
Originally Posted by
Ixon
Probably the one hill I'll die on is wondering why people think having Double Down costing two cartridges is better than one. I've seen multiple answers, but it still does not make sense to me and that the two cost is artificial inflation to make it "feel" like it's worth more than it actually is.
"If DD were only 1 slot it would just degenerate to "use it instead of burst strike"." - but this is already the case.
"It would remove "flexibility"" - It's a partial reason why GNB is LESS flexible now than it was in ShB. In ShB, you only absolutely needed 1 cartridge for a burst, because your burst mainly revolved around Gnashing Fang, and this kept all your cooldowns aligned. Meaning you could adjust when and where you spent your other gauge as the fight demanded. In EW, you absolutely need a full 3 cartridges per burst, or else a cooldown falls out of alignment. To which no other tank suffers this much between WAR's gauge, PLD's MP, or even DRK's gauge and MP, where for cooldowns sake only Living Shadow matters, and Blood Weapon will ensure you have that gauge in 3 GCDs! There is zero flexibility in GNB's rotation other than where you dump gauge for Bloodfest, but even then you are using Bloodfest on cooldown to maximize usages. Comparatively, Primal Rend is free on the activation of Inner Release, Shadowbringer is free on DRK, and the Confeiteor Combo on PLD is free on the activation of Requiscat, allows you to be ranged for 8 GCD's, and completely changes the PLD's rotation in a meaningful way. Why Double Down costs gauge to begin with, or why the costs is so high comparatively, is missed on me.
All the 1 cart cost does is make it really clunky on fights with downtime, makes it the most punished tank if you die before a burst(unless you happen to have Bloodfest), punishes you for dumping cartridges even if it would be the most optimal choice(can't cartridge dump onto mobs before a boss unless you have Bloodfest or you will be many GCD's behind the rest of your group), and to me just seems like a superficial "buff" to GNB going into EW. "How do we buff GNB? They have two carts, GIVE THEM THREE! They have one cart moves, GIVE THEM A TWO CART MOVE! Think how string the other players will think they feel!". I main'd GNB in ShB, and continue to do so in EW. However I personally only see positives if Double Down was changed to 1 cart, not quite understanding why people are so opposed to it as to me, clunky =/= skillful. If it were to change to one cart, you would still play GNB about the same, you would just have more flexibility with your cartridges and be less frustrated in certain scenarios overall.