Melee DD jobs

mkfighter8

well Im coming back to the game after a two year break, anyways i have a question is it still hard to get a party with a melee DD class, i really dont want to have to get NIN untill i have at least one high job to help support the funds that it takes to lvl up NIN.  I wanted to try out DRK or DRG so if either one of those is more useful now, when i left it was hard to get a party with those jobs.

Rpro

Some melee DD get invites quicker than others. The two you mentioned, DRG and DRK, are 2 of the slowest. Personally I don't mind either job, as long as the player knows how to play it. There's far too many noob DRG's and DRK's, and it gives the good ones a bad name. MNK and WAR will get the fastest melee DD invites.



I also want to say good idea for lvling a different job first so you can fund your Ninja. It gets very expensive.

Rollotamasi

Things must have changed a lot since I quit playing.  Back in the day everyone wanted DRK''s and RNG's.  Monks and warriors couldnt get a group to save their life along with DRG's.  SAM's were somewhere in the middle.

Rpro

Yes it's true, back when I first started(over three years ago), RNG's and DRK's were considered the premiere DD classes. Well, RNG's ended up getting beat severely with the nerf bat. They've since been buffed up by SE but nowhere near where they were before. I think what did in DRK's was Parsers. A 3rd party program that calculates total damage of each party member. Before parsers people would see the big damage numbers from DRK's and assume they were a top DD. So while a DRK, as an example would deal a big 200 damage swing. In the meantime, the MNK and WAR would hit the mob 4 times for 70DMG each swing in the same amount of time.



The bottom line though is that any DD class can do great damage. You need to know how to play your job and have the proper equipment. It's alot easier to be a great DD MNK or WAR than to be a great DD DRG or DRK.

Suplyndmnd

MNK and WAR get jobs fairly easy.  I am Leveling SAM right now though and let me tell you.  Most of the time I get a party in 15 minutes and on a very regular basis (not as much as my 50 RDM) I get invites without even having my flag up.  If done well SAM can be one of the best DD's in game if played correctly.  At least from my experience.  I've only played 6 months so if i'm completely off base, someone let me know

Akumaru

The most popular DD classes are still WAR and MNK. DRK has recieved several buffs as of late, as have SAM, but they are still considered mid-tier. DD's in terms of popularity are: Tier 1: WAR, MNK, NIN. Tier 2: DRK, SAM, RNG. Tier 3: THF, DRG, PUP The tier you're in pretty much dictates your invite rate, as WAR gets the best Melee invites and PUP getting the worst.

Netspook

Originally posted by Akumaru

The most popular DD classes are still WAR and MNK. DRK has recieved several buffs as of late, as have SAM, but they are still considered mid-tier. DD's in terms of popularity are: Tier 1: WAR, MNK, NIN. Tier 2: DRK, SAM, RNG. Tier 3: THF, DRG, PUP The tier you're in pretty much dictates your invite rate, as WAR gets the best Melee invites and PUP getting the worst.

I agree that DRG and PUP are least popular, but that's NOT the case with THF. I'm pretty sure that THFs has been prefered over SAM too in most parties I've been in too.

Based on own experiences: Gave up my DRG cause it's damn hard to both get an invite, and make own party, due to ppl's opinions on the job. This problem doesn't seem to exist at all for my THF, though it's currently at lower lvls than my DRG. "LOLDRG" is well known, I doubt I've ever heard "LOLTHF".

One of many theories why ppl don't like DRG: All other jobs gets adjusted abilities, stats, etc, and what does DRG get? Adjusted timers on jumps...:/

mkfighter8

thx for the reply guys, i guess ill try to take up DRK over DRG then, i just dont want to have to lvl NIN but looks likes im going to have to at least get NIN to 37 for most of the jobs at endgame.

Akumaru

Net, THF enjoys some DD capabilitiy in the range of levels 15-55(ish) before their invite rate drops. Sneak Attack + Fast Blade puts up great numbers when it's first available, and at level 33 THF gains access to Viber Bite, which at the level is very potent (SATA Viber Bite usually lands for 400+ damage) As you progress however, people don't need THF's hate control abilities (due to all jobs gaining SATA @ level 60 by subbing it, and NIN's getting access to better gear and weapon skills) and the damage a THF does both over time and through spike damage gets horribly over shadowed by Rampage, Guillotine, Dragon Kick, as well as other weapon skills. Post 55 is like two thirds of the entire game, and most end game activities will only have use of your Treasure Hunter job traits and use you for sac pulling in Dynamis.

DRK is still a decent DD, but it's still overshadowed by a high population of ignorant warriors. The problem with FFXI is that as it's been out for several years, everyoneh as a cookie cutter mindset, and unless you're a BRD, RDM, WAR, NIN, or MNK your invites are going to be slow. I took DRK to 75 as well, it was a very satisfying accomplishment, but it's a long road. I currently enjoy my high damage capabilities, fast TP growth, and the newer spells that SE added to increase my survivability.

Taruboy

Basicly if you want to lvl a Melee DD just be prepaired to make a shit load of partys and wait for hours. i worked non stop for a long time and now im a 75 sam and i think it was well worth the time spent