move in at just the right time killed the fun and the freedom for me.

[RenOkamiya]

I can't echo this sentiment enough. DRG was one of my favorite classes until the 60s, then trying to wedge each move in at just the right time killed the fun and the freedom for me.

Agreed, I miss the old 27 moves rotation of the ARR dragoon, it was so much more fun than it is since Heavensward...