The Black Mage Rotations

I finally tried the double-Flare rotations and they work great! I timed them to make sure that the rotation times were correct. So, to reiterate:

Transpose > wait 2s > Flare > Flare
Potency formula: (702 x N) / 12 = 58.5N PPS
where N is the number of targets

Transpose > wait 2s > Flare > Fire 2 > Flare
Potency formula: (882 x N) / 15 = 58.8N PPS

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Synovius

2) semantics

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Fine, but by only showing the damage on a single target and following your explanation, you're giving the impression that adding more F2 always lowers the PPS. It lowers it when N = 1 or N = 2; it raises it when N = 3 or more.

When graphed, the formulas are simply straight lines (y = mx + b), and they cross between 2 and 3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Synovius

4) mana ticks

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Yes, they are on a global timer, which is precisely why they are always an exact multiple of 3s. Okay, human error or latency can cause problems with any 12s rotation (if you hit Transpose late) or any rotation that is really tight. However, most of these rotations have a buffer of 1 or 2 seconds.

And yes, when you happen to start does affect when you get the mana tick, but only the first time through. After that, your rotation is entirely dependent on the mana tick.

Updated OP with some more information in the tricks sections.

If you guys want an easy way to time the double flare, use this macro.

/wait 1
/ac "Flare"
/wait 4.5
/ac "Flare"

I did some testing, and it works 100% if I press it as fast as I can naturally react to a mana tick all the way up to what feels like halfway to the next mana tick. I keep a healthy stock of mega ethers hotbar'd, and this has made me very confident for pulling off pentaflares.

Fire 3 > Raging Strikes > Flare > convert > Flare > Mega Int Pot > Swiftcast > Flare > Transpose during GCD > wait for mana tick > double Flare macro gets it done.

Edit: You're probably gonna want to add in some Quelling Strikes as well. :p

Also, this all fits within a transpose cool down almost perfectly, so it effectively syncs itself up to the server ticks after the first rotation just like Transpose > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Flare. So if you wanted an easy 2 button steady stream of flares, this will do it.

Could anyone give me some advice on how to handle conflag for turn 5? Specifically a good rotation for fast conflag? I'm used to doing T5 with my DRG and I know techniques like setting up disembowel for conflag for that extra 10% dmg boost makes all the difference.

Hey Karasumori

For the fast Conflagarations, I plan in advance. About 5-10 seconds before a fast conflag, no matter where I'm at in my rotation, I hit Blizzard III==>Thunder II and then Fire III. I then will cast 1-2 Fireballs on Twin to try and get a Firestarter proc. When the Conflag drops, I hit [TAB] once which immediately targets the Conflag and I do Fire ==> Firestarter and then do Fire I spam. I will usually throw in a Swiftcast + Flare at the end if I feel we're taking too long on them.

If I don't get a Firestarter proc I simply do Fire I spam on the Conflag and almost always throw a Swiftcast + Flare out after a few Fire I.

For AoE rotation. I don't recall who said this, but transpose right after oom for instant tick then Fire III immediately does not really work well. The reason is the second tick is always 3 seconds wait if I'm not mistaken. First instant tick is 1.2k, enough for one Fire III followed by one Fire II. I don't know why this never works for me but I adapted a different strat, I either wait a full second before I cast Fire III to catch mana tick mid cast or just use Bliz III then back to Fire III > Fire II.

It really depends I guess from one fight to another as there are specific events for AoE rotation. Lets take Turn 4 for example, transition phase, here is what I do:

Move away from the centre , selecting one of the centre bugs as my main targets making sure I'm going to hit both rooks. Fire III > Fire II until oom > Bliz III > Fire III > Fire II once (changing targets in the process to the highest health bug) > QS > Raging Strike > Mega Int > Foe macro (yes I have a foe party chat spam macro with annoying sound) > Flare > Convert > Swiftcast > Flare. Using this method I clean everything and usually the phase ends few second before the next one starts.

I'm not saying this is the best method but this is what is currently working very well for me. Transpose followed by Fire III never reliably works for me, always just one instant tick, never two unless I wait a second. Maybe it is due to my high ping (300+).

I have to ask, but why are you guys putting the fire II in-between the double flare? I have found that 2 seconds after the mana tick lets me hit flare x2 and then transpose is ready. Then hit transpose and wait for the 2 seconds after mana tick repeat...no need for fire II. Or is it to sync it so you don't have to watch the mana bar and count to 2?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pinworms

I have to ask, but why are you guys putting the fire II in-between the double flare? I have found that 2 seconds after the mana tick lets me hit flare x2 and then transpose is ready. Then hit transpose and wait for the 2 seconds after mana tick repeat...no need for fire II. Or is it to sync it so you don't have to watch the mana bar and count to 2?

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It is insurance policy more than anything, in turn 4 and other cases, you want the second flare to be the absolute end of the phase. As a BLM, you can't afford to have anything alive in the bug and rooks phase after the second flare. It is the same thing with the two adds in Titan ex, you need them to die or close to it by the end of the second flare.

Second flare in turn 4? I am hitting flares back to back multiple times with only a 2 -3 second wait on transpose whenever the tick hits, in turn 4. You only do 2? Am I doing something wrong? I understand the insurance policy, but it you wait the 2 seconds after a mana tick your gonna be fine.

Fire III -> astral fire III - flare - transpose - wait 2 seconds on first mana tick - flare - flare - transpose - wait 2 seconds on first mana tick - flare - flare - transpose etc. I don't know if the damage output is the same as putting the fire II in between or our other rotation of fire III - fire II - flare - transpose - fire III - fire II - flare etc.