Why am I level 54 and still have no defensive cd's?!

[Leidolf]

They're right. If you're a Melee DPS, you shouldn't be trying to pull multiple enemies if you can help it. It'd be one thing if you were a BLM since you could cast Sleep on a group that's vulnerable and then single target, or a Ranged that can use Foot Graze to pin one in place while you deal with another. But Melee DPS only have Arm's Length, which can cause Slow, Feint, which will reduce damage for a few seconds, as cooldowns. If you have to pull more than one, the best you can do is pop those, Low Kick the one that hits hardest, and then proceed to pop Bloodbath and try to kill them all as fast as possible.

If you have your Chocobo, they can Tank for you. In a worst case scenario, let the Chocobo distract all the enemies and run away.

[Archwizard]

Spineshatter Dive - Level 45

Wait... how is that a defensive CD?

... do you mean Elusive Jump (Level 35) as a means to back out of an engagement?

[Mavrias]

Wait... how is that a defensive CD?

... do you mean Elusive Jump (Level 35) as a means to back out of an engagement?

It used to have a stun, don't remember if it still does.

[Rilifane]

It used to have a stun, don't remember if it still does.

It doesn't, you just butt plant on your target. Though even that can be used defensively to jump to a mob further away if you pulled too much and need a headstart when running away.

With all the tools Kalise listed you really shouldn't have any trouble against two mobs. But you either pull single and focus it down or pull huge and aoe. 2-3 mobs isn't even faster and since you're not a tank you're not made to survive it.
But if you accidentally pulled two mobs: stun one, Leg Sweep only has 40sec cd. You can use it a 2nd time into the fight.
Arm's Length as stun wears off to weaken both. Focus one other down, use Life Surge, Bloodbath and Second Wind to restore HP.
Feint for additional dmg reduce.

If all else fails: Elusive Jump and run. But Dragoon has a nice kit to easily survive multiple mobs even without a Chocobo out.

Also, pots are really cheap and are nice at lower levels. They're good way to bridge the time until other skills come off CD.

[BloodRubyXII]

He says when Dragoon has some of the best DPS self sustain in the game.

[Hasrat]

Huh. I always thought Arm's Length only proc'd when it prevented a knockback/draw-in effect. Didn't realize the slow was just a bonus.

[Leidolf]

I kind of hate Spineshatter Dive doesn't have Stun anymore. But yeah, Arm's Length has a chance to proc so long as the enemy hits the barrier it makes. When you're being dogpiled it can be helpful since Dragoon has limited AoE at that level.

[Maeka]

New player with my FIRST complain about this game: I'm a level 54 dps and have no defensive cool downs, if I have to fight 2+ mobs, I DIE! And don't tell me to get good, I do my rotation, I do damage, but the mobs kill me before I kill them because it's too much damage and there's nothing I can do.

SECOND complain: no corpse run.

I'm losing interest, pretty fast.

Now flame me all you want, do your worst.

Well, you *do* have a couple buttons..

1). Second Wind: While not really a "defensive cooldown" but popping it does help in a pinch.
2). Life Surge. Save this for your highest damage skill (at 54 that should be Full Thrust with combo). More damage = more healing. A drop in the bucket but better than nothing.

As others have said, get your chocobo out and IMO, you should have your chocobo learn Choco Cure first and then go down the DPS tree and leave it in Free Stance. I find that is way more than I need to help me stay alive.

I can pull 2-3 enemies in a FATE simultaneously and win, rather comfortably as any DPS job (including Dragoon). RDM can do a bit more for obvious reasons (really, Vercure rocks).

[Sylvain]

2 pages of feedback, no flame, and he still hasn't replied a single time.