Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

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Originally Posted by Aerya

Hello!

I'm currently a lvl 60 PLD and I would like to take one of my DPS classes up to lvl 60 too.

I have almost all DPS classes at lvl 50 (except BLM and MCH) and my former main was the BRD (but I don't like the changes to the class, so I don't think I'll take it to lvl 60). I'm really interested in the Summoner... Could someone tell me what the 50-60 changes feel like for this class? How does the SMN play now? Is it fun and/or useful in a team? Back in 2.x I didn't really like the lack of burst, which made some content a lot harder for the team... I've heard this was fixed?

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SMN is much more harder than before, but much more powerful too.
He now has tools to burst targets in case there is not time for doting, but still can't do it all day (painflare AOE using 1 stack, Deathflare 1 time/minute average, Ruin 3 with high cost if not used during DWT, Tri-D 1 min cd).
Anyway, using this tools on another target than the boss leads to some dps loss.
Our best rotation on dummy is using all new spells added to our skillset.


About rotation changes : before 3.0 we had 'priority gameplay'.
Now we have same priorities (dot, filler and AF burst), but we have a new mechanic added to it : Dreadwyrm-Transe (DWT).

We have to manage our AF stacks utilisation in order to optimize them. Basically we try to use AF during DWT to get the maximum damage output (fester 300 becomes 330 potency with DWT), while this same AF utilisation is used to build the next Transe incoming the next minute.

So what is the full rotation for SMN with dreadworm stance? My significant other is somewhat confuse on rotations about SMN since dreadwyrm stance was added?

There are really only 2 main differences between 2.5 and 3.0

1. Aethertrail upkeep. You never want it to drop. If this means throwing out a painflare right before downtime, do it.
2. The DT "burn" phase. You want to use this when 1, all dots (including sflare) are >15 seconds and/or 2, you have RS for it, and 3, you have enough stand still time to go through the full rotation OR there are enough adds to warrant an early Deathflare.

Of the two, 1 is far more important. Ideally you want to never use your 3rd aetherflow charge except to refresh Aethertrail, or right before AF comes off cooldown so you never run into a situation where there will be downtime and you have to let 1 (or god forbid 2) stacks drop.

NEVER let 3 stacks drop. If it is about to drop, pop DT early and then use deathflare at 1 second, if there is any target to hit at all.

Note: refreshing dots during DT is still a dps gain over just Ruin III spam, but is a dps loss in total.

If you want max dps during DT, usually what you'll do is

Bio (so refreshed to 18 sec) > DT > Fester > Ruin IIIx5 > Ruin II > Fester > Deathflare

This also means that

1. You've managed to refresh AT all the way till another AF cooldown
2. Fester is off CD by the time you cast DT

This is what most people consider the "best" DT rotation, so you want to pace your Fester usage around 1 minute. Since you use 2 festers right after each other, you'll want to use your 3rd fester around 40 second mark, to make sure AT lasts past the next AF cd.

Notable big disconnects:

1. Bismarck EX - after serpent adds die. Extremely long (about 20 sec) disconnect here. You need to fester or maybe even painflare the last serpent add. Safe an AF (you should be doing this anyway) until the last second. Possibly after each set of small adds, before carapace, depending on how fast your group kills them. However, this should not be an actual issue.

2. Ravana - every liberation. You should refresh AT right before he disappears. This ensures you have enough time to keep AT through the entire liberation phase. Also, obviously his ultimate. You need to refresh right before he finishes the cast.

3. Alex - who cares. Fist - every blast off. Cuff - never. Arm - never, though you may want to try to time deathflare/painflare/bane with the double hand. Burden - if you anticipate going to the tunnel.

Another new addition is tri-disaster. You really only want to use it under 2 conditions

1. Add needs to burn asap (moon gana on Rav ex)
2. You just disconnected from boss (Bismarck carapace, Rav liberation).
3. If you are SURE none of the above 2 apply, use it right after you pop DT so you're sure that you have full Ruin III time (and buffed dots, the rotation is Ruin II > DT > Tri-D > Fester > Ruin IIIx5 > Ruin II > Fester). If you're sure for this, do not refresh dots for 2 GCD before.

Just a question, but do you have any videos of spell speed testing affecting pets? I did some testing today and I haven't found anything about spell speed affecting pets at all.

EDIT: The only thing I found were the non GCD moves like Aerial Slash being affected by spell speed, however they always were. I dont think Windblade/Burning Strike are affected by it

So what kinda food should we be looking at?

I've looked around, but I can't find anything about what's our best stats at the moment, might be i'm not seeing it, so I apologize if it was in front of my face on any of the guides. :/

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Originally Posted by Startropic

So what kinda food should we be looking at?

I've looked around, but I can't find anything about what's our best stats at the moment, might be i'm not seeing it, so I apologize if it was in front of my face on any of the guides. :/

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I am using Baked Pipira Pira HQ for Summoner at the moment. 37 crit and 18 accuracy.

We don't need accuracy or crit. You'll want to get spell speed.

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Originally Posted by pandabearcat

We don't need accuracy or crit. You'll want to get spell speed.

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Spell speed scaling is pretty bad. You need like 72-73 SSPD to get 1% dot damage iirc. I will take the crit.

Also if you are doing Alex savage, chances are you will need the accuracy.

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Originally Posted by pandabearcat

We don't need accuracy or crit. You'll want to get spell speed.

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We don't know if that's true or not yet. If you use ACC on food, you are able to replace a piece of gear for more optimal stats. That would include a belt or right side item and on rare occasions, some of the other left side.

As for those of you asking for best stats to pursue atm, the answer truly is no one knows 100% yet the best makeup. Crit is an ever expanding number now. Both it was nerfed to the ground in terms of rate chance, but as the gear gets higher in ilvl, the crit rate bonuses will increase back to what we had. At 640 crit for example, you are hovering around 15-18% again. Higher crit? Harder crit hits.

Det is another stat we don't know how good or bad it is at the top ilvl. We won't know much of this until, we get more set options to compare against. Sure you can filler some numbers and make comparisons with other classes, but thats all moot filler. Needs to be tested on each individual class anyway.Right now to be honest, just use Food that gives crit, ss or det. Any of those would likely be fine.

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Originally Posted by Reneo

So what is the full rotation for SMN with dreadworm stance? My significant other is somewhat confuse on rotations about SMN since dreadwyrm stance was added?

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I haven't gotten around to putting it on the guide but the basis is that:

DWT Rules:

Everything casted in DWT outside of Ruin III is a DPS loss. If DoTs must be refreshed in DWT, use Tri- Disaster to do so (although you should use Tri-D to refresh DoTs anyway in DWT). If Tri-D is not available, then manual DoT as normal then return to Ruin III use again.

Maximum output in DWT is essentially: Fester -> Ruin IIIx5? -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Deathflare, while refreshing DoTs with Tri-D somewhere in there.

You want to make sure you line up a few things:
The timer to enter DWT (Aetherail Stacks), Contagion, Aetherflow (Regular three stacks) and Tri Disaster / Raging Strikes when possible.

This will allow you to preform a max DPS scenario with regards to DWT. In order to line up these skills, you will have to delay the third Aetherflow skill you use, for at least 15-20 seconds after the previous one. This makes it so you will have time to enter DWT, while having AF up, Tri-D (usually) to refresh DoTs in DWT and Contagion to extend those DoTs.

Never ever miss out on a Deathflare. If you must use it sooner simply to land it, do so. If the opportunity comes where you can hit multiple mobs with it, do so.

In terms of starting rotation, I haven't heard of one that's standing out far above the rest but a lot of people seem to be stacking Raging / Pot and and such right before entering DWT.

Something similar to this:

Bio II - Miasma - Bio -> Painflare/Fester -> Ruin II -> Swift Shadow -> Rouse/Spur -> Ruin II -> Raging Strikes -> Ruin II -> INT Pot-> Painflare/AF -> DWT -> Fester -> Ruin III - Ruin II -> Tri-D/Enkindle -> Ruin III (Contagion)-> Ruin III -> Ruin III -> Fester -> Deathflare.

Then follow the above rules. I'm not saying this is the best rotation atm, only that it's one of the decent ones. I personally do things alil different (place RS somewhere earlier)but I haven't tested all of them yet to see which was better.

If you don't need the accuracy and crit, there's also Creme Brulee which I am using for my BLM. HQ is 40 SSPD and 13 det.