(Don't) Fear The Reaper: A Dark Knight Guide

Damn Z!
You're a beast.i gotta go try this now.
Mind posting full set?

Thanks man lol, here's the set for you.

ItemSet 365255

Odyssean Helm/Hand augments are acc+33 atk+24 wsdmg +4 and acc +36 atk +37 wsdmg +4 respectively. VIT +30 acc/atk +20 wsdmg +10 on cape so should be even better with some STR instead of VIT.

Need more info on idle set, are you in town?

After watching what the Decimation Axe has done for WAR has anyone played with the Spiral Hell Scythe yet? Granted it's not multi-hit but 100% WSD should have done something.

Hey guys what is the most up to date TP set/sets for Caladbolg/Raetic Algol?

I'm kinda curious why people are so hyped about Decimation build on WAR and none even mentioned it here for DRK, while according to my math, Decimation would do even more damage on DRK if attack is capped.

What math is that?

It's probably because warriors actively miss being able to use axes competitively, so they're jumping at the opportunity to go back to it, while DRKs only ever used axes if they got a Ridill back in the 75 cap days.

Can only assume higher pdl and i guess souleater? Delerium where applicable?

Well i'm talking about just WS damage, so math only for WS damage. War would obviously generate TP faster with more native DA, but I don't even mean to discuss if whole build is stronger on WAR or DRK. I just want to point out that it's very similar, easy to gear and competitive in end game on both jobs.

I have an r15 Chango for WAR and after maining DRK for so long it was a bit underwhelming. So the Axe was certainly intriguing, and yes also for nostalgia reasons. That said, it being within 2% +/- of r15 on wave 3 is pretty bitter-sweet.

Given the performance it made me very curious on the Scythe's 100% so figured i would toss out the question. I honestly never gave a thought to Decimation on DRK since i doubt it could touch Torc / CR numbers. If i get bored I will test and toss up some numbers.

This is damage im getting in my sheet for Spiral Hell with Kaja with capped attack and this set (with moonshade instead of brutal):
ItemSet 361648

1000TP: 21691
2000TP: 39393
3000TP: 56734
Highest spike at 3000TP (QA from Niqmaddu): 76002

Since it's scythe, which is well known weapon for DRK everything else beside WS damage shouldn't require any additional info I think.

Anyone interested in seeing what my sets are like now I got Apocalypse, Telos Earring and other things? Still not gone for the full relics (+3) though .. as I ain't got time to do Dyna regularly.

I get similar values to simon's. compared to cross reaper and insurgency at those tp values, assuming they all use the same set that is.

So I see a lot of stuff about WS sets but very little about TP sets.

I don't have much DRK specific gear available as I've mostly been focusing on SAM since I came back. What would be the top 2 pieces for the 5 primary slots for Caladbolg and then for Apoc?

I'm asking top 2 specifically because if Valorous Mail happens to be the best body to TP in, this may be difficult for me to obtain one "soon", while if Emicho +1 is second best, that's something I can do.

valorous mail, flamma korazin +2, emicho+1 are all pretty good, it will just vary depending on what you're wanting/needing for the set. STP vs ACC vs Multi Attack vs DT.
most flexible piece would probably be valorous mail cuz of all the augments it could have.

I'd say top 2 pieces imo ~ valorous mail + odyssean cuisses for the stp/multi/acc attack augments. Most of the other gear can be covered with flamma+2

I already have full Flamma +2, I have the clear/cards for any AF1/2 +3, I have HQ abjurations, so pretty much any piece that isn't Valorous Mail specifically.

I'll try to have my Odyssean Cuisses augmented I guess, haven't had much luck in the past.

basically if you can build a set that would grant w/e x-hit build you desire, multi-attack etc... that would work. valorous mail is just stupid good, especially if you get something amazing during the dark matter campaign. It would also be cross functional with SAM.

You'll want to get at minimum the AF+3 body/legs and Relic+3 legs for WS stuff. The ignominy legs+3 can be good for multi attack or acc builds


this thread here has a number of good sets to get ideas

I managed to skip it entirely on SAM luckily, if I can skip it for DRG and DRK I'd be happy. It's one of those things that is actually really annoying for me to get.

Until my patience runs out!

Oh nice I hadn't seen that thread, it's pretty good, thanks.

Flamma+2 barely trails it depending on augments.

Keep it as a goal though. SAM doesn’t need it at all but for DRK it’s worth getting.

No one got back to me on my post above, but I am planning on updating my sets soon so they can be critiqued. At this point it's about small incremental improvements.

I'm also interested to know how often Azagarth uses sets like Fast Cast, MEVA, Cure Received and Resist Stun? Also, is it really that safe using an almost full set of Ratri +1s for scythe ws??


Can't go wrong with a V. Mail dude. It's well worth getting if you can call up some friends to down Yakshi a few times.

FC is a must set.

Meva is pretty annoying on DRK. Ratris HP does a good job of offsetting the +DT amdnsince you WS in ratri the HP ping pong isn’t bad.

Volte gear is the best way to get meva but access is limited.

Cure set and resist stun aren’t needed.

a few founders pieces have some good m.eva

I'll get pops in case the opportunity arises since it seems this important for DRK.

I really wish T4 didn't exist!

A full on FC is a must for what exactly?? (Considering no gearswap or sub jobs like /rdm)

Also I don't know about Ratri. I guess it's good if you absolutely have to resist something? Seems more for soloing though.


I'm sure Yakshi is a T3. Can be downed with a few SMNs or a BLM MB strategy (although this is harder to setup).

Maybe, the problem is the setup needed, I won't be able to pull it off easily.

While I'm at it, what are good multistep to solo JP on DRK? GS/Scythe both available.

I like playing around with Insurgency > Entropy > Quietus x2 on my Liberator with AM up. You can use FFXIcalc to find a combination you like.

A DRK Fast Cast set is a boon for spells that aren't near insta-cast; so FC benefits Drain/Aspir/Endark/Dread Spikes easily.

Magic Evasion is a bit more of a personal choice really. Ratri set has a huge amount of it but even with the huge amount of HP+, the DT+ puts it squarely in a YMMV territory. As Taint said, the Volte set is another option, but given I know how your play schedule is I'm not sure how high your chances are of obtaining it in a relatively short period (also, f*** Dynamis).

Cure Received, I only ever dabled with that once and honestly, I don't think it's worth it. Again, personal choice but I'm not one to depend highly on my healer or support...

Oh yeah, on the Scythe WS Ratri set question, it's fine. You'll get unlucky every so often but it's not as bad as you think.

I know what Fast Cast does, but I'm failing to find something you need a full-on Fast Cast set (every possible scrap of FC in each slot) for .. outside of /rdm spells like Stoneskin/Phalanx/Blink.

Drain/Aspir - You don't need FC for this, you want Drain/Aspir potency. They're already pretty quick at casting anyways. Only using Drain III these days, as Drain II/Drain/Aspir are not worth it. Entropy's good enough for MP.

Endark II - You get Dark Magic Skill to a certain level (divisible by 20), then fill the rest with FC. Already explained this in my set a few pages back

Dread Spikes - The more HP the better. Also DRK empy body. You don't really need to full FC this either, unless you're tanking in a a rare, dire emergency, having trouble timing it between melee hits.

I do not use gearswap, so it's not like I can very easily precast a full FC set then switch automatically. And from experience, the spells are always back up by the time you need them again.

Also any mob which can be stunned? Simply Weapon Bash/Stun > Dread Spikes/Drain/Endark. So how is a Fast Cast set a "must"?

Start casting in FC, end cast with the effect. The point is to make the casting even faster, there is like no reason at all not to use FC, really.

Are you using gearswap? Do you manually bring in FC then switch mid-cast? Or is it all automated for you? Honestly, had no issues doing it the way I have. Never had a life or death situation where I fully regretted not decking my Drain/Endark/Dreads with a pre-fast cast set. Never.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the benefit. But is this only been done by those who use gearswap? Or are people doing it manually as well? Feels like a ballache for anyone not having it done automatically.