All you need to know about the Dark Knight job in FFXIV! How to unlock DRK, what skills, stats, and other supporting info. Also links to advanced guides!
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Daring to learn about Dark Knights? Discover all about the DRK job, basic information and FAQs in our Dark Knight Basics Guide. Read on if you’re expecting to learn about unlocking DRK, Dark Knight Job Identity, trait and skill list, crafters and gatherers related to DRK, and link to other important Dark Knight info!
Dark Knight is a Tank job released in 3.0 Heavensward, alongside Astrologian and Machinist. DRK was the first “new” tank job implemented after the original duo of Paladin and Warrior.
How to become a Dark Knight? Unlocking DRK:
The quest to unlock and become a Dark Knight is called “Our End”, located at The Pillars 13:8 given by the NPC Ishgardian Citizen. The only OFFICIAL requirement is having ANY level 50 Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic class leveled.
The UNOFFICIAL “unspoken” requirement is actually being able to walk into Ishgard. Do not attempt to unlock DRK if you don’t even have Ishgard in your map (Heavensward content).
Note that, upon completing the quest you MUST EQUIP the “Soul of the Dark Knight” to actually formally BECOME a DRK.
Rushing to or want to know how to unlock a certain class? Learn more:
FFXIV Job Unlock & Requirements Guide.
Dark Knight Playstyle & DRK Job Identity
If you’ve asked yourself, “Why play, try, or choose Dark Knight?” – here’s my attempt at selling you the DRK class.
Dark Knights are edgy, in more ways than carrying a Greatsword. The jack of all trades tank that almost feels OP. Their weird job design history kind of worked out for them in the end…
Historically in the meta, DRKs are a little confused. Initially designed as magic tanks… they’ve gotten a couple reworks here and there in terms of identity. Certainly, though, they shine in defensive raid utility (like a reverse, “Dark Paladin” I suppose) – notably with their trademark targeted shield, “The Blackest Night” (I know, I know). They also have a great history of DPS.
Aesthetically and thematically, DRK does a good job representing what you’d expect from the job in look and feel, and for some players that’s enough to try ‘em out. The Dark Knight MECHANICS, however, seem a little “in the grey” – but it’s GOOD more often than not.
DISCLAIMER
DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be a blurb that aligns with the current meta. That changes from patch to patch. Our goal here is to provide you with an idea of what the job is trying to be, getting cues from both the Developers’ concrete decisions on job design, as well as our own feedback.
What Crafters & Gatherers should Dark Knight level?
While it’s common in MMORPG’s to think you want to craft your own gear as you level up your DRK… I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.
Leveling up your DoH and DoL jobs should be thought of as a different activity completely. To be honest, if you’re a newer player, simply ensure that you DO NOT OVERCAP Levequests (always have less than 100).
The only relation a combat job has to a crafter or gatherer class is “which classes do you need to repair your gear”? My advice, ultimately, is pretty much all or nothing – level up all DoH classes in tandem. As a separate project, level up all DoL classes in tandem (with the optional Fisher).
What’s the best race for Dark Knight?
Racial stats are (was?) a thing. However, I highly recommend not caring about it. The difference in performance between the “best” and “worst” race for you is not even 0.1%.
My advice? Pick for aesthetics. Will you stay the same job forever? If you change mains, will you race change? Ultimately, the difference is so microscopic that I cannot in good faith tell you that racial stats are an integral part of your character.
I won’t even link the Racial Stats Guide, as I haven’t checked up on this in a while – and I don’t want to cement the idea that the “best race” really matters.
Related Dark Knight Guides – Read More!
Here are s a few useful links for you:
Upcoming Odds and Ends
Here’s a few things we’ll be adding on here in the near future:
- Adding a “links to further resources”, we’re doing a site restructure so once those links are set, they’ll go in here.
- Human-readable, newbie-friendly skill and trait list.
> I used to have the in-game skill list here, but I found it useless as the in-game one is better… I’d rather have a new player friendly rundown. - More descriptive job identity? Pics?
> I dunno… pictures of the job gauges? A gif of some flashy skills? - Feel free to suggest anything else via comment or socials!
Summary & Outro
Well that’s about it for a really, really basic guide that hopefully points some lost souls in the right direction, or answers some of your questions regarding Dark Knight.
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