DRK change idea

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

Problems: 1.) 2.) 3.)

1.) Souleater is a bit boring when we had Powerslash & HW Delirium to choose from. Torcleaver combo is actually more distinctly visible on the odd minute cycle given you weave far less on that one.

2.) Yes. The Souleater combo does a lot for the job, but it also kind of is just... that. We used to have Plunge but it got completely replaced by Shadowstride rather than having both..

3.) Technically bosses that become untargetable are balanced and designed in such a way where this becomes less of an issue in between the 60s Bloodweapon/Delirium cycles. That being said, I do think they should give us back either +2 stacks on Bloodweapon buff which they took away, or make each Bloodweapon stack give +1000 MP rather than +600.

Here is my suggestion on how to make Dark Knight more interesting. I will change Dark Arts, The Blackest Night, Oblation, Shadowstride and Enchanted Unmend. I'll try to keep the changes simple.

1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.)

1 + 2.) Stockpiling two stacks of Dark Arts is very welcome for sure. Would allow for more free TBN usage without having to spend DA in between TBNs. As for the reduced MP cost - either Edge/Flood of Shadow also have an MP cost of 1500 or a Dark Arts stack only reduces the MP cost of Edge/Flood by 50% (1500) - if neither of these happen to balance it out, TBN will become a sizeable DPS gain if you manage to consistently break it. I personally don't mind this as it is completely independent of enmity status (MT/OT), but it would absolutely result in a nerf of Edge/Flood to account for the potential DPS increase.

3.) The idea is novel and plays into the roots of Final Fantasy Dark Knight with the "HP as a resource" concept, but I do suggest that the HP shield is bigger than what you spent. 10% HP cost to 15-20% HP shield is my personal suggestion, even with the 10% base damage reduction kept in mind.

4.) 20y forward is a huge distance, all other dashes/backflips of that type are 10-15y. There is a good chance you are going to overshoot your intended spot; without Plunge existing as an alternative (targeted) dash, this would be actually a painful gimmick to deal with. Alternatively, it could behave like Shukuchi (ground-targeted) or Icarus (can be used on teammates), that way it would stand out again.

5.) Replace it with a proc that let's use Plunge after using Unmend (and lower the Lv requirement to learn it to at least the Lv62-70 range).

Enhanced Unmend (Lv.54-70 Trait)
Upon execution of Unmend you are granted the effect of "Plunge ready", changing the action Shadowstride to Plunge and allowing you to use Plunge without cost.

Plunge (Lv.54-70 Ability)
Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Bonus effect: Enhanced enmity

※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
※Shadowstride changes to Plunge when requirements for execution are met.

[zmas]

1.)
1 + 2.) Stockpiling two stacks of Dark Arts is very welcome for sure. Would allow for more free TBN usage without having to spend DA in between TBNs. As for the reduced MP cost - either Edge/Flood of Shadow also have an MP cost of 1500 or a Dark Arts stack only reduces the MP cost of Edge/Flood by 50% (1500) - if neither of these happen to balance it out, TBN will become a sizeable DPS gain if you manage to consistently break it. I personally don't mind this as it is completely independent of enmity status (MT/OT), but it would absolutely result in a nerf of Edge/Flood to account for the potential DPS increase.

The DPS gain through show of skill is exactly the 2nd reason I have in mind when thinking about the TBN change (I can't type it out in the original post because I am at the word limit). I don't mind jobs having bigger variation on DPS, though I don't oppose the idea of Edge/Flood of shadow decrease potency for balance either.

[zmas]

4.) 20y forward is a huge distance, all other dashes/backflips of that type are 10-15y. There is a good chance you are going to overshoot your intended spot; without Plunge existing as an alternative (targeted) dash, this would be actually a painful gimmick to deal with. Alternatively, it could behave like Shukuchi (ground-targeted) or Icarus (can be used on teammates), that way it would stand out again.

5.) Replace it with a proc that let's use Plunge after using Unmend (and lower the Lv requirement to learn it to at least the Lv62-70 range).

Enhanced Unmend (Lv.54-70 Trait)
Upon execution of Unmend you are granted the effect of "Plunge ready", changing the action Shadowstride to Plunge and allowing you to use Plunge without cost.

Plunge (Lv.54-70 Ability)
Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Bonus effect: Enhanced enmity

I had considered 10y-15y range for the thrust movement skill and I am ok with it, I slapped 20y on it because it gives more challenge as it is more likely to overshoot.
But your argument is right, 10y-15y is more practical.

In fact, I think it is a fun idea to combine my overkill 20y thrust and your Unmend proc trait. Then DRK movement skill becomes something like: You want control over direction->don't use unmend; You want your movement to be precise-> use unmend.

I would want DRK movement skill cooldown to decrease from 30s to 20s if unmend don't reduce shadowstride cooldown. May as well give my thrust movement 70-100 potency, good luck using that 20y thrust as a dps skill.

Create more choice making on the utility side of the job while keeping the DPS side simple and straightforward

[Zarkovitch]

They idiot proof drk aint no way they are going make it harder.

[zmas]

They idiot proof drk aint no way they are going make it harder.

gotta at least let them know there are people who don't want to have the same gameplay as the idiots'

and my changes are mainly utility changes, the dps rotation remained basically the same. People should have no problem doing dps even with these changes