Serious question - where are the DKs? [PvE]

Flouride_Bandito

I am a newly-returning player to this game.

I played at launch, on Daggerfall Covenant as a vampire templar healer. I never even got to level 50. I recently came back and rolled a stamina-based templar tank, and while I love her to bits, I can't help but want to try something new. I know I'll make another healer at some point, and that's going to be yet another templar. So, I want to try something else - anything else.

Back when I was playing at launch, every group was comprised of templars and DKs. A few sorcerers here and there. Since I've been back for a couple of months, I've run well over 200 dungeons. Every group is comprised of templars, nightblades, and sorcerers. I can count on one hand the total number of DKs I've seen in PvE dungeons so far. I queue my templar as both tank and DPS, so I'm not always taking up the tank slot.

It's not even close. I counted up people in groups I ran this past weekend, and tallied the numbers overall. I saw about 60% templar, 30% sorcerer, 10% nightblade and 0% DK.

I was thinking of making a DK of some sort, but I'm really worried at the _complete_ lack of them I see in PvE.

Have they been massively nerfed?

I know - one of the benefits of this game is you can basically play whatever you like, in just about any capacity. I'm not afraid of making something that isn't "flavor of the month". Heck, my tank is a vampire - a terrible, terrible choice that I still like . But if DKs have been nerfed to the point of no return, I don't want to try one and burn out on this game again. So, yes, I'm sure it's still viable; what I want to know is why they don't seem to be played anymore.

JubJub

In pvp wbing erthang.

BlitzGirl41

I made a DK for Aldmeri Dominion. The class isn't dead! I can't even tell who is what until I see them attack...

Oreyn_Bearclaw

DK was in first place for PVE DPS for a long time. It's just not true anymore. Still good, especially on static fights, but there are better options for much of the new content. I still play mine the most of any of my toons, but that might not be true in a week.

iam117

stam dk is first in pve dps, and will continue to be so for DB. magicka dk, not so much anymore, but they have the coolest spammable, and they still do things others cant (chains in vmol)

DschiPeunt

DKs aren't dead at all
imgur.com/JGjqeyq BUUUUUUUURN!

Oreyn_Bearclaw

I should clarify, I was talking about magic DK. Stam DK is probably going to be so OP next patch that the forums will crash. DKs are also the best tanks, and any VMOL group is going to need at least 2 DKs other than the tanks (plural) to run chains and use their handy AoE interupt.

I would bet that Khajiit DK was the number one class/race combo made in the last month.

Gruntz_II

They're far from dead, especially after the class buffs in the TG DLC. I thoroughly enjoy my mag DK in PVE. The AoE / sustain capability is great, enough to tank the vet dungeons in light armor without any problems (unless I miss blocking a heavy attack). The more enemies the better. Single target DPS is a bit lackluster with the build I run, but for those fights I'm usually taunting and mitigating damage anyway. I can't give you any raw DPS statistics though, as I'm on console. But I can definitely vouch for the satisfaction of rounding up huge pulls, then face tanking them all while you watch them burn.

Flouride_Bandito

I appreciate the replies! It sounds like a stamina DK is still a pretty good PvE class, and they're welcome as tanks anytime. I was just surprised at the complete lack of them I've seen in... well, in every dungeon run I've tried.

Glad to know they haven't been entirely nerfed away.

It sounds as though they aren't necessarily great options - other classes have more options for damage, at least - but that the next patch will help the stamina build.

Thanks for the replies!

Mojmir

im running mine everywhere,he is my main after all.

lolo_01b16_ESO

What? Are you sure you are playing the same game as I do?
Many people in my guild are currently leveling an other dk and in our trial runs we always have at least 4 dks, usually more (out of 12 people).