[Theorycraft] BLM Openers

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03-01-2015, 11:18 AM
Aikaal

[Theorycraft] BLM Openers
I made a lot of calcs recently because I recently started posting FCoB BLM specific guildes and I am one of those who open with Blizzard 3. I got really interesting that from this: Video link

Spreadsheet: Aikaal's Spreadsheet.

If you don't wish to see the video and just get the short details, here's what I got:

Cons with B3:
- Requires a minimum of 22 Piety or higher from your base race stats. If you have 21 Piety you must spec an extra Piety somewhere.
- Requires Scholar in the party.
- Have about 5% chance or not getting the 79 mana tick to be at 3465 mana (I play a dunefolk Lalafell)
Pros for B3:
- Total of 6 Fire casts in your opener while you have voiced foe, raging strikes, potion, trick attack. This is the most important and main reason why I use this opener.
- Longer burst.
- higher chance of procs.
Cons of T2:
- Doesn't utilize raid party buff and it's best.
- Relies on awful rng luck to get an extra proc.
Pros of T2:
- Any race can use it (I understand some people dislike Moon Miqo'tes or Dunefolk Lalas)
- Really good to use if early Flare is requires or double Flares like in T12.
To resume, the only time you will get all the buffs from your raid at the same time. B3 maximizes it without hoping for a lot of procs. It makes your burst longer.

The only and only difference between both of opener is B3 is behind T2 rotation by 1 GCD. This is why in PPS when T2 just cast his B3, this rotation ahead. Because they both have 5 Fire 1 cast at this time. Due to procs and rng, two black mages are bound to have better / worst rng. In the end, it does not matter.

The only thing and the most important thing to learn from what I did is that a 6th Fire will always be beneficial when your bard sings, your ninja trick attack and you have raging strikes and pot.

In a situation after Teraflare for example. I have nothing up and if my bard doesn't have Foe, there's no reason to delay my Fire rotation and I'd open with T1. Hell, I'd probably open with F3 and T1 isn't even great.
03-01-2015, 12:51 PM
Odowla

Just a note, if you're watching the video, remember you are /not/ looking at DPS, but instead in PPS - which is more important in context of this game since ALL damage in the formulas are based off of Potencies.

Higher Potency Per Second = Higher Damage Per Second.
PPS is also essentially "DPS", but you can convert PPS into DPS, but not DPS into PPS.
03-01-2015, 01:16 PM
OneWingedSora

Good stuff. However, I found out that in fights where you might/will get targeted by a mechanic that requires movement(T11 Nerve Gas, T13 Mega Flare, etc.) at the start, It's better to start with F3 so that my swiftcast+flare lines up with the time I might/will be moving. What do you think ?
03-01-2015, 02:20 PM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

Good stuff. However, I found out that in fights where you might/will get targeted by a mechanic that requires movement(T11 Nerve Gas, T13 Mega Flare, etc.) at the start, It's better to start with F3 so that my swiftcast+flare lines up with the time I might/will be moving. What do you think ?

It's true. I open in T12 with T2/F3 because bennu dies too fast. For T11, I simply counter with early Manaward. Stoneskin+Manaward haven't gave me a spell interrupt and in farm content healers told me it's fine to get one stack. Opening with F3 to pair swift flare for movement is something I've never though o: I found other ways to move around :3
03-01-2015, 03:14 PM
OneWingedSora

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aikaal

Snip

I get what you are saying. However, since swiftcast won't be up by the second nerve gas, I save my manaward for that :) It's perfectly fine if your healers are okay with you taking stack(s) though, I just try to minimize the heals on me as much as possible so that the healers can dps more :P
03-01-2015, 03:47 PM
Aikaal

Yeah, it's them that told me it changes nothing for them xD
03-01-2015, 04:41 PM
Skeith-Adeline

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

Good stuff. However, I found out that in fights where you might/will get targeted by a mechanic that requires movement(T11 Nerve Gas, T13 Mega Flare, etc.) at the start, It's better to start with F3 so that my swiftcast+flare lines up with the time I might/will be moving. What do you think ?

If you stand far to the left on the edge of the arena, you can absorb the Nerve Gas without Manaward (1.5k-ish) and save Manaward for the second gas if you don't proc. I stand on the left above Kaliya's foot so I can cast-skate towards the tanks location, and either Manawall the Swipe and Resonance to get another cast (skate back into position) or skate back immediately.

Fire 3 opening has gotten me the greatest results so far, but my group doesn't roll with a Ninja. (Bard, DRG, Monk, BLM). I'll give your video some practice and see how my anecdotal results compare.
03-02-2015, 02:46 PM
Aikaal

I made a small update on the sheet. I added the rotation with T3 opener since many races can use it instead of T2.

I also added a sheet piety guide so you know what opener is available your race!
03-02-2015, 11:23 PM
scarebearz

Sucks that Lalafell Dunefolk are the best BLM race for Int and Pie xD

I badly want the stats, but no way would I play a lala to get them! ;P
03-03-2015, 02:55 AM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarebearz

Sucks that Lalafell Dunefolk are the best BLM race for Int and Pie xD

I badly want the stats, but no way would I play a lala to get them! ;P

When I started this game. I based myself that race didn't matter for a job. Until I tried to maximize my Black Mage. This is a fact lol. My new Piety build I,m testing next week only works for Dunefolk.
03-03-2015, 05:33 AM
OneWingedSora

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarebearz

Sucks that Lalafell Dunefolk are the best BLM race for Int and Pie xD

I badly want the stats, but no way would I play a lala to get them! ;P

Good thing it's Lalas that have the stat boosts. You should be thankful it isn't Roes that have them.
03-03-2015, 05:38 AM
scarebearz

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

Good thing it's Lalas that have the stat boosts. You should be thankful it isn't Roes that have them.

Tbh, I think I'd rather play a roe... xD

But it's a close call on what is worse (imo!) ^^
03-03-2015, 05:38 AM
OneWingedSora

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarebearz

Tbh, I think I'd rather play a roe... xD

But it's a close call on what is worse (imo!) ^^

You are so rude.
03-03-2015, 06:16 AM
scarebearz

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

You are so rude.

Indeed! ^^

Shame you can't pick a race for stats and glamour over it to look like whatever race you like, but would kinda defeat of object of race traits....
03-03-2015, 12:47 PM
alphamax112

Plz stahp this racist talk =P
I can't surpass my friend's BLM DPS (dunesfolk) with my Seeker of the Sun Miqote no matter how hard I try, that was sad T_T
But the funny story is, when I let him play my toon, he did almost the same dps as me :cool:
03-04-2015, 07:42 AM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

Plz stahp this racist talk =P
I can't surpass my friend's BLM DPS (dunesfolk) with my Seeker of the Sun Miqote no matter how hard I try, that was sad T_T
But the funny story is, when I let him play my toon, he did almost the same dps as me :cool:

Race advantage there :3 Cat people are cute and all but they have lower int and piety.
03-04-2015, 09:00 AM
Nyalia

Wildwood Elezens are the better race statwise. Just stick 1 PIE on your relic in place of a spell speed. You've basically just traded +2 spell speed for +1 INT. Totally worth it. And you don't have to be a potato! <_<

(Note that I said you're trading 2 SS for 1 INT because reducing a stat from 44 to 43 at the Novus stage makes you lose a bonus point at the Zodiac stage. Not sure where the cutoffs are for Zeta yet... Still, even trading 3 SS for 1 INT is worth it.)
03-04-2015, 10:47 AM
Aikaal

Haha. It always depends. People consider Lalas potatoes while Elezen are long neck giraffes to me. But yeah, you definitely can balance the piety with off-stats with the relic.
03-04-2015, 11:52 AM
alphamax112

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aikaal

Race advantage there :3 Cat people are cute and all but they have lower int and piety.

yes.. Cats are cute and dumb, low intelligent ;)
That's why ppl prefers dogs

Anyway I still can't get over 920 opener DPS (B3 opener) even with godlike procs and well-timed random MP regen to full after T1.
My party's NIN has a weird opening. His TA lands in my 2nd astral phase. D:
03-04-2015, 12:11 PM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

Anyway I still can't get over 920 opener DPS (B3 opener) even with godlike procs and well-timed random MP regen to full after T1.
My party's NIN has a weird opening. His TA lands in my 2nd astral phase. D:

That's... questionable. Most ninjas in Gilgamesh I questioned all told me they do TA after 4th GCD. That 10% there is was prevents you from breaking 1k+ burst.
03-04-2015, 03:48 PM
Skeith-Adeline

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

yes.. Cats are cute and dumb, low intelligent ;)
That's why ppl prefers dogs

LOL I <3 you for that
03-04-2015, 04:04 PM
alphamax112

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aikaal

That's... questionable. Most ninjas in Gilgamesh I questioned all told me they do TA after 4th GCD. That 10% there is was prevents you from breaking 1k+ burst.

Seems like that xD
I have a question : Does dunesfolks always have enough MP to flare in your B3 opener?
My only options are stick with T2 opener to guarantee the flare, or gamble on the MP regen ticks with B3 opener, or change to dunesfolk LOL
03-05-2015, 03:38 AM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

Seems like that xD
I have a question : Does dunesfolks always have enough MP to flare in your B3 opener?
My only options are stick with T2 opener to guarantee the flare, or gamble on the MP regen ticks with B3 opener, or change to dunesfolk LOL

They do if they have a Scholar. There is a really small chance (5% maybe) that you will be stuck at 3406 mana after B3 > T1 > F3. This is due that you didn't get a mana tick somewhere. The opener isn't perfect and you can't time it since you are not the one opening. I'd need to makes hours and hours of test to get proper % ;;

Also, keeper of the Moon can open with B3 like DUnefolks, they only have lower Intelligence.
03-05-2015, 12:37 PM
alphamax112

Sigh*
Hope Au Ra isn't as dumb as cats xD
03-05-2015, 05:22 PM
Dyne_Fellpool

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

Sigh*
Hope Au Ra isn't as dumb as cats xD

With their lizard brains?
03-05-2015, 05:44 PM
alphamax112

Lizard haz brain? o_O
Anyway, I learned something from you Aikaal-sama, combined with the knowledge I got from Puro-sama, I managed to clear my first T13 as top DPS yesterday, with 30 DPS gap to 2nd top DPS (DRG) and 50 DPS gap to 3rd top DPS (MNK) :cool:
03-05-2015, 11:33 PM
Aikaal

>:D I'm glad to hear. Sounds more successful then my Piety build yesterday xD
03-06-2015, 12:40 AM
OneWingedSora

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphamax112

Lizard haz brain? o_O
Anyway, I learned something from you Aikaal-sama, combined with the knowledge I got from Puro-sama, I managed to clear my first T13 as top DPS yesterday, with 30 DPS gap to 2nd top DPS (DRG) and 50 DPS gap to 3rd top DPS (MNK) :cool:

Getting highest on T13 is easy. But then you would have to sacrifice your Monk's DPS by not leaving the gusts up for them to keep their stacks during Teraflare.

Sometimes I wish our static never had a Monk.
03-06-2015, 08:24 AM
Odowla

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneWingedSora

Getting highest on T13 is easy. But then you would have to sacrifice your Monk's DPS by not leaving the gusts up for them to keep their stacks during Teraflare.

Sometimes I wish our static never had a Monk.

I mean addphase literally does not matter at all. Its a set DPS check - it doesnt matter if you have 15k DPS in that phase or if you have 2180 DPS - if everything dies, that's it. The only way to increase add phase DPS is to push with the 3rd drake spawning after dives.
03-06-2015, 09:53 AM
MrYaah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odowla

I mean addphase literally does not matter at all. Its a set DPS check - it doesnt matter if you have 15k DPS in that phase or if you have 2180 DPS - if everything dies, that's it. The only way to increase add phase DPS is to push with the 3rd drake spawning after dives.

It doesn't matter from a raid dps perspective but it definitely matters for individual dps, if blackmages were suddenly given a flarebuff where instead of dealing 240 potency it just 1hits any add they'd flare all the adds, instantly killing them all, and getting a massive amount of dps for the 3 minute period that is the 3rd phase, everyone else in the group would deal 0 damage during this time, the bard, monk, and dragoon clearly do less dps and the blm clearly does much more dps in this phase, which then translates to decreases / an increase in overall dps, respectively. Blackmages may not get a 1 hit mechanic but they're dealing more of the required damage in the addphase than their teammates because of aoe, if you dont let them hit the gusts their dps goes down in order for everyone else's (particularly the monks) to go up.
03-06-2015, 01:13 PM
alphamax112

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aikaal

>:D I'm glad to hear. Sounds more successful then my Piety build yesterday xD

I'm not dare to try piety build yet xD

I was too confident with the raid wide DPS so I just flare up everything in P3. I was sure we could beat it below 14 minutes mark :cool:
Besides, we still had a Pain wandering around after Terraflare. So I don't think the MNK dropped his GL3
03-06-2015, 04:59 PM
YoloSwaggins

Hey, just a question about your opener and rotation in general;
Do you weave in an off-GCD skill for your last fire in each rotation? Or is the damage increase for an AF3 Fire 3 not worth the dps loss of not getting a firestarter proc/getting an AF1 Fire 3.
03-06-2015, 06:56 PM
AniCelestine

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoloSwaggins

Hey, just a question about your opener and rotation in general;
Do you weave in an off-GCD skill for your last fire in each rotation? Or is the damage increase for an AF3 Fire 3 not worth the dps loss of not getting a firestarter proc/getting an AF1 Fire 3.

Personally when I'm required to blm for our raid's, if I end up getting Firestarter proc on last F1 I will cast T1-> B1-> Transpose->Use firestarter proc. I will cut off B1 if I get the 1st mana tick instantly after B3.

But then again, I'm not main blm and I haven't spent as much time min/maxing my rotations and such as I've spent on mnk, so I could be really off with this.
03-06-2015, 10:19 PM
Skeith-Adeline

Quote:

Originally Posted by AniCelestine

Personally when I'm required to blm for our raid's, if I end up getting Firestarter proc on last F1 I will cast T1-> B1-> Transpose->Use firestarter proc. I will cut off B1 if I get the 1st mana tick instantly after B3.

But then again, I'm not main blm and I haven't spent as much time min/maxing my rotations and such as I've spent on mnk, so I could be really off with this.

Outside of fireweaving with OGCD abilities, that is optimal, to my knowledge.
03-07-2015, 02:41 AM
Aikaal

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoloSwaggins

Hey, just a question about your opener and rotation in general;
Do you weave in an off-GCD skill for your last fire in each rotation? Or is the damage increase for an AF3 Fire 3 not worth the dps loss of not getting a firestarter proc/getting an AF1 Fire 3.

I don't. If I get a proc at my last Fire, I still B3 and I'll use transpose. The only exception is if my last fire I have to move due to megaflare and it happens to be a proc.