>>717507317
This is a very real problem, and you're right that souls popularity is exacerbating the issue.
Elden Ring Nightreign is the perfect example. Guardian is a joke character because no amount of damage mitigation is going to be better than just dodging the attack. Raider is infinitely better because he trades blows and then actually does damage, unlike Guardian who might poke you once if he has stamina left.
I think it's the nature of action games trying and failing to adapt the "holy trinity" model and failing to make support or utility options viable vs 0 effort big dick damage dealing.
WoW used to have a mechanic called Vengeance where your damage increased relative to the amount you were taking in and tanks became the biggest damage dealers overnight.