New, and can't figure out what SJ would suite best.

[Kinrohk]

I've tried reading all over, but a lot of the guides are outdated and don't even have new jobs as potential SJ's. I've noticed DNC to be the most common amongst high levels, and I knew once upon a time WHM was the best.

Is DNC just the new best SJ all around? Or is WHM better for leveling? Can anyone give me a rundown? Thanks. Just got 30 WAR and gonna unlock DNC but dunno if I should level that or worry about WHM first.

[Economizer]

Depends on what you are doing.

There are basically two things that a subjob does for Beastmaster, add more damage, or more survivability.

The easiest way to improve your damage is Dual Wield, which NIN and DNC both provide. Dual Wield also has other benefits, such as allowing you to hold another weapon, which helps if you plan on using two axes that boosts pet stats instead of just one.

Survivability falls under two categories, healing and damage mitigation.

Now, there are several sub jobs you can choose that provide a mix and match of traits like this.

Ninja gives dual wield, and Utsusemi for damage mitigation. If you are in Abyssea, it also provides some additional access to red and yellow procs, helpful if you are soloing.

Dancer also gives dual wield, but allows you to cure yourself, and remove harmful status effects. You can also debuff the mob with steps. Dancer also provides some enhanced CHR, since it is a main job stat.

White Mage allows greater healing ability, and Haste, at the cost of being able to recover MP, and dual wield. It also has the ability to claim things fairly fast (Flash), teleportation spells, and eventually will be able to put mobs to sleep (Repose). It can mitigate some damage with Stoneskin and Blink. White Mage also has Reraise.

Red Mage provides some healing ability, at the cost of removing debuffs, and dual wield. It has easy access to Sleep and Dispel, in addition to MP recovery with Refresh, and damage mitigation via Phalanx, Ice Spikes, Stoneskin, and Blink. Red Mage also has enspells and fast cast. It also provides access to some dagger weapon skills. It will eventually get Haste, Sleep 2, and Cure IV.

Scholar provides more limited healing ability, and the ability to remove debuffs, Sleep (can be AOE), and Dispel, depending on your stratagems. It also has competent Drain and Aspir abilities, thanks to the skill boost from Dark Arts. It also has some MP regeneration via Sublimation, and can cast Reraise. It does not have dual wield, haste, or Cure IV. Scholar also has Sandstorm, which work with Desert Boots to give you a 12% movement speed bonus.

There are other working sub job combinations, but these are probably the most common.

[Kinrohk]

Hmm I did not know dnc had dual weild. I think I like the idea of healing with debuffs and the being able to remove them.

[Gotterdammerung]

just dnc if u are super lazy

Nin and dnc if your slightly above average lazy

Nin dnc whm if ur just average normal person lazy

Nin dnc whm rdm thf drk blm war and sch if your a perfectionist.

[Olor]

just dnc if u are super lazy

Nin and dnc if your slightly above average lazy

Nin dnc whm if ur just average normal person lazy

Nin dnc whm rdm thf drk blm war and sch if your a perfectionist.

I have dnc/whm/rdm

what tier of lazy am I?

[Gotterdammerung]

I have dnc/whm/rdm

what tier of lazy am I?

I'd say normal person lazy.

=)


Im missing 3 out of all the possible subjobs so that makes me a failed perfectionist, so don't feel bad.

[Kinrohk]

Well, right now I'm just looking for speed. I'm not lazy, I'll happily level alternate subs when I have a max level character that can make money easier. But since this account is brand new, funds are a big issue as well. Its always the first one to max level thats the hardest, after that its pretty easy to make money to fund other jobs like nin and such.

[SpankWustler]

For leveling up solo...

I'd recommend having at least Dancer and White Mage (or Scholar) at appropriate levels for leveling up solo. If you're rocking it old-school, there will be some camps where your pets will perform so horribly compared to what you're fighting that you might not be able to melee enough for Dancer sub to really shine.

Although, it's now possible to just slaughter Easy Prey and Decent Challenge stuff in an area with Fields or Grounds of Valor to overcome previously rough level ranges, so I guess this doesn't really apply. Actually, maybe that's better all the way to 90 now.

At some point you should take Ninja to 49, but Dancer will probably work better for you while leveling up. Especially since fighting weaker stuff is now viable due to all the changes and additions.

Someone who leveled the job more recently would probably be more help in this regard.

For party play...

Ninja or Warrior. I'm pretty sure that with the addition of Dual Wield III at 90/45, Ninja is the more damaging of the two.

For soloing Notorious Monsters...

It depends on the monster. I can't offer much help beyond that, since the only Notorious Monsters I solo were pretty easy back when the level cap was 75. Not having access to procs in Abyssea makes me queasy.

[Xilk]

I say take /sch over /whm for leveling if you have a choise to make. low levels /sch is less effective, however mid-high levels it is much more effective, including Djinn hunting (which /whm is a poor choice).

You need /mage on a lot of fight where you do not engage.

Also I'll add /sam to Gotterdamarung's list, cuz I like my bst to be able to do most anything, and 2-handed fighting is an option :P... Its fun.

[SpankWustler]

I say take /sch over /whm for leveling if you have a choise to make. low levels /sch is less effective, however mid-high levels it is much more effective, including Djinn hunting (which /whm is a poor choice).

This is a really good point. Even while leveling up, it's helpful to have Scholar or Red Mage at a serviceable level. If for no other reason, than for the few level ranges when you can fight Djinns. They're like bombs except better, since you can encourage them to explode.