Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

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Originally Posted by Kuroyasha

So SE devs made sure it was gear-checked real good this time around eh?

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Yes and no. The big DPS checks are very tuned for our current iLVL, barely, but the stuff after the first half's DPS checks are supposedly even crazier, not to mention the enrage on the stage. I'm far from an authority on the fight but if the gear requirement is stronger than the parts up to add phase, this stuff's super strict.

Wouldn't be surprised if some truly crazy team beats it this week or next week but for 99.999999999999999999999% of the world it's gear gated.

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Originally Posted by Lavitz_

What do you guys think of the crafted i180 body? I'm thinking of getting it because it will be 4 weeks before I can get the i190 one, but getting the Esoteric one is also going to take 4 more weeks. I don't really like the stats on the i190 anyway which is why I didn't bother getting it, and I'm way above accuracy cap as it is.

i190 Caster body has +8 Int over i180 with +77 Acc and +52 Det

i180 Crafted has +66 Det, +48 Spell Speed and you can meld +45 Crit

It will also allow me to build a set around a body with 0 Accuracy so I'll be ready for the Esoteric body.

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I think it's worth it in the sense that i180 crafted would be a decent upgrade over i180 tome chest, but not worth the extreme price for such a short-lived piece you will end up converting within a month. I'd skip it even if you're wealthy, personally.

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Originally Posted by Sleigh

Well, from how far I've gotten in A3, it looks to be a BLM fight to me! The first 50% anyway.

Let you know in like 2 weeks how the second 50% is ...

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Have you tried SMN there ? How is it compared to BLM ?


Also, any estimates on what the accuracy cap is, there ?

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Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

Have you tried SMN there ? How is it compared to BLM ?


Also, any estimates on what the accuracy cap is, there ?

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ACC cap is still low, I think I'm 560ish and 0 misses. Healers barely miss still with melded accessories.

SMN vs BLM in there ... that's an interesting one. From what I've played of the fight, SMN does still quite excel because you can get your multi-DoT on including some double hit Deathflares, and the add phase enemies live long enough for SMN to do more work than in normal mode, and of course magnet +/- are back in full force which favor SMN heavily. That said most groups I know of are using BLM in our gear because it makes the DPS checks simpler in our gear, and the enrage is REAL so if there's any way for BLM to out-DPS SMN (and in the first half, there is), you want it.

Honestly I'd say SMN is as good or maybe even better with great play due to some factors but BLM is the safe bet, as weird as that sounds.

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Originally Posted by Sleigh

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Yeah, I will still have to see how I do as SMN there myself but if the DPS checks are as bad as people are making it out to be, I will have to end up switching to the highest caster DPS on that fight even if it's just by a marginal difference. And good thing we can keep switching back and forth between casters for now, since the AF2 gear difference won't be an issue till week 3 anyway.

Speaking of DPS, has anyone tried using BLM on A2S ? So far with SMN I've been sitting at around 2.1k 6:30 minutes into the fight and I just wanna know how does BLM compare there.

Also 0 misses with 503 Accuracy at A1.

How much DPS should a BLM ideally do on Faust Savage?

I'm at around 1100 at i186

Accuracy for savage seems to be 15~ above turn 13 btw. missing on Savage A3 at 512 but not 536. And like any other raid zone(s) the accuracy requirement gets bumped up on the second half. It's fairly safe to assume that 550 accuracy is good on every turn, it might be slight overkill... Got lucky and got the caster belt from A2 on weds, and enjoyed horrible accuracy at 492 on Savage 3 on the first pull haha.

Also @wolfgang, I feel in this patch series just posting a dps number is pointless, there are too many variables to consider and pt set up is so important. As long as you within a certain range you should be fine. 1100 is a pass in my book. PT dps should be in the range of 6500~ or so on faust, it;s hard telliong since aoe cheesing is a thing.

I'm still salty AF that i don't have a bard.

I usually do 1250+ at i186 with a Sch/Brd/Drg (No Nin)

I have the Bard replay Foes when Faust is around 25% hp for some extra dps since their buffs fall off around that time.

1300-1400 with Foe is ideal on Faust, I've gotten close to 1500 with luck so I don't know what our limit is

So what is the best rotation now with thunder changes?

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

I'm making a new thread for Black Mages

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Aikaal been watching your youtube vids for awhile now. Been a great help. Thanks for spending the time!

My setup:
Rotation(Opener): ley->b3->swift->t3->sharp->f3->raging->f1->f4x3->f3 proc->convert->f4x3->b3->t proc if didn't mess up should have ~7 sec on enochian
Rotation(normal): ley* ->b3->b4->(t1 or t3)** ->surecast** ->f3->(f1->f3x3->f1->f4 or f1->f4x2->f1->f4x2)****->t3 proc*****
* ley is off cd and/or sharp+ley are not about to be of cd together
** t1 if no thundercloud and not clipping >3 sec, t3 if thundercloud+no clipping >3sec
***if leylines is not about to come off cd. best to hold together.
****depending on rng, Still playing with this so a lot of the time I revert to the f4x2->f1->f4x2.
*****must have ~4-5sec on enochian or a swift for b3->swift->b4. not worth if lose enochian

This isn't perfect but parsed 1450 on faus(a1 savage) with foe on opener over 2:48 and ~15%crit

My gear set: http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/R12R
I also use Sohm Tart HQ and int pot after opener on next sharpcast opportunity

;o That's pretty nice. I tend to be wary of Faust parses since it's easy to AoE but it's possible.

I don't think there's much to update for the changes but I will. The changes for Thundercloud only made our proc management worst (Although it was a really nice buff in A1S) and Enochian change doesn't really change much.

Also, I am depressed to see my super high A2S numbers as Summoner >_>;;

A1S - BLM

You can slip some AoE for the first adds and leave your melees on Oppressor. We did that because we needed the extra damage.

I disagree that it made it worse than what it was, that'd be hard to do or require a nerf, if anything it's better. Thundercloud is now up more often to bridge our ice phase for starters.

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

;o That's pretty nice. I tend to be wary of Faust parses since it's easy to AoE but it's possible.

I don't think there's much to update for the changes but I will. The changes for Thundercloud only made our proc management worst (Although it was a really nice buff in A1S) and Enochian change doesn't really change much.

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I've actually been having a blast using Thundercloud near the end of the rotation. It's quicker, more mobile, is really satisfying when you do a TC > B3 > B4 > F3 and skipped filler anyway, and hoo boy if you can multi-DoT.

The only downside is it's so dang tempting to do your final F4 (or try to sneak TC in after your final F4 at around 7s) if the timers "look" good due to Fey Wind, so I've gotten a bit greedy more than once with it and had to blow Swiftcast, or just outright drop Enochian due to my own greed. Just week 1 greed ;_;

my only concern is when to use thunder, like it feels off to lead with ice to me, but thats just a feel, I've been applying thunder if the ice phase lulls to allow me to do so. Now I want to say its best to apply thunder in every ice phase.. But I'm not terribly sure.

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

;o That's pretty nice. I tend to be wary of Faust parses since it's easy to AoE but it's possible.

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For us, the Overall raid DPS has been about a thousand higher than the raid DPS on Faust. That Deathflare starts to add up quite quickly with all the adds.

yea, I'm just playing in fights as we speak. I think its a dps increase to use thunder EVERY ice phase now regardless of ticks, with a 10% chance of proc it should proc roughly every 1.8 chains, or something like that. If tcloud procs to the point that we can get it at the end of fire chains then it should be used. think sharpcasting should be used with fire still though, just using fire 3 as a guaranteed bridge for AF stacks is so nice.

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Originally Posted by Sleigh

I've actually been having a blast using Thundercloud near the end of the rotation. It's quicker, more mobile, is really satisfying when you do a TC > B3 > B4 > F3 and skipped filler anyway, and hoo boy if you can multi-DoT.

The only downside is it's so dang tempting to do your final F4 (or try to sneak TC in after your final F4 at around 7s) if the timers "look" good due to Fey Wind, so I've gotten a bit greedy more than once with it and had to blow Swiftcast, or just outright drop Enochian due to my own greed. Just week 1 greed ;_;

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It's a problem that will be solve with more Spell Speed :) It is really nice to do F4x2 > F1 > F4x2 > TC > B3

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Originally Posted by Waliel

For us, the Overall raid DPS has been about a thousand higher than the raid DPS on Faust. That Deathflare starts to add up quite quickly with all the adds.

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It can't be help. Deathflare is part of the Summoner ST rotation.

Great guide! will use this in my new main for a while

Having 6 F4 in the opener sure feels awesome.

Hello there, been following the forums for months now. You guys do some awesome work here.

I have made an account just to ask this question. When do you actually use T1? Not talking about TC. I mean hard casting a thunder spell. Usually, I only do it as a filler in the first Enochian cycle. Because most the time, I don't have any time to cast it in the second or third cycle, you know, mechanics and stuff called aoe -_-' but if I had the time, then I do it as a filler only.

Inside Umbral phase and usually right after Blizzard III as filler/"clock" for the next tick. Why? Because the MP lost(707) from Thunder 1 is returned while in this phase, that and no worry of changing phases while without max MP. You already know this, but all your MP is for Fire I/Fire 4 casting.

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

It can't be help. Deathflare is part of the Summoner ST rotation.

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I know. Just threw out some numbers about the difference. It's also kinda fun to see the SMN being 400 DPS ahead of everyone in that fight because of it.

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Originally Posted by Fallen_Owl

Hello there, been following the forums for months now. You guys do some awesome work here.

I have made an account just to ask this question. When do you actually use T1? Not talking about TC. I mean hard casting a thunder spell. Usually, I only do it as a filler in the first Enochian cycle. Because most the time, I don't have any time to cast it in the second or third cycle, you know, mechanics and stuff called aoe -_-' but if I had the time, then I do it as a filler only.

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I use T1 as a filler during UI. I think everybody does that. The TC change and potency change does not make the rotation different.

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Originally Posted by ViscountofSeven

Great guide! will use this in my new main for a while

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It's slightly outdated... I'll try to update it after my raid.

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

The changes for Thundercloud only made our proc management worst (Although it was a really nice buff in A1S)

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you think so? I agree that at first it was a bit awkward but after a couple days of play I think i'm getting the timing down.

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Originally Posted by drizzle234

you think so? I agree that at first it was a bit awkward but after a couple days of play I think i'm getting the timing down.

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The management is worst but the gain is better. It's harder to get that gain.

I'd really love to see what tweaks you're making to this Aikaal. I follow your rotation almost to the letter, but I'm getting out DPS'd by a few really good black mages and I'm trying to figure out what's setting me apart. Any advice on how to handle Thunder 1/Thundercloud? I've been weaving it in as best I can and I think it's a DPS gain but like I said, I'm getting beaten out by higher tier players and I'd like to know why.

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Originally Posted by raisetheglass1

I'd really love to see what tweaks you're making to this Aikaal. I follow your rotation almost to the letter, but I'm getting out DPS'd by a few really good black mages and I'm trying to figure out what's setting me apart. Any advice on how to handle Thunder 1/Thundercloud? I've been weaving it in as best I can and I think it's a DPS gain but like I said, I'm getting beaten out by higher tier players and I'd like to know why.

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Are you getting beaten out in the same party or just seeing other group's parses? If it's the former, consider any possible mechanics you may have gotten they didn't. If it's the latter, consider encounter duration, group comp, and group strats will vary greatly and it is impossible to fairly judge your numbers vs a different group's BLM in most fights.

I'm doing something like 1140 on a dummy with no pots/food, and a really good blm i know is doing more like 1240. In fights comparing parses my damage is usually lower by about that %. I don't run with a bard but I'm doing about 850 in Ravana Ex on reasonably timed kills.

After doing the opener, do you guys keep Ley Lines on cd? I tend to save it for a new Enochian cycle. I just don't know if that's a dps gain or loss.

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Originally Posted by Fallen_Owl

After doing the opener, do you guys keep Ley Lines on cd? I tend to save it for a new Enochian cycle. I just don't know if that's a dps gain or loss.

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Leylines should be paired with Raging Strikes. It's 90 seconds and RS is 180 seconds. So if there's no downtime ahead, the maximal DPS gain would be to use it right away. There's no need to sync it an Enochian cycle because you'll have Leylines up during Umbral Ice. It's inevitable.

BLM Guide was updated. I did put the right number of Piety for the opener like everybody yelled at me for not mentioning :<

You are the forums new Puro :)
I have been raiding more with Bard as of late, but yeah back to blm asap :D

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Originally Posted by Aikaal

BLM Guide was updated. I did put the right number of Piety for the opener like everybody yelled at me for not mentioning :<

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Hey Aikaal, got a question regarding AoE. Now I've noticed that in the guide you talk about F2x2 > Flare is probably better without maintaining enochian. But one thing I didn't see in there (unless I just missed it) is maintaining enochian actually allows for a third Fire 2.

I'm not sure if this is just my piety, but I can Fire 2x3 > Flare > transpose > Blizzard IV > Fire 3 > repeat. The blizzard IV gives another mp tick plus maintains the 5% buff. I'm just wondering if this would be optimal or just still the old 2.0 aoe rotation?

I've just read Aikaal's updated AoE rotation. Do they consider the downtime after flaring and building up stacks and mp? I'm wondering if a mix of 0-4 F4 and 1-4 FIRE F2 could do better dps, especially if swiftcast isn't up.
IE
F4 F4 F2 F4 F4 B4 ... F3 for pseudo AOE
F2 F2 F2 B4 ... F3 for pure AOE

Also, anyone knows what the accuracy cap for savage 1/2 are?

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Originally Posted by Garotte14

Hey Aikaal, got a question regarding AoE. Now I've noticed that in the guide you talk about F2x2 > Flare is probably better without maintaining enochian. But one thing I didn't see in there (unless I just missed it) is maintaining enochian actually allows for a third Fire 2.

I'm not sure if this is just my piety, but I can Fire 2x3 > Flare > transpose > Blizzard IV > Fire 3 > repeat. The blizzard IV gives another mp tick plus maintains the 5% buff. I'm just wondering if this would be optimal or just still the old 2.0 aoe rotation?

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I did not consider a 3rd Fire II. To me, you need to respect Transpose CD (12secs) and you need to use Flare as much as possible so anything that makes a rotation go for like 18 seconds is something I do not look into x.x

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Originally Posted by Garash

I've just read Aikaal's updated AoE rotation. Do they consider the downtime after flaring and building up stacks and mp? I'm wondering if a mix of 0-4 F4 and 1-4 FIRE F2 could do better dps, especially if swiftcast isn't up.
IE
F4 F4 F2 F4 F4 B4 ... F3 for pseudo AOE
F2 F2 F2 B4 ... F3 for pure AOE

Also, anyone knows what the accuracy cap for savage 1/2 are?

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Don't know the accuracy caps. I don't miss in A3S with 585 Accuracy so...

I did the maths and the downtime after Flare applies to any rotation. It depends on the server MP tick. Of course since we transpose and wait 1 MP tick, if you were to have an AoE rotation that is about 14 seconds. You'd only wait 1 second for your MP tick. You can F4 and F2 to get a mix of single target and AoE but usually when you're asked to AoE, you don't single target. The answer to our AoE is to get as many Flares as possible despite the nerf.

To be honest, I don't even believe in BLM AoE anymore, I go SMN in A2S :\

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Originally Posted by Garash

Also, anyone knows what the accuracy cap for savage 1/2 are?

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It's very low.

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Originally Posted by TwiissTwiiss

Also 0 misses with 503 Accuracy at A1.

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Originally Posted by Xisin

Accuracy for savage seems to be 15~ above turn 13 btw. missing on Savage A3 at 512 but not 536. And like any other raid zone(s) the accuracy requirement gets bumped up on the second half. It's fairly safe to assume that 550 accuracy is good on every turn, it might be slight overkill... Got lucky and got the caster belt from A2 on weds, and enjoyed horrible accuracy at 492 on Savage 3 on the first pull haha.

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Hey guys, I am so frustrated right now.
My static is still trying to down Faust, but somehow my dps can't even reach the 1000 mark.
My dps on Faust alone is 999. I use Marron Glace and Mega potion of int. We have 2 monks, 1 summoner. I'm doing the rotation perfectly and I am even timing my Thunder procs within ice astral. (I know I am not losing dps since everytime I did the thunder proc, I would push in more dps. I am even thinking on going SMN >.>
btw (it is not just my dps, that's holding us back)

It's hard to pinpoint where you are falling short without watching you or seeing the ACT line chart that displays at the bottom of a parse. Some basic things though, make sure you are squeezing in all 6 fire 4s within the raging strikes timer on pull, the pot should stay on for the first five fire 4s, this makes a big difference as blm is a fairly front loaded job meaning the opener is extremely important to your dps. Use ley lines on cd in faust, no reason not to do so. What is your ilvl? is atleast 180? higher? lower? I need more information to help. The line chart one the bottom of ACT should resemble a heart rate monitor chart, it will level out if you manage to bridge your ice phase with a tcloud however.

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Originally Posted by CaffeinatedDani

Hey guys, I am so frustrated right now.
My static is still trying to down Faust, but somehow my dps can't even reach the 1000 mark.
My dps on Faust alone is 999. I use Marron Glace and Mega potion of int.

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Hmm. I'm consistently between 1250 and 1350 on Faust. Not sure why yours would be so much lower. I would suggest using a Sohm Al Tart instead. You shouldn't have accuracy issues. Also X-potions or Dracanian potions will help slightly if you can afford it. You also shouldn't be using every thundercloud proc. Not saying you you are, just keep that in mind. It's only better if it can tick it's full duration, so clipping it isn't good and you don't need it for movement in Faust.. Other than that, no trick attack from ninja. No crit buff from dragoon.