[Blackpanther]

Hey.. I wanted to be a drk.. but was told it really wasn't worth it.. So anyone who is a drk, can you fill me in on this? I was told the def sucks and it'd be harder to get a pt at or around 40..

And also.. I was wanting to knowe if there is any way I can get the stats for sam, nin, and a drk. Also the AF armor stats. Thanks.

[Caspian]

http://mysterytour.web.infoseek.co.j.../us/index.html
http://ffxi.somepage.com
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com

[TheGrandMom]

I enjoyed drk very much. I played drk before they did the TP nerf. Around lvl 40-45 the pt invites slowed down and from 50-60 they came to a screeching halt. 61+ they started back up again though. But this was a while ago, I hear so many people say there is a shortage of melee. So it could be better now but there will still be waiting with any damage dealing job.

[Serantos]

Honestly, I would never invite DRK when I was in lower lvls. But now bieng lvl 74... DRK is an absolute MUST. When they get Spinning Slash/Guilotine... Wow... Enormous Damage. Like 1000+ for a WS then the Light sckillchain if not resisted is also 1000+ damage. And they can stun :D

Bottom line, when I get PLD to 75 and get some merits... I'm taking DRK to 75 next.

[Ghik'Que]

I am currently playing DRK and what has already been said here is VERY true. I lvled my DRk (out of excitement cause it's the job I'd been wanting for a looooong time) to 40 in less than 2 weeks. Once I hit CN I basically learned that patience is a virtue. 1-3 hour minimum wait time. Main reason behind this is that 40-50 DRK's abilities and weapon skills are just COMPLETELY sub par to those of other jobs. I was being destroyed in DoT, WS DMG, ACC, etc in EVERY PT by the other melee. Then I got to 50 and things started to turn around. More ACC and DMG gear was available, Vorpal scythe FINALLY a WS that did DMG comparable to other jobs' WS DMG. Then I hit 59 (Haub time ^^) and things got a bit better. Then 60 and Guillotine. All those hardships and crap talking you had to put up with for the past 15-20 lvls now, well this more than makes up for it. I was PTing last night in Gustav Tunnel (60 PT) and we were fighting gobs and crabs and once I finally got my rhythm and worked things out with the PLD (who was fantastic btw.) I busted out Last resort and Guillotine and successfully landed 800-1200 DMG every time. Just about everyone was like "ZOMG!WTFBBQ!!!" cause each of their was landing for 200-400. Then 61 you get your amemet (+1 for those who like to be uber and can afford one (I have one ^^ ) ) and now yer staring at some serious DD capability.

So in all honesty, DRK is what YOU make of it. If you study up on what's good and bad, learn to control your hate (you'll find yourself being raised ALOT if you don't) and ENJOY your DRK then eff whatever else. I took a TON of $#!7 talk from alot of people when I was in my 40's, but since 55 I have more than earned their respect in the DD world.

[gix]

drk sucks endgame. the end. after lv60 xp with drk is fun.

[fuz]

Lvl 60-73 EXP PT fighting low ITs, drk is good. Everything else... no. Stun is good, but it's not always needed--and thus no real reason to keep a drk around if not necessary. Unless you really like the job (similar to drgs) I would advise against leveling up drk for endgame use. There is simly not enough use for drks. But if you like to ballista, drk is pretty good.

Drk def isn't bad, just that when you use abilities and -def equips it's bad.

Lvl 40 you will either get an ok invite rate, or very bad. Depends on the time, current job leveling trends, and how good of a player you are (skill/equips).

[Kailo]

So suddenly DRK isn't good end-game? I'm not sure what you mean by "There is simly not enough use for drks.", (referring to end-game). There isn't enough use for them as opposed to using a SAM in their PT slot instead? A RNG? Sorry, I'm just not understanding what would replace the role of a DD at end-game.

[gix]

Sam is a better DD than Drk on things like Kirin, Wyrms, and any HNM where Drk can't get TP very fast.

[fuz]

Well, you can seperate it into 3 main things to do at lvl 75.

#1, merit PTs, drk isn't as good as war/nin (low downtime), monk (KRT bones), or even drg (lufaise birds). Not as bad as a pld for exping, but... not much better.

#2, HNMs, you can have a few drks at most for stunning and the occasional WS, but otherwise sam is better (fast tp gain with or without surrounding mobs), with some blm stunning. Drk isn't really needed for any fight if a blm is up for stunning.

#3, quests, mission, etc, it doesn't really matter which job you have as long as the PT is balanced, so a drk does fine here--sometimes even wanted since stunners are harder to come by.

Drk isn't a deeply flawed job like drg, but it's 2nd place for too many things, which make the job somewhat useless because there are so many other melees and blms available. Our usefulness sadly, relies more on stun than our unique skill, souleater.

[TheGrandMom]

Opo Opo Necklace + sleep potions = easy TP and don't have to be meleeing and potentially suck mp because you get hit by aoe. Then light sc (Spinning Slash) + Stun = a asset to HNM/God fights.

[gix]

Drk still sucks vs Kings. BLM dominate. Gods everyone can just cluster fuck and are easy. Kirin Drk sucks again. Wyrms Drk's are decent but usually they will prefer Sam. Drk stun is overrated in HNM's because you have enough BLM's and RDM/DRK's to stun usually and they can do much more.

[fuz]

Blm don't dominate without a SC (they kind of suck without one). Of course, the masters of multi-SCs are sam, not drk. Get 3 of them to do a 3 way light/dark every 1-3 minute(s) and watch some 10 blm MB all at once each time. (If all 3 sam and the blm 2-hr, it's crazy how fast this can take off a huge chunk of HP) That combo is much better than a PT of drks slowly sleeping up TP for a WS which does ok damage and SC, but not enough damage to offset the multi-bursting of a lot of blm with some sams. And they don't spend 20k for a stack of pots to do it.

Monk can boost and unleash chi every 3 min for the same damage a drk would do with 300%tp, at range, no SA, and without needing a way to gain tp. Admittely it's nerfed on some mobs, but still, it's better than what a drk can do when it's useable.

So while SA+WS damage and SC is decent from a drk it's just not enough to contend with the best. I think souleater is supposed to offset it, but everyone knows how impractical souleater is with the hate and cures.

In short, drk is again... just an ok melee, a 2nd tier player on the big stage. It's not an entirely useless job, but it won't be used if there are better options, which frequently there are.

[Kosy]

Originally Posted by gix

Sam is a better DD than Drk on things like Kirin, Wyrms, and any HNM where Drk can't get TP very fast.

Sure, that's before the upcoming nerf. Think about it ... every SAM out there knows that a nerf is coming. It's like with RNGs ... the inevitable will come.

So meanwhile, enjoy being a SAM while you can and given enough time, you'll see the same people who jumped from DRK to RNG and now to SAM will go and pick some other uber damage job class.

For the DRK lovers, just stay true to the job and do the best you can. If you want to be the very best, you still can out damage a SAM easy in end game - there are many strats and JP players are doing this even now on the 3 Wyrms and other various monsters and fights ... it does require a certain "hard core" dedication and obtaining rare items, but I think it's worth it if you're already dead set on becoming the best. =P

[gix]

Originally Posted by Kosy

If you want to be the very best, you still can out damage a SAM easy in end game - there are many strats and JP players are doing this even now on the 3 Wyrms and other various monsters and fights

Not if your wyrm LS uses SAM's in the main alliance full time and is afraid of DD like DRK causing spike from well... check sig