DRK changes from Prelim notes

[Tanathya]

They need to seriously start dropping the usage of Dark Arts. I saw what they did with Dark Mind (which was an actual engaging use of Dark Arts) and approved, then I read the change to Plunge and I literally facepalmed. Probably the worst Dark Arts use so far goes to Syphon Strike.

[DaulBan]

They need to seriously start dropping the usage of Dark Arts. I saw what they did with Dark Mind (which was an actual engaging use of Dark Arts) and approved, then I read the change to Plunge and I literally facepalmed. Probably the worst Dark Arts use so far goes to Syphon Strike.

The way they've evened out DA now is that no matter what you're getting the 140 potency gain. With DM, PS, and DP before (actually not sure about DP but w/e) you were losing out on potency for using the DA effect. Now that everything that uses DA does damage there's no real need to worry about if your DA gets 'Eaten' or not. Personally, I think that's a welcome change. I think it's pretty clear with the new DA effects which ones you're going to prioritize (obviously aggro in plunge and DP if you're holding hate and aggro is an issue) but otherwise it's fairly good.

[Tanathya]

The way they've evened out DA now is that no matter what you're getting the 140 potency gain. With DM, PS, and DP before (actually not sure about DP but w/e) you were losing out on potency for using the DA effect. Now that everything that uses DA does damage there's no real need to worry about if your DA gets 'Eaten' or not. Personally, I think that's a welcome change. I think it's pretty clear with the new DA effects which ones you're going to prioritize (obviously aggro in plunge and DP if you're holding hate and aggro is an issue) but otherwise it's fairly good.

It's still extremely counter intuitive. And clunky. Or both.

[Shurrikhan]

The way they've evened out DA now is that no matter what you're getting the 140 potency gain. With DM, PS, and DP before (actually not sure about DP but w/e) you were losing out on potency for using the DA effect. Now that everything that uses DA does damage there's no real need to worry about if your DA gets 'Eaten' or not. Personally, I think that's a welcome change. I think it's pretty clear with the new DA effects which ones you're going to prioritize (obviously aggro in plunge and DP if you're holding hate and aggro is an issue) but otherwise it's fairly good.

But the rDPS increase from a DA on Power Slash will be worth far, far more than what just the DA is contributing on any other weaponskill. SS and SE are now the least efficient uses of DA if you'd otherwise have to use an extra PS combo.

[Luin]

with Dark Mind (which was an actual engaging use of Dark Arts) .

Nobody used DADM except in Neo and Prime.

since shake it off is miles better that TBN DRK should wiled the best dps of the 3 or at least being equal to war, not being the lowest of the 3,and if you think DRK is more easy that PLD you never try seriously optimice DRK.

SIO and TBN arent even remotely similar.

SqEnix made SS great again!

This would imply that SS was ever good in the first place.

I'm just happy they ultimately didn't go with the PVP Sole Survivor. It would have been better but it would have been boring.

[Tanathya]

Nobody used DADM except in Neo and Prime.

Because, to begin with, DM is as niche as it gets. But my point still stands, it was an engaging use of Dark Arts nevertheless.

[Tint]

Because, to begin with, DM is as niche as it gets. But my point still stands, it was an engaging use of Dark Arts nevertheless.

i thought it was the most boring way to use dark arts. on par with dark dance, but that skill is gone now...

don't get me wrong, both effects were strong, but the feedback was.... meh. use dark arts, then this cooldown and... nothing happens? when empowering an attack with dark arts i get the feeling of now i load my mana into my blade and now i unleash it for more power! - thanks to the attack animation^^ with dark mind just an icon appeared. at least blackest night is visually more appealing and when the shield breaks there is a sound effect and the blood gauge fills, to unleash a powerfull counter attack :O

[Tanathya]

i thought it was the most boring way to use dark arts. on par with dark dance, but that skill is gone now...

don't get me wrong, both effects were strong, but the feedback was.... meh. use dark arts, then this cooldown and... nothing happens? when empowering an attack with dark arts i get the feeling of now i load my mana into my blade and now i unleash it for more power! - thanks to the attack animation^^ with dark mind just an icon appeared. at least blackest night is visually more appealing and when the shield breaks there is a sound effect and the blood gauge fills, to unleash a powerfull counter attack :O

You had to time DA with DM, it was actually fun. Can't say the same for DD, didn't like DA on that one much. Anyway, DA is now a spammy skill that doesn't weave as it did back in HW. It felt like you were dancing, it was natural. Feels so clunky now.

[Luin]

You had to time DA with DM, it was actually fun. Can't say the same for DD, didn't like DA on that one much. Anyway, DA is now a spammy skill that doesn't weave as it did back in HW. It felt like you were dancing, it was natural. Feels so clunky now.

I completely disagree. It was more of a hassle than anything fun. Either you clip your GCD or you waste duration by needing to DADM early when you HS. It could have been fine if literally every gcd besides HS didn't eat Dark Arts. Considering it's a defensive cd, I don't like feeling forced to use it early not because the fight requires it, but because my rotation does. And unlike Thrill+Upheaval I'm not gaining, I'm just not losing anything; except during buffs, where you'd lose a lot of dmg.

As for having to time DADM, that's nonsense. You time every cd. Your cooldowns should be mapped for a fight, timing DADM isn't a thing, it's an inconvenience compared to normal cooldowns like SWall/TBN/LD because while those can just be *used* when you expect, DADM must be used on HS/SS, or you skip a DASE/BS, or clip. Under BW it's only usable with HS w/o clipping.

DA back in HW didnt feel clunky because you didn't DA 8 times a minute. Look at Creator, look at Sigma, we're using Dark Arts on average twice as much as HW DRK.

And during Blood Weapon or Trick Attack? You're kidding. Machinists think they have it hard. The DA spam is unreal.

[Tanathya]

As for having to time DADM, that's nonsense. You time every cd. Your cooldowns should be mapped for a fight, timing DADM isn't a thing, it's an inconvenience compared to normal cooldowns like SWall/TBN/LD because while those can just be *used* when you expect, DADM must be used on HS/SS, or you skip a DASE/BS, or clip. Under BW it's only usable with HS w/o clipping.

Lol right, though I remember having to time it on Alexander Savage and it was really fun to do. Not that I'm not welcoming the change, I just don't like the turn Dark Arts has taken in SB for the worse and would definitely rather have the old DRK. Having this DA spam is what's wrong. So, nonsense my ass, it was fun to time DA and DM, that you don't see it that way is something as subjective as my own point of view.