Summoner - Turn 9 - Maximizing Damage Discussion

[Judge_Xero]

Hello, as the thread title says, I'm looking for discussion on pushing Summoners damage as much as possible on T9.

So far I have,

- Being within melee range to Contagion Miasma II and to Auto Attack
- Refreshing Shadow Flare during Dalamud Dive and Thermionic Beam
- Shadow Flare in Center before Golems appear + Miasma II
- Using the SMN only on Ghosts, pre Dot Deus + Contagion and Bane to Ghost + LB

But....I was wondering if there is more potential during Golem Phases.

Would it be possible for the Tank to pull their Golem about 2 Yalms towards the center when it spawns. This would allow SMN to spread their DOTs to all the Golems (Quelling, Raging, Foe, INT Pot, Contagion) and would take about 7 Seconds.

I'm not sure how close the Golems need to be to absorb each other, or if they will absorb each other that soon after dropping.

It would just be nice to be pushing 600+ DPS during each of the Golem Phases.

[GreyJorildyn]

Your third point is relative to strategy being used when placing golems. Can't really comment on that since my group does not do it that way. It sounds like you are already doing your best to maximize damage with timed shadow flares and utilization of contagion and bane in the proper manner. If you're already taking golems down comfortably, you might consider saving raging strikes (from your description it sounds like you're using them on 2nd golems?) for the heavensfall phase to bane onto the ghost prior to LB3.

[SirTaint]

I just recently started playing SMN for t9. (was always the solo tank before our SMN quit) i105 with HA book. I am also looking for pointers especially during phase 4.


Phase 1 is pretty standard DPS. I use Raging right away, standard play the rest.

Golems we burn green, so I only DPS green at first. Then DoT blue and red after green in down. I typically go light on DPS here because of my MP issues during phase 4, so I try to take it easy so I have full MP going into phase 3.

Phase 3 - INT pot, Raging, DoT nael, Cont., Fester, Bane onto the Ghost, LB, then its time to DoT Nael again. Lots of Ruin2 spam here while dodging.

Phase 4 is where I need the most help. Watching DoT timers, keeping my pet alive during DBs and watching my Ice,Fire,Thunder. I typically run out of MP here from all the Ruin2 spam.

The answer will probably end up being "get more comfortable with the fight" but any pointers would be great. We've one shot it both times I've tried t9 on SMN which doesn't help with experience and I was the low DPS both times.

[Judge_Xero]

Your third point is relative to strategy being used when placing golems. Can't really comment on that since my group does not do it that way. It sounds like you are already doing your best to maximize damage with timed shadow flares and utilization of contagion and bane in the proper manner. If you're already taking golems down comfortably, you might consider saving raging strikes (from your description it sounds like you're using them on 2nd golems?) for the heavensfall phase to bane onto the ghost prior to LB3.

Ty for the info. Yeah, we usually take the golems down pretty fast, since we're doing Single Tank. I can usually fit RS in at the start, 1st set of Golems and then for Dotting up Nael before Ghost appears.

While the extra damage on the Golems wouldn't be required, it would be awesome to do. (unless it prevents them from eating because they die too fast)

[Havenchild]

So here's what I do; currently breaking 400-420+ on both golem phases, 426-441+ on the first phase(depending on crits), About 430 to 450 in heavensfall and last phase about 370-400+ depending on if I need to ress or not.

First phase:
Foes comes up
Opening Rotation -> Ruin 2 till last Fester -> Aetherflow -> Ruin I two times-> Bio as soon as possible( Boss Jumps for Chariot + Thermionic) Run to middle and Fester -> (while boss is still doing chariot) Refresh Miasma (Needs to be done before dalamud dive) -> Shadow Flare the MT-> Bio II -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin I -> Ruin I -> Bio -> You want to refresh Miasma and Bio again before the boss jumps here for Meteor Streams, it helps with the timing of DoTs falling off later on. (General Rule, This Goes for Double Meteor Streams as well in this phase)

Before Boss comes back, when the meteor streams contact people -> Shadow Flare -> (Boss Lands) Bio2-> Miasma 2-> Contagion -> Rouse,

Before the next Meteor Streams come, you should be able to just spam Ruin I or Ruin II in the mean time but after the double meteor streams repeat above shadow flare but this time Bio should be falling off -> Fester -> Refresh Bio II and Miasma soon after and carry on as normal for the remainder of the phase, you might have to refresh a DoT or two before the next phase starts ( assuming you have the DPS to push before the 5th meteor).



Golem Phase-> You already are doing the Shadow Flare in the Middle and the Miasma II -> Strategy specific thing for each group, but thats the best situation for your DPS on summoner.

If you have Rouse at the beginning of Golem phases, burn it asap.

If you have Spur in the first phase, burn it asap, do not use it in the second phase of golems, its better saved being up during heavensfall.

You shouldn't have Raging Strikes at the start unless your first phase goes on longer then usual. However if for whatever reason you have Raging Strikes up before the first phase of Golem make sure to use it as soon as the Green Meteors land (or possible when there in mid-air)-> This way it will exactly line up with when the Boss comes back for Heavensfall phase.

Make Sure Shadow Flare is up before Golems Spawn -> Roll into the middle of them and MIasma II all of them when they spawn ->

Golem Phase, if your single tanking, DoT up Green Golem(Stay in Melee Range of the Golem your DoTing )( Bio II -> Miasma -> Bio -> Fester) make sure to focus Garuda on it in the meantime, once Green is DoTted-> You need to figure out which Golem is going to Die last (after the color swap).

Hop onto this Golem, and Start Throwing up All your DoTs ( BioII, Miasma, Bio,-> Fester -> Miasma II, Contagion)

Then go to the second Golem that will Die and put up all DoTs but miasma II -> Fester and stay in melee Range of this one and Ruin I and Ruin II Spam till dead refresh any DoTs needed granted you have to think about this one as a, (is it worth it moment), if its about to Die best to just Ruin II.

Rinse and Repeat the First phase, If Raging Strikes hasn't been used yet, Don't use it at all. I personally only see it best used at the prelanding of the first set of Golems.

Disclaimer: If your group is struggling to kill the Green Golem before the color switch, (worse case scenario), and you need to stay on it, Just DoT up the last Golem to die, after the first one dies.


Heavens Fall Phase->
Foes comes up:

Wherever your tank is going, Cover him with a Shadow Flare before the boss lands. Hopefully, your tank doesn't have to move so much. When the Boss is about to Land, Raging Strikes -> Pot -> DoTs ( You should be able to get off Miasma after BioII right before the knockback comes through.)- > Bio-> Fester ->Miasma II -> Contagion-> Ruin I + Ruin II spam

Your next Rotation will be as the tower is disappearing , your pet Buffs, weaving in Ruin IIs and when the dragon is picked up, Enkindle, -> Bane -> Fester -> Limit Break ( if your doing this), Personally I leave Garuda on the Boss the entire Time, unless you struggle to kill the Dragon then just leave it on that. Make sure to refocus it though on the boss as soon as it dies, I noticed Garuda tends to stop attacking when this dragon dies sometimes.

Refresh DoTs on Boss ->

Second Heavens Fall; Swiftcast -> Shadow Flare wherever the boss is , while dodging the floor AoEs, Ruin I + II Spam with Festers if you have them till phase push.

Final Phase>

Now the general strategy I think will largely differ between groups but, your best effort is to watch where both your MT is going, and where your first Fire Tether goes as well. This is crucial for Shadow Flare Placement. You want to keep shadow Flare up as much as possible hitting this boss. If you forget to place it or dont place it properly, do not worry about it. Refresh DoTs when able, Miasma II and Contagion when able,

Precast Shadow Flare on stacking Point for Thermionic Beam.
Precast Shadow Flare on the tank before Dalamud Dive after DiveBombs, rinse and repeat.

Try to keep Garuda about halfway between the center and due North ( slightly closer to the center) (which I think is the safest place for her survival.)
Save Swiftcast for Garuda ( assuming not ressing).

That's about all the pointers I can give atm.

[SeraviEdalborez]

For golem phase, my group chooses not to burn Blue down before color swap, since we will then have a 50% chance of not having to deal with Green for the rest of the current golem set. So Blue > Green > Red.

Due to this, I will first dot Blue (and put Garuda on it), dot Red and have Garuda Contagion it, then dot Green. By that point it's almost time for first color change so you just go from there. The reason I Contagion Red is that it has a 100% chance to be not-Red after the color swap, so it will be a priority kill one way or another.

[NintenPyjak64]

@Haven

This massive wall of text looks amazing with all the information. Next time I try T9 (which will be idk when), I'll try out your suggestions. I should probably keep this whole thread bookmarked honestly.

[Havenchild]

@Haven

This massive wall of text looks amazing with all the information. Next time I try T9 (which will be idk when), I'll try out your suggestions. I should probably keep this whole thread bookmarked honestly.

I'll add a video next time I do it, since apparently Twitch is starting to remove vids without highlights I lost most of my runs. T_T

[Mister-Wonderful]

I haven't had raging strikes up at Golems in a long time myself, as my group nearly pushes 3 meteor, there is no way it's cooldown is done by then for me. So Raging strikes is beginning of the fight and after Megaflare for me.

- Refreshing Shadow Flare during Dalamud Dive and Thermionic Beam

During dive/beam if you need to re app dot while he is moving, If you have a face target key and good timing you can cast anything on Nael, My miasma and Bio II are wearing around then and as long as I'm timing my face target for when he is moving, while I'm casting, I can hit him and instead do a swiftcast shadowflare while repositioning after beam. You may already do this, but reading what I quoted thought I'd mention facetarget, and of course also depends on your DoT timings and when they are wearing.

I'll add a video next time I do it, since apparently Twitch is starting to remove vids without highlights I lost most of my runs. T_T

I also was going to post my video, but I forgot to make my last recording save on twitch and it is lost too. Great summary of the fight in your other post.

[Judge_Xero]

I haven't had raging strikes up at Golems in a long time myself, as my group nearly pushes 3 meteor, there is no way it's cooldown is done by then for me. So Raging strikes is beginning of the fight and after Megaflare for me.

During dive/beam if you need to re app dot while he is moving, If you have a face target key and good timing you can cast anything on Nael, My miasma and Bio II are wearing around then and as long as I'm timing my face target for when he is moving, while I'm casting, I can hit him and instead do a swiftcast shadowflare while repositioning after beam. You may already do this, but reading what I quoted thought I'd mention facetarget, and of course also depends on your DoT timings and when they are wearing.

Yeah, my group was clearing that first Phase just before the 5th Meteor, so I had a bit of extra time on RS.

So, about this face target. What you're saying is I can make a macro to face target and if I click it while mid cast when a target moves, I can get my cast off without interrupting it? If so, that's awesome and I shall love you long time.

For some reason before dive/beam it is my Bio that has about 4 seconds left. I usually have enough time to get a Ruin + Ruin II off just before he jumps, then fester, bio while running to the center, then I cast my Shadow Flare. Miasma and B2 are just wearing as he lands.

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Thank you Havenchild for the rundown of how you do the fight. I would definitely like to see a video of how you play. It sounds like I pretty much do everything I should be doing, which is good to know.

I think the best I've done so far is about 360 DPS @ just after the first Ghost. i103 Gear (I should also mention I haven't beat T9 yet)
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So does anyone know if you can Bane the Golems without them merging?