Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

i cannot remember if i asked this question before but i cannot find it on the old pages so might as well do it here :

Anyone willing to share there crosshotbar setup for BLM ?


Thanks very much in advance .

Recently I have my BLM at i220 as shown here http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...psucvzauie.jpg

13 IV crit, 3 IV SS. So, I did A5S with another BLM. I think it was i218 cause they had a crafted top, midan pants, lore head/boot piece and lore ring. The rest mixed between craft and Midan, all melded. Their stats were 805 crit and 915 SS. This BLM's DPS was better than mine only using a 2.0 rotation on the double Faust and using the fire 1+sharp opener on hummelfaust. My opener on double was sharp->hardcast T3 in countdown -> dot other Faust with proc -> swift blizzard 3 -> normal enochian rotation no big CDs until hummelfaust. Now, I recently changed this rotation a little and put enochian before the hardcast T3 and swift Fire 3 for a little more burst on the Faust and the enochian resets as hummelfaust lands. But this BLM out DPS me by 150-250 every time. Just how?

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Originally Posted by KidBrawl

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I'm not an expert as a BLM as I just changed over to it from being a WHM main, but ilvl doesn't mean a whole lot if your stat optimization is off. In your case, I see you having a lot of accuracy and determination that would be better off as SS and Crit.

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Originally Posted by KidBrawl

13 IV crit, 3 IV SS. So, I did A5S with another BLM. I think it was i218 cause they had a crafted top, midan pants, lore head/boot piece and lore ring. The rest mixed between craft and Midan, all melded. Their stats were 805 crit and 915 SS. This BLM's DPS was better than mine only using a 2.0 rotation on the double Faust and using the fire 1+sharp opener on hummelfaust. My opener on double was sharp->hardcast T3 in countdown -> dot other Faust with proc -> swift blizzard 3 -> normal enochian rotation no big CDs until hummelfaust. Now, I recently changed this rotation a little and put enochian before the hardcast T3 and swift Fire 3 for a little more burst on the Faust and the enochian resets as hummelfaust lands. But this BLM out DPS me by 150-250 every time. Just how?

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You have way too much accuracy. 100+ over accuracy needed in A8S. Biggest problem is the Chest piece. All of them are bad except for the A8S Chest and the Crafted one. Crafted chest is best option until you can get the Midan chest. And you also have to think about your party and party composistion. Assuming Everyone is using their big buffs as soon as Hummelfaust drops. Personally, I double dot the Fausts and just 2.0 rotation them. TC procs usually keep my dps high. Then I standard Sharp > F1 on Hummelfaust. I end at 1800+ at i218. I'm i221 now so we'll see how tomorrow goes, but your main issue is gear set. You need more Crit and SS and a whole lot less acc.

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Originally Posted by thorgal

i cannot remember if i asked this question before but i cannot find it on the old pages so might as well do it here :

Anyone willing to share there crosshotbar setup for BLM ?


Thanks very much in advance .

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If you're talking crosshotbar for controller:

Left Trigger: Up-Enochian, Right-Blizzard IV, Down-Blizzard, Left-Ley Lines, Triangle-Sprint, Circle-Flare, X-Swiftcast, Square-Raging Strikes.

Right Trigger: Up-Sharpcast, Right-Thunder, Down-Transpose, Left-Blizzard III, Triangle-Fire IV, Circle-Fire III, X-Fire, Square-Fire II.

Second set is pretty much the same Right Trigger, but left Trigger I have Virus, E4E, Potion, Lethargy, Quelling, etc. I keep my main attacks on the Right trigger so I can switch to Set two to use and oGCD and then start on new cast, then switch back to Set 1 during that cast.

Expanded Hotber: Up-Manawall, Right-Apocatastasis, Down-Manaward, Left-Convert, Triangle-Scathe, Circle-Thunder III (For Procs), X-Face Target Macro, Square-Aetherial Maniuplation. These are all my most frequent oGCDs and like access to them as quickly as possible.

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Originally Posted by Waliel

Are you going with the 1 SS ~= 0.4 INT? No one has proven that to be right, and it sounds waaaaay too much to my ears.

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Yes I did. But even if SS in reality is 0.2, the crafted piece will be better. First and foremost because it's not packed with accuracy. Secondly 5 Melds available and lastly SS -reduces- cast which is very rewarding at times. I know you just talked about the statweights and didn't say the 220 piece is worse or the likes. But I was just making it clear.

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Originally Posted by Maero

Do you mean the crafted chest Cherub? It seems way better so i finally grabbed it the other day
Plan on adding about 3 materia for crit and perhaps some determination.
My acc is around 588 so not sure if i should meld a bit of acc as well

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Yes, the 220 piece I talked about is the crafted one. (HQ ofc)

Ah yes, well i did reach acc cap with midan gloves yesterday so can finally meld my coat :)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...C8EiyGLI/edit#

Shameless bump. This has been very valuable for learning the class.

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Originally Posted by Maero

Ah yes, well i did reach acc cap with midan gloves yesterday so can finally meld my coat :)

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What are the best melds? I almost started with CRT V's but then remembered that DET IV's were crap, so went

DET V X 2 -> CRT IV X 3

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Originally Posted by thorgal

Anyone willing to share there crosshotbar setup for BLM ?

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BLM is the only Job I have to 60 where I absolutely did not run out of hotbar room. I have so few slots that need to be filled that I actually have B2 and Freeze on my bars.
Set 1: the default I see
http://puu.sh/nPRIf/2f0d29d97a.jpg

Set 4: extended - left side is L2>R2, right side is R2>L2
http://puu.sh/nPRJx/4c65dcb399.jpg

Set 2: I tab to this via just tapping R1 while my weapon is out. R1 cycles me through 1 and 2 with weapon out, and no others.
http://puu.sh/nPRKx/9a20894d32.jpg

Basic reasoning: As with all my Jobs, I keep my main offensive skills on face buttons and all my most important buffs on Set 1 d-pad. Utility/defense stuff is always L2>R2 d-pad, and I kept Ice AoE on the ice side and Fire AoE on the fire side (with a few key skills doubled to make sure I can hit them from anywhere).

My Set 2 is generally "shit I never use" - as such Surecast, Physick, and Sleep found a home. <3

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Originally Posted by Judge_Xero

What are the best melds? I almost started with CRT V's but then remembered that DET IV's were crap, so went

DET V X 2 -> CRT IV X 3

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Crit V, Det V, Det V, Crit IV, Crit IV if you can afford to meld V on the third slot. But is it worth spending millions for an extra 3 crit? Probably not. What you have is good.

Well depends what server you are on, V Materia fluctuates on Leviathan but i got a CritV for a little over 400K the other day but it can go up to 800K. Also to note you get a weekly V Materia of your choice from weekly VA and while not guaranteed on the outcome you can transmute 5 IV materias in hopes of getting the what you need.
So far i have only got 1 Savage AimV out of many attempts, lol
Mixing in Crit and Det like Lavitz mentioned is your best bet.

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Originally Posted by Wrokk

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...C8EiyGLI/edit#

Shameless bump. This has been very valuable for learning the class.

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Thanks. I really appreciate it.

Also @ Kidbrawl, like mentioned you have way too much acc, only around 600 is needed and your Spell speed is far too low, myself i have over 1000 SS.
SS>Crit>Det

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

If you're talking crosshotbar for controller:

Left Trigger: Up-Enochian, Right-Blizzard IV, Down-Blizzard, Left-Ley Lines, Triangle-Sprint, Circle-Flare, X-Swiftcast, Square-Raging Strikes.

Right Trigger: Up-Sharpcast, Right-Thunder, Down-Transpose, Left-Blizzard III, Triangle-Fire IV, Circle-Fire III, X-Fire, Square-Fire II.

Second set is pretty much the same Right Trigger, but left Trigger I have Virus, E4E, Potion, Lethargy, Quelling, etc. I keep my main attacks on the Right trigger so I can switch to Set two to use and oGCD and then start on new cast, then switch back to Set 1 during that cast.

Expanded Hotber: Up-Manawall, Right-Apocatastasis, Down-Manaward, Left-Convert, Triangle-Scathe, Circle-Thunder III (For Procs), X-Face Target Macro, Square-Aetherial Maniuplation. These are all my most frequent oGCDs and like access to them as quickly as possible.

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Originally Posted by JackFross

BLM is the only Job I have to 60 where I absolutely did not run out of hotbar room. I have so few slots that need to be filled that I actually have B2 and Freeze on my bars.
Set 1: the default I see
http://puu.sh/nPRIf/2f0d29d97a.jpg

Set 4: extended - left side is L2>R2, right side is R2>L2
http://puu.sh/nPRJx/4c65dcb399.jpg

Set 2: I tab to this via just tapping R1 while my weapon is out. R1 cycles me through 1 and 2 with weapon out, and no others.
http://puu.sh/nPRKx/9a20894d32.jpg

Basic reasoning: As with all my Jobs, I keep my main offensive skills on face buttons and all my most important buffs on Set 1 d-pad. Utility/defense stuff is always L2>R2 d-pad, and I kept Ice AoE on the ice side and Fire AoE on the fire side (with a few key skills doubled to make sure I can hit them from anywhere).

My Set 2 is generally "shit I never use" - as such Surecast, Physick, and Sleep found a home. <3

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thank you both !

Hello

Can i ask whats the current BiS with melds for Blm as of now?
Lately people prefer spell speed now right?

Quick question. For the new current Hard Mode dungeon could you bypass the Blind from Mana Pots with Hawk's Eye? Please and thank you.

I was wondering about BiS too. What gear sets would you recommend using 220 - 230 gear, and only using guaranteed melds? This would be with the goal of getting into Midas Savage, and upgrading to 240 gear. (I don't mind buying some crafted gear. I just don't want to blow millions on pieces that will be obsolete soon)
Thanks!

Before I replaced my Esoteric top with my Lore top, my SS was 905 but my crit was seriously low (like around 500). All of the crit melds I have boosted my crit to 600+

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Originally Posted by Blitz_Striker

Hello

Can i ask whats the current BiS with melds for Blm as of now?
Lately people prefer spell speed now right?

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It's hard to say definitively what's BIS as that can change from fight to fight. Not to mention that we don't yet have accurate stats weights yet. But if I had to give a rough guess, I'd say: SS-0.23, Crit-0.20, Det-0.18. I have no proof of that, that's my best estimation. Either way I have this as my current BiS.

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/T4W9

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Originally Posted by MagiusNecros

Quick question. For the new current Hard Mode dungeon could you bypass the Blind from Mana Pots with Hawk's Eye? Please and thank you.

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Just turn around when they cast it. I wouldn't cross class a skill that would only slightly raise your acc for one attack on one pull in one dungeon.

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Originally Posted by Bahd_Monkey

I was wondering about BiS too. What gear sets would you recommend using 220 - 230 gear, and only using guaranteed melds? This would be with the goal of getting into Midas Savage, and upgrading to 240 gear. (I don't mind buying some crafted gear. I just don't want to blow millions on pieces that will be obsolete soon)
Thanks!

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This is a tough question. If your goal is to get a sorta BiS with 220-230 gear without overmelds, I can't tell you off the top of my head, but Lore Pants are BIS, so buy those. I would say the crafted bracket and one crafted ring are also really great. Crafted belt is also nice, but the Crafted Chest is the best chest you get until A8S. Since it'd be awhile for that, I recommend pentamelding the chest piece at least. This is my current set. No luck yet with any drops in savage.

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/TH4A

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/T8K1

Need moar spellspeed.

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

Just turn around when they cast it. I wouldn't cross class a skill that would only slightly raise your acc for one attack on one pull in one dungeon.

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It'll still hit you even if you are turned around. It isn't a gaze attack.

Besides I'm asking if the properties of Hawk's Eye bypass Blind. Does it?

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

Just turn around when they cast it. I wouldn't cross class a skill that would only slightly raise your acc for one attack on one pull in one dungeon.

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Originally Posted by MagiusNecros

It'll still hit you even if you are turned around. It isn't a gaze attack.

Besides I'm asking if the properties of Hawk's Eye bypass Blind. Does it?

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I'd have to test it to be certain but off the top of my head, I think only invulnerability defeats Hawk's Eye.

Besides, it's still a better cross class ability than anything from ACN...

It is a gaze attack. I confirmed this multiple times. As for the Hawks, it should work.

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Originally Posted by MagiusNecros

It'll still hit you even if you are turned around. It isn't a gaze attack.

Besides I'm asking if the properties of Hawk's Eye bypass Blind. Does it?

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If you are talking about the Mysterious Light ability, then yes, you most definitely can dodge the attack by turning around, so not sure what you are talking about.

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Originally Posted by Rongway

I'd have to test it to be certain but off the top of my head, I think only invulnerability defeats Hawk's Eye.

Besides, it's still a better cross class ability than anything from ACN...

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Umm......Virus and Eye for an Eye are great utility.

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

If you are talking about the Mysterious Light ability, then yes, you most definitely can dodge the attack by turning around, so not sure what you are talking about.

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Perhaps it came out too quickly and I wasn't fast enough.

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

If your goal is to get a sorta BiS with 220-230 gear without overmelds, I can't tell you off the top of my head, but Lore Pants are BIS, so buy those. I would say the crafted bracket and one crafted ring are also really great. Crafted belt is also nice, but the Crafted Chest is the best chest you get until A8S. Since it'd be awhile for that, I recommend pentamelding the chest piece at least. This is my current set. No luck yet with any drops in savage.

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/TH4A

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Thanks Garotte, this is what I what I came up with http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/THE7 Though I may swap the lore chest for the crafted one for the added SS

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Originally Posted by MagiusNecros

Perhaps it came out too quickly and I wasn't fast enough.

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Some gaze checks are time of use (end of cast), some are time of animation (or perhaps indistinguishably shortly before; in any of these cases, you would need to be looking away beforehand to ensure it's registered server-side). If there is a gaze attack in Heavensward that isn't end of cast, I'm not remembering it right now.

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

Umm......Virus and Eye for an Eye are great utility.

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"Useful in the specific case that you have an AST healer and no SMN DD buddy" is just barely more useful than "for one specific attack in one dungeon".

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Originally Posted by SunnyHirose

Some gaze checks are time of use (end of cast), some are time of animation (or perhaps indistinguishably shortly before; in any of these cases, you would need to be looking away beforehand to ensure it's registered server-side). If there is a gaze attack in Heavensward that isn't end of cast, I'm not remembering it right now.

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The first boss in Amdapor City HM happens at the time of damage.

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Originally Posted by Rongway

"Useful in the specific case that you have an AST healer and no SMN DD buddy" is just barely more useful than "for one specific attack in one dungeon".

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Eye for and Eye is always useful and normal Virus is useful on things that don't need INT down. All of that applies even when you have both SMN and a SCH. Now Physick on the other hand...

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Originally Posted by Waliel

normal Virus is useful on things that don't need INT down. All of that applies even when you have both SMN and a SCH.

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On a single mob, Virus can only be applied once every 60s. At 90s cooldown, two users are the strict upper limit for "useful", so those two users might as well be the ones with the Super version, or otherwise the WHM, so that we don't lock them out of being able to use their own Virus at times of their choosing.

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Originally Posted by Waliel

Eye for and Eye is always useful and normal Virus is useful on things that don't need INT down. All of that applies even when you have both SMN and a SCH. Now Physick on the other hand...

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Physick can be good if you are silly like me and stack Mind Materia for those 1000+ Physick heals. *shrug*

I will agree that E4E is always good however Virus should only be taken for heavy hitters like bosses such as for BJ's Dbl Rocket Punch.

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Originally Posted by Bahd_Monkey

Thanks Garotte, this is what I what I came up with http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/THE7 Though I may swap the lore chest for the crafted one for the added SS

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Yes, with 699 accuracy, you are 100 acc over what's needed A8S. I would definitely swap the chest for the crafted chest. Other than that, it looks good for 220-230 gear

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Originally Posted by Rongway

"Useful in the specific case that you have an AST healer and no SMN DD buddy" is just barely more useful than "for one specific attack in one dungeon".

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You can use virus and E4E on big pulls in dungeons. I use it on CD. I'm sorry, but they are both 10 times more useful than Hawks eye. The only argument would be between the last slot, and choosing between Hawks Eye or Physick. There are countless times that I've used virus. T13 adds, T12 while healers are passing brand, A3 Savage while stacked for the hand cleave soak. If I can use my virus oGCD, losing no dps, so the healers can either focus on outputting their dps or occupied with healing, then it's a utility. And a pretty good one. If level if you aren't a raider, virus can be useful in almost even pull in a dungeon. If you aren't using it, then you aren't using your job to its full potential.

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

You can use virus and E4E on big pulls in dungeons.

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I agree with everything you're saying, except for one point. Virus is basically worthless on a large pull in a dungeon. It's best used to mitigate a large incoming physical attack from a single target (generally a boss). You don't have the INT/MND aspect of Virus as a cross-class, so it doesn't help for magical attacks, and it only has a duration of 10s, making it /completely/ worthless to mitigate a single add's auto-attacks in a pull with 8+ mobs.

Eye for an Eye is nice in those situations, though, and if your healer isn't using it (they should be, unless they're an AST), you absolutely should, as long as it doesn't interrupt your DPS.

Virus is far less useful of a cross-class on BLM than you imply it to be, is all I'm saying, especially if you have someone else in the party who can use it as a not-cross-class, since theirs is superior in every way, and your less effective one will still lock them out of using theirs for the next 60s on that boss.

How do you all link your gear sets from Ariyala? lol
Anyhow i definately suggest crafted chest piece. I just had it melded yesterday and am sitting a little over 700 crit, and my ss is over 1K atm

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Originally Posted by Maero

How do you all link your gear sets from Ariyala? lol
Anyhow i definately suggest crafted chest piece. I just had it melded yesterday and am sitting a little over 700 crit, and my ss is over 1K atm

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There is a save button at the bottom of the page. Once you select your gear, click the save button and it will supply you with a link. Copy and paste and voila!

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Originally Posted by JackFross

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I will have to respectfully disagree. Mitigating auto attacks for 10 seconds on a mob in a pack of 8 is still something. I'll use it after Transpose waiting for a mana tick. Mitigating any incoming damage is helpful. Even if it's minor.

On boss fights, yes we don't have Supervirus. But as a hardcore raider, you'd be surprised how often this is useful. Shadow of Meracydias in T13 dealt massive tank damage during progression. Sch Virus is on cd because they used it for gigaflare. There are 3 Shadows in that phase. If Whm uses one, there are still 2 more.

A3S - during hand split. Both tanks takes a big cleave right before add phase, T10 charge if healer is stunned, T12 on Revalation while healers are focused on Brands, T1 snake split, T4 on Dreadnoughts, T5 snakes, T7 adds, T9 Ghost of Meracydias, and I could go on and on. Any add in a raid that deals physical damage. Its going to die so it's not like you have to worry about antivirus.

Many thanks Garotte :)
This is what i have for melds on my gear in case some want ideas
http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/THT6

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

I will have to respectfully disagree. Mitigating auto attacks for 10 seconds on a mob in a pack of 8 is still something. I'll use it after Transpose waiting for a mana tick. Mitigating any incoming damage is helpful. Even if it's minor.

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10s of Autos is 3 hits or less from that one mob. And they're going to get a 15% reduction in STR/DEX for 10s. In an 8-mob pull in the current content with relevant gear, you take ~800-1000 damage per auto - this might be an underestimation, but the lower this per-auto damage is, the more effective Virus becomes. Assuming 15% STR reduction = 15% reduction in damage output, and, let's even assume this mob hits 5 times in the 10s window.

You mitigate 120-150 damage per auto. 5 autos = 600-750 damage mitigated. That's less than 1 auto attack.

To really break this down for you as to why this is a complete waste of time, 1 single-target Cure spell from my i210 WHM heals ~3400 health. One tick of Regen heals 1300. One cast of Adloquium from my 210 SCH heals (and mitigates) ~2300. So, looking at our gross overestimation of the skill's effectiveness in even a single-mob encounter and comparing it to the volume of heals that we can do coupled with the fact that you, as a healer, should never let your tank fall below 1000 health, unless Holmgang or Living Dead is active, it speaks for itself. And that's not even considering the fact that every single healer has some percentage of overheal in mob groups which will be /at least/ 10%. And, considering that a tank is taking 1000 damage per auto from 8 different mobs, if that healer actually heals less than 8000 health over the course of the encounter, you wiped.

Every bit helps, sure, but let's not call people out for not playing to the fullest when they don't use a mathematically worthless skill in a trash pull.

That's all I'm saying.


You are right on the boss side of things, and I wasn't very clear/specific in what all I was saying in regard to Virus in those situations.



/// As an aside, question.
A6S - Blaster.

As a Black Mage, how do you handle the first (and third, if you see it) Mirage Dash mechanic? Our BLM insists on staying out of the raid for his DPS, but I'm trying to convince him that this is bad and dangerous and wrong.