Souleater 101

[Brothershadow]

During my early levels I was really hesitant on using this awesome ability, but now it's become second nature and used more and more during XP chains. I started this topic in hopes to gain better insite as to when more experienced Dark Knights
activate their ability during battles and the common 5 mob XP chain.

~Necro

[supertle]

hi fellow drk,

i myself is on garuda
real simple rule, don't ever turn on souleater until at least 1/2 hp of mob is gone, know how much hate the pld can hold and simply time it. There's no exact timing to when to use it. It varies from party to party. use it where you will not get hit more then twice in a battle if u can. Try to use it during the berserk cool down time. i hear a lot of higher lvl drks get scare of using souleater. at lvl59, i have never been scared to use it. The only time i don't use it ever is if the tank is horrible and can't even keep hate from my regular swings. but those parties tend to end quickly.

i usually use souleater on chain#1 and then on chain#5 again.

[Brothershadow]

Thanks. Very solid info. Chain 1 and 5 have been what I've been
doing lately and I really like it. Ive been really lucky on the good Paladin set ups lately and have been introduced to partying with
high level thiefs also. I've much respect for them now and was never really sure where I should position myself for max effect but now I know.

[Dakin]

If you have a good PLD, use souleater during berserk's downtime.

[Crowzukin]

Don't overuse it though. Play a WHM for a while and you'll see why.

[kaiserht]

It very much depends on the party thats going on, if you have a good tank you can use it more regularly. While if you have a Ninja tank you might not be able to take so much punishment and might cause the party problems.

[kumaeru]

Use it trying to get Chain 5. Or if you're PT can only handle up to Chain4 at its best use it on Chain 4.


One thing I like doing though if with Rng around lvl 65. Use Souleater and WS etc on chain 4 and have the Rng save his TP and solo the chain 5. Slug Shot > Barrage > Slug Shot = Chain 5: O

[Dano]

from my experience if i'm doing a 3 man skillchain, and the drk's gonna close it, then use it during that time

[gix]

65+, i usually build tp on chain 0 2 and 4. and ws on chain 1 3 5. chain 4 is the most difficult to pass without a lot of dmg in a short amount of time. if it seems from the beggining of the fight that i need an extra boost, then i use souleater when i feel the tank has enough hate(sometimes TA the first hit of SE on the tank) to finish chain 4 while building TP for 5. usually sc should one shot a mob, or usually close. if chain4 is overcome without souleater, it's no a brainer to use souleater on chain 5. after WS's on the tank, the mob should be 1) dead or close to it or 2) focused on tank so it doesn't matter.

[Darklyte]

that's about it really.

using Souleater just before a WS is ok ONLY if u do NOt cancel it after the WS has been used,that is an utter waste especially for low/non-multihitter type WS.

best time to use Souleater in an exp party is to give the party some test runs to see how far your chains can stretch and time your souleater to push in a final chain ,often 4-5 (6-7 maybe but i cant remember the last time i even smelled 6 let alone 7)

if u wanna be a steamroller/Souleater fanboy just hit it anytime u feel

-Mob is taking too long to down
-mages are ready to fill in your drawback
-Your tank is awesome (Give some time for hate however)
-You need some more mithkabobs from the town in which u HP in
-you have to see your homepoint crystal if not u will turn spasmic
-you want to prove to non-drk fanboys that dark knights get everything including a free warp every 6 mins

[Langolier]

Hahahah! That last post is wonderful! :D
I usually turn on Souleater while fighting the 5th mob in the hopes of getting Chain 5, it's never happened though. I guess we just aren't that good yet. I'll also use it whenever I see an opportunity, like when I know the SC will not kil the mob outright. Our Paladin is great too, so I'm never afraid to use it. (Within reason). One time the other night I turned it on at my usual time and was face down in the dirt before I even realized I had aggro.

[Thoronas]

Just wanted to add to this.

When you use souleater and a WS do yourself and the tank a favour by moving behind the tank (if its a pld) so they can use cover on you. It makes our lives a whole lot easier.

[Brothershadow]

Thanks guys this is extremely insiteful knowledge. And much props to the Paladin's last post also. You answered something
I ran into a few nights back with another Paladin who tried to
belittle me as to not being behind him when I used my weapon
skill. I was thoroughly confused by his comment and so were a few others on my team. Until this post I never knew an ability called "cover" was used or existed. I think some players need to realize not all of us know every iota of this game or anothers job and should be more willing to help others understand.

~Necro

[Thoronas]

Honestly I don't think its your fault for not knowing what cover is. I've been hearing from a lot of drk and rng at our lvl that pld simply dont use cover like that should. So its no wonder you or anyone else in your pt didn't know about cover. It's sad really.

[Saedius]

Remember... cover is not a liscense to do stupid things hate control wise... once cover wears (VERY FAST) the mob will go after you. Sometimes the PLD cannot reestablish hate even after cover had worn (prolly 'cause you stood behind him and started spamming all the hate + skills + left all the dmg boosts up).