Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

Quick question for all you blums, since this discussion came up as my friend finishes leveling to 60.

What's the optimal AoE rotation for Black Mage in 3.x?

I've been not bothering with Enochian for AoE, since I think cycling through Ice weakens the overall rotation, but I'm not sure if that's correct. Basically, mine has been:

F3>F2>F2>F2>Flare (x1-3)> [[ Transpose>(wait for 1 tick)>F3>F2>F2>Flare ]]

With the [[ x ]] part being repeated as long as shit's still alive, cycling to the mob with the most HP left during the F2 casts for the Flare>F3 part. I'm basically just asking if anyone's done the math on whether or not

[[ Transpose>B4>F3>F2>F2>Flare ]]

with Enochian would be higher dps (if you use B4 when you need it, ofc) and/or if there's a better AoE rotation I haven't managed to find that makes use of Enochian (or doesn't).


(Obviously not including buffs here, since I'm just looking for the generic rotation you'd be using most of the time, not the big burst opener, though the question of pot of INT v Max-Ether for bonus Flare is interesting to me)

^ Honestly, for AOE rotations that is pretty much what I use. I do throw is some fire 4s alternating on mobs though for some extra burst on ones that are close to dead though.

mine looks like this:

Sharp cast>F1>Leylines>enochian>F3 proc>F2>f2>f2>Flare>convert>swift cast>Flare>Transpose>Blizzard 4 followed by your rotation while throwing in F4s when needed to busrt down enemies. I am not sure the actual numbers sadly as I play on PS4 and still need to get myself parsed. XD

I will say that it certainly seems to make a difference using enochian though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JackFross

<stuff>
F3>F2>F2>F2>Flare (x1-3)> [[ Transpose>(wait for 1 tick)>F3>F2>F2>Flare ]]
</stuff>

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F3 - F2 - F2 - Flare - Transpose - repeat is the norm. Done correctly, you will always get an instant mana tick after Transpose after the first rotation. B4 is less PPS than one F2 on two targets, and F2 on two targets is not even worth doing. Enochian is mostly number padding for AoE, as the 5% bonus with only 50% uptime rarely does anything meaningful.

One thing you can do is, if you need to burn specific mob(s) fast in where you'd otherwise use AoE, like the 4x dolls in A2S, is to do the single target rotation and replace one F4 with a Flare at the end. Transpose - B1 - B4 - F3 is what I've done after that. I'm not sure if B3 or B1 is better, but B1 gives you full mana and is better PPS than B3, and what time you save with UI3-F3, you lose by casting the B4 first. Or that's the logic I've gone with without doing any maths.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Culfinrandir

TL;DR Fear not, they'll get their just deserts.

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I doubt it. Wouldn't be the first shady thing they've done and gotten away with completely. This is just the first that SE has actually said they have a problem with. They wintraded LoV and TT for months without any repercussions.

I did some super rough calculations and thinking in my head while shopping about AoE and B4, and got this:

You have to B4 after every Flare.
Every B4 in AoE makes you lose 0.25xF3 + 0.5xF2 + 0.25xFlare worth of damage on average.
Every B4 in Aoe makes you gain 0.05xF3 + 0.1xF2 + 0.05xFlare + B4 worth of damage on average.
Wait... There's also mana ticks.

After getting here, I realised I needed a calculator, because casting B4 nets you another mana tic that can be used for extra F2 per rotation. After a quick test. you have to wait after every B4 to cast F3 or you might not get the tic because of SS (768 for me and didn't always get. Your mileage may vary depending on latency and button smash.)

Assuming instant mana ticks and 6 mobs (Flare 351 average). REPEAT(stuff) part is your actual rotation after emptying your mana once.

No Eno:

[F3 + F2 + F2 + F2 + Flare] + REPEAT([F3 + F2 + F2 + Flare]) = [240 + 540X + Flare (16,5s)] + [216 + 360X + Flare (13,5s)] = 5586/16,5 + 4482/15

First part: 338.5 PPS
Repeat: 298.8 PPS 15s tick

Eno:

[F3 + F2 + F2 + F2 + Flare] + REPEAT([B4 + F3 + F2 + F2 + F2 + Flare]) = [240 + 540X + Flare (16,5s)]x1,05 + REPEAT([280 + 216 + 540X + Flare (19,5s)]x1,05) = 5865,3/16,5 + 6159,3/21

First part: 355.5 PPS
Repeat: 293.3 PPS 21s ticks

Eno no refresh (have to use Eno after F3 to get second Flare at the start):

[F3 + F2 + F2 + F2 + Flare]x1,05 + REPEAT(2x[F3 + F2 + F2 + Flare]x1,05 + 2x[F3 + F2 + F2 + Flare]) = [240 + 540X + Flare (16,5s)] + REPEAT(2x[216 + 360X + Flare (13,5s)]1,05 + 2x[216 + 360X + Flare (13,5s)]) 5865,3/16,5 + (4706,1/15 + 4706,1/15 + 4482/15 + 4482/15)/4

First part: 355.5 PPS
Repeat: 306.3 PPS 15s ticks

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Don't bother with trying to refresh Eno.

I feel like this is enough math to last me for the rest of the year.

Hi all. Just need some expert guidence on something I have been thinking about.

Due to this new buff is the new stat priority Crit>SS>Det or still SS>Crit>Det? Spell speed was very useful before to give more flexibility in high movement situations although this won't be an issue anymore and we are limited in F4 usage per AF phase by MP anyway.

Fellow Black mages who use a controller , what does your crosshotbar setup look like ?

I am trying a few different configurations out but i am curious how you have yours set up .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thorgal

Fellow Black mages who use a controller , what does your crosshotbar setup look like ?

I am trying a few different configurations out but i am curious how you have yours set up .

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I have 2 bars. one for single target and the other for AoE. Also it is important to have everything you can use while running on YBXY.

Another question: Monk or BLM for the DPS without much utility. We have a MCH in our group. I love bot classes and want to be maximum useful for our scrub team.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OmegaStrongtan

I have 2 bars. one for single target and the other for AoE. Also it is important to have everything you can use while running on YBXY.

Another question: Monk or BLM for the DPS without much utility. We have a MCH in our group. I love bot classes and want to be maximum useful for our scrub team.

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You shouldn't be choosing between Monk or BLM unless your static is running double casters I guess, but assuming they are, definitely go for Monk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thorgal

Fellow Black mages who use a controller , what does your crosshotbar setup look like ?

I am trying a few different configurations out but i am curious how you have yours set up .

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http://puu.sh/ngxQf/b4c3669128.jpg
http://puu.sh/ngxRO/af1dac1690.jpg

First is my main bar. Second is extended. R2>L2 opens the right side, L2>R2 opens the left side. I have two horizontal bars set up over top to keep track of cooldowns. I mostly have it there since I use it on DRG so figured I might as well take advantage of it, even though I hardly look at it on BLM. If I were to raid on BLM and wanted pots, I'd more than likely pull the Max Ether off and replace it with an INT pot. When I get Quelling, it's probably replacing Aetherial Manipulation, which will in turn eat up my B2 or Freeze button.