Tweet
So, the news that Dancer has a Flourish with a Provoke effect obviously make me look twice. It didn't seem like that S-E intended this to be a Tank any more than a front line support. But, why the Provoke? Moreover, there are also various Healing "Steps" to consider. So, I'm listing various possibilities here:
Main Tank
This event is probably the least likely to happen, and for a reason. As I have repeatedly stated here, people will only ever accept two Tanks, one for each style of tanking possible in the game (currently Paladin for Blood and Ninja for Blink), and I don't see Paladin being dethroned any time soon, whereas Ninja could be in jeopardy if a Dancer somehow becomes the new standard for Blink tanking. Here are the situations where a Main Tank could result (all of which assume Dancer get some form of Tanking Abilities):
Dancer/Warrior: This is probably the most obvious, because, if Dancer turns out to be a Main Tank material, it's obviously going to want Provokes. But, it already has Provokes. I think this would be a machine, with an unparalleled rate of Provocation. One Dancer provoke after another Warrior one, reasonably spaced, this combo could be great for staying on top of hate. The ability to heal is a plus, as well, to save the Main Healer some effort and hate.
Dancer/Paladin: This is potentially the best of the bunch. Because Dancer already has Provoke, it can go in to a more tank-minded sub than Warrior, and I think Paladin fits the bill perfectly. Plus, we don't know how potent Dancer's Healing abilities would be, and if they turn out to be not so good, Paladin could supplement them.
Dancer/Ninja: We don't know for certain that Dancer will be a Blood Tank, or a Tank at all even. But, if it's a Blink Tank, then, Ninja could be a valid sub for yet another job. If Dancer fits as a Blink Tank, and that stacks with Utstusemi, what we have here is one genuine MC Hammer. Also: Dual-Wield Daggers.
Dancer/White Mage: Kind of out there, and builds upon the fear that Dancer Healing won't be too effective. Tanking with this combo could actually work, because it could be like a Ninja/White Mage with a free Provoke, if it is a Blink Tank. And, of course, there's always the self-healing, if it's a Blood Tank, though that could be better fitted from Paladin.
Dancer/Red Mage: Blink, Stoneskin, Phalanx, and, as recently discovered, Dispel. This is not mentioning the Fast Cast, either. Red Mage could make an interesting choice for a Tanking sub.
Dancer/Blue Mage: Subbing Blue Mage still doesn't have much known about how to use its full potential. But, it could be a valid choice if WotG mobs provide useful Tanking Blue Magic spells, and they happen to be at a subbed level. As of now, there's Cocoon as the most prominent benifit, with a few Healing spells, like Wild Carrot and Healing Breeze. Probably not most recommended on this list, though.
Dancer/Scholar: Speculation-wise, this could potentially combine the best of White Mage and Red Mage subjobs. How much it could actually contribute to Tanking is far from certain, but only one thing really needs to be said to see the logic behind this: 40% Casting Time Stoneskin.
Now, what if the Provoke Flourish were subbable? That would give rise to potentially far batter Tanking combinations. Examples:
Warrior/Dancer: Again, a Provocation machine. If subbed Dancer Healing is good enough, the Warrior can help take its load of the Healer's back a little. However, is the subbed extra Provoke enough to make this combo not just another Brady "Warrior/White Mage" repeat?
Paladin/Dancer: Will Dancer provide an alternative to Paladins subbing Warrior? Provoke, extra Healing, and vaious other uses for TP make it seem like an ideal sub for this Tank.
Ninja/Dancer: See above for Paladin/Dancer. Probably even more so if Dancer has its own Blink Tanking Abilities that stack with Utsusemi.
Backup Tanking
This is probably FAR more likely than Dancer being involved as a Main Tank. Obviously, Dancer being given its own Provoke is obviously done for a reason. However, with the way it's presented, it appears to be more of a front-line Support role. Well, what if taking a few blows for a while is part of that support? Moreover, Dancer needs relatively small amounts of TP to pull off some of its abilities, and taking damage is a method of building TP, so Backup Tanking definately doesn't seem too counter-productive. Examples:
Dancer/Warrior: Again, we have this combo. This seems to be a good fit for Melee support, and, again, provides two methods of Provocation for greater assurance in panic situations.
Dancer/Thief: Okay, I know Thief doesn't make a Backup Tank, but it serves a similar purpose. If the Provoke Flourish happens to stack with SATA, then you could throw your Tank a free Provoke if they seem to need it.
Dancer/Ninja: Pretty much Warrior/Ninja, but with Healing. Easy Backup Tank.
Warrior/Dancer: Again for the extra Provokes.
Thief/Dancer: Assume Provoke Flourish is subbable. See Dancer/Thief.
Samurai/Dancer: If you throw on Seigan + Third Eye, and use the (if subbable) Provoke Flourish, you could Backup Tank if the situation calls for it. Also, Meditate and Store TP could help get more TP faster for the Dancer abilities.
Well, here's my speculation to how the Provoke Flourish could be used, and why it's there. Anybody else have any speculatory thoughts?
Main Tank
This event is probably the least likely to happen, and for a reason. As I have repeatedly stated here, people will only ever accept two Tanks, one for each style of tanking possible in the game (currently Paladin for Blood and Ninja for Blink), and I don't see Paladin being dethroned any time soon, whereas Ninja could be in jeopardy if a Dancer somehow becomes the new standard for Blink tanking. Here are the situations where a Main Tank could result (all of which assume Dancer get some form of Tanking Abilities):
Dancer/Warrior: This is probably the most obvious, because, if Dancer turns out to be a Main Tank material, it's obviously going to want Provokes. But, it already has Provokes. I think this would be a machine, with an unparalleled rate of Provocation. One Dancer provoke after another Warrior one, reasonably spaced, this combo could be great for staying on top of hate. The ability to heal is a plus, as well, to save the Main Healer some effort and hate.
Dancer/Paladin: This is potentially the best of the bunch. Because Dancer already has Provoke, it can go in to a more tank-minded sub than Warrior, and I think Paladin fits the bill perfectly. Plus, we don't know how potent Dancer's Healing abilities would be, and if they turn out to be not so good, Paladin could supplement them.
Dancer/Ninja: We don't know for certain that Dancer will be a Blood Tank, or a Tank at all even. But, if it's a Blink Tank, then, Ninja could be a valid sub for yet another job. If Dancer fits as a Blink Tank, and that stacks with Utstusemi, what we have here is one genuine MC Hammer. Also: Dual-Wield Daggers.
Dancer/White Mage: Kind of out there, and builds upon the fear that Dancer Healing won't be too effective. Tanking with this combo could actually work, because it could be like a Ninja/White Mage with a free Provoke, if it is a Blink Tank. And, of course, there's always the self-healing, if it's a Blood Tank, though that could be better fitted from Paladin.
Dancer/Red Mage: Blink, Stoneskin, Phalanx, and, as recently discovered, Dispel. This is not mentioning the Fast Cast, either. Red Mage could make an interesting choice for a Tanking sub.
Dancer/Blue Mage: Subbing Blue Mage still doesn't have much known about how to use its full potential. But, it could be a valid choice if WotG mobs provide useful Tanking Blue Magic spells, and they happen to be at a subbed level. As of now, there's Cocoon as the most prominent benifit, with a few Healing spells, like Wild Carrot and Healing Breeze. Probably not most recommended on this list, though.
Dancer/Scholar: Speculation-wise, this could potentially combine the best of White Mage and Red Mage subjobs. How much it could actually contribute to Tanking is far from certain, but only one thing really needs to be said to see the logic behind this: 40% Casting Time Stoneskin.
Now, what if the Provoke Flourish were subbable? That would give rise to potentially far batter Tanking combinations. Examples:
Warrior/Dancer: Again, a Provocation machine. If subbed Dancer Healing is good enough, the Warrior can help take its load of the Healer's back a little. However, is the subbed extra Provoke enough to make this combo not just another Brady "Warrior/White Mage" repeat?
Paladin/Dancer: Will Dancer provide an alternative to Paladins subbing Warrior? Provoke, extra Healing, and vaious other uses for TP make it seem like an ideal sub for this Tank.
Ninja/Dancer: See above for Paladin/Dancer. Probably even more so if Dancer has its own Blink Tanking Abilities that stack with Utsusemi.
Backup Tanking
This is probably FAR more likely than Dancer being involved as a Main Tank. Obviously, Dancer being given its own Provoke is obviously done for a reason. However, with the way it's presented, it appears to be more of a front-line Support role. Well, what if taking a few blows for a while is part of that support? Moreover, Dancer needs relatively small amounts of TP to pull off some of its abilities, and taking damage is a method of building TP, so Backup Tanking definately doesn't seem too counter-productive. Examples:
Dancer/Warrior: Again, we have this combo. This seems to be a good fit for Melee support, and, again, provides two methods of Provocation for greater assurance in panic situations.
Dancer/Thief: Okay, I know Thief doesn't make a Backup Tank, but it serves a similar purpose. If the Provoke Flourish happens to stack with SATA, then you could throw your Tank a free Provoke if they seem to need it.
Dancer/Ninja: Pretty much Warrior/Ninja, but with Healing. Easy Backup Tank.
Warrior/Dancer: Again for the extra Provokes.
Thief/Dancer: Assume Provoke Flourish is subbable. See Dancer/Thief.
Samurai/Dancer: If you throw on Seigan + Third Eye, and use the (if subbable) Provoke Flourish, you could Backup Tank if the situation calls for it. Also, Meditate and Store TP could help get more TP faster for the Dancer abilities.
Well, here's my speculation to how the Provoke Flourish could be used, and why it's there. Anybody else have any speculatory thoughts?
Comment