X cannot be used right now

im getting this message like 75% of the time i try to do a Skill its driving me nuts!

also its randomly trowing stones when i have arrows on my quiver!

You aren't throwing stones. You're punching.

X cannot be used is caused by some weird UI lag between you and the server or something. It most often shows up when you hit a lag spike or leave your game client open for a long time. You can tell it's in effect when Multishot's recast shows 0:12 or something after using it instead of 0:15. The icon will light up as normal but you will have to mentally autocorrect for the display discrepancy. It's annoying, but closing the game client (not just logging out, Quit at main menu too) can help reset the delay.

It's been an existing problem for quite some time now, not sure if the fault lies with the game or one's internet connection/PC specs.

my connection is fine (15 down 3/4 up) whats the recommended internet connection then? cause its very annoying!

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Originally Posted by Yoohre_WildRiver

my connection is fine (15 down 3/4 up) whats the recommended internet connection then? cause its very annoying!

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It's less a matter of how much bandwidth you have, and how good your connection is to the server.
You could have 100 up and down, but if there is a ton of traffic between you and the server, or the server is at high volumes, then it won't be any better than 1 up 1 down.
Also latency, time it takes for the data to go from, you > server > you, plays a big part.

High speed is nice, but it's in no way perfect. It's just a fact of life.

I've found the only way to fix the timers being off is to log out of the game completely.

i have found that this only happens on window mode, if i leave the FFXIV window and start using another window lets say google chrome, the UI timer will offset and somtimes when going back to ffxiv window ill get red connection icon and UI is non responsive for like 5 secs the i get green connection ui responds but timers are off.

if you can please confirm this i think it would help devs to know whats causing the issue.

to test try playing full screen for like an houra and see how often if it happens, your timers show the wrong timer. then set windowed mode play, then chose another windows window then back to ffxiv and check timers

I play full screen. I rarely log out, so I think it's happening because I leave the game on all the time. Only way to fix is to completely shut down and restart the game.

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Originally Posted by Yoohre_WildRiver

i have found that this only happens on window mode, if i leave the FFXIV window and start using another window lets say google chrome, the UI timer will offset and somtimes when going back to ffxiv window ill get red connection icon and UI is non responsive for like 5 secs the i get green connection ui responds but timers are off.

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This sounds like an issue with your internet then. I have this issue only because I have shite internet. Not ALL the time but I know exactly what you are describing here. Just because you are told by your ISP that you have X and Y doesn't mean you get X or Y. Read the fine print. No matter WHAT provider you have or type, FiOS, Cable, DSL or Sat, you are only legally gauranteed a certain amount from your provider. I'm not sure what the cap is but I do know from working for both Comcast and Charter, they advertise 16 MB DOWNLOAD, but they will only gaurantee 128k LMFAO! So yeah.

Edit: This really only applies to US ISP providers. In Europe, they have a much better and more consistent network and actually CARE that you get what you pay for or damn close to it. :)

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Originally Posted by SeraviEdalborez

X cannot be used is caused by some weird UI lag between you and the server or something. It most often shows up when you hit a lag spike or leave your game client open for a long time. You can tell it's in effect when Multishot's recast shows 0:12 or something after using it instead of 0:15. The icon will light up as normal but you will have to mentally autocorrect for the display discrepancy. It's annoying, but closing the game client (not just logging out, Quit at main menu too) can help reset the delay.

It's been an existing problem for quite some time now, not sure if the fault lies with the game or one's internet connection/PC specs.

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You probably explained this best. I think this all comes down to the games sever/client issues, and it has little to do with our PC specs or internet connection. It's just something that causes problems to lots of game functions, not just this, and SE needs to fix it. But yes, the best thing you can do is just shut down the game completely.

I've noticed that most of the time that this happens to me is because I am out of arrows and don't even notice it.