Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

I currently have a level 52 Summoner and level 52 Black Mage with the exact same gear minus the weapons being a staff for BLM and book for SMN. I can't decide which one I want to focus on :( Kill speeds are rather similar which is surprising seeing as how the SMN is more DoT oriented and my BLM is nuking for 1k+ minimum and my DoTs on my SMN collectively are ticking for 500ish. Trying to focus on one for my FC to raid with :(

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Originally Posted by Rover1983

I currently have a level 52 Summoner and level 52 Black Mage with the exact same gear minus the weapons being a staff for BLM and book for SMN. I can't decide which one I want to focus on :( Kill speeds are rather similar which is surprising seeing as how the SMN is more DoT oriented and my BLM is nuking for 1k+ minimum and my DoTs on my SMN collectively are ticking for 500ish. Trying to focus on one for my FC to raid with :(

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You can't go wrong with either one of them, but honestly I chose SMN over BLM because the changes to SMN felt more fun and gave them something to do when aetherflow was spent...

...while the changes to BLM wanted me to juggle a timer just to cast the next tier of elemental spells which is about as far the opposite of fun that I could think of: complexity for the sake of complexity.

So I have come back to play 3.0 after being away for over a year. Back then it was Garuda or bust. I am now getting close to 60 for SMN and want to be able to challenge the end-game content when I am able, but was wondering if I need to change my game play to focus more on Ifrit now or if Garuda would still be okay to use.

My reasoning behind wishing to stick with Garuda is comfort in knowing her kit and how it fits in with everything I'm doing (longer DoTs, less need for her to follow around mobile targets). Obviously I want to be the best at my job and be an asset to whichever group I join, which is why I am asking the group at large if I need to switch my thinking. I also would like pointers on how to make the transition, and how others go about switching between the two Egis (i.e. in dungeons, do you make the tank wait to slow-cast ifrit?).

Pointers are always helpful and I look forward to taking my game play to the next level.

Thanks in advance.

Hai hai rotation. Not cherry picked, ilvl 183

http://youtu.be/-6GRE18L2BI

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Originally Posted by AzucenaC

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I'm still pretty new to the class, but I'd say get use to using both. In dungeons I use garuda for trash and infrit on bosses. Biz Ex I start the fight with ifrit than swap to garuda after the dragons are dead. Ravana ex, A4, A3, and A1 I use ifrit, but garuda seems very viable in A1. And A2 I use garuda. When Alexander ex comes out I don't see me changing unless the mechanics change a great deal.

Are there any helpful pet macros you all use?

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Originally Posted by curunir

Are there any helpful pet macros you all use?

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I don't use them myself, but macroing each pet's AoE to Painflare and Bane isn't a bad idea.

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Originally Posted by Sleigh

Was 12% crit, X-pot, last I tried was 1,070. Opener is:

B2 > M > B > Swift + Fester > Shadowflare > Rouse + Spur > R2 > Pot > R2 > RS + Pain > R2 > Fester + DWT > R2 > Enkindle + Aether > R2 > 3D > R2 > Fester > R3 > R2 > Deathflare

Then following basic DoT upkeep, keeping stacks alive until DWT can be used with 3D + Aetherflow, get 2 Festers per DWT, use Rouse + Spur on CD. Parse ended at around 3:50, after a final Fester. Not sure if the 1100s are just more crits or a better end time or smoother execution, or if my opener is simply flawed enough to give me a few % deviation.

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I went ahead and added your opener to my guide. I hope you don't mind that I put your name on it.

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Originally Posted by BakaWakka

I went ahead and added your opener to my guide. I hope you don't mind that I put your name on it.

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Good job, thanks for adding this.

Sleigh, is there a reason for using the pot before RS ? I found that if I use RS before the pot, I can end DWT at 4 secs and have Deathflare buffed by both the Pot and RS.

I would imagine that if you were to swap RS and XPot you would get the GCD delay that you were trying to avoid in the first place. And if you were to put both Painflare + RS before XPot then the Painflare doesn't get the XPot and that makes it straight up equivalent to my own 2F/1P opener.