THF damage

[Loial]

It seems to be generally accepted that the high damage classes in order of highest to lowest goes something like this:
RNG - BLM
DRK
Bunch of melee along with THF
etc etc

Well, in my 50s, I grouped with many a poor DRK. I recruit DRKs because I expect them to be high dmg output. However... a bunch of them let me down.

So, I was then happy to meet a DRK that actually had all his magic capped... had excellent gear (not saying the best) and he did some sick damage.

Since my early 50s, I've been parsing the damage output of members in my PT (nothing wrong w/ that right?).

Usually the PT makeup has a RNG THF DRK(or other melee) PLD and mages.

Every single time, the THF outdamages the DRK. And I'm not talking by a "little bit." Equal level THF and DRK... THF was doing 125 more dmg per fight than the DRK.

So, now I am thinking "Why even bother with the DRK? Just get more THF!" But then, something says "What about the Absorbs that the DRK was doing? Maybe that was affecting the overall performance of the RNG and THF?"

Well, I had the pleasure of grouping with a RNG and 2 THF. Let me just say that the damage output by the 2 THF was amazing.

So, now I pose the question... Does THF damage continue to increase from 60 onwards? Or are DRK producing more dmg at later levels?

[Kastel]

Dont know where people get the idea that DRK is super damage dealer. They really dont shine until they get their Lv 3 weapon skills.

Many people underestimate the damage potential of a thf. THF kicks ASS.

[replica]

Originally posted by Kastel
Dont know where people get the idea that DRK is super damage dealer. They really dont shine until they get their Lv 3 weapon skills.

Many people underestimate the damage potential of a thf. THF kicks ASS.

there goes kastel backing THF up again ^^ i love it~

just got mine to 30 a few nights ago with set, gonna get 33+ tonight I think D; can't wait to do viper bite~!

[Kastel]

hehe, well Samurai was my 1ST job 60, but I had to go back to my love and haven't went back since (apart from RNG with Loial and company !)

Viper Bite is one of those milestones THF hits at 33... next great thing will be Lv 45 for TH II and Hide and i think Cyclone is around there too if you like to farm with AoE.

[Loial]

So Kas, does the dmg output of THF in comparison to other melee get lesser @ 70?

I could just ask you in-game, but for the record

Oh, and the RNG in that group I parsed this data from... awesome tank! :p

[phr0st]

Re: Drk damage 45-60

Alright, as a dark I'll own up here.

We're terrible damage dealers from 45-60, and here's why.

We don't really get anything to promote extra damage other than another attack bonus and double attack (provided you sub warrior) at 50. Likewise, even some very "good darks" only level scythe. I have no idea why this is. DRK cannot skillchain with viper bite with Scythe. However, if the darks have GS leveled he can set up Distortion SC. Another problem is that the dark knight is probably one of the easiest jobs to flag in the game, and alot of darks are SEVERELY gimped. I'm talking brass rings and wing pendant at lvl 50 gimp. I've farmed my butt off and paid alot of money for gear to compensate for the "mid-level" hell darks go through, also I've leveled up my GS so I can be as versatile as possible in a PT.

Now, at 60 darks really start to shine with guillotine, and we can sort of take a thfs place since we acquire trick attack with thf subbed at this lvl so with the attack bonus of drk and SA/TA, we can do THFish WS damage. Even further, at 66 we get the 225 series Sickle Slash and Cross Reaper, which close the lvl 3 light and dark renkeis respectively for some of the best exp chaining skillchains in the game. Drk/Nin is also a very valid combination for ballista and hnm.

So that sort of explains why your drk may not be doing optimal damage. I'll list my gear here as a 52 drk and say that I can pretty much contend with everything but a WEALTHY ranger and a blm for damage. DRG outdoes me by a bit just because I got Vorpal scythe at 49 and he got penta thrust.

Anyway, here's my setup:

Main: Barbarian's scythe (+25 attack, -5 acc, +X strength)
Head: Valk Mask (+10 attack)
Hands: Royal Knight's mufflers (+3 Acc)
Body: Mythril Breastplate
Legs: Mythril cuisses
feet: Mythril leggings
Ring 1 and 2: Sniper's rings (+5 acc)
Neck: Spiked necklace (+3 str +3 dex, -6 mnd)
Earrings: Beetle +1 (+4 attack I think)
Waist: Lifebelt (+10 Acc)

So that's a total of +40ish attack and +18 acc with 3 dex.

The attack really balances out my damage (i.e. there's no swing for 150 damge one hit, then 10 the next).

Along with berserk, souleater, and last resort. I keep my damage constantly elevated rather than wasting those by "stacking" all 3 (that's suicide anyway). And with my ability to set up distortion with a thf, I manage to stay pretty competitive. Then again, I don't know how I could justify being picked over other damage dealers if I didn't have GS leveled.

Also, I eat CHIEFKABOBS, all the time, no exceptions. A dark without food isn't complete, period.

[ZQM]

DRK cannot skillchain with viper bite with Scythe. However, if the darks have GS leveled he can set up Distortion SC.

Wrong.

Vorpal Scythe > Viper Bite = Distortion. They get it at level 49. I know for a fact that it works because I did it with a DRK in my last THF party.

[Sesci]

Now, at 60 darks really start to shine with guillotine, and we can sort of take a thfs place since we acquire trick attack with thf subbed at this lvl so with the attack bonus of drk and SA/TA, we can do THFish WS damage.

In a thread either on Thief or Warrior boards, someone mentioned that TA does not add damage when subbed.

[Sesci]

http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/sho...threadid=42069

Trick attack on your main job has a damage multiplier linked to AGI. Trick attack on a sub does not.

[Kastel]

Yes I noticed this when I hit 60sam/30thf, It really sucked ><

As for thf damage, it sort of stays the same. THF shines when they get TP, that's about it. Wear accuracy and attack to get TP every min as fast as possible.

(Was in crappy PT with crappy DRK that had 40%TP when I had 100% last night -_- If that wasnt bad, her worse hit was 66, but usually in 80s I hit twice for about 20-30 so meh, i dunno :p )

[replica]

>.> say kastel, do you have a harness? or do you just use snipers, lifebelt, etc

[SlipA]

From what i've seen thf is the best melee dmg dealer up to AT LEAST lv60, (not including ranger). Drk definitely is not even in the running until lv65, where it pulls even with thf on normal fights, and owns thief during souleater. Before 60, imo, mnk,drg, and war are all superior to drk dmg wise, and thf beats them both, but against the right mobs, raging fist can be very good, so monk is up there too. Not to go off topic, but this is why i have no pity for thieves being surpassed by drk endgame. Even now, thief opens up every fight with 350-600 dmg SATA (i've seen 600+ on flies). That's almost impossible to overcome with normal scythe/GS swings, unless you have a bard in the party.

So, frankly, the dmg order before 65 from my observation is ranger/blm > thf > mnk (raging fists own) > drg=war (rampage axe) > drk > sam (but sam=more chains). Drk's redeeming qualities are spells (especially stun!), and souleater burst dmg to finish off chains. If you have a bard, the order changes, drk's mid game power comes from normal swings being strong IF they hit, unlike thf which is guaranteed to hit regardless of bard. So drk in a pt with bard will outdmg thief i think.

[Kastel]

I had sniper rings but sold them after I realized I was using them during Maat Fight... -20DEF orz.....

but yeah i have harness and use that with life belt switching to Blue Cotehardie and Knight's Belt in their place. Also have switches for other slots, but yes ACC+ ATT for building TP, then the DEX AGI gear for Fui

Also I have my Hakutaku Eye Cluster, just need a large group of 75s to go for optical hat ><

Also, last night PT'd with DRK... horribly equipped and had 40%tp with my 100% Kind of sad cuz eventually she started doing the ol pull out scythe, attack, put it up, pull out, attack, and so on, to try to get TP faster. Also noticed she didnt once use Absorb-DEX... Listen kids, dont gimp yourself out!

[Zynk]

Here is what I think, I don't look at thf as a DD for most part. Sure you can deal a lot of dmg but I dont look at thf being that. I look at thf as being a hate tool and thats bout it, just what I have to say.