Dirge

From EQ2-Daily.com EQ2 Wiki

Dirges are singers of angry songs and laments, using the power of cacophony to subdue their enemies. Their songs of rage inspire the fury of battle within their allies.EQ2 Stratics

Dirges are a class within the Scout archetype. Bards (troubadors and dirges) specialize in making a group better than it is.

Alignment:	Good / Evil
Armor Type:	Medium Armor (Chain)
Archetype:	Scout (Bard)
Main Stats:	Strength, Agility, Intelligence
Stat Bonus:	{{{statbonus}}}
Weapon Type:	1-Handed Slash, 1-Handed Pierce, Dual-Wield Slashing, Dual-Wielding Piercing
Shield Type:	Round
Ranged Slot:	bow
Main Roles:	Utility

1 The Dirge
2 Equipment
- 2.1 Armor
- 2.2 Weapons
3 Spell List
4 Tactics
5 Tips and Tricks
6 Resources

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The Dirge

The Dirge is one of the four hybrid classes in EQ2 (the others being Troubador, Paladin and Shadowknight). This means they have Spells (or songs), Combat Arts and their power pool effected by two stats. While this means they have more core stats to look out for, they gain versatility in play being able to hit mobs with spell or melee damage.

Their play style is a combination of buffs, debuffs, combat arts, spells and utility skills. What is useful in a given fight changes due to circumstances. Dirges have the ability to duel wield or use a onehander and shield. While the damage output of the Bard classes is the lowest of the three types of Scout, in group play a dirge's buffs and debuffs make up the difference. Unlike Rogues and Predators they can not use poisons, though the majority of their spell damage is disease based.

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Equipment

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Armor

Dirges are a Medium Armor(chainmail) wearing class and can carry either a round shield or a buckler. They also have the ability to also wear Light Armor(Leather) and Very Light Armor(Cloth).

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Weapons

A Dirge has the ability to use 1-handed slashing and piercing weapons along with dual-wield slashing and piecing weapons. They can not use blunt weapons. The majority of Dirges duel wield; there is however a significant portion who also use 1-handers and a shield.

They can use both thrown weapons and bows, though their CA is bow dependent.

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Spell List

Taken From List Compiled by Dechau From Post on Official Forums:

1: Shroud	Allow the bard to move undetected at an increased movement rate.
1: Singing Strike	A quick attack that drains the target's health, granting a portion of it to the dirge.
2: Haunting Strike	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
2: Harl's Athletic Tune	Increase the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
3: Offensive Boon	Increase the combat skills of the dirge's group.
3: Shriek	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
4: Cheap Shot	Briefly stuns the target on a successful hit.
5: Side Blade	An attack made from the side that deals moderate damage and impairs target's combat attack damage.
6: Evade	Reduces the target's hate toward the scout.
7: Verlien's Keen of Slowness	Severly decreases target's resistance to disease and slows target's movement speed for a short time. The slow effect has a chance to break each time the target is attacked.
8: Tarven's Confounding Chorus	Decreases target's defense, interrupts them and deal minor disease damage.
8: Singing Blade	A quick attack that drains the target's health, granting a portion of it to the dirge.
9: Wailing Strike	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
10: Harl's Rousing Tune	Increases the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
11: Diseased Blade	Two quick attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If all attacks hit, the target suffers additional disease damage over time.
12: Piercing Shriek	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
13: Bria's Stirring Ballad	Increases in-combat power replenishment of the bard's group. This ability does stack with the enchanter's concentration group power replenishment spell.
13: Death's Door	Increases the agility and intelligence of the dirge.
13: Selo's Accelerando	A song that increase the movement speed of the bard's group. It suspends during combat.
14: Relentless Tune	Increase the combat attack damage of the dirge's group.
15: Dissonance	Does a medium amount of disease damage to target encounter. This spell is difficult to resist against.
15: Singing Thrust	A quick attack that drains the target's health, granting a portion of it to the dirge.
16: Sapping Shot	Two ranged attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If every attack hits, the target is drained of power over time. This requires a ranged weapon.
17: Songster's Luck	Increases the combat skills of the dirge's group.
18: Jael's Elusion	Increases the parry skill of the dirge's group.
18: Divert	Reduces the target's hate towards the scout.
19: Dull Blade	An attack made from the side that deals moderate damage and impairs target's combat attack damage.
19: Reproaching Discante	Reduces the strength and agility of target encounter. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
20: Trick of the Hunter (Splitpaw)	Slows target's movement speed for a short time and decreases their magic resist. The slow effect has a chance to break each time the target is attacked. There is a small chance that the slow effect will root the target in place.
20: Noxious Chorus	Increases noxious resistance of the dirge's group.
21: Lanet's Excruciating Scream	Decrease target's agility for a short duration. When the song expires, it deals mental damage to the target
21: Misfortune's Kiss	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
22: Crypt's Quiet	Grants the dirge's group a chance to strike for additional disease damage on a successful attack.
22: Tarven's Crippling Crescendo	Decreases target's defense, interrupts them and deals minor disease damage
23: Verlien's Enigmatic Falsetto	Severely decreases target's resistance to disease and slows target's movement speed for a short time. The slow effect has a chance to break each time the target is attacked.
24: Clara's Chaotic Cacophony	Decreases target encounter's crushing, piercing, and slashing resistance. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain
24: Harl's Quickening Euphony	Increases the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
25: Escape	Teleports the scout and all nearby group members to the nearest designated safe spot in the current adventuring area.
25: Darksong Blade	Two quick attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If all attacks hit, the target suffers additional disease damage over time
26: Garsin's Funeral March	Causes the target to flee. Upgrades to this ability decrease the chance to resist the duration of this effect.
26: Luda's Wicked Warble	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
27: Bria's Thrilling Ballad	Increases in-combat power replenishment of the bard's group. This ability does stack with the enchanter's concentration group power replenishment spell.
27: Selo's Rhythm of Speed	A song that increases the movement speed of the bard's group. It suspends during combat.
27: Death's Scent	Increases the agility and intelligence of the dirge.
28: Cry of the Departed	A short range spell that deals disease damage, and returns a portion of this damage as health to the dirge
28: Riana's Relentless Tune	Increases the combat attack damage of the dirge's group.
29: Dissonant Rhythm	Does a medium amount of disease damage to target encounter. This spell is difficult to resist against.
29: Thuri's Doleful Thrust	A quick attack that drains the target's health, a portion of it to the dirge
30: Daro's Doleful Dirge	Decreases target encounter's movement speed and attack rate. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
30: Thuri's Sapping Shot	Two ranged attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If every attack hits, the target is drained of Power over-time. This requires a ranged weapon
31: Lucky Boon	Increases the combat skills of the dirge's group.
32: Slip	Reduces the target's hate towards the scout.
32: Hyran's Angry Sonata	A song played for an ally that increases their strength and the amount of hate the generate in combat.
32: Jael's Mysterious Mettle	Increases the parry skill of the dirge's group.
33: Discouraging Discante	Reduces the strength and agility of target encounter. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
33: Daro's Dull Blade	An attack made from the side that deals moderate damage and impairs target's combat attack damage.
34: Lanet's Agonizing Scream	Decrease target's agility for a short duration. When the song expires, it deals mental damage to the target
34: Noxious Symphony	Increases noxious resistance of the dirge's group.
35: Zander's Choral Rebuff	Decreases spell resistance of target encounter. This song has a recurrent power cost.
35: Delusory Trill	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
36: Grave's Peace	Grants the dirge's group a chance to strike for additional disease damage on a successful attack.
36: Tarven's Bedeviled Undersong	Decreases target's defense, interrupts them and deals minor disease damage
37: Verlien's Keen of Woe	Severely decreases target's resistance to disease and slows target's movement speed for a short time. The slow effect has a chance to break each time the target is attacked.
38: Clara's Crazed Cacophony	Decreases target encounter's crushing, piercing, and slashing resistance. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain
38: Harl's Kindling Strain	Increases the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
39: Afflicted Blade	Two quick attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If all attacks hit, the target suffers additional disease damage over time
40: Garsin's Burial March	Causes the target to flee. Upgrades to this ability decrease the chance to resist the duration of this effect.
40: Luda's Fiendish Howl	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
40: Wail of Woe	Interrupts all enemies in a large area surrounding the dirge and blurs their vision for a short duration. This ability does not require any power or casting time.
41: Bria's Exalting Ballad	Increases in-combat power replenishment of the bard's group. This ability does stack with the enchanter's concentration group power replenishment spell.
41: Selo's Accelerating Chorus	A song that increases the movement speed of the bard's group. It suspends during combat.
41: Lithe Disbelief	Increases the agility and intelligence of the dirge.
42: Cry of the Dead	A short range spell that deals disease damage, and returns a portion of this damage as health to the dirge
42: Riana's Spiteful Sustain	Increases the combat attack damage of the dirge's group.
43: Bereavement	A quick attack that drains the target's health, a portion of it to the dirge
43: Jarol's Melancholy Requiem	Does a medium amount of disease damage to target encounter. This spell is difficult to resist against.
44: Daro's Sorrowful Dirge	Decreases target encounter's movement speed and attack rate. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
44: Elegy at Death's Door	Resurrects a fallen ally. This spell can be cast during combat.
44: Jael's Dreadful Depletion	Two ranged attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If every attack hits, the target is drained of Power over-time. This requires a ranged weapon
45: Discordant Boon	Increases the combat skills of the dirge's group.
46: Hyran's Raging Sonata	A song played for an ally that increases their strength and the amount of hate the generate in combat.
46: Evasion	Reduces the target's hate towards the scout.
46: Wailing Elusion	Increases the parry skill of the dirge's group.
47: Oppressive Discante	Reduces the strength and agility of target encounter. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
47: Guttural Shriek	An attack made from the side that deals moderate damage and impairs target's combat attack damage.
48: Lanet's Violent Scream	Decrease target's agility for a short duration. When the song expires, it deals mental damage to the target
48: Noxious Concerto	Increases noxious resistance of the dirge's group.
49: Garsin's Haunting Wail	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
50: Tarven's Cantankerous Verse	Decreases target's defense, interrupts them and deals minor disease damage
50: Tomb's Stillness	Grants the dirge's group a chance to strike for additional disease damage on a successful attack.
50: Wail of the Banshee	Target and nearby encounter members suffer from disease damage overtime. This spell deals additional disease damage if it is not dispelled before it expires.
51: Verlien's Keen of Despair	Severely decreases target's resistance to disease and slows target's movement speed for a short time. The slow effect has a chance to break each time the target is attacked.
52: Clara's Cataclysmic Cacophony	Decreases target encounter's crushing, piercing, and slashing resistance. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain
52: Harl's Rousing Strain	Increases the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
52: Percussion of Stone	A song that grants the dirge's group a chance to absorb physical damage for a short duration after having taken any physical damage.
53: Void Blade	Two quick attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If all attacks hit, the target suffers additional disease damage over time
54: Garsin's Burial Chant	Causes the target to flee. Upgrades to this ability decrease the chance to resist the duration of this effect.
54: Hymn of Horror	Interrupts all enemies in a large area surrounding the dirge and blurs their vision for a short duration. This ability does not require any power or casting time.
54: Luda's Heinous Cry	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
55: Scream of Death	A stealthed attack from behind that deals disease damage over time. The disease damage increases intensity over time until the effect expires.
55: Bria's Glorifying Ballad	Increases in-combat power replenishment of the bard's group. This ability does stack with the enchanter's concentration group power replenishment spell.
55: Supple Disdain	Increases the agility and intelligence of the dirge.
56: Howl of the Dead	A short range spell that deals disease damage, and returns a portion of this damage as health to the dirge
56: Riana's Scornful Sustain	Increases the combat attack damage of the dirge's group.
57: Grievance	A quick attack that drains the target's health, a portion of it to the dirge
57: Jarol's Sorrowful Requiem	Does a medium amount of disease damage to target encounter. This spell is difficult to resist against.
58: Cacophony of Blades	A short duration song that grants the dirge's group increased attack speed, with interrupts and additional disease damage with every melee strike
58: Daro's Disconsolate Dirge	Decreases target encounter's movement speed and attack rate. This song requires a recurrent power cost to maintain.
58: Elegy of Awakening	Resurrects a group of fallen allies. This spell can be cast during combat.
58: Jael's Dreadful Deprivation	Two ranged attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If every attack hits, the target is drained of Power over-time. This requires a ranged weapon
59: Dissonant Boon	Increases the combat skills of the dirge's group.
60: Hyran's Seething Sonata	A song played for an ally that increases their strength and the amount of hate the generate in combat.
60: Screeching Elusion	Increases the parry skill of the dirge's group.
60: Elude	Reduces the target's hate towards the scout.
61: Shrieking Stab	An attack made from the side that deals moderate damage and impairs target's combat attack damage.
61: Disheartening Discante	Reduces the strength and agility of target encounter.
62: Lanet's Tumultuous Scream	Decrease target's agility for a short duration. When the song expires, it deals mental damage to the target.
62: Noxious Dissertation	Increases noxious resistance of the dirge's group.
63: Garsin's Grim Acclamation	A stealth attack that deals great damage and reduces the target's wisdom.
64: Tarven's Quarrelsome Rhyme	Decreases target's defense, interrupts them and deals minor disease damage.
64: Tomb's Calm	Grants the dirge's group a chance to strike for additional disease damage on a successful attack.
65: Oration of Sacrifice	Quickly channels health over time from the dirge to an ally. While in effect, the reuse times of all abilities that ally uses are reduced, and the dirge is temporarily stunned.
65: Verlien's Keen of Calamity	Severely decreases target's resistance to disease and slows target's movement speed for a short time.
66: Clara's Catastrophic Cacophony	Decreases target encounter's crushing, piercing, and slashing resistance.
66: Harl's Awakening Strain	Increases the strength and agility of the dirge's group.
67: Infected Blade	Two quick attacks that deal disease damage. If one of these attacks misses, the successive ones will miss automatically. If all attacks hit, the target suffers additional disease damage over time.
68: Garsin's Haunting March	Causes the target to flee.
68: Luda's Nefarious Wail	Does a moderate amount of disease damage to the target.
69: Death Bearer	Increases the agility and intelligence of the dirge.
69: Bria's Inspiring Ballad	Increases in-combat power replenishment of the bard's group.
70: Banshee	Target and nearby encounter members suffer from disease damage over time. This spell does additional disease damage if it is not dispelled before it expires.
70: Riana's Maligning Sustain	Increases the combat attack damage of the dirge's group.
70: Wail of the Dead	A short range spell that deals disease damage, and returns a portion of this damage as health to the dirg

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Tactics

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Group Tactics

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Solo Tactics

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Raiding Tactics

A Dirges role within a raid will normally consist of them being in the 'Main Tank' group. The Dirge provides some tremendous benefits to a tank including: Hate generation, Increase in parry/block ability, mana regeneration, strength stat increase, poison resist.

Whilst a Dirge can be cruelly considered by many to be nothing more than a buff bot, they are one of the most vital classes within a raid. The dirges ability to help the tank keep aggro and take less damage cannot be underestimated.

What many people seem to forget is that a Dirge also has some very nice debuff spells, from reducing a mobs agility/strength to slowing down his attack speed, this combination along with other not often used skills such as a resurrection spell and a small heal will keep the dirge busy through a raid.

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