summoner dps how to do it

Auto attack with your book for +18-30ish dps!

I wish I was kidding. I really do.

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Originally Posted by Akiza

Here is how to DPS on Summoner
Step 1-Be a Black Mage
Step 2-Don't look back

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You don't seem to be following step 2 very well.

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Originally Posted by Akiza

Here is how to DPS on Summoner
Step 1-Be a Black Mage
Step 2-Don't look back

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http://ct.fra.bz/ol/fz/sw/i58/2/6/20...ttt-ac942e.jpg

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Originally Posted by Sunako

this is with 2k mana left and without using any potions
http://i.imgur.com/GvgnGlx.jpg

EDIT: I m running with t13 accuracy. Maybe without accuracy smn can reach 600~ against dummy in 3min fight.

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Wow... I just read all this thread and it appears that you have some kind of crazy DPS.... Is it possible for you to share you gear pls (from Ariyala or with a simple list) ?

I ask this cause I use a similar rotation but i'm barely above 400 DPS in T13... So if you can help me improving i would be glad :) I am ilvl130 with Zeta (full crit+det) and a gear focusing in removing as much spell speed as possible and with Crit> Det).

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Originally Posted by Fireselecta

Wow... I just read all this thread and it appears that you have some kind of crazy DPS.... Is it possible for you to share you gear pls (from Ariyala or with a simple list) ?

I ask this cause I use a similar rotation but i'm barely above 400 DPS in T13... So if you can help me improving i would be glad :) I am ilvl130 with Zeta (full crit+det) and a gear focusing in removing as much spell speed as possible and with Crit> Det).

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This is my gearset with smn. Relic crit/det until tier 3 materias then rest piety. I would probably put full det/crit if had enough gil.
http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QEWG

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Originally Posted by Sunako

This is my gearset with smn. Relic crit/det until tier 3 materias then rest piety. I would probably put full det/crit if had enough gil.
http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QEWG

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Well i'm using the same gear set... I've always used Garuda (for Contagion) in Bahamut Coils, so yesterday i gave Ifrit a try on T13. I increased my DPS a bit (around 40 DPS) but I was still around 440. I hope to improve a bit more though. Thanks for the help anyway !

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Originally Posted by Fireselecta

Well i'm using the same gear set... I've always used Garuda (for Contagion) in Bahamut Coils, so yesterday i gave Ifrit a try on T13. I increased my DPS a bit (around 40 DPS) but I was still around 440. I hope to improve a bit more though. Thanks for the help anyway !

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http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/ODXF

I use this gearset and am also around 440 DPS in T13 (Unmerged) - If the rest of your party is high DPS, it's hard to do more than that due to pushing phases at weird times. (Gigaflare before last dragon spawns etc) And with the add phase being timed and your dots being timed, you can only push out so much damage regardless, especially if the rest of your team is killing stuff before your dots have much time to tick.

Yah it also depends your group overall dps. Faster those adds die, more you are there without doing anything. Also if you have enough dps you can kill that third add during dive phase like in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENuPPULQocY

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Originally Posted by Sunako

Yah it also depends your group overall dps. Faster those adds die, more you are there without doing anything. Also if you have enough dps you can kill that third add during dive phase like in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENuPPULQocY

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Yeah, I like that solo tank T13 vid. Funny to watch the BLM help soak Ahk Morn with Manaward and a Vit Pot. A little more salt in the wounds of Summoners everywhere.

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/ODXF

I use this gearset and am also around 440 DPS in T13 (Unmerged) - If the rest of your party is high DPS, it's hard to do more than that due to pushing phases at weird times. (Gigaflare before last dragon spawns etc) And with the add phase being timed and your dots being timed, you can only push out so much damage regardless, especially if the rest of your team is killing stuff before your dots have much time to tick.

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You can still be around 480-490 DPS with other very strong DPS in the party. Use Ifrit till the Storm shows up, then use Garuda till Terraflare. Make sure you Enkindle off the Storm. Figure out where the bulk of the party damage is going and adjust your Banes accordingly.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

You can still be around 480-490 DPS with other very strong DPS in the party. Use Ifrit till the Storm shows up, then use Garuda till Terraflare. Make sure you Enkindle off the Storm. Figure out where the bulk of the party damage is going and adjust your Banes accordingly.

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Now you have me thinking that I have never added in what Garuda does during the add phase. I'm using Rainbow Mage and it doesn't include when I do pet swaps.

Sounds like you are right and I haven't been as gimp as it seemed.

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

I use this gearset and am also around 440 DPS in T13 (Unmerged) - If the rest of your party is high DPS, it's hard to do more than that due to pushing phases at weird times. (Gigaflare before last dragon spawns etc) And with the add phase being timed and your dots being timed, you can only push out so much damage regardless, especially if the rest of your team is killing stuff before your dots have much time to tick.

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Well, i don't think my static has a really great DPS, we push phases as they should and got 5 Akh Morn during last phase... But i'm started to get used to ifrit's management (I was using Garuda from the begining so DoTs management is different along with pet skills used). I've reached 450 DPS now and I see some points where I can improve in this fight (during earthshakers for exemple).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6PSJ5XKi0 --> This is our first kill (Scholar POV) just to show you our overall DPS isn't really good.

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Originally Posted by Fireselecta

Well, i don't think my static has a really great DPS, we push phases as they should and got 5 Akh Morn during last phase... But i'm started to get used to ifrit's management (I was using Garuda from the begining so DoTs management is different along with pet skills used). I've reached 450 DPS now and I see some points where I can improve in this fight (during earthshakers for exemple).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6PSJ5XKi0 --> This is our first kill (Scholar POV) just to show you our overall DPS isn't really good.

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Use Ifrit, till the when the Storm is about to show up then switch to Garuda. There is a small re-summon window where you can do a full Garuda Summon right after Divebombs, dodge the Megaflare or position yourself accordingly and immediately star summoning. That will be a DPS increase for you as most of those adds in the beginning, before the Storm, will die in one set of normal duration DoTs, thus Contagion is not needed or useful there. Using your Aetherflow properly since the beginning of the fight, you'll have 3 stacks at least for 1 fester and 2 Banes.

First fester or Bane would be for the Pain / Blood. Second stack goes to Baning the Gusts, and last or simply third stack available goes to Baneing off one of the Sins, onto another.

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Originally Posted by Fireselecta

Well, i don't think my static has a really great DPS, we push phases as they should and got 5 Akh Morn during last phase... .

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Looks like you did pretty good. But you are right there are some spots you could improve on.

Having Shadow Flare already in place any time you have downtime.
i.e. Start of the fight. First Blood/Pain, Twin.

You can Blizz II the Gusts since your MP is very high.

Your group keeps Bahamut in place which is awesome for Ifrit. Just make sure you move him inside Bahamut's hit box so your Flaming Crush is sure to hit. Also, you should stand beside Bahamut during the Shadow phase so you can get some book whacks in. I don't know if this is optimal because it's different depending how the rest of your groups DPS is, but I only throw Bio and Miasma on the Shadows and then move back to Bahamut.

Practice using Crimson Cyclone and Flaming crush on CD.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

Use Ifrit, till the when the Storm is about to show up then switch to Garuda.

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I usually start summoning Garuda as soon as the sins are dead and keep my last aetherflow stack for the storm (this way, i will have 3 new aetherflow stacks right after this), Adds phase isn't a problem, our dps is fine at this phase. Maybe i can improve my dps a bit using bane on the first sins but it's not really necessary.

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

Having Shadow Flare already in place any time you have downtime.

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I try to use it as much as i can, i will try to see if i can do it more :)

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

You can Blizz II the Gusts since your MP is very high.

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It will not be necessary but you're right, i will have a bit more DPS if i do this (i never use Blizz II with my summoner...)

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

Also, you should stand beside Bahamut during the Shadow phase so you can get some book whacks in.

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Well i can do this but i need to move back when our 2 melees are back on bahamut (to avoid megaflare wipes ^^). So i can try this but we are close to push divebombs before the third shadow is dead (which is baaaad ^^)

Anyway thanks again you all for your help :)

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Originally Posted by Sunako

Yeah but if we are supposed 2 have 3min parse then it is viable option. It also depends on fight duration. You probably do it yourself too if you had only 1k mana left after 3min. If you know how 2 control your mana you should survive around 7 - 8 min without mana problems. Or probably you used ruin2 more than you are supposed 2 be.

this is with 2k mana left and without using any potions
http://i.imgur.com/GvgnGlx.jpg

EDIT: I m running with t13 accuracy. Maybe without accuracy smn can reach 600~ against dummy in 3min fight.

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I tried and I tried but I can't get over even 360 after 30 minutes for just the Summoner. (no food solo no pots or poison pots)

The best I could do is:
185 Ifrit
355 SMN
over 3 minutes. (with a whole lotta book smacks)

Total 540 - so not too bad that it only drops another 20 DPS over then next 3 minutes.

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

I tried and I tried but I can't get over even 360 after 30 minutes for just the Summoner. (no food solo no pots or poison pots)

The best I could do is:
185 Ifrit
355 SMN
over 3 minutes. (with a whole lotta book smacks)

Total 540 - so not too bad that it only drops another 20 DPS over then next 3 minutes.

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The current build you use as well as execution of skills will be key for it. I also heavily consider it a rotation thing. I tried the start with Bio thing + Ifrit and I always parse lower with it. If it is infact a better opener as you say, then I'd like to hear your exact opener skill for skill all the way till your third Fester, that is resulting in this DPS increase that's noticeable. If through testing it is in fact a better opener then what I'm currently doing then I can go slightly higher on these 3min tests.

Doing the Bio2 - Miasma - Bio setup open, I am reaching the same consistently with this build: http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/PZI3. 369 is the lowest I usually wind up on. Highest was probably 378-380ish on a crit friendly run. It tends to stay in the 370-375 area subject to crits.

http://i.imgur.com/sWZbcaF.png

http://i.imgur.com/sbVo6C5.png

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Originally Posted by Sunako

this is with 2k mana left and without using any potions

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I'm slightly perplexed at this. I am doing an optimal rotation but I am at around 1200-1300 MP at this point. I know you have over 150 more MP then me with 23 Peity but Aetherflow alone wouldn't account I don't believe for a 700 or so MP difference over the 3 min parse. So I'm kinda curious as to how you retain this much MP, that's different from an optimal rotation, outside of Energy Drain usage.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

I'm slightly perplexed at this. I am doing an optimal rotation but I am at around 1200-1300 MP at this point. I know you have over 150 more MP then me with 23 Peity but Aetherflow alone wouldn't account I don't believe for a 700 or so MP difference over the 3 min parse. So I'm kinda curious as to how you retain this much MP, that's different from an optimal rotation, outside of Energy Drain usage.

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23 piety on relic should not make more than 100 mp difference every minute so 300 mp overall. If i can guess you are using ruin 2 more than you are supposed 2 do. Use your off globals every time during you apply bio or swiftcast shadow flare if possible. You can apply bio 3 - 4 times in a minute that should be enough time 2 do full stack of aetherflow for the fester.

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Originally Posted by Sunako

23 piety on relic should not make more than 100 mp difference every minute so 300 mp overall. If i can guess you are using ruin 2 more than you are supposed 2 do. Use your off globals every time during you apply bio or swiftcast shadow flare if possible. You can apply bio 3 - 4 times in a minute that should be enough time 2 do full stack of aetherflow for the fester.

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I only Ruin 2, when Fester / Aetherflow is about to come up or before Rouse or Spur is to be applied, which is technically the "optimal" way of playing ? iirc

I'm doing all you just said, nothing is accounting for that much of a difference lol

Are you using Ruin I instead when you're about to use Fester? Because outside of that I can't see anything else. Some people occasionally do that.

The answer to this I would agree is definitely Ruin 2, but just not sure what should be done different that's still "optimal" I suppose.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

The current build you use as well as execution of skills will be key for it. I also heavily consider it a rotation thing. I tried the start with Bio thing + Ifrit and I always parse lower with it. If it is infact a better opener as you say, then I'd like to hear your exact opener skill for skill all the way till your third Fester, that is resulting in this DPS increase that's noticeable. If through testing it is in fact a better opener then what I'm currently doing then I can go slightly higher on these 3min tests.

Doing the Bio2 - Miasma - Bio setup open, I am reaching the same consistently with this build: http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/PZI3. 369 is the lowest I usually wind up on. Highest was probably 378-380ish on a crit friendly run. It tends to stay in the 370-375 area subject to crits.

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I will try the different opener to see if it helps, but it's hard to imagine that changing my order of casts and not getting that second Bio under Raging Strikes would actually increase my DPS.
I can understand that you would do much more damage than me considering your gearset.

Sunako - http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QEWG
Judge - http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QGDR
HavenChild - http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/PZI3

But Sunako and I are nearly identical other than ~ 2% Crit Rate and I have more Spell Speed, yet they can pull amazing IMO damage. (*** I have to swap gear around for FCOB for accuracy till I get that stupid Casting Hat)

My Opener. Ifrit Placed next to the Dummy in a position where I don't turn away when using pet buffs)

Shadow Flare (activate AA near the end of the cast)
RS, B, Rouse/Spur, M (Crimson Cyclone), B2 (Flaming Crush), R2 + Fester + Enkindle, Ruin, Ruin, Ruin, B + Fester (waiting for ~1/2 before Fester so that Bio registers), Ruin, Ruin, Ruin, SC SF (fester + Aether Flow), M, B2

That's about it.

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Edited

Tried Opening with RS, B2, M, B, SC SF but the most I could get was 345 (SMN Only) just over 3 minutes.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

I only Ruin 2, when Fester / Aetherflow is about to come up or before Rouse or Spur is to be applied, which is technically the "optimal" way of playing ? iirc

I'm doing all you just said, nothing is accounting for that much of a difference lol

Are you using Ruin I instead when you're about to use Fester? Because outside of that I can't see anything else. Some people occasionally do that.

The answer to this I would agree is definitely Ruin 2, but just not sure what should be done different that's still "optimal" I suppose.

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This is pretty much my smn rotatio if you find something difference from your rotatio.

RS - > bio2 -> miasma -> bio -> swiftcast -> wait until bio register -> fester -> shadow flare -> spur - > rouse - > ruin2 -> enkindle -> ruin - > ruin2 -> fester -> ruin - > bio -> miasma -> ruin2 -> fester -> aetherflow -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> shadow flare - > bio -> fester -> ruin -> ruin -> miasma -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> bio -> fester -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> shadow flare -> miasma -> bio -> rouse -> fester -> ruin-> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> bio2 -> bio -> atherflow -> fester -> miasma -> shadow flare -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin - > bio - > fester -> miasma -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> bio -> swiftcast -> fester -> shadow flare -> spur -> ruin2 -> rouse ->ruin

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

My Opener. Ifrit Placed next to the Dummy in a position where I don't turn away when using pet buffs)

Shadow Flare (activate AA near the end of the cast)
RS, B, Rouse/Spur, M (Crimson Cyclone), B2 (Flaming Crush), R2 + Fester + Enkindle, Ruin, Ruin, Ruin, B + Fester (waiting for ~1/2 before Fester so that Bio registers), Ruin, Ruin, Ruin, SC SF (fester + Aether Flow), M, B2

That's about it.

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Edited

Tried Opening with RS, B2, M, B, SC SF but the most I could get was 345 (SMN Only) just over 3 minutes.

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Looking at your opener, I think this is where I take the slight MP hit I was discussing with Sunako, I use no Ruin I's in my opener. My stance on SMN opening is that you first burst as high as possible within those first three Aetherflow stacks because you start ticking down after that 3rd Fester. This means expanded usage on instant cast skills and Ruin II during the opener to get more auto-attacks in which is a noticeable boost I found out about in T9 originally. To me it just looks like your missing out on a lot of auto attacks in that opener.

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Originally Posted by Sunako

This is pretty much my smn rotatio if you find something difference from your rotatio.

RS - > bio2 -> miasma -> bio -> swiftcast -> wait until bio register -> fester -> shadow flare -> spur - > rouse - > ruin2 -> enkindle -> ruin - > ruin2 -> fester -> ruin - > bio -> miasma -> ruin2 -> fester -> aetherflow -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> shadow flare - > bio -> fester -> ruin -> ruin -> miasma -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> bio -> fester -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> shadow flare -> miasma -> bio -> rouse -> fester -> ruin-> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin -> bio2 -> bio -> atherflow -> fester -> miasma -> shadow flare -> ruin -> ruin -> ruin - > bio - > fester -> miasma -> bio2 -> ruin -> ruin -> bio -> swiftcast -> fester -> shadow flare -> spur -> ruin2 -> rouse ->ruin

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So from what I can tell, you are largely not firing off Fester when it comes off cd (which requires the use of Ruin II), but instead holding it till when you have to reapply Bio, every 18 or so seconds which fits in with the Aetherflow timer. The real difference between what you are doing then and what I am besides just the MP, is that in a fight where MP isn't an issue, I'm just getting more auto-attacks.

However, fights where movements are required, how do you handle a recast of Bio2 or Miasma when swiftcast isn't an option? Do you ruin II if its badly timed with your consistent casting then try to cast your DoT? or if you were about to Ruin I do you interrupt that cast with a Ruin II? That's the only issue I see doing what you currently do , since you don't have that oGCD per 10 seconds to handle mechanics that require movement or just to reposition yourself for optimal circumstances. T11, I would use as an example here.

A lot of mechanics I find, line up well with SMN skill usage per 10 seconds, so curious about how you handle those situations that doesn't impact your DPS negatively.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

A lot of mechanics I find, line up well with SMN skill usage per 10 seconds, so curious about how you handle those situations that doesn't impact your DPS negatively.

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Not sure do I understand your question but I just try position myself every 18 sec during I apply bio. If I need extra movements, I will replace one of my ruin casts for the ruin2. I also save my mana depends on fight. In final coil i put more effort into it since mana control was pretty important at the begin of 2.4. Now you can do pretty much what ever you want.

Yeah I guess I should use more R2 during my opener since RS is also giving my AA damage a hefty boost.
Maybe I'll even coordinate that with any time I have RS up in fights. Gotta make the most of it lol.

So I have a question, I have been slowly lurking this thread, as I leveled and geared up SMN, but, are these last estimations on the openings include food buffs and pots?

I gotta admit, after playing MNK as a main since release, for raiding and what not, and decided I might want a change of play for Heavensward and wanted to opt for SMN in the hopes it might get improved in their downsides, but SMN's rotations are more... complicated, and more atention required than MNK, or DRG (lol), NIN, can't really comment on BLM because I haven't played it, but yeah, I find SMN a bit overwhelming rotation wise, easy to get a huge drop on DPS on a few mistakes.

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Originally Posted by Evtrai

So I have a question, I have been slowly lurking this thread, as I leveled and geared up SMN, but, are these last estimations on the openings include food buffs and pots?
I gotta admit, after playing MNK as a main since release, for raiding and what not, and decided I might want a change of play for Heavensward and wanted to opt for SMN in the hopes it might get improved in their downsides, but SMN's rotations are more... complicated, and more atention required than MNK, or DRG (lol), NIN, can't really comment on BLM because I haven't played it, but yeah, I find SMN a bit overwhelming rotation wise, easy to get a huge drop on DPS on a few mistakes.

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What? You virtually just keep all your dots on a target alongside shadowflare and fester with every dot reapplication cycle. Use Spur and Rouse on cd unless you know you're gonna need tthem coupled with an enkindle to burst something down. Bane to AoE.

How is that any more difficult than cycling 2 skillsets on a monk (dragon kick, fangs, demolish>bootshine>true strike>sucker punch plus managing touch of death, several of those combos have discordant positions so you continually have to change degrees around the mob and hope the tank doesn't jerk them around to your detriment), and an aoe rotation that's gated by stances unless you blow perfect balance? Maybe I don't play monk as much, but BLM and SMN seem far easier rotation wise than a class where you need to time your stances properly because unlike a summoner where you can apply your dots at will, if you erroneously use sucker punch instead of demolish and demolish falls off, you have to wait 2 globals to even apply demolish.

The only real challenge I ever saw with summoner as a class is babysitting the Ifrit egi. Summoner is basically a simpler WoW affliction warlock for the most part. It seems like there's far less room to butcher your dps with a mistake akin to botching up the mudra or using the wrong skill of a stance or using a skill without the proper positional requirement.

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Originally Posted by Crescent_Dusk

How is that any more difficult than cycling 2 skillsets on a monk

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Well, honestly, i've tried all DPS classes, and i can easily say that personnally, Monk AND Summoner are the two hardest class to play. Cause in one hand, for those classes, you can easily have a correct DPS (even if you are doing shit like using one wrong skill of a stance or using Ruin1 instead of Ruin2, you DPS will not drop that much). In the other hand, if you aim to maximise your DPS with those two classes, things are way much harder.

Loosing too many ticks of your DoTs during the fight (or re-applying your DoTs too early) and yes your DPS will drop, struggling too much to use your pet and its DPS will drop, don't use an optimal rotation while you're moving and it will drops even harder....

I don't diss any classes, but it's a fact that being a really good SMN or MNK is harder that being a really good DRG, NIN, BRD, BLM. It's only my opinion though :)

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Originally Posted by Crescent_Dusk

snip

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It is easy to do meh dps on SMN, but to really push your DPS on a SMN you need to plan ahead so much more than any other class imo, our dmg is tied to DOTs and AFs. whereas the dps from other classes are dealt in the moment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crescent_Dusk

What? You virtually just keep all your dots on a target alongside shadowflare and fester with every dot reapplication cycle. Use Spur and Rouse on cd unless you know you're gonna need tthem coupled with an enkindle to burst something down. Bane to AoE.

How is that any more difficult than cycling 2 skillsets on a monk (dragon kick, fangs, demolish>bootshine>true strike>sucker punch plus managing touch of death, several of those combos have discordant positions so you continually have to change degrees around the mob and hope the tank doesn't jerk them around to your detriment), and an aoe rotation that's gated by stances unless you blow perfect balance? Maybe I don't play monk as much, but BLM and SMN seem far easier rotation wise than a class where you need to time your stances properly because unlike a summoner where you can apply your dots at will, if you erroneously use sucker punch instead of demolish and demolish falls off, you have to wait 2 globals to even apply demolish.

The only real challenge I ever saw with summoner as a class is babysitting the Ifrit egi. Summoner is basically a simpler WoW affliction warlock for the most part. It seems like there's far less room to butcher your dps with a mistake akin to botching up the mudra or using the wrong skill of a stance or using a skill without the proper positional requirement.

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I am sorry but you either have no idea what you're talking about or you are pushing very very average DPS. SMN is by far the most complicated class to maximize on at current. Anyone who says just keep DoTs up, is definitely from the outside looking in and is not a SMN main, much less a sub. You need to know a fight as much as a healer would imo to maximize.

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Originally Posted by Evtrai

So I have a question, I have been slowly lurking this thread, as I leveled and geared up SMN, but, are these last estimations on the openings include food buffs and pots?

I gotta admit, after playing MNK as a main since release, for raiding and what not, and decided I might want a change of play for Heavensward and wanted to opt for SMN in the hopes it might get improved in their downsides, but SMN's rotations are more... complicated, and more atention required than MNK, or DRG (lol), NIN, can't really comment on BLM because I haven't played it, but yeah, I find SMN a bit overwhelming rotation wise, easy to get a huge drop on DPS on a few mistakes.

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They were attempts without Food, Party or Potions. Things like Raging Strikes used of course. As a SMN, throughout the entire fight you are in a decline after your opener, with the only way to move back up are when more mobs are added into the mix. Because of this every decision is pivotal to staying high, from managing your Aetherflow stacks (usage between Fester, Mana Drain and Bane), to clipping your DoTs at the appropriate times, managing your pet skills and positioning either yourself or the pet and getting in auto attacks as many times as possible. Any of these things will impact your DPS by noticeable amounts if preformed inefficiently. Every little thing counts so much more on this SMN class then any other. Think of holding up a ceiling that's slowly closing in on you.

Whoever says that any of the melee classes is harder to play than SMN is terribly wrong, the only with some kind of crippling dificulty being MNK that can get severely punished by mechanics until you find the right timings of the fight to manage your grease lightning.

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

snip

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Thanks for the reply, if you don't mind me asking further questions, any information regarding SMN is pretty scarce or outdated since they revolve around the time where SMN still had thunder. What would be SMN's stat prioritization or balances? Here's what I achieved so far over the last week:

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...racter/161493/

What's missing on that planned gear is ironwork hands and ironwork body, but to be honest I'm not sure if that's BiS, ignoring the existence of relic.

sometime ago I let my pets beat up on the dummy i think for 11 minutes each. I got two ekindles off. Titan had about 112 dps garuda had 127 and ifrtit had 139. I used all there skill too.

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Originally Posted by Evtrai

Thanks for the reply, if you don't mind me asking further questions, any information regarding SMN is pretty scarce or outdated since they revolve around the time where SMN still had thunder. What would be SMN's stat prioritization or balances? Here's what I achieved so far over the last week:

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...racter/161493/

What's missing on that planned gear is ironwork hands and ironwork body, but to be honest I'm not sure if that's BiS, ignoring the existence of relic.

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Well, I prefer over 530 crit, 370-385ish Spell speed and stacking INT and DET as high as possible. Some people consider the Ironworks Body to be BiS because playing with the current stat weights it adds up to more. I however feel that trading 5 Int and putting on the Demon Robe of Casting to give you 31 more DET is superior.

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/Q103

This would probably be the best setup for you using the Dreadwyrm book.

The Crafted shoes penta-melded are also very strongly considered BiS.

Thanks for your input, that doesn't seem a bad modification of my current build, will give it a shot at your suggested build.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

I however feel that trading 5 Int and putting on the Demon Robe of Casting to give you 31 more DET is superior.

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It's so true... I made a lot of tests between the IW chest piece and the Demon Robe, on a fight like T13 (before echo) I increase my DPS by 20 (only for this particular piece...)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

The Crafted shoes penta-melded are also very strongly considered BiS.

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The Demon shoes are probably BiS if you consider the stat weight... Sad thing is our Flank acc cap... which means the crafted shoes penta-melded are more usefull than the Demon's ones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evtrai

What would be SMN's stat prioritization or balances?

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Havenchild's advices are pretty accurate --> something important is to never forget DET.

If it can help you, this is my main gear set : http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QH3P .

I change some pieces depending of the fight i.e If i need to move a lot i prefer having the more Crit as possible (yes DoT's can crit too :) )
It's not really BiS cause I need to switch the gloves for T13 to be over acc cap though... and still need the earrings too...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Havenchild

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/Q103

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What about this set ?

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QH69

How many INT do we need to compensate 1 Matk from a weapon ?
How many DET do we need to compensate 1 INT ?
What is the value of CRIT and is ACC more important than other stats ?

Here I see that Demon's Robe seems better than Augmented Ironworks Robe.
Are we sure that +31 DET is better than +5 INT ? We also lose some 16 CRIT.
Also, acc cap would be hard to get without the deadwyrm robe :(

What is the truth behind this ? Is a 120 item a better BiS than a 130 ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

What about this set ?

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/QH69

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That is IMO the best set you can get without the Zodiac (Full DET/CRIT)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Koyuki38

How many INT do we need to compensate 1 Matk from a weapon ?
How many DET do we need to compensate 1 INT ?
What is the value of CRIT and is ACC more important than other stats ?

Here I see that Demon's Robe seems better than Augmented Ironworks Robe.
Are we sure that +31 DET is better than +5 INT ? We also lose some 16 CRIT.
Also, acc cap would be hard to get without the deadwyrm robe :(

What is the truth behind this ? Is a 120 item a better BiS than a 130 ?

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This is an area where SMN is a bit too overcomplicated due to having a Pet.

The reason is because each of those stats effects the SMN and Pet at a different rate, as well as a different rate between even pet to pet. (i.e. Garuda benefits from Spell Speed but Ifrit gets 0 benefit)

A lot of what you will see is people like HavenChild pushing the limits of SMN and finding a noteable difference between gear sets. There is still a lot of work to really sort out the SMN stat weights, but considering the updates we may see in 3.0 there's no point now.

Here is a rough guide to follow, and is in no way 100% tested. (Ifrit only)

MAtk 4.1
INT 1
DET 0.24
Crit 0.14
SPD 0.0032

So that is equalized to 1 INT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

Garuda benefits from Spell Speed but Ifrit gets 0 benefit

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I would not say totally 0 benefit since ifrit attack 2x more often so ifrit have 2x better chance spell speed trait proc for you. But well, almost useless still.