1-14: I went DNC/PUP, because you can't beat /PUP for soloing at those levels.
15-19: I went DNC/MNK, using Hand-to-Hand.
20-29: I went DNC/RNG, for Accuracy Bonus.
I didn't think about /COR for Hunter's Roll, but it's actually an awesome idea, and I /slapped myself for not having thought about it when I read up on it.
I also soloed a bit as DNC/NIN after level 24.
Now, I'm 57, so I can't speak for 60+; but I think I'll sub SAM at 60.
But the point of this post is to advocate the use of the Dragoon subjob from level 30 to level 59.
I've always liked /DRG at levels 30-49 for jobs that don't have a native Attack Bonus (which /DRG gives at 30) and that can benefit from the Wyvern Earring.
The /DRG subjob isn't as powerful as /WAR in terms of damage, because nothing beats Berserk; but in terms of TP gain, it's awesome. Jump is very useful, and 5% Haste from the earring is nothing to underestimate, especially with paired with more Haste gear.
SAM/DRG is the ultimate TP machine, with Jump to fill in the gaps. MNK/DRG with Fuma Kyahan, Brown Belt and Wyvern Earring has 16% Haste at level 40, and is a beautiful thing to see, especially with the Haste spell from a WHM. Both jobs gain 16 Attack from Attack Bonus and a Wyvern Mantle, which helps compensate for the lack of Berserk.
I do not see Dancer as a damage dealer, especially before level 62 and Dancing Edge. I see Dancer as a healer and support, with damage as a secondary function. So, I'm not trying to maximize damage - I'm trying to maximize TP gain.
For TP gain, /WAR doesn't do anything before Double Attack. /NIN doesn't do much since Dual Wield reduces your TP gain. At those levels, /DRG is pretty much the best sub there is. I could have gone /SAM for Store TP, but /SAM doesn't offer anything else (apart from Third Eye, which is nice but not great) until 60, whereas you still have 16 more attack from /DRG, and I like jumping anyway. ^^
And Dancer, using a single-handed weapon, can also use the Wyvern Targe for 1% more haste - not game-breaking, but not bad.
So, I went 30-49 as DNC/DRG with a Wyvern Earring, Wyvern Targe and Wyvern Mantle. I liked it. I liked the feeling of 6% Haste with a low-delay dagger, especially when paired with Haste Samba after 45. Stab, stab, stab, stab.
Then I wanted to sub WAR after 50, for Double Attack, but then there was the update, and lo and behold, SE gave Dancer the Rapparee Harness.
Holy Cow.
I've never really understood the reasons for a haste build for THF, who are mostly limited by the timers on SA and TA anyway, so I had disregarded the Rapparee Harness as a fun, but secondary, equipment piece.
But for Dancer ?
This is the best thing since sliced bread, and I'm not sure about sliced bread.
Haste for Dancer is huge!
I had to have it. Fortunately, some LS friends wanted a JSE50 too, so we formed a small party and went on a rampage in Phomiuna Aqueducts. We came out with 4 subligars. Rapparee Harness was mine!
With the Swift Belt, that makes 8% haste at level 50.
With /DRG, that makes 14% haste at level 50.
Plus Haste Samba. And maybe Haste and/or March.
So, ***** /WAR and Double Attack. I remained /DRG, and have been very happy with it until now.
Equipping a Crow Hose (instead of the nice, but over-worn, Republic Subligar, or my trusty, but ugly, Magna Chausses) at level 50 has allowed me to waltz a lot more without pulling hate. Dancer's Tiara helped a lot too. (The -enmity on the DNC AF is a real blessing.) And so, I've been solo healing colibri parties since 54.
My latest party was DNC, BRD, COR, NIN, WAR, MNK. You read that right, no mage. The BRD was /NIN and pulling, so there wasn't a single MP in the party. We made very close to 10k/hour.
Yes, having both a COR and a BRD is awesome, and helped a lot, but still, I wouldn't have been able to pull off solo healing without my haste build.
(Don't get me wrong, I'm a WHM first and foremost, and I love mages, but there's something delicious, a taste of forbidden, in setting up a 6-melee party and seeing it work so well.)
At 60, I don't think any subjob outperforms /SAM in terms of TP gain.
So, I'll put back the earring, targe and mantle into the mog locker.
This will be fun too, especially with Dancing Edge arriving soon, but still, I'm sure I'll regret the days of DNC/DRG and the almighty Fast Stabs.
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Tanid Fairy Sylph server
WHM75 COR75 DRG75 PUP75
Proud wearer of
Maat's Cap.