Astro or White Mage ?

Hello. I have never played any healer class in FF XIV but in other mmo's I enjoy healing, buffing and generally helping other players while combat. So I thought that maybe I should try something like this in ff ^^

If I found correct information right now there are two classes that can do healing in game (lvl 60 ofc). White Mage and Astro.

I checked their skills and Astro gameplay look in my opinion faster and hmm ... harder or more demanding ?

But how it looks in late game ? Which one is more "fun" and "demanding" to play ?

What are your thoughts ?

Thanks and Cheers !

I recommend playing all 3. You'll need protect and Stoneskin from WHM anyway. If you like a healer/buffer role then AST is for you! I like the same type of role and I main AST. It's a ton of fun!

It's also nice to play all 3 because you'll get to know what skills your concealer will have access to. Like when I run end game my healing buddy is another AST. So I know to watch her buff bar to see what cards she has up. If I see she has an AoE balance ready I know to hang on to my cards so I don't overwrite her balance buff with my arrow buff.

In terms of what the healer jobs break down to,at least to me is:

AST is a good healer with rng support buffs
WHM is raw healing power
SCH is a good healer and adds decent DPS. It even comes with a travel companion

Like I said before, try them all and play the one that you get the most enjoyment out of. Because at the end of the day it's all about having fun and letting annoying people die.

In my opinion, whm is still better than Astro. But Astr will got some change with 3.1.
Astr is fun but the rng is frustrating.

Scholar is also an healer job :)

AST/SCH are both more fun to level IMO but WHM is prob the most challenging/rewarding true healing experience in end game content after all is said and done. Having to push your raw healing to the max so that your AST/SCH partner can max support/dps.

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Originally Posted by echoica

AST/SCH are both more fun to level IMO but WHM is prob the most challenging/rewarding true healing experience in end game content after all is said and done. Having to push your raw healing to the max so that your AST/SCH partner can max support/dps.

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Actually, AST in end game generally takes the place of the WHM as the main healer...and it does it quite well.

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Originally Posted by Lastelli

Actually, AST in end game generally takes the place of the WHM as the main healer...and it does it quite well.

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The 4 high end progression FC's on the two servers I play used white mage+scholar with only one of the free companies using an astro+white mage. Even after the buffs until a FC has sufficiently outgeared the content white mage was used quite well. I do think 3.1 will see nerfs for the astrologian most likely synastry.

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Originally Posted by Vlady

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AST+SCH is more effective than AST+WHM from a dps perspective (which is all that really matters), if the leaderboad is any indication.
WHM+AST can be done, but you have to forgo the fairy and the reliable dps of the SCH, which is why the more difficult turns (A3S and A4S) typically have AST+SCH. The best combo is still WHM+SCH according to most raiders because of how well they work togheter, but AST can now substitute the WHM as the main healer thanks to the recent buffs. And I don't think AST will be nerfed, but who knows...you kept saying that the AST was fine and didn't need any buff, so I can't really take you seriously, sorry.

At the end of the day, the healers will play more or less the same. Ideally, you would play both, but if you are really worried about playstyle... here's a few of the nuances. None of them are very big, but this is my 2 cents from leveling all 3.

White Mage
Strong heals, which get 30% stronger with the right buff.
Great burst damage, especially with AoE.
Highest raw healing power of all the healers.
Cross-class provides additional damage mitigation.
Raid healer (heals party, not usually the tank)

Astrologian
Strong heals and teams reasonably well with White Mage, Scholar, or Astrologian.
Buffs provide unique form of DPS contribution, but require a very strong understanding of other classes to be effective.
Random element with card draws prevents planning, but follows the standard healer mechanic of using the best tools at any given time and on-the-fly improvisation.
Requires very careful MP planning, as you have the most variable MP recovery mechanics.
Much more mobile healer with many instant casts for mobile healing or burst healing.
Raid healer usually

Scholar
Mediocre heals but doubles effective hp healed with shields and HP buffers (enemies have to do X damage to break through buffers before you take HP damage).
Heals are augmented by a fairy that provides free healing.
Very MP efficient. So it forgives overhealing and other errors that may lead to a wipe.
Great single target damage.
Relatively slow to start, so burst damage is difficult until later.
Very strong damage mitigation utilities (barriers, % damage reduction, enemy damage debuffs)
Very tactical gameplay as you manage limited resources (aetherflow and CDs) for biggest heals and a secondary healer (your fairy)
Main healer (usually heals the main tank).

Hope this was useful. Tell us which healer you decide to try out first, or if you have any more questions.

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Originally Posted by Lastelli

AST+SCH is more effective than AST+WHM from a dps perspective (which is all that really matters), if the leaderboad is any indication.
WHM+AST can be done, but you have to forgo the fairy and the reliable dps of the SCH, which is why the more difficult turns (A3S and A4S) typically have AST+SCH. The best combo is still WHM+SCH according to most raiders because of how well they work togheter, but AST can now substitute the WHM as the main healer thanks to the recent buffs. And I don't think AST will be nerfed, but who knows...you kept saying that the AST was fine and didn't need any buff, so I can't really take you seriously, sorry.

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Well the issue is now that astrologians have been over compensated so a few nerfs is inevitable. White mage should retain its dominance as the strongest of the healers and if you yourself now claim that astrologian is equal to the white mage that is an issue. With Synastry and our buffs from a few months back then it tips it back in favor of the astrologian. And do not be worried I am always serious so thank you for the concern.