Summoner rotation check

I am sure I am doing this wrong. I looked at a bunch of guides and watched videos, and the optimal rotations are different from one to the next. Plus I learn better by actually talking through stuff so here goes.

Basically, this is what I am doing on Summoner at Lev 90. Can I get some verification that this is good or tips on what to do better? I don't need to be perfect because I am just getting back into the game after a couple years off, but I want to be good so I can get better as it all becomes muscle memory.

I use summon Bahamut when it is up and searing light. Then I use my (the replacement abilities) Enkindle, Astral Flow and Ruin (tri-disaster if AOE) abilities and weave in energy drain (Siphon for AOE) and weave Fester between Ruin/Tri.

Then when bahamut is done, I go through my other summons. During Titan, I use gemshine (PB instead for AOE)-mountain buster-gemshine-mountain buster-gemshine.mountain buster

During Garuda, I usually just spam gemshine ability bc it is instant cast until the charges are out then use the slipstream to exit Garuda. If AOE I spam the Precious Brilliance instead of Gemshine.

During Ifrit, I usually spam gemshine on single and Crimson Cyclone of AOE. If I don't want to be close, I will spam PB instead.

Then during Firebird, I basically do the same as I do with Bahamut.

Does this all sound right? Should I be doing something different inside of my summon windows?

Thanks in advance for the info.

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Originally Posted by Kuomaii

During Ifrit, I usually spam gemshine on single and Crimson Cyclone of AOE. If I don't want to be close, I will spam PB instead.

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I assume you mean RuinIII instead of PB here, Precious Brilliance is just the AOE version of Gemshine, but if you don't want to be close you should be changing when you summon Ifrit so you can get close. Cases where you straight up can't use Crimson Cyclone at all are really rare. You can also use RuinIV and one RuinIII/Tri-disaster to delay it if needed.

Similarly you want to make sure the puddle Slipstream leaves gets to hit the target for the full duration, which means you want to change when to use Garuda if the target moves a lot when you normally use it.

The main, if not only challenge with EW SMN is figuring out what order you should be using your gem summons based on the fight.

This is why I wanted to do this here. I didn't even know slipstream had a puddle lol. Thanks for the info!

My SMN opener runs Ruin 3 (Optional pre-pull cast) > Searing Light > Energy Drain > Primary Summon > Astral Flow > Enkindle > Fester > Ruin 4 > Fester > Ruin until secondary summon. In dungeons I'll usually go Titan or Garuda first for their instant casts in pulls, I've also taken to using swift for Garuda's Slipstream. I have also noticed that I semi-frequently manage to skip at least part of a secondary summon, in which case it's better to keep your primary summon cooldown in line with Searing Light.

Unless you are in a static with extremely dependable folks, I would strongly advise for not using Swiftcast rotationally, and rather let it sit there unused. Clutch instant rezz is the difference between a clear and a wipe.

right, you only really use swiftcast if you need to, like when you have to move for any of the 3 long casts or if you need to get the slipstream puddle down asap (putting it down 3s earlier means it ends 3s earlier). The one use of ruinIII or ruinIV can be used for weaving it during Ifrit phase.

Also since Summon Bahamut/Phoenix takes a gcd with no potency it's better to use Searing Light after so you get to fit more damage into it. Think the standard opener does it after 1 Astral Impulse for better party buff alignment

So if I am in a boss fight, during Ifrit, should I be using Crimson Cyclone when it is up and gemshine spam when it isn't? Or should I just straight hardcast the Gemshine ability since it hits pretty hard? Then on AOE the same thing except with Precious Brilliance? I am not really using ruin for anything during the small summons right? And I only use it during Firebird and Bahamut because it turns into something else right?

Generally you should be using all gemshine/brilliances and the astral flow move for each gem summon, then still have time to fit a plain ruinIII and ruinIV in before Summon Bahamut/Phoenix come off cooldown.

You can use Crimson Cyclone any time after you summon Ifrit and before you summon anything else. You always have to use Crimson Strike after Crimson Cyclone but otherwise you can do them in any order and insert Ruin III and Ruin IV if needed.
so for example you can do stuff like:

Summon Ifrit > Ruby Rite > Crimson Cyclone > Crimson Strike > Ruby Rite
Summon Ifrit > Crimson Cyclone > Crimson Strike > Ruby Rite > Ruin IV > Ruby Rite
Summon Ifrit > Ruin III > Swiftcast > Ruby Rite > Ruin IV > Crimson Cyclone > Crimson Strike > Ruby Rite

Same applies to the Titan/Garuda, though there isn't really any reason to put anything inbetween for Titan.

EDIT: noticed you can actually put a spell between Crimson Strike. Could've sworn it didn't work like that in the past...

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Originally Posted by Kuomaii

So if I am in a boss fight, during Ifrit, should I be using Crimson Cyclone when it is up and gemshine spam when it isn't? Or should I just straight hardcast the Gemshine ability since it hits pretty hard? Then on AOE the same thing except with Precious Brilliance? I am not really using ruin for anything during the small summons right? And I only use it during Firebird and Bahamut because it turns into something else right?

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Exactly, the Gemshine-transformations (Ruby/Emerald/Topaz Ruin) effectively replace Ruin III as your "filler" during the minor summons.

The one that can be tricky is Ifrit's, yet you still want to just do those two Gemshine casts + the 1-2 combo of Crimson Cycline during it. You can use Ruin IV during Ifrit for emergency movement, otherwise you'll use it after all 3 minors are done in the few seconds before the next major summon can be done.

Effectively your "filler" between major summons is:

* Ifrit+Garuda+Titan in any order that fits the fight best (owing to Ifrit having two casts and Garuda one). If it's all the same usually T->G->I, but again fights and when you have to move have 100% priority here.
* During each of those, use their 2 or 4 gemshine charges, and use their special abilities. For Garuda's special and Ifrit's gemshines, they might have to be moved earlier or later depending on when you can stand still for a cast, since each also offers instant GCDs.
* This leaves you with just two (or one) GCDs until the next major summon. Use one Ruin III, and one Ruin IV (if not used earlier during Ifrit for movement). Then you go into the next Bahamut/TemuBahamut/Phoenix already.

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Originally Posted by Azurarok

Also since Summon Bahamut/Phoenix takes a gcd with no potency it's better to use Searing Light after so you get to fit more damage into it.

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Thanks for this, I didn't know that primary summons had no potency, guess I need to read tooltips better.

EDIT: Also seconding the recommendation to hold swift for manoeuvre/raise unless you're confident you're going to clear. I only play SMN in normal content so it doesn't matter that much.