Which caster job? Genuinely looking for input

RDM is currently the strongest caster (so strong that it beats two of current melee jobs in damage) but it's also the most boring and brain dead to play.

I have switched from SMN to RDM and it is so much better. I have job boosted BLM on an alt and I like it too. I recommend you try them both. You could take BLM to PoTD to test it.

I love RDM but BLM is so nice!!!!

BLM has more DPS on paper but the mobility required for certain encounters allow RDM to perform. If you're not doing savage content then you should play what you want. The 4.05 BLM changes give them higher damage ceilings and more mobility.

Black Mage or Red Mage. Black Mage is the AoE god, but is punished severely for moving. however the buffs to their cast speed may help with that a bit.

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Originally Posted by Higashikata

RDM is currently the strongest caster (so strong that it beats two of current melee jobs in damage) but it's also the most boring and brain dead to play.

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Dude, what you call "Boring" and "Brain Dead" I call "Interesting" and "Fun" definitely more so than having 30 abilities and needing all of them. that kind of bloat just makes things un fun.

RDM if you don't track timers well...

BLM if you are good with timers...

don't touch SMN.

Play summoner while it's still in the game =D

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Originally Posted by Chalbee

I decided to main AST through the story and initial progression, but I'm ready to pick up a DPS job again. I was a main SMN for all of HW, but after picking it back up, everything I used to know pretty much doesn't apply anymore and the job feels very unforgiving and complicated now. That said, I'm wondering is it worth relearning SMN for 4.x, or should I just pick up RDM or BLM? Thoughts from other Summoners?

(side note: I didn't see a thread like this up already, but if there is apologies for double-post)

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Having main'd SMN in HW, I was more than happy to pick up RDM as SB came out, wasn't and still are not going to be disappointed. Only thing that I do have issues with, but that might be a bit more personal, without having to micro manage that pet, and not having a "strict" rotation to follow, since it's more "proc" based, I do get bored in dungeons/trials more often. That's when I go play healer if I want a challenge lol. Anyways, take a look at it, and maybe you might enjoy it more, than you think you would.

RDM is the fastest to learn.

I dabbled in SMN in 3.x (main PLD from 2.0 to 3.2, then started a new character to main BLM in 3.x) and have only played the RDM to level 53 but I love the simplicity of the RDM job. It is the perfect caster dps to accompany whatever main job you already have. I now exclusively run the daily roulettes using my RDM because it's just so much more enjoyable to know that I can have a relaxed time yet still do my part properly.

If you're looking for a change of pace but don't intend to spend time analysing rotations and so on, RDM is definitely worth a look. After all, you can just do the job quest and you're ready to take it into the Lv 50 dungeons for a spin.