Yet another sub-job post!

[BadTimes]

Hey, I just want your guys opinion on what I should do. I am currently a level 44 Dragoon with a Thief sub-job. At first I loved being able to stack Sneak Attack with Double Thrust and watching the numbers fly, but know I am noticing that the warrior subs are starting to pass me in damage. Now that I am getting closer to level 50, and the time of Double Attack for warrior subs is nearing, I am thinking about making warrior my subjob. The problem is that I really don't want to take the time to level my Warrior from level 10. But anyway I have also heard that DRK might be a somewhat good subjob as well. So there is yet another possibility. I have also been thinking of subbing SAM once I hit level 60 for meditate and non-stop penta-thrusts. So, could someone please tell me what I should do. What should I sub, and for how long? Thanks.

[Weezingpipes]

When I first started playing the game I leveled a thf, considering on paper all the abilities seemed quite helpful to a melee job and a party, and the importance of dex (or so I used to think) made me think this would be a fine sub to a Dragoon. Of course around the time I got to 30 on the DRG I found much to my dismay warrior is a more useful sub, and the dex difference is pretty negligable compared to ability differences. To this date my war isn't maxed for my sub job level (still 26) but I can safely say it was a big help to damage between 30-50, and I plan to level it over 30 in the next few weeks and continue to use the job in the 60's. Take a few days off from leveling DRG to level a warrior, the bonuses are worth it.

Leveling a warrior isn't that hard, went from 11-15 1 night, 15-20 the next and 20-25 the following day. As its been posted many times, Samurai is only useful 60+, and it really isn't useful just because you can mash Penta Thrust endlessly contrary to popular belief - thats a waste of the sub job. Warrior will provide better sustained melee damage than a Samurai due to berserk and double attack, but a Samurai lets you start skill chains easier without much delay. If you want to be most effective to your party in the 50's, warrior is the way to go. At least level warrior enough to get double attack (25) because double attack rate is quite high by level 50. Also double attack occasionally goes off on multi hit WS (Penta Thrust, Double Thrust are likely the only 2 WS you'd use between 50-60) which is a nice little ws damage boost as well as higher TP return - 72% Penta Thrusts aren't that uncommon post 50 with a warrior sub. A thief doesn't add near that amount of damage output and overall utility as a melee fighter.

Anyway when in doubt warrior is a safe sub job to take even post 60. Samurai isn't the 100% choice, either is very viable to an exp party. Possibly post 65 Samurai is a better choice as level 3 renkai becomes more important. I would like to try out both at that time to be honest to see which adds more to a party.

As far as a DRK sub goes, you wouldn't get usage of the level 10 +ATK bonus since DRG gets that already, but you would get the level 30 ATK bonus. Last Resort only lasts 30 seconds with a 5 min reuse - not even close to as good as Berserk (3 min duration). Your magic skill will be especially low therefore spells will just be resisted, as well as a rediculously low mp pool, so spells aren't viable as a DRK. The only viable thing to a DRK sub is Soul Eater, which you wouldn't get until level 60 (level 30 DRK ability). Basically the extra attack bonus wouldn't matter enough, berserk/double attack go a long way to better damage. No one has posted whether Soul Eater is worth it to a DRG, but my own opinion is it wouldn't be compared to the abilities of a warrior. Its funny, people post about how great a DRK sub would be...and haven't actually tried it and thought out when you get certain abilities and how they are comparatively useful compared to other subs. Blah ;p

[Vaberus]

Ah yes. But you forget. You get the best of both worlds for your dragon with a drk sub.

[GSDragoon]

I got a similar situation, except i'm not getting DRK. Sneak Attack + Double Thrust is working very nicely. So far I'm planning on subbing THF till 50 then switching to WAR. Double Thrust hits 2 times, and penta 5. So I would assume SA would have a much better effect on DT than penta. At 50DRG/25War you also get double attack. THF sub is very nice for gil hunting though.