Dark Knight Rework Suggestion [Full Detail]

[The_User]

English has never been my forte so I must apologize in advance.


I'm sorry that it will be lengthy but I was told that I shouldn't take a rework lightly


Some of this idea came from a years of reading other people's suggestion in reddit and official forum


It seem that Dark Knight could use a rework, which I will explain how below


First

let me show how the order of unlocking the Job Action of Dark Knight shall be restructured according to this rework suggestion


1 Hard Slash
2 Syphon Strike,Anima,Channeling
6 Unleash,Gift of Darkness
10 Grit
15 Unmend
26 Souleater
30 Darkbringer
35 Dark Emissary
38 Shadow Wall
40 Stalwart Soul
45 Dark Affinity, Dark Impact
50 Living Dead
54 Plunge
56 Shadow Drain,Aetherward
60 Dark Essence,Dark Drive
62 Black Blood,Blood Gale
64 Blood Force,Blood Storm,Blood Rain
66 Power Slash,Abyssal Drain,Impaler
68 Blood Weapon
70 The Blackest Night
72 Enhanced Combo
74 Enhanced Blood Gale
80 Dark Impact Mastery,Dark Wave
82 Channeling Mastery,Focused Channeling,Enhanced Dark Emissary,Enhanced Aetherward
86 Dark Drive Mastery, Dark Impulse
88 Enhanced The Blackest Night
90 Ring of Pain, Iron Maiden


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Next : Detail of each Actions




Syphon Strike
LV2. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 3y. Radius 0y. Recast 2.5s
Combo Action : Hard Slash. Combo Potency : 260. Combo Bonus : Increase Anima Gauge by 10
[Grain another Combo Bonus : Increase Blood Gauge by 10 after unlocked Black Blood]
[Restore MP effect is removed]


Anima
LV2. Type : Trait
Allows for accumulation of Anima Gauge upon the landing of following actions,Syphon Strike, Shadow Drain and Abyssal Drain.


Channeling
LV2. Type : Ability. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 0y. Recast 2s. Cost : 30 Anima Gauge
Restore Own HP. Cure potency : 1200.


Gift of Darkness
LV6. Type : Trait
Nullify Silence and reduces spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 4%.




Souleater
LV26. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 3y. Radius 0y. Recast 2.5s
Combo Action : Syphon Strike. Combo Potency : 340.
[Gain another Combo Bonus : Increase Blood Gauge by 20 after unlocked Black Blood]
[Restore HP Effect is removed]





Darkbringer
LV30. Type : Ability.Targeting : Enemy. Range 10y. Radius 10y. Recast 1s. Maximum Charges: 4. Charge Time : 15s
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 250 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
[Gained Additional Effect : Grant 1 stack of Dark Affinity after unlocked Dark Affinity]
[Gained Additional Effect : Grant 1 Dark Essence after unlocked Dark Essence]




Dark Emissary
LV35. Type Ability. Targeting : Self or Ally. Range 30y. Radius 0y. Recast 60s. Duration 20s. Cost : 30 Anima Gauge
Grant 10 stack of Dark Emissary,Each stack restore the target's HP when the target suffered a damage.
Cure Potency : 200.
Any remaining stack will be consume to restore hp when the effect expires.






Stalwart Soul
LV40. Type : Spell. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 5y. Recast 2.5s
Combo Action : Unleash. Combo Potency : 140.
[Gain Combo Bonus : Increase Blood Gauge by 20 after Unlocked Black Blood]
[Restore MP effect is removed]





Dark Affinity
LV45. Type :Trait
Grant Dark Affinity upon landing Darkbringer. A maximum of 4 stack can be stored




Dark Impact
LV45. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 3y. Radius 0y. Recast 2.5s Cost : 1 Dark Affinity Stack.
Deliver an attack with a potency of 250. Potency increases up to 1000 as stacks of Dark Affinity exceed minimum cost.
Consume all Dark Affinity stack upon execution.




Living Dead
LV50. Type : Ability. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 0y. Recast 300s. Duration 10s.
Reduce HP to 1 and prevent most attack from reducing your HP to less than 1.
Additional Effect : Restore HP when effect expired, cure potency : 1200.




Shadow Drain
LV56. Type : Ability.Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 0y. Recast 25s.
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 150.
Additional Effect : Increase Anima Gauge by 30




Aetherward
LV56. Type : Ability.Targeting : Self or Ally. Range 30y. Radius 0y. Recast 25s. Duration 10s. Cost : 30 Anima Gauge
Creates a barrier around self or target party member that absorbs damage equivalent to a heal of 1200 potency.




Dark Essence
Lv60. Type : Trait
Grant Dark Essence upon the landing of Darkbringer. A maximum of 4 stack can be stored




Dark Drive
Lv60. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 10y. Radius 10y. Recast 2.5s. Cost : 1 Dark Essence
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 350 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.




Black Blood
LV62. Type : Trait
Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation upon the landing of the following actions,Syphon Strike Souleater,Stalwart Soul and Impaler.




Blood Gale
Lv62. Type : Spell. Targeting : Enemy. Range 10y. Radius 10y. Recast 2.5s Cost 50 Blood Gauge.
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 490 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
Action changes to Blood Storm while under the effect of Blood Force.




Blood Storm
LV64. Type : Spell. Targeting : Enemy. Range 15y. Radius 15y. Recast 2.5s Cost 50 Blood Gauge.
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 520 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Grant Blood Rain Ready upon execution. Duration 15s.
Action is changed to Blood Rain for the duration of the effect.
Can only be executed while under effect of Blood Force. This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.




Blood Rain
LV64. Type : Ability. Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 5y. Recast 1s.
Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 200 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Blood Rain Ready. Effect fades upon execution. This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.




Blood Force
Lv64. Type : Ability. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 0y. Recast 25s. Duration 25s. Cost 50 Blood Gauge
Increases potency of next weaponskill or spell by 50%.



Power Slash
LV66. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 3y. Radius 0y. Recast 2.5s
Combo Action : Syphon Strike. Combo Potency : 400.


Abyssal Drain
LV66. Type : Spell. Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 5y. Recast 2.5s
Combo Action : Unleash. Combo Potency : 170. Additional Effect : Increase Anima Gauge by 20
[Restore Hp effect is removed]





Impaler
Lv66. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 5y. Recast 30s.
Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 300 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Increase Blood Gauge by 50.




Blood Weapon
Lv68. Type : Ability. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 0y. Recast 60s. Duration 30s.
Grant 5 stack of Blood Weapon, each stack allow you to increases Blood Gauge by 10 upon landing weaponskills or spells.
Can only be executed while in combat. Effect does not stack when hitting multiple targets with a single attack.




The Blackest Night
LV70. Type : Ability. Targeting : None. Range 0y. Radius 15y. Recast 90s. Duration 15s.
Creates a barrier around self and all nearby party members that absorbs damage equivalent to a heal of 400 potency.
Apply Blind to all nearby enemies when your barrier is completely absorbed. Radius : 15y. Duration 15s.





Enhanced Combo
LV72. Type : Trait
Increase Combo Potency of Souleater to 400,Power Slash to 460,Stalwart Soul to 170 and Abyssal Drain to 200




Enhanced Blood Gale
Lv74. Type : Trait
Increase potency of Blood Gale to 550, Blood Storm to 600 and Blood Rain to 300




Dark Impact Mastery
LV80. Type : Trait
Upgrades Dark Impact to Dark Wave




Dark Wave
LV80. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 15y. Radius 15y. Recast 2.5s
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 450 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Potency increases up to 1800 as stacks of Dark Affinity exceed minimum cost. Dark Affinity Stack Cost : 1. Consume all Dark Affinity stack upon execution.



Channeling Mastery
Lv82. Type : Trait
Upgrades Channeling to Focused Channeling


Focused Channeling
LV82. Type : Ability. Targeting : none. Range 0y. Radius 0y. Recast 2s. Cost : 30 Anima Gauge
Restore own HP. Cure potency : 1200
healing potency increases up to 1800 as own HP decreases, reaching its maximum value when You has 30% HP or less.


Enhanced Dark Emissary
Lv82. Type : Trait
Add Shadow Skin Effect to Dark Emissary.
Shadow Skin Effect : Reduce damage taken by 10%. Duration 20s.


Enhanced Aetherward
Lv82. Type : Trait
Add Reinforce Effect to Aetherward.
Reinforce Effect : Reduce damage taken by 20%. Duration 4s.





Dark Drive Mastery
Lv86. Type : Trait
Upgrades Dark Drive to Dark Impulse

Dark Impulse
LV86. Type : Weaponskill. Targeting : Enemy. Range 10y. Radius 10y. Recast 1.5s. Cost : 1 Dark Essence
Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 400 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
Recast timer cannot be affected by status effects or gear attributes.




Enhanced The Blackest Night
Lv88. Type : Trait
Increase potency of barrier by 400




Ring of Pain
Lv90. Type : Spell. Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 5y. Recast 60s. Duration 15s.
Envelops a designated area in a veil of darkness, inflict paralysis on any enemies who enter. When the effect expires, or when the target leaves the ring, deals unaspected damage with a potency of 300 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies within the range of Ring of Pain that you have set up. Effect fade when such attack is triggered.
Additional Effect : Grant Painbringer, increase damage dealt by 10%. Duration 15s.
Additional Effect : Grant Iron Maiden Ready. Duration 20s.
Action is change to Iron Maiden for the duration of the effect.


Iron Maiden
LV90. Type : Spell. Targeting : Enemy. Range 25y. Radius 5y. Recast 1.5s.
Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 200 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Iron Maiden Ready. Effect fades upon execution. This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Recast timer cannot be affected by status effects or gear attributes.

[The_User]

What does it change for Dark Knight according to this rework suggestion?


1.MP


It mean that Dark Knight won't be relying on MP any more because The Dark Attacks and The Blackest Night didn't consume MP


Darkbringer which is the replacement of both Edge of Darkness/Shadow and Flood of Darkness/Shadow is having a charge time instead of required an MP but it still take 60 seconds to gain 4 Darkbringer nonetheless.


The Blackest Night is no longer tied to MP and changed to a raid wild mitigation.


No one will be forced to use a mitigation to prevent the over cap of the resource for damage such as mp any more


2.Gauge


It allow player to manage a gauge


Anima Gauge can be manage to prevent the overheal and meaningless passive heal.

Blood Gauge can be manage and Blood Force will act like a check point. If the current Delirium is the auto mode of Dark Knight, This rework suggestion of Blood Gauge is instead a Semi Auto mode that would require at least self awareness and know how to not over cap the gauge.
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Sources of Inspiration

Dark Emissary is loosely based from the "Cenobite" in Hellraiser
https://cenobite.fandom.com/wiki/Cenobite
[Who are such devotees to sadomasochism that they can no longer see the difference between pain and pleasure]


Impaler is based from "Vlad the Impaler"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Impaler
A real life historical figure Who gained notoriety form his love for impaling his enemies.
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Reason why or how I came up with the rest of the ideas


[Gift of Darkness]
There was a debate in a megathread, about whether All Dark Knight's spell should have been changed to a weaponskill so that it can somehow fix Blood Weapon and I've been thinking why go that far when it can be easily fixed by have a trait that reduce a gcd of spell?


[Souleater]

There was a complain in some Dark Knight thread that Souleater's heal is kind of a waste and wasn't useful as it should be, which I agreed. So what if we change it from a passive heal to resource for heal/shield that can be control? hence the rework suggestion that you see.

[Stalwart Soul]

There was a plea from Dark Knight players to have Stalwart Soul moved down to 40 and then other player claim it could be too op because it can restore MP and Blood Gauge really fast so I striped those thing away before moved it down and make it a minor dps gain and fulfill the wish of the people who wish to break away from unleash spaming gameplay. Pretty sure this doesn't break the game right?

List of the people that wish for Stalwart Soul to be unlocked at earlier level

Stalwart soul needs to arrive a LOT earlier as well. The 2nd part of their aoe combo shouldn't be at level freaking 72.

I'd go ahead and swap the level requirements of Stalwart Soul and Abyssal Drain (or Carve & Spit) so DRK has at least their 2nd AoE combo pre-70.

I'm not exactly sure how I'd lay it out the actions with the levels but heres a general idea:

1: hard slash
2: syphon strike
6: unleash
10: grit
15: unmend
20: Stalwart Soul

Stalwart Soul is moved down to be learned at level 40-50.

An almost, kind of "Quick Fix" list I'd like to see implemented (or at least, in rough form / trajectory):[*]Dark Missionary and Stalwart Soul acquired at earlier levels.

They do need to make the lower levels for Dark Knight a lot better. It feels terrible to play below level 70.
They should bring the skill progression more in line with Paladin and Warrior (and Warrior and Gunbreaker more in line with Paladin). Yeah, people would complain about "homogenization" but whatever.
So, I would re-arrange all skills between level 30 and level 70 then use Traits to bring up to their current forms.
Like Stalwart Soul should not be level 72. It should be level 40 with a Trait at level 72 to add the Blood and MP gain.

1)
The job's leveling scheme needs shaping up, since at low level it feels horrible to play, even all the way to max level, due to one less defensive caused by Dark Mind, which is useless in 90% of content. Moving some abilities such as Stalwart Soul down to the 40 baseline like other tanks would bring it more in-line with what is expected in a new-player experience, and would make it feel less like a drag outside of the story gameplay wise. At 72, it'd have the trait where it would grant Blood upon combo.

[*] Levels of acquisition for abilities needs to be reevalueated. AoE rotation feels dull until level 72, where players get Stalwart Soul.

Make stalwart soul earlier in level progression.

put oblation somewhere earlier along with stalwart soul.

Here are my wishes fix for the new year:
- Re-estructure the skills learning order so DRK learn early a usefull defensive buff before lvl 70 and make it better at those levels, make it learn stalwart soul way more early so we don't spend 72 levels spaming unleash at the same bring Dark missionary early like the rest of the tanks.

- Give Stalwart at lvl 70 or earlier.....

Stalwart Soul- Now learned at 42 down from 72

make Stalwart Soul available at lower level

It would be nice to have Stalwart Soul acquired at the same levels the other tanks get their second AoE variation.

The things I would like to see out of DRK, going forward...
9. Stalwart Soul is given at level 40, just like Mythril Tempest, Prominence, and Demon Slaughter.

The problem with Stalwart Soul is not the ability itself but when it is acquired. All the other tanks get the second step for their AoE combo at level 40 while Dark Knight doesn’t get theirs until level 72. This makes the leveling process for the job or doing level synced down not as smooth or enjoyable as the other tanks.
My suggestion is simple, lower the level at which Stalwart Soul is acquired to 40 or somewhere thereabouts.

Stalwart Soul level acquired at lvl 40

Reason: Every tank gets their 2nd AoE at lvl 40!

Proposed Skill Updates[*]Stalwart Soul now learned at lv. 40

I'm just gonna post this and hope the devs take notice.

Actions
Lv. 40 Stalwart Soul

[*]Drop Stalwart Soul to level 40. Better to have an empty level in ShB than to wait until 72 for your only AoE combo.[/LIST]

Stalwart should be moved to an earlier level and that would help a ton.

For Stalwart Soul, here is my own analysis of that: continue to complain about that its unlock level is Lv72, as this is terrible.

ii) Reduce the level at which Stalwart Soul is gained.

-stalwart soul: moved down significantly in the levelling

[Darkbringers,Dark Drive Dark Impact]

I saw a post from Dark Knight player that don't like how the resource for damage has been tied with a mitigation.

It seem MP management isn't worth the hassle anymore


There are also a JP Player that want Edge and Flood of Darkness to merge

ホットバーに入れるアクションを1つ減らせそうな方法なんですが、漆黒の剣と漆黒の波動を統合して一つのアクションにするのはどうでしょう？
効果は範囲に、威力は対象に100%、2体目以降の敵への威力は50%分減少とすれば1つ減らせます。

暁月であらゆるジョブの大技に範囲が追加された今
漆黒の剣と波動を二つに分けている意味が無いように思います。

統合して漆黒の波動に一本化しても良いのではないでしょうか？
1体目には漆黒の剣と同等の威力で、2体目以降は波動相当の威力に減少するといった形です。

With the risk of button bloat. Edge and flood will eventually have to be merged in one action sooner or later and that is the first reason why it need to be 10y line aoe.

Another reason is because moving the boss during the burst window with a lot of weaving could be a problem and that is something a line aoe can fix.


There was a complain in the Eng megathread that Edge/Flood feel boring and just a filler ogcd attack, which is true due to the fact that it doesn't really lead to anywhere nor build up to something special. There are also a complain in JP forum that Dark Knight lack a big oomph move or wish to have a flashy finisher like a slash that release a wave of darkness

以前シャドウブリンガーを1回分にまとめる案を出しましたが、他の方が仰られていたシャドウブリンガーをWSに変更やブラッドデリリアムを条件にする案は面白いと思いました。

アビ数を減らす事での操作性が改善されますし、シャドウブリンガーの威力とブラッドデリリアムで得られる威力を合算する事で、大剣らしい高威力(1200程度が望ましいです)の大技も出来ます。

・デリリアム→シャドウブリンガーのシンプルなパターン
・スタック式のデリリアム→コンフィテオルの様に使用するとデリリアムが切れるパターン
・スタック式のデリリアム→3連と別枠のフィニッシュ技のパターン

他にも色々なパターンが可能と思いますが、暗黒にもダブルダウンやプライマルレンドの様なド派手なフィニッシュ技が欲しいので、ご一考いただけますと幸いです。

ジョブガイドを拝見させていただいたのですが、やはり暗黒騎士だけ一撃の大きい技が無いのはとても残念です。
せっかくの大剣なのに低~中威力の技を連打する"手数タイプ"なのがちぐはぐな印象です。

以前シャドウブリンガーを1回にまとめる案や、WSに変更しブラッドデリリアムを発動条件にする案を出させていただきましたが、もし現状のチャージアクションのままいくのであれば、影身の威力をシャドウブリンガーに振り分けて頂きたいです。
DoT技なのと演出の影響でシナジーや薬に合わせづらい事や、単純にDoTの威力が上昇してもダメージを出してる感がない為、プレイしてて楽しくないです。

操作性も考慮すると、チャージアクションではなく上記の案どちらかのパターンが望ましいのですが、最終的にはどのパターンであれ威力1200程度の高威力技にしていただけますと幸いです。
ご一考のほど何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます。

【追記】
シャドウブリンガーは魔法ダメージのようですが、「漆黒の波動」とのモーション差別のためとスキルスピードの恩恵のために大剣を大きく振りながら斬撃による漆黒の衝撃波を飛ばすWSになってくれると嬉しいです。

and this is where Dark Drive and Dark Impact/Wave came in. All these action together has been linked and made into a combo and a finisher.

[Power Slash]

There was an idea from the player in the megathread about Blood Magic. Which make me think it can be done,after all having only a swordplay seem kind of dull for a job that used to know the Dark Art.

There was also a complain that Blood Gauge seem too similar to Beast Gauge and wish it could be different

There was also a plea to dev from the old player who want Power Slash back either due they were impressed by the animation or the wish for an alternate combo finisher and there was also a debate about what it should do since aggro is no longer a thing to be worry about. A year or two has passed and it seem no solution has been made so I decided to pick it up and give it a new purpose and fulfill the wish of the people who wish for Power Slash's return along the way.

[Abyssal Drain]

Recently it seem Abyssal Drain has been asked to be part of the aoe combo so it could be a great help in dungeon which has been shot down by other player who was afraid that it could be another Bloodwhetting so I try to find a middle ground that allow player to choose between dps and heal/mitigation resource and balance it. This is the reason why Abyssal Drain in this suggestion is a second aoe combo finisher that increase heal/mitigation gauge instead of Blood Gauge so it can act as a way to prevent the gauge over cap and offer something else instead. Whether the player would choose more heal/mitigation gauge or more blood gauge or a balance is for them to decided and optimize. At least this is my intention.

[The_User]

Alright so, first off: I object highly to the concept of DRK's off-tanking support being direct healing skills, of which you have several. Aether Heal, Dark Emissary, several effects that boost HP recovery via healing actions... the sheer volume of support potential listed here is probably overpowered.

*Edit* Ok I'm willing to toned it down

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With them, you've basically created what feels more like an edgy reskin on Paladin than a Dark Knight. (Especially Impaler, which potencies aside, I can absolutely see as a just a black and red Confiteor.

1.Impaler is a resource generator but Confiteor is a resource spender
2.Impaler is a combo openner meanwhile Confiteor is partly a combo finisher
3.Impaler have a damage fall off. Confiteor don't have a damage fall off
4.While you can nuke something with Confiteor, I'm not sure a merely 300 potency weaponskill like Impaler count as a nuke.


Would you call it a Dark Confiteor too if Abyssal Drain has been made to a free weaponskill?
"Everything that have a range of 25y with 5y radius=Confiteor" doesn't feel like open-minded idea to me.

Second, a lot of skills you have in here are ridiculously OP altogether.
For instance, Shadow Wall not only gives 30% DR, but also inflicts Blind on targets -- further increasing its DR value by causing some attacks against you to just randomly fail. I can understand wanting to give it something to reflect WAR's Vengeance having a bonus effect, but Vengeance's counterattacks do nothing for its actual survival other than making trash packs slightly faster

Blood Whetting isn't op because it didn't have healing multiplied by hitting single target like it does with dungeon pull and so it is fine because it doesn't affect the raid, or so I have been told. Why is it that DRK have to always be the subject of scrutiny when every other tank has already powercreeped DRK in this expansion and probably won't get a nerf anytime soon? Shadow Wall is just 120s long cooldown ability that won't affect the end game at all. Pair it with Dark Emissary isn't necessary in dungeon either.
With 90s recast timer Dark Emissary would naturally line up with Rampart which Dark Emissary is supposed to paired with

Third, with all the new skills you've pulled out, there are so many new assets you're asking the devs to make, and so many existing ones you're asking them to scrap.
I'm at the very least shocked that you haven't gone in on the DRK Removed Actions video to recycle some existing skills, several of which could fit just as well for the abilities you've listed. For instance, Dark Passenger for any one of the... four? new line attacks you've added.
(Really you shouldn't have that many line AoEs on a job whose standard location during AoE phases will be standing in the middle of a crowd...)

Since it is a rework,there is no guarantee when it will happen. There are plenty of time left for new assets till 7.0


On the subject about recycle the animation I don't believe it is the main objective of a rework
beside, Darkbringer for example can use Edge of Shadow animation+Shadowbringer vfx.
Dark Emissary can use Dark Mind animation, Shadow Drain could use Sole Survivor animation. Impaler could use use Salted Earth animation. Aether Heal/Shield could use Blood Price..etc.

Dark Passenger animation is too long for a move that designed to be weaving with other attack which is why I don't recommend using it.


you considered this rework having too many line attacks when we are already deal with Flood+Shadowbringers on daily?
If you have aimed to hit a pack of trash mob with a line attack then why is it going to be hard to follow with another line attack that have the same range and radius again?
Won't Line Aoe+Line Aoe easier to hit than Line Aoe+Circle Aoe around yourself?

Fundamentally, what you're missing about Dark Knight is that its #1 design philosophy isn't just "anti-Paladin", it's "Pay evil unto evil."
This is why from day 1, Dark Knight has had a focus on counterattacks, including HW's Reprisal from parries and gaining Dark Arts from TBN.
This (aesthetically) is part of why we've asked for an increased focus on life-draining effects against enemies as well... in addition to its general emphasis on dark magic making it a natural fit.

I'm more incline to believe that was because dev take inspiration from Hurk in vindictus.
The life drain doesn't really need to be restrict to drain life because it would feel weird when we see Dark Knight drain life from a lifeless enemy. Instead,I feel like Dark Knight siphoned Aether from enemy rather than their blood which is why it work on everything that have it.

[Archwizard]

Alright so, first off: I object highly to the concept of DRK's off-tanking support being direct healing skills, of which you have several. Aether Heal, Dark Emissary, several effects that boost HP recovery via healing actions... the sheer volume of support potential listed here is probably overpowered.
With them, you've basically created what feels more like an edgy reskin on Paladin than a Dark Knight. (Especially Impaler, which potencies aside, I can absolutely see as a just a black and red Confiteor.)
Meanwhile for all the use of the words "Blood" and "Drain" in here, I don't see any listings for actual draining (no cure potencies outside of those skills or "heals for X% of damage dealt"), which sounds like you've remade DRK to have no healing outside of those abilities.

Second, a lot of skills you have in here are ridiculously OP altogether.
For instance, Shadow Wall not only gives 30% DR, but also inflicts Blind on targets -- further increasing its DR value by causing some attacks against you to just randomly fail. I can understand wanting to give it something to reflect WAR's Vengeance having a bonus effect, but Vengeance's counterattacks do nothing for its actual survival other than making trash packs slightly faster, keeping those two bonuses separated.
(On the flip-side, the Blind also creates negative synergy with effects like Dark Emissary, since it will make the heals proc less often.)

Third, with all the new skills you've pulled out, there are so many new assets you're asking the devs to make, and so many existing ones you're asking them to scrap.
I'm at the very least shocked that you haven't gone in on the DRK Removed Actions video to recycle some existing skills, several of which could fit just as well for the abilities you've listed. For instance, Dark Passenger for any one of the... four? new line attacks you've added.
(Really you shouldn't have that many line AoEs on a job whose standard location during AoE phases will be standing in the middle of a crowd...)

Fundamentally, what you're missing about Dark Knight is that its #1 design philosophy isn't just "anti-Paladin", it's "Pay evil unto evil."
This is why from day 1, Dark Knight has had a focus on counterattacks, including HW's Reprisal from parries and gaining Dark Arts from TBN.
This (aesthetically) is part of why we've asked for an increased focus on life-draining effects against enemies as well... in addition to its general emphasis on dark magic making it a natural fit.

[The_User]

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