Drain3?

I hardly ever use them, and I can't even tell for sure if they'd work in Abyssea while under stat boost effect from the cruor prospector, because in Abyssea i would usually go as another job.

The best use I'd see for those spells would be if you were trying to lower a mob's specific resistance (Absorb VIT to grant grant higher melee dmg maybe?) to benefit the whole Alliance or Party.

I do agree for the most part though, decaying stats aren't so attractive

absorb spells are awesome....wtf you talking

Absorb-INT is the only worthwhile Absorb-Stat spell. Adjusting the targets dINT before a volley of nukes is always welcome, and anything in a situation that would justify this, generally means Low man, or DRK tanking, where your own DPS is secondary, or obscure situations like Lusca during Mollusks Mutation.

Before you start wasting space on something like an Absorb-Stat set (which sacrifices way too much magic accuracy anyway) or an Elemental Nuke set, it's more productive to form Idle(Regen and/or Refresh) Blood tank(PDT-) sets for DRK.

This is personally how I prioritize(d) my sets on DRK.

1.DPS
a.Haste
b.Weapon Skill

2.Dark Magic

3.Dread Spikes

4.Idle
a.PDT-%
b.Refresh
c.Regen

5.Level a Mage Job

6.Elemental Magic Set

7.Cancel FFXI account

8.Plastron-Set Absorb build.


If DRK ever gets a truly Viable Dark-Magic based nuke, I'll put a specific MAB build under the Dark Magic build section, as it stands now, I can't see any reason to go further than a regenerative idle set, when I already have Scholar leveled.

XD

Plastron Oriented Absorb set is much different than just casting the spell in already-existing dark magic set D:

Plastron grants a longer duration though. Supposively that could also mean the mob you absorbed stas from takes longer to return to its' full status.
That could potentially increase the window for nuking

I noticed one of your builds on 1st page had balrahns and excelsis then another build had omega, so assuming you have access to all three anyway it would be better just to pair omega with excelsis and drop balrahns unless youre in an assault or salvage.

Only really pointing it out because only last week I was going through my blm macros removing balrahns on aspir/drain macros for excelsis coupled with omega. Balrahns for me now is just an enfeebling set ring.

It doesn't. You retain the buff longer, and it decays slower, but the monster's Stat-Down will decay at a normal rate, unless something changed in the last couple years since I tried.

You do, it's called Drain II.

Really need Absorb-Delay: get +18% haste for you that decays over time.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know someone had actually tested it. Tha's why I was only guessing about it.
With that being said, Absorb-Stat spells really become so situational they're not worth a dedicated build.


Yes, I have (or had? Idk if they're still at it now since I'm taking a break} a Salvage group so it turns out pretty useful.
Bare with me, all those sets I posted were ideal sets to prove a point.
I'm nowhere near having all the gear required for them (although I will try get some when I come back on game).
But i thought INT did not affect Dark magic (properly?), so I favored Balrahn over Omega for that 1 extra macc alone.

The Aspir/Drain set is above that. Sheelay put the title below the set instead of up top.

---

I think Absorb-Atk would be cool or Absorb-Def

Thanks for pointing that out, I'm use to putting a description or title below.

If SE wants DRK to nuke more often they could even add Absorb Macc or Mab

We will see if they had actually thougt things through or they're simply pulling whatever they got left out of the hat

I actually use my Vicious mufflers + Black cuisses for absorb-attribute spells, and in the other slots just equip my standard dark magic set. (don't go full out plastron set...)

Truth is... I almost never find myself casting absorb-atribute spells because it's simply inefficient to do so on most situations.

However, I still equip those things in for absorb-attribute spells because it's just a matter of making a simple rule with spellcast, and the fact that I already had vicious mufflers and black cuisses...and used them in other sets already anyway. (v-mufflers for BioII, black cuises for WS etc.)

Why Vicious Mufflers for Bio? You should be using Crimson/Blood Hands or AF2 Hands.

I am pretty sure MAB doesnt effect bio unless I am mistaken?

Giazz claimed earlier that MAB affected Bio's initial DMG.
I find plausible tbh, and since there hasn't been any confirmation as to how much Dark Magic skill would be required to go past the 8 dmg/tic, the initial dmg would be the next way to improve the spell.

The dmg per tic is increased in tiers with Dark magic skill only.

More specifically, for Bio II:

With:

Dark Magic Skill 200 - 210 = 5/tick
Dark Magic Skill 211 - 268 = 6/tick
Dark Magic Skill 269 - 290 = 7/tick
Dark Magic Skill 291 - ??? = 8/tick

However, Magic Attack bonus does increase the initial damage of Bio.

This is my current Bio set:



With capped Dark magic skill and 8/8 Dark magic merits, I have more than enough skill for the 8/tick Bio II, therefore, I also equip a few MAB pieces in order to increase the initial damage of my Bio II.

Might be wrong here BUT I always thought that MAB did nothing for BIO... You're better off stacking Dark Magic Skill > Magic Acc > then INT/ Fast Cast gears in your sets...

Is 8/tick the cap?
Or would it be possible to go further up with the dmg?

Oh, but that wouldn't be Haste now would it? Sounds more like 18% weapon delay reduction (Sword Strap) and a nightmare on TP builds! Be careful what you wish for.

MAB increases the initial damage of Bio.


Well BioIII is 7/tic with 210 dark skill, 8/tic with 211-250 dark skill, 9/tic with 251-??? dark skill.

That being said, I'm not aware of new Bio II/Bio III testing, or if a new "tier" has been found with the level cap increase and higher skill now. Those values listed were the ones found originally.

They could have a cap, or there might be a new tier...but that hasn't been found if there is such a higher Bio tier now, as far as I know. (Also... that Bio set I have, I made it based on those Bio tiers at 75, and again..they don't seem to have changed, as far as I know.)

8 Tic was the Cap at 75, I am sure there is a new cap at 85, our Dark Magic skill has gone up alot since then.

lol I'm sure they wouldn't be that gay.

they did make ffxiv after all >.>

drk with full DM merits has 340 base skill now so i sure as hell hope ppl have 291+.....

Im actually wondering about how the BIO caps work out at 85 now i have over 365 skill on DRK in full skill gear now would think we got at least 9/tic with that lol

I still want Absorb-EXP and Absorb-GIL... hell, maybe Absorb-Cruor too now. lol That would be nice.

I'd level drk..

lol

It would be nice to see a increase to the duration of absorb stat spells. Most time it doesn't help to absorb stats save a few exceptions, cause its taking from your DPS having to keep casting especially since Endark would be better to be spamming. Also it doesn't help the stats abosrbed diminish over time. It would also be nice say if Absorb-Acc cured blind and etc to other stats. If they lasted longer and did't dimish over time they could be more viable.