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So since playing blm again and finally getting it to 60, I've noticed that thunder is nowhere in the rotation. Was this intentional by the devs or an accidental side effect of enochian? I know thunder IV is in the game as bosses use it so us blm getting it is a real possibility at some point. Can there be a way to salavage the skill and trait we have to make this work? It is a shame thunderstorm procs use a global cd as that's precious seconds that we need for enochian. What do you guys think?
Thunder is definetely in the rotation and you can use the procs to handle mechanics/
Here a great guide and a video that explain itselves :
Aikaal : http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...A-Guide-to-DPS
Lavitz : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL8aIChlyQ8
Rotation in the vid
1. 6 secs before pull: Quelling Strikes > Sharp Cast > Ley Lines > Fire III > Enochian > Fire > Raging Strikes > Potion of
Intelligence > Fire IV > Fire IV > Fire IV > Firestarter > Swiftcast > Fire IV > Convert > Fire IV > Fire IV >
Blizzard III > Blizzard IV
2. Fire III > Fire IV > Fire IV > Fire > Fire IV > Fire IV > Blizzard III > Thunder > Blizzard IV
3. Fire III > Fire IV > Fire IV > Fire > Fire IV > Fire IV > Blizzard III > Thunder > Sharp Cast > Blizzard
4. Fire III > Enochian > Fire > As many Fire IVs you can cast until AF3 is low or you have to move > Firestarter > Finish with Fire IVs until you're out of MP then Blizzard III > Thunder > Blizzard IV
I only cast Thunder I in about half of my ST rotations, but with the increased thundercloud proc rate I probably cast as many thunder spells as I did in 2.x, especially when there's 2-3 mobs out.
Thunder is still important. With the new potency and higher proc rate, Thunder should be up most of the time if done correctly. However, if you have to move, Swiftcast/Sharpcast is your best friend for that sort of thing.
Thundercloud 3 + 12 seconds of ticking is equivalent to a Fire 4
This means you use Thundercloud over Fire4 if: you have sub-12 seconds of Thunder dot left / have no thunder dot up.
You don't use Thundercloud over Fire / Fire3 if your stacks would drop.
Entering Ice with 6 seconds left means you Thunder1 into Blizzard 4
Entering ice sub 6 seconds means you just blizzard 4.
Fitting thunder in means your MP won't always be a nice, even, almost-oom, but it's a damage gain if you do it successfully.
I am by no means a "good" DPS, as I hate doing rotations (I do the basic Lightning > Swiftcast >Fire III > Fire until low MP > Blizzard III > etc). But I do use Lightning all the time. DOT is what I'm all about, it really is needed.