Dance of the Dawn vs Contradance

[Valence]

Now I absolutely love Dance of the Dawn and the design behind it in pvp, so this isn't a thread criticizing it. I do not necessarily hate the 2s + animation delay before damage is applied, especially since the buff and LB regen gain has been fixed so that it doesn't ghost.

My main problem with it right now is that it replaces Sabre Dance as a button, which I can understand since it's essentially a Sabre Dance but buffed by the Solo Step buff. As it currently stands however, when using Contradance, you have a window smaller than a second to refresh charm, and DotD is properly unable to do it in time. You'll tell me "then don't use it to recharm targets" and you'll be right, but the problem is that when you actually intend to use Sabre Dance to do so, Sabre is very snappy and will refresh without any issue. The problem arises when your partner nets a kill just when you're intending to do it, turning the skill that should have worked into a skill that will NOT work. This happens more than you'd actually think.

Please address this and give us the possibility to use Dance of the Dawn as a separate button, especially since DNC's kit is all but bloated. Using Sabre Dance when Solo Step is active would not consume the buff, while using DotD would.

[CamuiKushi]

I was thinking this while practising dancing the other day during a queue sync on NA. The only real option if you want to hold dance of the dawn is to... not get the sabre dance buff. It feels really awkward.

[Valence]

Yes on the side even if it's not really needed per se, I'd appreciate having the choice whether I want to use one or the other when Solo Step is up... I don't think it would make the job broken or anything. It could even bring up more tactical decisions at certain times.

[Aravell]

I don't know why they don't just have Dance of the Dawn replace the basic combo button instead. You definitely don't want to be stacking bladecatcher stacks when you have it up anyway.

Also would open up the possibility of strong burst with putting a Saber Dance after it so the damage resolves together. Maybe that's why they made it share the same button.

[Exmo]

Dance of the Dawn's animation looks great but it's not fit for purpose here. It should just be replaced with Last Dance with the exact same tooltip.

[Valence]

I don't know why they don't just have Dance of the Dawn replace the basic combo button instead. You definitely don't want to be stacking bladecatcher stacks when you have it up anyway.

Also would open up the possibility of strong burst with putting a Saber Dance after it so the damage resolves together. Maybe that's why they made it share the same button.

DotD already replaces the basic combo button, the same way that Sabre does, which is indeed their way to prevent overflowing bladecatcher, and it's good that Sabre does.
It's DotD that shouldn't replace them, the way I see it, you'd keep Sabre replacing the base combo, and DotD be its own independent button. Since DotD would only be available when Sabre is available (like right now, but without replacing Sabre), you'd never have a situation where you'd overflow bladecatcher.

Dance of the Dawn's animation looks great but it's not fit for purpose here. It should just be replaced with Last Dance with the exact same tooltip.

I don't disagree with the idea but I'm not gonna lie:
1) I like the ominous effect it gives to the enemy, and the serotonin boost it gives to the DNC.
2) Call me crazy but I like the 2s delay on it, which is extremely handy to precast on 2s or less Guarded enemies, and immediately follow with Starfall (+ Fan Dance optionally), which amounts for pretty hefty damage.