Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

For the most part the rotation I use is similar to what you linked tho there was another one on page 1, looks like its gone though. Maybe there is something better but it is what I grew comfortable with. I save Quickcast for saving Eno incase of a mistake or boss goes Invulnerable and a slowcast Blizzard 4 won't make it.

Sharpcast > Quelling Strikes > Fire 1 (to land on pull)> Leylines > Enochian > Fire 3 Proc > Raging strikes > Fire 4 x 3 > Fire 1 > Fire 4 >(Fire 3 proc if it popped) > Convert > Fire 4 x2 > Blizzard 3 > Thunder > Blizzard 4.

However it really all depends on your spell speed. If your a fresh 60 you may only be able to do Fire4x2 per Astral fire safely once your out of leylines but for me being over 1100 spellspeed I can do Fire4x3 (4 while in leylines) safely, assuming I don't have to move at all during that period.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlphaFox

Sharpcast > Quelling Strikes > Fire 1 (to land on pull)> Leylines > Enochian > Fire 3 Proc > Raging strikes > Fire 4 x 3 > Fire 1 > Fire 4 >(Fire 3 proc if it popped) > Convert > Fire 4 x2 > Blizzard 3 > Thunder > Blizzard 4.

However it really all depends on your spell speed. If your a fresh 60 you may only be able to do Fire4x2 per Astral fire safely once your out of leylines but for me being over 1100 spellspeed I can do Fire4x3 (4 while in leylines) safely, assuming I don't have to move at all during that period.

---

thank you! my SpellSpeed at the moment is 1182 so i can fit the whole of the rotation. more than anything at the moment is the right timing for all ahah :D

Actually, the opener has changed this patch:

Sharpcast > Quelling Strikes > Ley Lines > Enochian > Fire 1 (to land on pull)> Raging Strikes > Fire 3 Proc > Int Pot > Fire 4 x 3 > Fire 1 > (Fire 3 proc if it popped) > Swiftcast (If not needed for upcoming movement > Fire 4 > Convert > Fire 4 x2 > Blizzard 3 > Thunder > Blizzard 4.

This is usable due to the change in cast animations and the OGCD delays. Plus, you can now use the F3 proc directly after F1 without incurring a dps loss from waiting now.

You can also do 5 x F4's when under Ley Lines (without Fey Wind or the Arrow) - but when using Raging Stikes & Convert, you don't really want to do that as you lose astral fire III partially through the B3 cast.

Even Fresh 60's with low spellspeed can do these openers now after the changes too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pyroclastic

Can you define "enough spellspeed"? A number would be nice.

---

I've not tested exact numbers, but I can do it at just above 1k spellspeed, but I can't do it at around 700. I'll do some further testing this weekend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HaroldSaxon

Sharpcast > Quelling Strikes > Ley Lines > Enochian > Fire 1 (to land on pull)> Raging Strikes > Fire 3 Proc > Int Pot > Fire 4 x 3 > Fire 1 > (Fire 3 proc if it popped) > Swiftcast (If not needed for upcoming movement > Fire 4 > Convert > Fire 4 x2 > Blizzard 3 > Thunder > Blizzard 4.

---

but if one doesn't use swifcast one less F4 is done here.
I am trying this out but at the moment I can't do it just for a matter of 1 second - Enochian fades. My SS is quite high at the moment (1183)

I found this opener and rotation while pawing through FFlogs. They seem to be better than the sharpcast opener and standard rotation, but I'm not enough of a theorycrafter to understand why. Can someone explain it to me?

Opener:
Sharpcast -> Leylines -> Fire III -> Enochian -> Raging Strikes -> Fire -> Fire IV x 3 -> F3P -> Convert -> Fire IV x3 (I modified mine into the swiftcast -> convert chain because I thought it was faster) -> Blizzard III -> Thunder -> Blizzard IV

Standard Rotation:
Fire III -> Fire -> F3P -> Fire IV x3 -> Blizzard III -> Thunder -> Blizzard IV

Mine:
Opener: QS > Sharp > LL > Enoch > f1 > RS > f3p > pot > f4x2 > f1 > f4 > (f3p if avail) > swift f4 > convert > f4x2 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick
f3 > f4x4 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick or t3 proc avail
f3 > f4x4 > b3 > thunder or t3 proc if avail

sharp > f3 > enoch > f1 > f4 > f3p > swift f4> f4x2 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick
LL > f3 > f4x5 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Binahel

but if one doesn't use swifcast one less F4 is done here.

---

Nope, you don't need to use swiftcast to get 6 F4's out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Binahel

I am trying this out but at the moment I can't do it just for a matter of 1 second - Enochian fades. My SS is quite high at the moment (1183)

---

What latency are you running at? Even my alt with 665 spellspeed can do it (although it is tight for it). You should be able to do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kerii

I found this opener and rotation while pawing through FFlogs. They seem to be better than the sharpcast opener and standard rotation, but I'm not enough of a theorycrafter to understand why. Can someone explain it to me?

Opener:
Sharpcast -> Leylines -> Fire III -> Enochian -> Raging Strikes -> Fire -> Fire IV x 3 -> F3P -> Convert -> Fire IV x3 (I modified mine into the swiftcast -> convert chain because I thought it was faster) -> Blizzard III -> Thunder -> Blizzard IV

Standard Rotation:
Fire III -> Fire -> F3P -> Fire IV x3 -> Blizzard III -> Thunder -> Blizzard IV

---

Does the person have piety melds or are they waiting in order to cast thunder? I can't imagine that would be a good standard rotation. Got a link to the logs?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randysquirrel

Mine:
Opener: QS > Sharp > LL > Enoch > f1 > RS > f3p > pot > f4x2 > f1 > f4 > (f3p if avail) > swift f4 > convert > f4x2 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick
f3 > f4x4 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick or t3 proc avail
f3 > f4x4 > b3 > thunder or t3 proc if avail

sharp > f3 > enoch > f1 > f4 > f3p > swift f4> f4x2 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick
LL > f3 > f4x5 > b3 > b4 > thunder only if slow tick

---

Couple of things:

You don't need to wait an extra GCD to use the F3p now - and you should be using an OGCD if possible (either swiftcast and/or convert) when you do get a F4 proc.

Skipping out on Thunder is a large DPS loss. Doing it after enochian is not ideal imo - you want to do it before. The only time you should skip out on reapplying thunder is if you have had a proc at the end of your standard fire rotation.

Why thunder before b4? doesn't seem to make any difference. My next enoch cycle is 2-3 seconds shorter, but this is then offset by me doing the same thing next time, so it doesn't seem to matter. If I have a t3 proc, it comes down to the following:
if my existing dot has already fallen off > use before b4
if im about to lose the proc if I wait > use before b4
otherwise, use after b4 (just to get one extra tick off my existing dot, not much, but every little helps)

it has to be an almost instantaneous mana tick, but the rare occasion I do get one, I forego reapplying thunder, and get back to AF asap

I don't rly understand what you mean when you say I should use an oGCD under a f3 proc - I agree with you, but I'm already doing this wherever possible.

I'm using diabolic bottoms. Are these BiS now or are Alex pants still? I've yet to get those cause I was saving up pages for it but now I'm not sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lunafreya

I'm using diabolic bottoms. Are these BiS now or are Alex pants still? I've yet to get those cause I was saving up pages for it but now I'm not sure.

---

The Diabolic bottoms are BiS until you can get the Alexandrian pants. So whenever you get the pages, get the Alexandrian pants. Also...hi fellow Lamian~

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randysquirrel

Why thunder before b4? doesn't seem to make any difference. My next enoch cycle is 2-3 seconds shorter, but this is then offset by me doing the same thing next time, so it doesn't seem to matter. If I have a t3 proc, it comes down to the following:
if my existing dot has already fallen off > use before b4
if im about to lose the proc if I wait > use before b4
otherwise, use after b4 (just to get one extra tick off my existing dot, not much, but every little helps)

it has to be an almost instantaneous mana tick, but the rare occasion I do get one, I forego reapplying thunder, and get back to AF asap

I don't rly understand what you mean when you say I should use an oGCD under a f3 proc - I agree with you, but I'm already doing this wherever possible.

---

Because if you have time for Thunder before B4, it gives you more time during your next enochian cycle allowing you to use extra procs. Skipping out on thunder just because you got a quick mana tick is a dps gain only if you:

a) Don't get any thundercloud procs

AND

b) Do not have to move.

As soon as you get 1 proc, its a DPS gain. If you have to move and can pair it up with the proc, its an even bigger gain.

Regarding holding off on thunder - its only acceptable to do so if you have recently had a thundercloud proc (i.e. two ticks hasn't gone off). If you have recently applied thunder 1, you can reapply thundercloud straight after B4 and it will be a gain (although there's some RNG scenario's - if you get another proc quickly, then you can use it, or you can risk not getting another proc and saving it in order to get more ticks off. I prefer the first one).

Regarding the F1=3 proc - you can do this now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlAZjPtG94k

So you use the F3 proc straight after getting it.

53 ms :3
I guess it's fine no?

I use:

QS > LL > Sharp > F3 (pull) > F1> Eno > RS > F4x3 > F3proc > Convert > F4x3 > B3 > T1 > B4

I have a good chunk of Piety on my relic (310 without party buff), but I do still have to wait for that T1 mp sometimes on the opener (solo or with whms). If its a midfight opener, where I was in Umbral already, I can do a 7th F4.

In my normal rotation I can do 5 F4's if time allows. So almost always if its a new enochian coming from Umbral, usually if its a refreshed enochian (proc useage and swiftcast availability effect decision making), and almost always if its a 2nd refreshed enochian (procs and movement might make timing too short).

Getting off a 5th F4 and then a clutch B3 > T3proc > Swift B4 is my fave scenario. I'll always tick just right when that happens to do a 5th F4 the next cycle as well. I try to reserve swift to do that in most of my 2nd eno cycles.

I find that doing this doesn't always make much difference though, because I'm skipping Thunders more often in 2nd cycle and waiting on an mp tick for T1 or B4 in a cycle where I do 5 F4.

On the other hand proc'ing and 5 F4'ing the eno timer down to the wire can often make it easy to just refresh enochian once. And if there is a few seconds waiting on its timer, I can usually F3 > sharpcast F1 > Eno at the start of the new cycle then do F4x3 > F3proc > F4x2 or 3. I tend to use sharps in the 1st cycle anyway and keep them in line with eno timer.

A lot of this comes down to comfort level with the fight. Its become a new level of decision making that occurs as each Fire cycle gets close to its end. In anything rough though I'll skip the 5th F4 except maybe on the cycle before starting a new eno. There's more risk of dropping eno or astral if I have to move at the wrong time, and waiting for mp ticks seems to cost some/most/all of dps that the 5th F4 gains a lot of the time.

Only a dummy fight happens in a vaccuum. Parsing myself vs other BLM in real fights has too many variables for me to draw any conclusions. And even comparing my own dummy parses with and without the 5th F4 requires too much sample size for any degree of certainty. Tick timing, crits, and procs make even a sterile dummy fight highly variable.

So all the rotation guides say to use F1 > F4 x2 > but I can fit up to 4 F4s in my window before needing B3, or I could use F3 x3 & still have 4-5 seconds of AF left.


So my question is: Should I still use F1 > F4 x2 or could I use F4 x3 or x4 in my normal rotation & will that result in a dps loss/gain, if it does, how so?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RLofOBFL

So all the rotation guides say to use F1 > F4 x2 > but I can fit up to 4 F4s in my window before needing B3, or I could use F3 x3 & still have 4-5 seconds of AF left.


So my question is: Should I still use F1 > F4 x2 or could I use F4 x3 or x4 in my normal rotation & will that result in a dps loss/gain, if it does, how so?

---

You should always aim for either 4 x F4 & 1 x F1 or 5 x F4 in your Astral Fire phase - just doing the 4 F4's is a dps loss.

Regarding the order of which - ultimately if you are sitting on a dummy, it doesn't matter. However it does depend on what is happening - do you know you have a short period where you don't need to move but do in a few GCD's? Go F4,F4,F4,F1,F1. Got to move fairly soonish but then you have a period of standing still? Go F4,F1,F4,F4,F1

99% of the time I use the F4,F4,F1,F4,F1 order - mainly because I can fit in a T3 proc before and a T3 proc after F1 if i'm lucky, and there isn't much movement that requires me to adjust - but its something I do switch up every so often.

For those interested, Sunny(reddit user HyperSunny or SunnyHirose here) has cracked open the hidden secret of how SS is calculated properly, what this means in comparison to before where the previous formula could not get the accurate tiers for anything other than a 2.5 gcd we can now make a spreadsheet that accurately contains all tiers.
Here is the discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...tiers/ddl661o/

Spell Speed weights the most so I stacked a lot & now have 1119, but my dummy damage numbers are kinda low in comparison to my DRG or MNK so I was wondering if TOO much SS could be potentially bad. Not bc SS itself is bad but bc it hampers your Crit & Det. I have 1200 crit on MNK & DRG but only 900 on BLM & it is noticeable how little I crit in comparison. So at a certain point I wonder if it's better to just go with Crit? The dummy fights are only 3 minutes though, so I maybe SS could be better in longer fights as you'll be able to get more attacks in.

More spell speed is always a good thing. Having crit closer to the 1000 mark would be better for you, i know myself i had close to 1K and dropped down a bit with gear upgrade and noticed my attacks were less strong.
Also however i lost around 34 determination which despite it's stat weight being lower it does in fact make a difference. 434+ on determination seems to have worked better for me, now i am slightly above 400.
Also i would think at 1100+ SS your focus should be more crit now :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HaroldSaxon

Actually, the opener has changed this patch:

Sharpcast > Quelling Strikes > Ley Lines > Enochian > Fire 1 (to land on pull)> Raging Strikes > Fire 3 Proc > Int Pot > Fire 4 x 3 > Fire 1 > (Fire 3 proc if it popped) > Swiftcast (If not needed for upcoming movement > Fire 4 > Convert > Fire 4 x2 > Blizzard 3 > Thunder > Blizzard 4.

This is usable due to the change in cast animations and the OGCD delays. Plus, you can now use the F3 proc directly after F1 without incurring a dps loss from waiting now.

---

What's the difference between this opener and AlphaFox's opener? :/ Is the oGCD animation delay a noticeable DPS loss, or is it something else?

Heya, I got a question for our fellow BLMs.

When Enochian and Sharpcast comes off CD (after 3rd eno cicle), how do you use them?

I'm used to do as follows: B3 - SC - T1 - ENO - F3...... and then use the proc after F1.

But I've seen other people use sharpcast with F1 instead, right after the F3, like: B3 - T1 - ENO - SC - F3 - F1.

In terms of mobility, the second option is clearly the superior. But given that TC is a stronger proc than Firestarter, I'd like to hear some opinions on which one is the preferred method. :)

What's good DPS for an i248 BLM?
I'm able to kill the Sophia ex stone sky sea with 24 seconds remaining, according to a calculator I found that's about 2083 DPS, is that a good number?

Aside from mobility, the only thing I can think of is reducing Thunder clipping. Thundercloud lasts for 12 seconds, so best case you will get 4 ticks on Thunder which makes it 160 potency. That means the first Thunder is worse than a Blizzard 1. You also lose 2 ticks on that Thunder from clipping, so 80 potency loss since you would have gotten that anyways.

(Potential bad math ahead?)
T3P is 390 potency + dot ticks. F3P is 432 potency. T3P catches up after 2 ticks, except you need 2 more ticks because of clipping to regain the "lost" potency so it's really 4. At this point you have 12s left on the dot which I think unless you have a T3P again you are casting Blizzard in UI phase.

So maybe the idea is to be more mobile and hope for ticks and procs that align better? I usully save SC for Thunder but thinking about it that could be wrong. I've noticed that the top BLMs seem to save it for F3P.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HaroldSaxon

Couple of things:

You don't need to wait an extra GCD to use the F3p now - and you should be using an OGCD if possible (either swiftcast and/or convert) when you do get a F4 proc.

Skipping out on Thunder is a large DPS loss. Doing it after enochian is not ideal imo - you want to do it before. The only time you should skip out on reapplying thunder is if you have had a proc at the end of your standard fire rotation.

---

I was trying out a11s in SSS and I finished barely with 5seconds on the clock.

I tried it again but this time, I use t3 procs everytime i 2 F4s out (ie. only use t3 proc during UI or if in AF, use after 2 F4s)

I'm having a hard time incorporating the tc (thundercloud) procs :/ because I feel that I should be using F4 as much as possible

Hello I just picked up blm as my alt job to play since I main tank. I been looking at some blm guides for a while now and I need some help understanding.

Is there a recommended set number for piety for a Blm if so how much since I see different numbers in some guides.

Does certain races matter still? Like I remember back then people talk about if you want to fit 5 fire 1 or something you want to be a dunes lalafell.

What's the bis for blm this patch? I am planning to have the relic for blm with crit and spell speed into it and yes I am planning to clear Alex savage and hopefully have it farm. Currently on a11s atm. I want more clarification on this because i hear people tell me to just get pieces with spell speed on them and that's it.

http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/WVNL

This is current BiS, though it might change soon because we can't be sure what the stats on the Proto Ultima accessories will look like or if Diadem gear will be a thing. Note that the 270 anima is only 4 stat weight behind Alexandrian, so it could be viable if you prefer the speed. If it goes to 275 it will definitely be best.

There was a discussion last page about upper piety totals but I don't think there's a clear answer. But Piety should be at least 284 including party bonus if you want to guarantee smooth casting with no waiting for mana ticks. It doesn't affect the opener because with the sharpcast opener you can do 6 F4 with base pie. Race doesn't really matter because every race can hit this with two V melds and party bonus (dunesfolk might only need one? Not sure tbh). I believe if you are using the anima, it's better to put your PIE points on that as long as it's a 1:1 trade between PIE and CRIT. Materia Vs are 12 crit to 11 pie. Your can put PIE in to the bare minimum and not overshoot, then put the rest in crit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chocopoko

I was trying out a11s in SSS and I finished barely with 5seconds on the clock.

I tried it again but this time, I use t3 procs everytime i 2 F4s out (ie. only use t3 proc during UI or if in AF, use after 2 F4s)

I'm having a hard time incorporating the tc (thundercloud) procs :/ because I feel that I should be using F4 as much as possible

---

Why do you feel you are having a hard time? Just so I know where you are coming from? As long as a Thundercloud proc doesn't prevent you from using a Fire 4 in the future, its a DPS gain. And even if it does, in some cases (when you have a low amount of thunder dot left on the boss) its still a DPS gain to flat out substitute (which you rarely have to do with enough spellspeed).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HaroldSaxon

Why do you feel you are having a hard time? Just so I know where you are coming from? As long as a Thundercloud proc doesn't prevent you from using a Fire 4 in the future, its a DPS gain. And even if it does, in some cases (when you have a low amount of thunder dot left on the boss) its still a DPS gain to flat out substitute (which you rarely have to do with enough spellspeed).

---

Most of the time, I'd choose between getting more Fire 4s and letting the Thundercloud proc drop. Although this is in the Sky, Stone and Sea setting, I felt that not using Fire 4 was bad. Upon reading your reply, I take it that Fire 4 is not always the priority?

More often then not if thundercloud procs as you are using FireIV you should have time to finish off with enough spell speed, it is not always the case that you could drop FireIV but thundercloud procs are definately a dps gain

so what about the cases when you have multiple thundercloud procs? on that note, is it viable to do the sharpcast > thunder3(thundercloud proc) > thunder3(sharpcast proc)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chocopoko

so what about the cases when you have multiple thundercloud procs? on that note, is it viable to do the sharpcast > thunder3(thundercloud proc) > thunder3(sharpcast proc)

---

Ideally you'll refresh a t3 proc when the previous one is about to fall off (I avoid applying any new t3s when the previous one is still at >5s), as the previous dot will not be dishing out it's full damage and will be overwritten, this is most cases ends up being a DPS loss and you should instead try to use f4 or f1, or if available f3 proc.

Following that logic sharpcasting t3 followed by using the resulting proc, imo would only be a dps gain if you used the proc on a different target, to let the DOT do all the damage. I never really do this because hardcasting t3 takes way too long too long though. :/

EDIT: Afaik priority is T3 proc - F4 - F3 proc - F1 (this obviously assuming you have enochian up always and enough time to refresh it), this only changes if your target is already with the thunder dot, in which situation you need to carefully juggle the remaining time on your proc and the time left on thunder on the target (i.e your t3 proc just popped, have 10s until it falls off, target's thunder dot is at 8s - you can afford to wait a few seconds to throw out proc and refresh it, meanwhile you can use another F4)

I'm still a scrub blm though, so please take this all with a grain of salt

One could technically also cast another T3 Proc after IceIV (i use T3 Proc after ice), not sure the maths behind it though

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spiroglyph

I never really do this because hardcasting t3 takes way too long too long though. :/

---

what I meant was, using a Thunder 3 Proc (not hard casting)

Receive thundercloud buff > sharpcast > Thunder 3 (via initial thundercloud buff) > Thunder 3 (via sharpcast thundercloud proc)

I've been using the opener HaroldSaxon posted here recently and I've been hovering around 2550 DPS. (on a dummy so no party buffs)
I'm currently i257 with the i260 Anima. Is this a good number to be at or is there anything I can do to improve? I've been doing the 5x F4 casts in a row whenever Ley Lines is up too.
Not sure if it's important but my current INT is 1496 and I'm sitting at 1161 SpSpd

So, just discovered something and figured I'd share. You can cast 4 flares in a row during dungeons. Is this optimal? Perhaps not, but figured I'd share for those interested.

Normal AoE rotation ending in Flare -> Convert -> Sharpcast -> Fire 1 -> Flare -> Transpose (wait for mana tick, hopefully fast) -> Swiftcast->Firestarter-> Flare -> Max Ether -> Flare.

This will leave you OOM and with transpose on cooldown, but hopefully a mass dungeon pull is dead by then lol. All I know is that it's fun. Now please feel free to show me how terrible it is lol.

I think your in a good area Waifugenerator, do you also weave in some thunder in between? Myself i always refresh thunder while in umbral stage, one could not dismiss the potency of thundercloud procs as it is the most damage.
As far as aoe rotations go i will be honest, multiple Fire 2's and 2X Flares enemies health is already pretty much dead, lol
I never 3X flare like i did in 2.X, one could even mix in F4 with some flares, it depends on the situation as example if you need a certain enemy killed asap from the group, etc...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maero

I think your in a good area Waifugenerator, do you also weave in some thunder in between? Myself i always refresh thunder while in umbral stage, one could not dismiss the potency of thundercloud procs as it is the most damage.

---

Should I be using SC for thundercloud procs? I usually do ShrpC > F3 > F4 > F4 > F1 > proc > SwftC > F4 > F4 >refresh
but yes I do cast thunder in every umbral cycle before refreshing enochian

I would say situational, as an example say the last boss in Fractal when adds show up, having multiple thundercloud procs (due to sc) you can pretty much take out all enemies and the other dps in the group would probably say wth just happened. Chances are in longer fights sc will be off cd so you may get the chance to use it for thundercloud.
Experiment and see if it suits you for the situation, there is no denying the higher potency of thundercloud procs.
Also nothing at all wrong with Sc Fire 3, Myself i prefer to sharpcast F1 instead just personal taste is all.

On a different note, have had to also change rotations lately, not sure if any also have issue but past few weeks game has seemed laggy, my timing is rather off and my spell speed feels like 8 or 900 as opposed to the my 1163. I have heard others from NA datacenter also have lag issues lately. PVP is super bad as Nin, lol
It is annoying the hell out of me.