View Full Version : Abyssea Solo Master: SMN or BST?
I love Summoner, but is BST a better option if I wanna solo or duo box NMs like Orthrus?
This is in regards to BST Vs. SMN soloing while in Abyssea only of course.
Sparthos
06-13-2011, 01:54 PM
BST. 'cause it has TH and without procs.... you're gonna need it.
Zaknafein
06-13-2011, 03:13 PM
It's very situational. Bst is best on some target's, and smn excels on others. Regardless of which your using make sure you have Atma of Ducal Gaurd.
wish12oz
06-13-2011, 03:50 PM
THF, DNC and NIN all have BST and SMN beat.
But really, THF wins for having TH.
Gennadi
06-14-2011, 02:03 AM
Beastmasters can solo while all others die and cry out for raises.
Dallas
06-14-2011, 04:13 AM
SMN is good, BST is better. Having one of each covers most NMs.
Arciel
06-14-2011, 04:53 AM
between BST and SMN, definitely BST cos you get better gear options and more diverse pet options. Yuly is particularly good cos of eva, triple attack and TH.
however, do note that BST is also the more expensive option.
Dreamin
06-14-2011, 05:05 AM
I agreed with Dallas on having both to cover most cases. Personally, I preferred using SMN and DNC when solo'ing in NM in Abyssea even though I have BST finished. BST might have more diverse pet options, but SMN's avatars can cover all the elemental strength/weakness for single/dual magic based NMs as well as better native PD- with just Ducal Guard without having to gear specifically for PD-.
BST does have the one big advantage of having TH pet but you can always get Dread if you really must have TH.
Harukusan
06-15-2011, 12:42 AM
If dual boxing is an option for you, you might as well level WHM and a real DD job. It would be much faster than holding up a NM which people need to spam farm regularly for empyrean weapons. Or if you just want +2 upgrades, ask to join a group that is consistently popping one of those NMs, you'd be surprised how many of them no longer give a damn about +2 drops. Even with 3 ??? it can still get crowded at times, and spending nearly an hour to kill one NM makes me /headdesk when I see it happen.
Zaknafein
06-15-2011, 12:47 AM
If dual boxing is an option for you, you might as well level WHM and a real DD job. It would be much faster than holding up a NM which people need to spam farm regularly for empyrean weapons. Or if you just want +2 upgrades, ask to join a group that is consistently popping one of those NMs, you'd be surprised how many of them no longer give a damn about +2 drops. Even with 3 ??? it can still get crowded at times, and spending nearly an hour to kill one NM makes me /headdesk when I see it happen.
Yeah because everyone should only play mnk or whm because that's whats cool this month. Go away.
Sparthos
06-15-2011, 12:50 AM
If dual boxing is an option for you, you might as well level WHM and a real DD job. It would be much faster than holding up a NM which people need to spam farm regularly for empyrean weapons. Or if you just want +2 upgrades, ask to join a group that is consistently popping one of those NMs, you'd be surprised how many of them no longer give a damn about +2 drops. Even with 3 ??? it can still get crowded at times, and spending nearly an hour to kill one NM makes me /headdesk when I see it happen.
At this point, who cares? Most +2 mobs have 3 ??? spawns meaning the irritating soloist isnt bothering anyone.
It isn't like a soloer can chain pop +2 mobs anyway.
Glamdring
06-15-2011, 04:01 AM
fact is different mobs go down easier to different jobs, bst and smn both are good solos on many-but certainly not all-of the abyssea NMs. other jobs are also good on certain NMs. as with any Aby solo !! procs is an issue. As a general rule I guess, if all you have is bst and smn, use bst on stuff weak to melee, smn for weak to magic. but read up on any particular mob, that certainly isn't always effective.
The answer that monk, or nin, or dnc is the solo master is no answer at all, you asked bst or smn, between those two I can't really pick, I don't HAVE a 90 smn. My 90 bst gets ALOT done, that's all I can really say.
Korpg
06-15-2011, 04:49 AM
People consider MNK and WHM mule as solo now?
Dreamin
06-15-2011, 08:18 PM
If dual boxing is an option for you, you might as well level WHM and a real DD job. It would be much faster than holding up a NM which people need to spam farm regularly for empyrean weapons. Or if you just want +2 upgrades, ask to join a group that is consistently popping one of those NMs, you'd be surprised how many of them no longer give a damn about +2 drops. Even with 3 ??? it can still get crowded at times, and spending nearly an hour to kill one NM makes me /headdesk when I see it happen.
You clearly doesn't have any one of these jobs leveled and tried solo'ing on 'SOME' of the selected NMs, I've solo'ed faster on SMN and DNC on some jobs than pt of 2-3 ppl many time before (and have to SIT there and wait until they are done - amazing isn't it). Sure they probably suck, but you implying that just joining a party will make things faster is just invalid.
Alderin
06-15-2011, 08:32 PM
THF, DNC and NIN all have BST and SMN beat.
But really, THF wins for having TH.
Really?
I don't have BST or SMN levelled...
I do have NIN & THF levelled. Solo? Out of those 2x I would pick NIN/DNC... Thf lacks the ability to heal themselves if /nin, and lacks the shadows if /dnc to absorb the unstunnable / uninterruptable nukes / TP. Unless you are solo'ing lowby stuff - THF is very impractical.
I also have a few friends that have both BST or SMN levelled. They can solo stuff that none of us pet-less jobs could dream of.
Ironclad Smiter in Altep? No problem!
Turul? Nope, no issues.
Kathurai? Yeah still cake...
Sure with an ideal party setup of a healer, staggers etc - it is more efficient. However BST & SMN can solo these without a sweat. Might take a little longer but can certainly be done.
Would love to watch a THF/NIN or THF/DNC try to solo any of those above mobs. That is just naming a few that SMN and BST trump over.
Korpg
06-15-2011, 11:30 PM
The only real reason why SMNs don't solo that much on seal/+2 item NMs is because of procs.
Same for BST.
If you are talking about a specific item, then its a crapshoot.
Although I did go 1/2 on Auric Dagger on Cuelebre though, but I think that was more about luck than anything.
Harukusan
06-16-2011, 01:28 AM
I've tried soloing with my SMN several times, it's just so irritating the way it operates. I'm sure BST isn't that much different, just fewer pet swaps if you're geared right. I still prefer NIN if I HAVE to solo anything. I don't have the capability to dual-box so that is my only really good option. I'm never going to argue that BST or SMN aren't great jobs and potentially the best soloers. My point is that some jobs just do it faster and in less of a "cat and mouse" type game. If I had my WHM buddy with me, my first choice would be WAR and just go all out.