Doubting DRK

[Kailo]

Okay, so here's the story. I was surfing around the boards as usual when I decided to look in on the MNK boards (mostly from a friend's suggestion to take MNK, instead of DRK, to the top). So I'm looking around, and suddenly a very scary thought enters my head. I was beginning to get the idea that maybe MNKs are the better between the two melee (MNK & DRK). I hear all this talk (even from some DRKs in-game) that MNKs can easily outdamage a DRK post-50, and I've always known that MNKs are wanted more in PTs for their bonuses against bones at later lvls. So this scary thought has been haunting me. I'm afraid I may sooner-or-later end up switching to MNK and ditching my DRK career. This is why I came to the DRK boards. I need some emotional support, so-to-speak. Take into consideration what I learn from this post may strengthen my confidence in DRK, or totally cause me to forget about it and instead pursue MNK. Please, tell me all the ramblings about MNK are false, please, tell me DRK are the king of the melee. :dead:

[Drynavere]

Lets put it this way....If i were to count how many times I've changed my main job...I wouldn't be writing this post because I'd still be counting.

DRK was my very original and first choice of this game, months before the game even came out I wnated to be a DRK. then I shifted to RDM...and NIN...and RDM...and THF...and eventually, oddly enough, WHM....but in the end, as I think I've decided completely tonight...DRK will be my job.

It is true, MNK arguably does the best damage in the game, but, thats only if they have the better equipment and know what they are doing.

If you are going to base your main career on who does the most damage, you'll find yourself having 10 jobs above 50 in the end, because you'll change your mind so much. Base your main on which job you like most, overall. Do you like the idea of MNK? the martial arts and weapons used, or do you like DRK?

Don't base your career on dmg, you'll change your mind far too much like I do. ><

[Kailo]

Thanks for the advice Dryn. I think you're right about that, in a way. I was considering switching to SAM a few months back, and to DRG a month or so before that. I just want to have my character be at his best potential. I'm still curious to see what others have to say, however.

[gix]

there is no "melee king." later on everything can do well. even rng vs bones. if you go sky or moon mnk won't have anything on you. asuran fists isn't as good since the TP fix, and your arcana killer will also help. vs bones early on it may seem mnk is totally outdamaging you but you also have souleater to even it out a bit, not to mention that vs non-bones mnk's aren't -that- great.

[forze]

Drk's are indeed king of melee...but a good mnk will outdamage you in a long run. Because there dmg just piles on as the match progress. But mnk don't have any other thing going on for them but their melee dmg. While drk has dark spells to help out the group and they can do hate control at 65+. But the reason mnks outdmg drks later on cause most drks sub thf to control hate, while the mnk sub war and gets double strike, berserk, and warcry. But we catch up when we do skill chain...Doing 2000 dmg on a skill chain is nice. But in the end, mnk and drk works great with each other...red lotus blade > howling fist > Spinning slash does good dmg to mobs that is weak against light. Well all i can say is stick with it...and yes i change job more times than i can count. But Drk is a fun job and its worth taking to 75.

[Xephoid]

damage

MNK does have higher DPS. But DPS only become overwhelming if you give them time.

Time of course the key here. A battle that last 1 minute long doesn't give them the time for their DPS advantage to show up. They do 20-30 damage more per round, but at the end of the 8 rounds, TP = 100, MNK/WAR dragon kick 500 damage, DRK SA/TA spinning slash for 1000 damage + 1000 light. Battle over. Guess who did more damage?

Time, it's the key factor.

[Gatts]

Heres something really obvious seeing as i cant really say i know a whole lot about DRK not even having the job:

DRK looks > MNK looks anyday.

Their AF looks better, and also, nothing looks more impressive than a DRK in a Hauberk and Thick gear with a nice big Great Sword (you may prefer scythe).

[Zafron]

It seems to me that both jobs are well balanced and do great dmg. Ultimately i would base the decision off of wether you want to carve mobs up with a giant scythe, or beat the everliving crap out of them with your fists.

It hasn't been mentioned yet on this thread so i'll mention it:

Hundred Fists > Blood Weapon

by a significant margin. Not something to base your decision off of but something to bare in mind.

[FattMusiek]

DRK and MNK are both great melee classes. In my opinion, it comes down to what job you think is more interesting. To me, MNK seems boring. I love being able to use big weapons, cast spells, and use strong weaponskills rather than just punching and kicking.

[ichnob]

Let's not forget that drk lower their optimum damage output by switching to /thf. If you compare mnk/war to drk/war (which i hear is nearly suicide post 65), we'd be hearing different stories.

[Dragonbros]

a monk can't out damage a drk, that i'm 100% possitive . 1 of my co-ls leader is a lvl 75 mnk. When we fought Guirve in Kuftal Tunnel our blm do damage caculation. Most damage done by people in alliance...

1 st drk(me) >> 3752
2 nd blm >>> 2982
3 rd mnk >>> 2682

But when it come to bone type monsters, mnk will out damage drk no matter what

[Kailo]

Thanks a bunch guys. This has really broadened my perspective of my whole DRK vs MNK situation. I'm starting to see that there is more to melee then "beat away merrily and stack on the DMG". You've got some good points. DRK magic can be really useful at times, and up til now I'd all but forgoten about DRK magics. One thing I realize, though, is that at lvl 60+, MNK could be the PT hate controller instead of DRK (MNK/THF) so it isn't like you NEED a DRK or THF to stick the mob to the tank. But as was said in earlier posts, MNK does more damage because they get the luxery of sitting back with /WAR strapped on, while we DRK get stuck with the /THF managing hate. I'm curious to see how a MNK would fair doing a DRKs job when it comes to damage while managing hate. MNK/THF outdamage DRK/THF? I can't be too sure, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that. So I've gotten all that silly nonsense out of the way and it's DRK to the top, woo hoo!

PS: What was I thinking? I completely forgot about all DRKs +DMG skills (Last Resort, Souleater, etc.). I also forgot about how bad ass Hauberk + Thick Set + Nagan look strapped around a DRK. I seen a DRK on Fenrir the other day in Jeuno with the full Adaman Set, Nagan, the works, I'm talking everything. I even caught him switching to Kaiser Shield and a 1H Sword (didn't catch the name). He has inspired me in a way to continue my DRK career, and so, doumo! to him. Obviously this rich mofo was JP, and I'm heartbroken to say I couldn't get any screenshots. Man was he /c shy. :sweat: I'm usually very polite and I try not to be bothersome so of course I asked to /c before hand, but he still seemed a little uneasy to show off the armors.

[Matkun]

It really is a matter of taste. Both have their upsides. DRK has more utility with Drain/Bind/Sleep and their enfeebles, while MNKs perform better against bone type monsters.

We're all crappy damage compared to Ranger anyways, so just go with what you like.

[Regulat0r]

So, the game gets interesting at 60+? Because im 55 drk right now and need 20k per lvl. Add random pick up partys and fighting the same shit over and over, that seems like a looooong ways away...

[truong]

Yes, this BULLSHIT theory of MNKs doing more damage over time than DRK needs to spreading.


IN AN EXPERIENCE PT, A MNK WILL NEVER, EVER OUTDAMAGE A DRK POST 65+ IF YOUR TEAM IS EVEN HALF-WAY DECENT.