DRK changes from Prelim notes

[Sylvain]

So is Dark Passenger worth casting now?

Like, can I put it back on my bar ^^? (I dunno where I'll put it tho x_x)

I found one thing in this thread of interest:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme..._note_reading/

They noted "Dark knight adjustments won't be enough to fix the core, but they did as much as they could with the time they had".


Could that mean we'll continue to see changes in patches prior to a major rework (probably 5.0)? Seems like it.

I think so, but I wouldn't expect any fundamental rework of DA before 5.0
Only more potency change and MAYBE an ultimate rework of one skill (like Last Survivor, the new one seems tricky to use but I guess it's better than nothing)

[Jandor]

So is Dark Passenger worth casting now?

Like, can I put it back on my bar ^^? (I dunno where I'll put it tho x_x)

Worth casting on 2+ targets, not worth it on single target (except, maybe, if a SMN has put contagion up.)

[Seku]

So is Dark Passenger worth casting now?

Always has been on 2+ targets (100 potency per mob (200 for 2+) vs 140 with no DA). Now it's basically the Potency of Dark Arts in AoE form (140 potency to each mob it hits.) meaning that you should be using it each time it's up with Dark Arts when you have 2+ monsters gathered together. It won't be a 100% waste now either while fighting only 1 monster as long as you do not prioritize it over Carve and Spit. So basically they just built in more fault tolerance into the job. Maybe a bit more DPS if paired up with sole survivor to get extra MP once the effect expires (don't quote me on that as I've not tested it.)

[Jandor]

Always has been on 2+ targets (100 potency per mob (200 for 2+) vs 140 with no DA). Now it's basically the Potency of Dark Arts in AoE form (140 potency to each mob it hits.) meaning that you should be using it each time it's up with Dark Arts when you have 2+ monsters gathered together. It won't be a 100% waste now either while fighting only 1 monster as long as you do not prioritize it over Carve and Spit. So basically they just built in more fault tolerance into the job. Maybe a bit more DPS if paired up with sole survivor to get extra MP once the effect expires (don't quote me on that as I've not tested it.)

Dark Passenger doesn't benefit from slashing debuff. If you have a ninja, samurai or warrior with you it's still a DPS loss single target.

[Lyth]

Sheltron and Intervention perform functionally the same effect as TBN. The main difference is that Sheltron is a strict dps gain (vs. being a situational gain or loss).

I agree that IB is an anachronism. They should either make it dps neutral and available in Defiance while scaling down the rest of WAR's cooldown kit accordingly, or just remove the action entirely. It ends up being a case of "we want to have our cake in prog and eat it too." If you have IB available for your use on demand, the encounter design should force you to use it.

[Reynhart]

The main difference is that Sheltron is a strict dps gain (vs. being a situational gain or loss).

Sheltron is a DPS gain only if you wouldn't have proced Shield Swipe on CD without it, which, considering PLD native block rate, is not that difficult, especially now that you have a chance to block any magical AoE. And it doesn't offer as much reward if you don't actually tank something, while TBN can be cast on anyone for an easy 50 blood.

As for IB, my point of view is that the skill should have the same potency as Fell Cleave, but should suffer from Defiance damage penalty. This way, if you're forced to use it by itself, you wouldn't lose that much DPS, and if you pair it with Unchained, you'd only lose the Deliverance buff. And the same would be applied to Steel Cyclone.

[Deathgiver]

As for IB, my point of view is that the skill should have the same potency as Fell Cleave, but should suffer from Defiance damage penalty. This way, if you're forced to use it by itself, you wouldn't lose that much DPS, and if you pair it with Unchained, you'd only lose the Deliverance buff. And the same would be applied to Steel Cyclone.

That would be beyond over-tuned. At maximum (tanks topped up in deliverance going into ir window) ir+uc would be a 2.4% dps loss, in exchange for +20% max hp (would be full due to next point), somewhere north of 80k healing + access to the heal from equilibrium and -20% damage for 16 seconds AND over 8k potency worth of extra hate. If the tank is sub 60% going into ir in deliverance it would actually be a dps gain to swap into defiance since your self heals from ib would give you a full potency upheaval.

[Reynhart]

That would be beyond over-tuned.

Frankly, the thing I see from your conclusion is far more value to a skill that mostly gather dust on your hotbar if you avoid Defiance like a plague, and a strategic use for your tank stance...so yeah, I'd say it would be a good thing.

[Lyth]

...

Sheltron is both a swipe proc and MP gain. MP translates into potency through HS. It's a strict dps gain. If you're just interested in getting the activation off and you're not tanking, it just needs to be used before an AoE goes off. Alternatively, just throw on cover for a moment. There's an interesting discussion on using the ability here. Skilled PLDs are definitely getting a lot of use out of it, and it's a pretty good example on how defensives don't always have to be strictly dps neutral.

IB could easily be made roughly dps neutral and unlocked from stance if there was a recast attached to it, similar to TBN. You'd actually get more use out of the action, and it wouldn't be that defensive that people always conveniently neglect to mention when discussing defensive balance.

[Reynhart]

Sheltron is both a swipe proc and MP gain. MP translates into potency through HS. It's a strict dps gain.

It's been some time since I regularly played my PLD, but is the MP gain from a Sheltron really enough to cast an additionnal HS and not mess with your FoF/Requiescat windows, considering the CD on Req is conveniently made so that your WS rotation will give you just enough mana to chain cast 5 HS during Req ?