Dark Knights deal consistent DPS, especially in the presence of a Monk and Ninja. Scourge and Low Blow are both twice as strong as Fracture and Brutal Swing. Salted Earth and Plunge are both free damage, and a Dark Arts+Souleater combo is 800 potency whenever Blood Weapon is up to fuel your MP, which is very often.
But now for the bad.
Warriors are still the grandaddy of Offtanking. Fell Cleave is delicious, and Storm's Eye is one of the best debuffs in the game, as it doesn't conflict with anything while building abandon. Even Paladins contribute a -10%STR debuff, healing, and Stoneskins. Dark Knight contributes nothing if a Monk is in the party besides (admittedly good) damage when OTing.
What Dark Knights need to even come close is Reprisal and a slight change to Dark Dance. If Dark Arts forced a Reprisal proc when Grit is off, it would go a long way to helping them contribute at a fair cost. Reprisal still has a 30s CD, so no matter how you shake it, it wouldn't replace Storm's Eye with a change like this. As for Dark Dance, a mere dodge buff makes me cry. It simply isn't worth using Dark Arts (which is a pain to recoup as MT'ing single targets such as raid bosses) to buff it. Dark Passenger is tough to use outside of giant pulls, which is no bueno; that could use a MP cost reduction. Sole Survivor is just stupid. I haven't gotten Carve and Spit, but it looks like it does 3x450 potency with a minute cooldown? That's pretty cool if that's the case. Awful otherwise, as Souleater only deals a touch less and is a part of the Syphon Blade combo, which is needed to feed Dark Arts.
I like they playstyle of DRK, though. There's tons to do besides build threat, and its a whole different ballgame when MTing vs OTing. I hope they receive the slight buffs they deserve.
Haven't made any serious looks into MCH, but I'm worried. At 50, mine pulls good numbers for my ilvl, but I'm hearing that they're terrible at higher levels. I haven't even touched AST but I hear nothing but good things.
But now for the bad.
Warriors are still the grandaddy of Offtanking. Fell Cleave is delicious, and Storm's Eye is one of the best debuffs in the game, as it doesn't conflict with anything while building abandon. Even Paladins contribute a -10%STR debuff, healing, and Stoneskins. Dark Knight contributes nothing if a Monk is in the party besides (admittedly good) damage when OTing.
What Dark Knights need to even come close is Reprisal and a slight change to Dark Dance. If Dark Arts forced a Reprisal proc when Grit is off, it would go a long way to helping them contribute at a fair cost. Reprisal still has a 30s CD, so no matter how you shake it, it wouldn't replace Storm's Eye with a change like this. As for Dark Dance, a mere dodge buff makes me cry. It simply isn't worth using Dark Arts (which is a pain to recoup as MT'ing single targets such as raid bosses) to buff it. Dark Passenger is tough to use outside of giant pulls, which is no bueno; that could use a MP cost reduction. Sole Survivor is just stupid. I haven't gotten Carve and Spit, but it looks like it does 3x450 potency with a minute cooldown? That's pretty cool if that's the case. Awful otherwise, as Souleater only deals a touch less and is a part of the Syphon Blade combo, which is needed to feed Dark Arts.
I like they playstyle of DRK, though. There's tons to do besides build threat, and its a whole different ballgame when MTing vs OTing. I hope they receive the slight buffs they deserve.
Haven't made any serious looks into MCH, but I'm worried. At 50, mine pulls good numbers for my ilvl, but I'm hearing that they're terrible at higher levels. I haven't even touched AST but I hear nothing but good things.
