>>428737
DAs can be alright sometimes.
You just shouldn't be taking all the opportunities to do them.
Caesar actually kinda solves the DA problem you mention in a way, because she can use her EX follow-up - Overpowered Shield Bash immediately after DA follow-up.
It's such a good move especially at that price, it makes the whole thing generally worth it.
There are also agents with generally good assist follow-ups. Corn or Ellen for example.
That doesn't make DAs not a DPS loss, but it remedies the situation some.
But DAs are rewarding in some other ways, out the universal stuff, Decibel gain is the most notable.
For example, when I'm fighting the Marionette with my S11, I will have her Ultimate up for the first burst window, but not for the second one.
However, if I incorporate two Defensive Assist
by her , she'll have her Ultimate up again, and while getting those two DAs is a pretty big DPS loss, having the Ultimate ready for the burst leads to the whole thing being a net damage gain.
In the Shiyu run related, the parry I do with Mibibi serves a similar purpose - without it, she won't have her Ultimate up for the burst, so while it's a Daze-down compared to just on-fielding Qingyi, it makes a difference between being able to one-rotation the boss and not being able to.
There are also moments, where DAs actually allow you to get more thing in.
Like in Mibibi mono-Ice, you can do Soukaku FtF > QA Miyabi in > DA with Lycaon. Mibibi's QA is good but very long and the only thing she can cancel it with is her Ultimate, so you get to benefit from the move itself but you don't actually spend any time on-fielding Mibibi.
And while DAs are generally a Daze-down compared to on-fielding a dedicated stunner like Qingyi, they are usually a pretty good trade of DPS for Daze when you are not on-fielding your Stun.
I don't really have a problem with the current state of Defensive Assists.
IMO having the option be viable when you're smart about it is more interesting than it being always the best option you have.