Gonna reach out for some SMN advice

I know how bad this will make me look no doubt, but I want to ask about speciafically how you are supposed to play a Summoner.

Im at 50, so im mostly endgame stuff plus trying out the PVP, but I always feel like I am doing something wrong, and especially on PVP I always have the lowest damage output, only normally a little higher than the healer, which is obviously really bad.

So without stating the obvious that im bad, or a noob or whatever, can anyone please help me out here?

Without going too in depth....for PvE your rotations are:

Single target:
DoTs -> Bane -> Ruin (Ruin II if moving) -> MOAR DoTs!

AOE:
DoTs -> Fester -> Miasma II -> Blizz II

Use Garuda. Make sure you're using your damage cooldowns (Raging Strikes, Rouse). Your DoTs snapshot, so make sure you cast them while under Raging Strikes effect.

But that is almost identical to what I am doing now, and it just doesnt seem to work. I mean I love playing as a Summoner, but I hate feeling like if I play with any other players that im just letting them down, or holding them back.

How are you comparing damage? Parser? I just did CT and a guy was parsing. My SMN was at 23k with everyone else up around 30k to 45k. However, when he added in my pets dps, it jumped to 41k, and I was 2nd in overall. Make sure you are taking into account pet damage as well.

I never thought of considering that, but even still I always feel weaker than everyone else. But I at least hadnt thought about the pets damage output, so that is something for me to at least consider.

Not sure if troll, but if you are genuine short answer is your gear.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Archona

Without going too in depth....for PvE your rotations are:

Single target:
DoTs -> Bane -> Ruin (Ruin II if moving) -> MOAR DoTs!

AOE:
DoTs -> Fester -> Miasma II -> Blizz II

Use Garuda. Make sure you're using your damage cooldowns (Raging Strikes, Rouse). Your DoTs snapshot, so make sure you cast them while under Raging Strikes effect.

---

Huh? Fester works much better for single target and Bane is Better for AoE.

OP:As long as your rotation in Bio II, Miasma, Bio you should be fine for DPS. Shadow Flare and Tri-Disaster are great for crowd control but are somewhat situational - you don't want to pull 6-7 mobs off the tank. In PvP you should apply binds after you have all your DoTs up (Bio II > Miasma > Bio > Bane > Swiftcast/Surecast > Tri-Disaster), though I don't PvP so I'm sure I'll get at least one other summoner telling me my rotation is sub-par :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vinroke

Huh? Fester works much better for single target and Bane is Better for AoE.

OP:As long as your rotation in Bio II, Miasma, Bio you should be fine for DPS. Shadow Flare and Tri-Disaster are great for crowd control but are somewhat situational - you don't want to pull 6-7 mobs off the tank. In PvP you should apply binds after you have all your DoTs up (Bio II > Miasma > Bio > Bane > Swiftcast/Surecast > Tri-Disaster), though I don't PvP so I'm sure I'll get at least one other summoner telling my rotation is sub-par :p

---

I might just have the names switched in my head >_>

No im not trolling, im trying to be better at the game if I can, and who knows, it might be my gear.

But I seem to be doing everything the same as people here are saying.

Odd.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Balphagor_

No im not trolling, im trying to be better at the game if I can, and who knows, it might be my gear.

But I seem to be doing everything the same as people here are saying.

Odd.

---

What is your current gear? AF? You might want to stick on couple pieces of DL or i60 stuff, haven't tried the other Hard Modes but Copperbell drops good loot if you've only recently got to 50 and has the bonus of having myth tomes (1 more week and I get my i90 SMN doublet)

keep shadow flare down

use garuda if you are not and manually do contaigion

keep rouse and spur on cd

And we have a whole DPS section on the forums, doubtlessly featuring SMN discussion.

In PvE: Bio II, Miasma, Bio. If fighting multiple mobs, Bane. If fighting multiple mobs that will take a while to kill, Contagion, wait for it to go off, THEN Bane. Shadowflare helps too, if you don't mind the ground AoE (there are certain situations where you won't want to damage certain monsters, so use it wisely). Remember to Miasma II if you are near the mob or trying to meet a dps check (AoE around self). Your main 'burst' is Fester. On many fights, you can throw it off on cooldown... on some fights, you will want to be more strategic about when you use it. (Example: if something spawns and you need to kill it fast, make sure you have DoTs up on the main mob, Bane, then Fester the new mob. Instant 700+ damage.) If you don't have Raging Strikes, level Bard to get it. It's very helpful for dps checks. Use Energy drain if and only if you are really hurting for mp, or you already used fester, are waiting on the cooldown, and you know something has to die FAST.

Handling your pet: The 'go to' pet in PvE for summoner is Garuda. For the best output, you will want to micromanage her by telling her to attack using 'Obey'. Then, you can tell her exactly when you WANT her to use Contagion. You have two pet damage buffs and Enkindle. If there isn't a particular time you MUST use them, pop them off on cooldown. Keep in mind that Enkindle is an AoE.

If you are following all of these rules and your damage is STILL low... it is probably your gear, or your parser is not very good. Don't forget that Garuda adds on 50-60 dps.

In PvP: The most 'annoying' ability you have is Miasma and Miasma II. It nerfs hp recovered by 50% (it's a good way to annoy those healers!). Bio is instant, so I usually throw Bio at someone, then Miasma, then Bio II. (The opposite of what I do in PvE, oddly enough). In PvP, many summoners prefer to use Ifrit because he has the ability to stun... and his 'physical' damage WILL interrupt spellcasters. I usually throw him at a caster target (usually blm/smn) to be a pain. If you are going to use Enkindle in PvP, make sure to pop "Rouse" first (it breaks your pet out of cc's). Another thing I would like to note in PvP... summoners are currently seen as a big threat and a class that will be 'nerfed' in some way in the future. Therefor, you do not want to just be 'out in the open'. Know where your healer is at all times. Some Scholars like to 'park' their fairy in a convenient location, so you can run to it for auto-heals.

I think I know what you mean. I am a former lv 50 whm and am leveling up a summoner.

The thing with a smn is that they are dot specialists. You probably won't be able to kill a single enemy as quickly as a blm or a cleric stance whm, but you still have the same dmg output. Instead of a quick death you deliver a slow one. Plus you have a pet to help out! On pvp I usually rank 2nd in dmg inflicted.

I noticed they make good crowd control + support for tank and healers.

There is also a very useful guide in the dps section too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryuko

-snip-

---

Miasma II should only be used on a single target if you plan to use contagion on it. Otherwise a single Ruin/Ruin II is more damage for the GCD. Two or more targets though, go for it.

I recently wrote a guide on Summoner, you might want to look it over, it should help give you an idea of what you can do to improve yourself ^^

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...mmoner-A-Guide

Thank you everyone for the help/advice, and I shall take a look at your guide Sol.