Fluid Aura

Having a 50 WHM I can see why this ability is nice. But it is often used improperly. What I see is WHM's most but not all will use this ability as a dps move. But what it does is slow down the overall group dps. If you want to fluid aura then sleep by all means but wait until after the first flash or overpower. But if you want to dps and use it. Then you are not only screwing over the tank and his threat generation but any melee dps who you just knocked out of their reach and potentially messed with their rotation.

Thank you for all the heals.

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Originally Posted by Wintersandman

Having a 50 WHM I can see why this ability is nice. But it is often used improperly. What I see is WHM's most but not all will use this ability as a dps move. But what it does is slow down the overall group dps. If you want to fluid aura then sleep by all means but wait until after the first flash or overpower. But if you want to dps and use it. Then you are not only screwing over the tank and his threat generation but any melee dps who you just knocked out of their reach and potentially messed with their rotation.

Thank you for all the heals.

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It's a bother even for BLM who since they could a) make aoe and you move the target out of danger 2) they could have that mob as targeto for aoe so make the whole bunch safe c) push the mob out of sight for him making him loose spells

To sum it up: Don't use that

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Originally Posted by LetBloodline

It's a bother even for BLM who since they could a) make aoe and you move the target out of danger 2) they could have that mob as targeto for aoe so make the whole bunch safe c) push the mob out of sight for him making him loose spells

To sum it up: Don't use that

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I am glad it is just not melee!.

You are right, it shouldn't be used as a dps ability on trash (bosses are different), but to say it shouldn't be used at all is silly.

The tanks I run with know that if they lose an enemy its going to be pushed right back to them with fluid aura. If I don't want the tank taking anymore damage, I sidestep the mob and push it away from the tank to set it up for a sleep.

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Originally Posted by bdp12

You are right, it shouldn't be used as a dps ability on trash (bosses are different), but to say it shouldn't be used at all is silly.

The tanks I run with know that if they lose an enemy its going to be pushed right back to them with fluid aura. If I don't want the tank taking anymore damage, I sidestep the mob and push it away from the tank to set it up for a sleep.

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I never stated that and even the BLM would agree your approach would even benefit his concerns above. But that is rare that it is actually used for this. Having leveled Gladiator, Marauder, and Lancer... it is very rare to see this. I have seen one WHM who would use it then sleep but from my experience it is mainly used as a dps move. It's just as bad as the summoners who run up on a group and let Garuda do the same thing.

This really hinders a group and I don't see the point behind it.

It's just plain WRONG to do that if melee are hitting on a mob, whether it's the main tank, or OT/other melee damage dealer, as well as bug...ahem messing up peoples rotations! As a WHM, I use it to push mobs away/sleep them when soloing if I pull too much aggro, or a DF group is going horribly wrong, or the tank instructs me to use it. Bdp12 is correct, that's a useful manouvere (sp?) too, but otherwise...no, just no >.> As bad as when someone doesn't set Carby to obey and she uses her knockback :p Which is what I did on ARC, I felt so ashamed >.< And apologised profusely.

WTS degree in effective Fluid Aura usage: 1,000,000 Gil =D

All joking aside, I agree, I wish more people knew how to use Fluid Aura effectively instead of spamming it with impunity.

Last night, I had a healer doing that, which I much appreciated. Problem is that when they sent the mob flying and put it to sleep, I instantly woke it right back up because I was a MRD and I was using Overpower to hold enmity. I don't know if it would have helped, but they could have saved some magic by not sleeping the mob. She or he did a lot of putting stuff to sleep, but my overpower woke it right back up. In my experience, I think the use of Aura correctly has been about 50/50. I had one healer doing it, and I had the aggro AND I was already beating on the target. I had to chase it across the room and behind a rock.

As a healer, I use it to send a mob to the tank. Hopefully, I don't overshoot or miss. It never crossed my mind to push a mob off and sleep it. Will have to try that.

Use Cleric Stance + Fluid Aura as a finisher on trash, or spam it on bosses and other things that can't be knocked back. I don't understand how people can mess up with something so simple.

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Originally Posted by EricCartmenez

Problem is that when they sent the mob flying and put it to sleep, I instantly woke it right back up because I was a MRD and I was using Overpower to hold enmity.

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The WHM is doing it wrong. If the intent of the fluid aura is to set up a sleep, they need to push the mob away from you so you can continue your rotation without breaking the sleep.

This is just something that comes down to player communication really. Most CNJ/WHM I get in low level roulette stop if I (politely) ask them to.

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Originally Posted by Estellios

This is just something that comes down to player communication really. Most CNJ/WHM I get in low level roulette stop if I (politely) ask them to.

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This. Some think they're helping and when they find out they aren't really, they stop.

If I WHM in a lower level and get a mob, I'll FA them, sleep and tack on an aero. But only if told the tank that's my plan should I pull a mob. That way they won't need to worry. Otherwise, I'll run the mob back to them.

I always thought Fluid Aura was purely for soloing survival. Stone 1 + Aero at max range to Heavy enemy, Stone 2 until it trudges close enough to Fluid Aura so they don't get an attack in, continue Stone 2 spam until dead.

In groups, I only use it on bosses. If I got aggro, I just ran back to the tank because it's more visually noticable what the intent is, rather than the instant knockback that he might not be expecting.

I can't say whether I enjoy the fact that it force yields the chocobo, since sometimes I Fluid Aura just to continue on my way past an enemy. Having the chocobo stop to fight would be annoying, but it's equally annoying when I'm fighting something, I use the skill and Skittles is like "......erm, you wanted me to stop, boss?"

As for sleeping enemies, discussing that is about as important as deciding on loot rules at the beginning. Everyone might have a different opinion.

I love fluid aura. Nothing more satisfying than shoving the flan boss in The Wanderer's Palace on unsuspecting DPS.

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Originally Posted by Pharmacies

I love fluid aura. Nothing more satisfying than shoving the flan boss in The Wanderer's Palace on unsuspecting DPS.

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I recall the other day, Garuda-egi pushed the flan to the healer and killed her. ^^;

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Originally Posted by Pharmacies

I love fluid aura. Nothing more satisfying than shoving the flan boss in The Wanderer's Palace on unsuspecting DPS.

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How to correctly use it on the boss.
After it targets someone wait for it to start casting fire, then fluid aura it so that you interrupt its fire cast. As it gets knocked back it will then ready it's amorphic flail thus using it while it is still bound = hitting no one. So....
Imo ppl r just too dumb to know how to use it till someone posts a vid about it. Cough cough T9.
No innovated thinking going on anymore.

your excatly right OP.
I also hate it when WHM use fluid aura in liveEX when I have to stun "as OT" that ugly Fish Mage to stop hysteria! plus it misses up dps espcially for melee group.

List of fluid aura uses (and misuses):

1. To push over-aggroed mob back to tank (to push already properly held mob away from tank)
- trash
<note on the fluid aura -> sleep combo: how about communicating with your group on kill order, as in AoE or not to AoE, instead of convoluted plans like this? slept mobs do not generate healing aggro>

2. To last hit a movable mob (to guarantee AoEs fail or make melee DPSes chase after mob with >5% HP)
-trash

3. To DPS unmovable mobs or when solo-ing (not using it?)
-some trash and most bosses

4. For planned/ emergency skill interrupts (failed to properly assess situation)
- WP pudding (badly aimed fluid aura, hilariously onto a very nearby wall and off-ing yourself)
- Levi EX mage (doing it when the mob is not casting any fear skill and/ or PLD still has remaining stuns)
- T9 blue golem (bad communication)
- Special mobs in Pharos Sirius

Don't even have Fluid Aura on my bars for my White Mage.

I'm typically a SCH, but recently got into tanking with MRD. In one of my lowbie dungeons there was a WHM that loved the move so much that he would use it everytime it was up. I couldn't tell if he was just teasing me by using it or if he was using it as a dps move. I am unsure if new WHMs understand the concept behind this move. I started healing on WHM and got it to lv50 before I even touched SCH. The ONLY two times I'd even touch that button would be A.) If I pulled threat and didn't have time to react with a simple sleep (Fluid Aura + Sleep = Living WHM B.) Sometimes I'd use Fluid Aura to bounce loose mobs back towards the tank, or push them away from the group for a follow-up Sleep. Using this move for anything other than that isn't a good idea IMO, but it was a lowbie dungeon and everyone was safe so I didn't mind letting the WHM have their fun.

Well, typically new players don't understand the concepts of partying and enmity and such when they first go into the starter dungeons. If they started out as a healer or other ranged class chances are they don't get how annoying it is when something is out of range since they haven't experienced it, and they may also not realize how important it is for the tank to be able to keep all the enemies under control.

I consider it mostly an utility spell more than anything you would set in a dps rotation. The bind is useful solo, but the most useful use is its knockback.

The knockback is an interupt for most aoe attacks and can be used to prevent damage on tunnel-visioned dps. In more experienced groups, you can use it to position ranged mobs to the tank for speedrun pulls (e.g. launching dzaemel bogeys in to crystal-shielded areas) or to escape aoes (e.g. pushing enemies out of falling crystals/gas aoe in pharos).

The repel and bind/sleep tactic is most often used in solo play, but you can also use it to set aside a specific enemy you don't want to fight if it wonders too close (e.g. garuda ex's spiny plume).

Good to use on Titan's gaols.

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Originally Posted by bdp12

The WHM is doing it wrong. If the intent of the fluid aura is to set up a sleep, they need to push the mob away from you so you can continue your rotation without breaking the sleep.

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If you have time to set this up, your tank is obviously not taking so much damage that it's a problem.

All you're doing by shoving mobs out of the group is drawing out the amount of time it takes to clear that pull.

Seriously, Fluid Aura should be a panic button. Leave the mobs with the tanks. -.-

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Originally Posted by Anova

The repel and bind/sleep tactic is most often used in solo play, but you can also use it to set aside a specific enemy you don't want to fight if it wonders too close (e.g. garuda ex's spiny plume).

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Er. Please don't push the plume off the OT. Seriously. We have enough trouble trying to keep it away from marauding BRD and BLM without people shoving the damn thing around... :s

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

If you have time to set this up,

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You mean press two buttons?

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

All you're doing by shoving mobs out of the group is drawing out the amount of time it takes to clear that pull.

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If everyone is geared up then yes, but if I'm healing Haukke Manor and the Paladin tank has a level 10 shield (it happens), then the group will certainly clear more slowly if I have to roll cures. I would much rather sleep a mob and contribute to the dps, so we can get this low level roulette over with.

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Originally Posted by bdp12

If everyone is geared up then yes, but if I'm healing Haukke Manor and the Paladin tank has a level 10 shield (it happens), then the group will certainly clear more slowly if I have to roll cures. I would much rather sleep a mob and contribute to the dps, so we can get this low level roulette over with.

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I don't have a problem with that. I guess my problem with fluid aura is that most WHM don't seem to know when not to use it. Undergeared tank? Okay, I can give you that. I can totally see it being useful if they aren't already taking such heavy damage that you're reduced to cure spamming. I run an i99 paladin and I've had WHMs do this to me though, which is nothing short of utterly stupid. In that case, you're not helping. You're just removing a mob from my control and pushing it out of the dps area so we all have to chase it.

I don't even necessarily like seeing them use it on mobs that are actually hitting them because more often than not they push it out of range for me to grab aggro on it, so they've only delayed the inevitable. If you're getting hit, the best thing to do is bring me the mob (intelligently of course, don't go standing in a cone aoe or anything) and I'll be happy to take aggro off you. If you die, I die and I like to prevent as much of that as possible.

I use Fluid Aura for 3 purposes. If I'm soloing I use it as a finisher or if I get aggro. I use it in DF only if I got aggro and I want to push it back toward the tank. I also use if I'm kiting. Other than that I don't use Fluid Aura to DPS..WHMs should only be using Aero and Stone 1 to DPS, unless you are soloing or in a good group.... mana conservation ppl!! A little bit off subject but does anyone else use Shadowbind on BRD when a mob is headed toward the healer? I try all the time but never seen it happen when I'm healing...

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

I run an i99 paladin.

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Can I do my roulettes with you then? I will take fluid aura off my hotbar, I promise.

I usually only use it on mobs I know won't get tossed back, like the big ones and bosses.

On bosses I use this single target roation

Aero II->Aero->Swiftcast->Holy->Fluid Aura->Stone II spam until Aeros need to be put up again, then skipping SC+Holy until it's up again.

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

I don't even necessarily like seeing them use it on mobs that are actually hitting them because more often than not they push it out of range for me to grab aggro on it, so they've only delayed the inevitable. If you're getting hit, the best thing to do is bring me the mob (intelligently of course, don't go standing in a cone aoe or anything) and I'll be happy to take aggro off you. If you die, I die and I like to prevent as much of that as possible.

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I understand this. I've just been burned so many times by tanks who don't try to get back (or can't) regain enmity that the casting of fluid aura is almost Pavlovian. If a tank tells me to knock it off, I will.

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Originally Posted by Ashkendor

Er. Please don't push the plume off the OT. Seriously. We have enough trouble trying to keep it away from marauding BRD and BLM without people shoving the damn thing around... :s

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Was thinking more along the lines of if the OT wasn't grabbing it, so it latched on someone in the kill zone, and you needed to get it out fast. Definitely a situational thing, but not to take it off the OT. Sorry if that was misunderstood.

It definitely requires some finesse to use effectively, which is why it's not in a rotation and is considered situational.

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Originally Posted by Rombus

Other than that I don't use Fluid Aura to DPS..WHMs should only be using Aero and Stone 1 to DPS, unless you are soloing or in a good group....mana conservation ppl!!

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You realise Fluid Aura is effectively a free Stone (II) every 30 seconds, right? No MP cost and oGCD, use immediately after applying Aero. If you're DPSing, Fluid Aura should always be on cooldown, provided whatever it is you're killing can't be knocked back (pretty much every boss in the game).

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Originally Posted by bdp12

Can I do my roulettes with you then? I will take fluid aura off my hotbar, I promise.

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Ehe. I roulette with my FC, though I frequently do several sets a day to help people out. The extra myth is nice for alexandrite maps, which are eating a ton of it daily. I'm on Sargatanas though, so... >.<

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Originally Posted by bdp12

I understand this. I've just been burned so many times by tanks who don't try to get back (or can't) regain enmity that the casting of fluid aura is almost Pavlovian. If a tank tells me to knock it off, I will.

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Ha yeah... I guess there's always the other side to it. I know as healer the first thing I do is run to the tank when I get hit, but that's because I main tank and I know that's the proper response. If the tank doesn't do anything about it, then I kite like hell until either a dps bails me out, I die, or the mob dies. The terrible part is that I primarily play Scholar, so I'm not very well equipped to bail myself out. About the best I can do is slow it down with Miasma, lol.

Use them for killshots. That is all.

I love fluid aura on boss fights assuming I'll be opening with a bit of dps. Take the second boss in bray for example. I always open with this;
Pre SS tank ran with him to boss cast fluid aura, aero 1 and 2, then stone 2 and recast SS as it will always fall off around the time of your finished cast.