Patch 2.55 Notes

[Ophannus]

Since other items/characters/gods which servers are named after are being inteoduced, maybe we will see a SAM down the line and thus Masamune being added. Would have also hoped daggers and 1h katanas/ninja blades would have been differentiated like in ffxi to pave the way for a Thief job later. Or...they could make masamune a pair of daggers...

[ronin sparthos]

We already have scythes in the game, and in their proper place - with botanists. If you REALLY want more scythe action, we can perhaps make a "peasant badass" class, dressed up in rags and a unassuming jin-gasa, only to have him turn into a vicious close-ranged fighter with hand scythes.

Or just incorporate kusarigama (nagi) to Ninja weaponry.

THF has no place in XIV, Ninja already took the stealth/poison/acrobatics elements. Both jobs would find themselves hardpressed to differentiate.

[Spider-Dan]

In ye olden days before BRDs and good gear I could see Gsword being the better weapon because Spinning being single hit with an ATK bonus (a la SAM WS) could very well do better than Guillotine on average.

Guillotine not having any special damage properties of its own meant unless SE was up or you got a DA it was kind of mediocre (couldn't crit, TP only enhances the silence effect, etc).

As stated, if you were doing SCs then GSD was worthwhile (accounting for LV3 Light). If not, GSD would not come anywhere near Guillo.

Keep in mind that DRK/SAM would have been getting 50+ TP back on each Guillo pre-WS nerf. Even if you're missing a hit every time (because pre-sushi) that's still 40+ TP return per WS.

[ronin sparthos]

Lul'd at the speculation Raubahn gets a gunarm as a nod to Barret. So many levels of no I don't even know where to begin.

[Skai]

That'd make him even more badass than he already is.

[Niiro]

As stated, if you were doing SCs then GSD was worthwhile (accounting for LV3 Light). If not, GSD would not come anywhere near Guillo.

Keep in mind that DRK/SAM would have been getting 50+ TP back on each Guillo pre-WS nerf. Even if you're missing a hit every time (because pre-sushi) that's still 40+ TP return per WS.

Yes I'm well aware of how TP returned way back then but you're talking about a very small and brief time in the game's history really, one a lot of NA players didn't even get to see (or weren't high enough to utilize).

In retrospect though the game would have been a lot more fun if WSs were used more often for less damage (and balanced as such throughout the game's life).

Memories of using 2 handed weapons before haste (either in spell or gear form) haunt me to this day....

[Niiro]

Lul'd at the speculation Raubahn gets a gunarm as a nod to Barret. So many levels of no I don't even know where to begin.

With the whole friend-turned-enemy thing he's even got his own Dyne in the game already as well!

[Lucavi]

Lul'd at the speculation Raubahn gets a gunarm as a nod to Barret. So many levels of no I don't even know where to begin.

Only if its a shotgun, since he likes it up close and personal.

Also, he doesn't need his free arm anymore anyway, since... well... you know.

[Spider-Dan]

In retrospect though the game would have been a lot more fun if WSs were used more often for less damage (and balanced as such throughout the game's life).

I don't necessarily agree with that. WSes in ARR are used much more often and they don't really have any impact.

There really isn't an analogy in this game to hitting 100 TP, then unleashing Sidewinder or SATAVB and watching the mob drop from half health to nothing instantly... particularly since nearly every enemy in ARR is either a boss that takes several minutes to go through distinct fight phases, or pure trash that dies in less than ten seconds.

[Niiro]

WSs in ARR are WSs in name only.

Can't compare XI to ARR in that way, the differences in combat are so extreme that there's just no real correlation.

[Jem]

(all of the following applies to 75 era)

Axe was not best DRK weapon pre-WS TP nerf (Guillotine, especially /SAM).
GSD was good if you were doing SC+MB (SATA+Spinslash).
I have no idea why anyone would use a GSD if you weren't doing SC+MB, because otherwise the WSes were absolute garbage.

You do realize that pre-WS TP nerf at 75 is only applicable to Dec 2003 - Apr 2004 right? Level cap increased in December and TP was nerfed in 2004. Scythe was best then but that was the only time they were undoubtedly best (outside of Apoc)

Apr 2004 to Oct 2006 - Axes were undoubtedly DRK's best weapon (outside SATA Spinning where applicable). Axes were DRK's best weapon because dual wielding was so superior to 2 handers plus you had utsusemi for defensive purposes. Greatsword was better than Scythe because this was before people realized buffing the shit out of people was good. So Spinning was superior to Guillotine because of the pDif boost and because it didn't suffer like Guillotine from not being at acc cap. In theory they were equal, in practice they were not as that was not the playstyle then.

Oct 2006 to Aug 2007 - Axes were still the best but 2 handers got closer because Hasso/Seigan were implemented giving Scythe / Greatsword both an offensive and defensive boost. (Sure you could /WAR before but it got you splatted and still lost to dual wielding). Also buffing people had started to become more commonplace at this time.

Aug 2007 to Jun 2010 - This was when the 2 handed buff happened. This was Axes dropped out of the picture (except Axe/Ridill which stayed about even). Scythe and Greatsword were about equal at this point. It generally came down to what buffs you were getting (Scythes better fully buffed, Greatswords better when not).

Jun 2010 - End of 75 era.

[Taint]

You do realize that pre-WS TP nerf at 75 is only applicable to Dec 2003 - Apr 2004 right? Level cap increased in December and TP was nerfed in 2004. Scythe was best then but that was the only time they were undoubtedly best (outside of Apoc)

Apr 2004 to Oct 2006 - Axes were undoubtedly DRK's best weapon (outside SATA Spinning where applicable). Axes were DRK's best weapon because dual wielding was so superior to 2 handers plus you had utsusemi for defensive purposes. Greatsword was better than Scythe because this was before people realized buffing the shit out of people was good. So Spinning was superior to Guillotine because of the pDif boost and because it didn't suffer like Guillotine from not being at acc cap. In theory they were equal, in practice they were not as that was not the playstyle then.

Oct 2006 to Aug 2007 - Axes were still the best but 2 handers got closer because Hasso/Seigan were implemented giving Scythe / Greatsword both an offensive and defensive boost. (Sure you could /WAR before but it got you splatted and still lost to dual wielding). Also buffing people had started to become more commonplace at this time.

Aug 2007 to Jun 2010 - This was when the 2 handed buff happened. This was Axes dropped out of the picture (except Axe/Ridill which stayed about even). Scythe and Greatsword were about equal at this point. It generally came down to what buffs you were getting (Scythes better fully buffed, Greatswords better when not).

Jun 2010 - End of 75 era.

That seems very accurate as far as I can remember. (Career DRK until post 75cap) Ridill+Kraken, Axe+Ridill, Axe+Kraken were extremely hard to top unless you have Apoc. Apoc was the highest DPS weapon by far until the haste nerf. (1000dps range during zergs)

[Jem]

Yeah, I started playing at release and DRK was my first 75 which I then mained it until I quit in 2013.

Scythes were certainly the most common weapon for DRK but the reason for that was simple. A. The majority of people were unaware it wasn't optimal and B. People were lazy and unwilling to skill up multiple weapons.

I miss the 75 days of XI so much.

[Niiro]

It ultimately didn't matter since unless you were super ahead of the curve as far as melee use went the best melee to bring to HNMs was SAM so they could SC for your BLMs.

A Gsword DRK at an HNM was just a SAM that couldn't WS/SC as often, on everything else as /NIN it was a WAR with B- rank weapons and no Berserk/Aggressor/DA.

It feels like the only reason DRK and DRG persisted in the old days was because of image popularity (FF4 fans) and because so many leveled them back when WS TP return was borked and wanted to keep using them despite the fact that they were really all pretty far behind WAR/MNK/SAM (in terms of either pure damage or utility).

In retrospect it's interesting how WAR was actually, consistently the strongest melee for the vast, vast majority of the game's life. Innate (and merited) Berserk/DA and Aggressor were far more powerful (if less interesting) than any of the gimmicks DRG/DRK had (Jumps, Souleater/Stun) and that's before adding in a subjob.

[Jem]

Yeah DRK was just so, so bad for pretty much all of 75 cap. Outside of zergs and Apoc it was never remotely close to the top DD. I was basically forced into getting my Apoc in order to come DRK to events.

Remember that not only did WAR have the far better ability/traits. It also had better WS options too. You have to wonder what SE was thinking with some of the decisions too. Last Resort compared to Berserk was one of the more bizarre ones prior to Desperate Blows. DRK was just a light version of WAR for the most part.

[Spider-Dan]

You do realize that pre-WS TP nerf at 75 is only applicable to Dec 2003 - Apr 2004 right? Level cap increased in December and TP was nerfed in 2004. Scythe was best then but that was the only time they were undoubtedly best (outside of Apoc)

Apr 2004 to Oct 2006 - Axes were undoubtedly DRK's best weapon (outside SATA Spinning where applicable). Axes were DRK's best weapon because dual wielding was so superior to 2 handers plus you had utsusemi for defensive purposes.

Are you doing SCs, or not? If you are, GSD is unquestionably superior. If you're not, what is your party composition? Up until July '05, the overwhelming majority of burn parties involved RNG, which a B- wielding DRK/NIN is not taking hate from. And on the subject of B-, from April '04 to Sept. '04 (sushi release) I'm unsure how B- Axe with Rampage was better than A+ Scythe with Guillo. Wasn't accuracy the argument against Guillo?

There is a general tendency to apply latter-day mechanics backward in time. Prior to RNG nerf, no one was singing March; if they were, the RNG nerf would never have been necessary in the first place (as DW+Marches+Haste would have been competitive with RNG). It was almost always double Minuet with the occasional Madrigal. So without March(es), DW B- Axes aren't particularly impressive, especially if accuracy is a concern.

I suppose there is a window in between RNG nerf and 2h buff (during DW burn era) where DW Axe DRK with sushi and Marches would be superior to scythe/GSD, but it's tough for me to recall as I don't really remember seeing any DRKs at all during the NIN/WAR/MNK/BRD/RDM oligarchy.

[Shenrien]

WSs in ARR are WSs in name only.

Can't compare XI to ARR in that way, the differences in combat are so extreme that there's just no real correlation.

idk what you're trying to get at here, by the time I quit XI on SAM I was pumping out Fudos with my Koga faster than I could work a ~2.5GCD here in XIV. I didn't really get to play around with the skillchain thing that people abused tho sadly kinda quit again before the concept was really fleshed out.

[Niiro]

You're talking about an extremely small portion of the game's life (that was only possible with gear and buffs).

It's still not at all analogous to XIV, just because you could break the game with enough haste buffs and OAT to WS faster than the XIV GCD doesn't somehow make the battle system mechanics similar.

[Twilight Sky]

I too dislike all of the filler quests (even if they do serve a purpose), but come on now, we all know how Heavensward is going to be.

"Welcome to Ishgard, Warrior of Light. We have been expecting your arrival! We were recently attacked by dragons, and our fortifications are in dire need of repair to hold back the horde. If you would be so kind, please go gather 10 pieces of conveniently placed wood 10 feet away and report back to me."

An then have you report to another NPC about 10 zones away for completion.

[Taint]

Are you doing SCs, or not? If you are, GSD is unquestionably superior. If you're not, what is your party composition? Up until July '05, the overwhelming majority of burn parties involved RNG, which a B- wielding DRK/NIN is not taking hate from. And on the subject of B-, from April '04 to Sept. '04 (sushi release) I'm unsure how B- Axe with Rampage was better than A+ Scythe with Guillo. Wasn't accuracy the argument against Guillo?

There is a general tendency to apply latter-day mechanics backward in time. Prior to RNG nerf, no one was singing March; if they were, the RNG nerf would never have been necessary in the first place (as DW+Marches+Haste would have been competitive with RNG). It was almost always double Minuet with the occasional Madrigal. So without March(es), DW B- Axes aren't particularly impressive, especially if accuracy is a concern.

I suppose there is a window in between RNG nerf and 2h buff (during DW burn era) where DW Axe DRK with sushi and Marches would be superior to scythe/GSD, but it's tough for me to recall as I don't really remember seeing any DRKs at all during the NIN/WAR/MNK/BRD/RDM oligarchy.

Sept 04 I was still grinding XP for my first 75 lol. DRK era of the game was after the Last Resort buffs where they could reach over 90% haste. (93.3% for Apoc DRKs) When they nerfed Haste at 80% DRKs use in the game came down to Souleater zergs. When they nerfed SE on HNMs DRK pretty much went to shit and SAM took over.

RNG until Nerf > WAR until Hasso/Merit points > DRK until Haste nerf (the DRK HNM tanking days) > SAM until Abyssea > WAR in Abyssea > Back to SAM > Then recently THF > Now back to SAM