Tips for SCH? :)

Hi all,
I'm about to hit 50 on my scholar and I was wondering what kind of things I should be doing to be better at the job. (In simple language, please, I'm not very experienced with MMOs. :o)

Anticipation. This is your bestfriend as a sch, since you're mainly working with shields. Also, be used to dps when you do not need to heal. Also trust in your fairy and use it optimally. ( control it of course).
And go hit 54 asap for broiiiiiil <3

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Originally Posted by tENAxc

Hi all,
I'm about to hit 50 on my scholar and I was wondering what kind of things I should be doing to be better at the job. (In simple language, please, I'm not very experienced with MMOs. :o)

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5 minute break from work. The single most effective thing you can do as a scholar:

Embrace. Spam it. Every second that it's not on cd, be using it. She normally won't trigger unless the target is below 80%. If you can get used to keeping embrace active, you'll be a more effective healer. This also caveats it's way into being a better dps, if you choose to take that SCH lifestyle.

Other important things:
1) Use your weave time. If you're in cleric stance and need to lustrate or idom, Ruin II, cs off, lustrate, cs on, back to dpsing.

2) Make room for pots. It's your free dps boost. Your fairy gets the mind bonus to heal with too, so it's great for openers.

3) Use a warrior like a slave in 8 man content that begin with AoE (think sephirot). His defiance and conva give you +40% shield, along with a monks mantra and you're up to 60%. A +60% crit shield lets your healing partner get out a full opener.Tanks aren't the brightest bunch all the time, so ask nicely. .~.

4) Treat virus like a heal(or shield). This is your old lustrate. You can be in cleric stance and still gain wonderful mitigation at no loss. Just make sure antibody isn't up.

5) Sprint is your best friend ever! In dungeons, As the last mob is about to die and you can't fit in another GCD, instead of Ruin II'ing the overkill, you can Stoneskin, then Adlo the tank for the next pull, or Stoneskin, Sprint a distance ahead, but not near mobs, then adlo. You want Adlo applied last, because it will fall off first from slow tanks. If your tank is too quick for you to Stoneskin between pulls, just adlo. :O


That's just a few things! Gotta go back. :3

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Originally Posted by Rawrz

Embrace. Spam it. Every second that it's not on cd, be using it. She normally won't trigger unless the target is below 80%. If you can get used to keeping embrace active, you'll be a more effective healer. This also caveats it's way into being a better dps, if you choose to take that SCH lifestyle.

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Can you (or an experienced SCH) elaborate a bit more on this? Coming from someone that mainly plays DPS classes, I felt so lost when manually controlling the faerie. Eos/Selene would sometimes take their time casting embrace because they were still moving. Using Embrace felt so lagged.

What are good practices to get used to this constant manual control of Eos and Selene? I would really like to get accustomed to having full manual control of them instead of leaving them on automatic.

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Originally Posted by Tanama

Can you (or an experienced SCH) elaborate a bit more on this? Coming from someone that mainly plays DPS classes, I felt so lost when manually controlling the faerie. Eos/Selene would sometimes take their time casting embrace because they were still moving. Using Embrace felt so lagged.

What are good practices to get used to this constant manual control of Eos and Selene? I would really like to get accustomed to having full manual control of them instead of leaving them on automatic.

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Place her, if its a boss fight and if you can remember to move her after, you can place her during trash. She won't try to move to keep up with you, if you have her sitting somewhere, so embrace won't be delayed. It takes a while to get used to calling her back. When I sprint, without a target, she is removed from place and follows me.

Allot of PC players swear by Mouse Over macros as an option, so I'm sure someone will bring that up. I use 2 Macros to heal tank 1 and tank 2. I have an untargeted Embrace as well, but if i see a dps is low on health, Ill stop commanding her for a Global Cool down and she'll pick up the DPS. (If not it might be time to pop an indom if multiple dps are low.) Its very easy to hit a button, while you're casting Broil or another cast bar skill (Honestly you can do it, while still weaving in Energy Drains, between Bio and Aero.) Thats how I deal with it. I'm also on PS4.

Also remember, the more Eos/Selene Embraces, the higher chance she'll proc the 20% enhanced pet actions buff and increase your SS. Any extra DPS counts. :)

As an extension to Rwar's post, here's a guide another poster made on the healer OF some time ago that might be a good reference point for macro'ing a Fairy.

I'm personally also a fan of a macro that constantly uses Embrace "tank 1" or "tank 2" and a third macro that is a single use Embrace that is mouse over macro for any non-tank target. [EDIT] With that being said each individual SCH should play around with what they feel comfortable with. Micro managing your Fairy is an important part of your skill set and you should find a way to do that which suits your style of play.

I do use à macro for the mt too yeah. It's super useful

Don't turn off Cleric stance unless it's absolutely necessaryto back up your CO healer. As a scholar, you're not a healer, but a DPS with a healing pet.

Don't listen to Thunda_Cat_SMASH, they seem to have a opinion that the only thing SCH is good for is to keep slamming the Broil key over and over again. The toolkit is more involved then that and about healing / DPS balance. Make sure your fulfilling your primary function as a healer first.

At this time, focus more on the fundamentals of healing and work up towards the comfort level of being able to balance DPS and healing. With that being said, once you do hit a certain gear level and get comfortable with both yourself as a healer and the capabilities of your toolkit (including your fairy), you will indeed be able to maintain Cleric Stance for long periods of time.

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Originally Posted by Ghishlain

Don't listen to Thunda_Cat_SMASH

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Seconded. You can find more information about this in this topic

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Originally Posted by Rawrz

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Thank you for the detailed response! I don't really know what weave time or pots are

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Weave time, is the amount of time that your global CD is ticking after a skill, it's called the off global cool down. (Think of the empty time after ruin II, bio, aero or after you swiftcast.) Abilities like cleric stance, energy drain, and lustrate can be used during those empty moments.

Pots are short for potions. X-potions of mind are kind of a staple for me. When in cleric stance the mind potions, convert directly into your Intelligence stat. Dungeons or end game (unless I opt for Draconian Potions) I'll be using them to beef myself up for an opener. Why? They are cheap if you can get an alchemist to 50 and make 3 per craft. DoTs snap shot, or retain their damage, so a buffed bio II, will continue to be buffed even after the duration of the potion.

Also you're welcome! It's fun to think about all you know on your class to try and give pointers.

I was really looking forward to this class, but reading this thread makes it seem so... tedious. 42 skills, all of which are routinely used, seems a bit much to juggle. Having your mainstay healing spell being tied to an additional body you have to control... ugh. Guess I'll stick to WHM for now...

Or, barring that, is all of this info just for being a GREAT SCH, or is it necessary for being up to par? Because I don't shrink back from mediocrity, and having healing spells with mitigation included plus good dps dots seems awesome even when not wielded perfectly. Anticipation, and stance-dancing, I can do; it's the controller-wrangling I'm not sure about.

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Originally Posted by Zadocfish

I was really looking forward to this class, but reading this thread makes it seem so... tedious. 42 skills, all of which are routinely used, seems a bit much to juggle. Having your mainstay healing spell being tied to an additional body you have to control... ugh. Guess I'll stick to WHM for now...

Or, barring that, is all of this info just for being a GREAT SCH, or is it necessary for being up to par? Because I don't shrink back from mediocrity, and having healing spells with mitigation included plus good dps dots seems awesome even when not wielded perfectly. Anticipation, and stance-dancing, I can do; it's the controller-wrangling I'm not sure about.

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I think only you can answer if its worth the effort or not. You don't need to play a God-like SCH to be successful but understanding the nuances of what makes a good SCH, well, good, and deciding if its something you want to attempt is up to you. No needs to play perfectly to be successful. Just play good enough which is generally micro'ing your fairy to make sure it's always doing something and understanding how the SCH's kit works.

I'll say this though - one of the best healers I know on my server plays with a controller, even when he plays SCH. It might be a bit more difficult on a controller but most certainly not impossible.

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Originally Posted by Rawrz

Weave time, is the amount of time that your global CD is ticking after a skill, it's called the off global cool down. (Think of the empty time after ruin II, bio, aero or after you swiftcast.) Abilities like cleric stance, energy drain, and lustrate can be used during those empty moments.

Pots are short for potions. X-potions of mind are kind of a staple for me. When in cleric stance the mind potions, convert directly into your Intelligence stat. Dungeons or end game (unless I opt for Draconian Potions) I'll be using them to beef myself up for an opener. Why? They are cheap if you can get an alchemist to 50 and make 3 per craft. DoTs snap shot, or retain their damage, so a buffed bio II, will continue to be buffed even after the duration of the potion.

Also you're welcome! It's fun to think about all you know on your class to try and give pointers.

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Makes sense. :) Thank you!

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Originally Posted by Zadocfish

I was really looking forward to this class, but reading this thread makes it seem so... tedious. 42 skills, all of which are routinely used, seems a bit much to juggle. Having your mainstay healing spell being tied to an additional body you have to control... ugh. Guess I'll stick to WHM for now...

Or, barring that, is all of this info just for being a GREAT SCH, or is it necessary for being up to par? Because I don't shrink back from mediocrity, and having healing spells with mitigation included plus good dps dots seems awesome even when not wielded perfectly. Anticipation, and stance-dancing, I can do; it's the controller-wrangling I'm not sure about.

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When I use a class with a ton of skills, I feel so powerful :D Like the Steel Battalion controller.

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Originally Posted by Lyrica_Ashtine

Seconded. You can find more information about this in this topic

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Thank you for that link, it's really interesting :)

As à strztegist the best skill of a good scholar is to predict how the fight goes
You always have to be prepared in time of need

You can kill so much people with a cleric stance that go off too late XD

And also macro are not absolute
Personnaly i'm not a fan of restricting the fairy with macro
But i do admit that I forced myself to learn to macro-manage her 120%

That's 2 way of doing it.

What you need the most as a SCH is fight awareness, you need to perfectly know a boss rotation to really perform.
How many time do you have before the next AOE? How much damage the tank will take on the tank buster? Which mitigation to use at what time? Etc, etc...
The more you know about it, the more you can play around it to activate Cleric Stance and help push the dps.
If you're still feeling unsure about Cleric Stance, try dpsing without it first to find the best window until you feel safe enough to activate it.
You'll also need to get used to your fairy and how much she can heal before you have to help her. Try to always use Rouse whenever you can, especially with a whispering dawn. A good rouse-whispering dawn can top off a group after any AOE.
And never forget about the wide array of mitigation you can use, Eye for an Eye is a really good spell, Virus is game-breaking, fey covenant and sacred soil are useful for those AOE spam you have to soak.
However, don't forget about the rest of your team. If you see your co-healer struggling, help him. You're still a healer before being a dps and a lot of SCH forget this.

1. Put Eos/ Selene on obey, when they're on Sic they waste ton of spells. 2. Aldloqium is your BFF, it heals and gives you a shield based on that heal, also if it is a critical the shield strength doubles. 3. Try to anticipate damage( Unless you dont dps then you can skip this part) because of sch's low aoe heals ( 1 is on a timer the other is a buff that makes you shield ( galvanize ) into a heal so basically doubles a aldloqium and a succor but with no shields) or your dps dance will be messed up.

I can't speak much for 50+ or 8-man content as I've only done "ROFLstomp" aka Operation Archon. However, I can recommend a few things.

- Flexibility: By now, you will have likely learned how imperative it is to place your fairy so she heals efficiently. This is an indisputable truth. Your PT members will also likely prefer you use Selene for her speed buffs. Her ability to increase overall DPS is also an indisputable truth. However, YOU should be the one to determine what is best for any given situation.

- Obey/Sic: Don't fall into "always keep fairies on Obey". This is mostly (not always) true for Eos, but not Selene. Remember, flexibility. Selene's AI is actually pretty good, and she is really fast. Plus, due the conditions that need to be met for her to cast, none one of them really go to waste unlike Eos. Learning the AI of your fairies is key to knowing when to have them on Sic and when to have them on Obey, and the situations that will serve you best with each. For example, learn the conditions that Selene will cast Fey Wind, Fey Caress, and Silent Dusk. Don't be afraid to alternate these commands even during a single battle.

- Micro management: If you are having trouble with this, I recommend doing challenging solo content to practice. Keep in mind that you can make easy content more challenging by nerfing yourself. Fight mob after mob after mob until accessing and using your fairies toolkit is transferred over to muscle memory.

- Placing your fairy: The place command, honestly isn't much different than setting up Sacred Soil or Shadow Flare. If you can do those, you can place your fairy. Again, practice in challenging solo content. Also don't be shy about summoning a different fairy during battle if need be (hope you have swiftcast). If SC is on CD or you don't have it, then cast without sending her away first to ensure she still heals during the casting duration. I believe you also have access to Embrace during this time, assuming your fairy is on Obey.

- Healing is your priority: Don't ever forget this. Lacky scholars blame their faires for KO's and wipes. Don't be that person.

- Succor is AoE galvanize, not AoE heal: If you're casting succor after big damage, you're late. If you're spamming succor to repair said big damage, you're wasting MP. Galvanize should be up to absorb some of the damage, and then reapplied after it is wiped out for the next mob rotation. Sacred Soil + Succor is serious mitigation for the entire group, while Rouse+Fey Illumination+Whispering Dawn will get HP bars back up in no time.

- TRUST your fairy: They are REALLY good at healing. Allow them to do it while you fish for Adlo crits on the tank.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

I can't speak much for 50+ or 8-man content as I've only done "ROFLstomp" aka Operation Archon. However, I can recommend a few things.
-1. Healing is your priority: Don't ever forget this. Lacky scholars blame their faires for KO's and wipes. Don't be that person.

-2. Succor is AoE galvanize, not AoE heal: If you're casting succor after big damage, you're late. If you're spamming succor to repair said big damage, you're wasting MP. Galvanize should be up to absorb some of the damage, and then reapplied after it is wiped out for the next mob rotation. Sacred Soil + Succor is serious mitigation for the entire group, while Rouse+Fey Illumination+Whispering Dawn will get HP bars back up in no time.

-3. TRUST your fairy: They are REALLY good at healing. Allow them to do it while you fish for Adlo crits on the tank.

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After raid Im gonna respond to this :c

1. No one blames their fairy. xD The fairy is an extension of you. So her heals are your contribution. If they aren't enough, youll need to rouse or use some direct heals.

2. As long as people are going to be taking damage within 30 seconds, its not a waste. Its a medica that can't be used while its still active, or it loses effectiveness. As long as people won't die from not having more than 100% health, its better to do it after.

3. Command your fairy. Heal as necessary. You can "fish" for an adlo outside of a fight, but not in it. Adlo isn't something you spam, but you should be using it more often than physick (If you use physick much at all at 60.)

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Originally Posted by Rawrz

After raid Im gonna respond to this :c

1. No one blames their fairy. xD The fairy is an extension of you. So her heals are your contribution. If they aren't enough, youll need to rouse or use some direct heals.

2. As long as people are going to be taking damage within 30 seconds, its not a waste. Its a medica that can't be used while its still active, or it loses effectiveness. As long as people won't die from not having more than 100% health, its better to do it after.

3. Command your fairy. Heal as necessary. You can "fish" for an adlo outside of a fight, but not in it. Adlo isn't something you spam, but you should be using it more often than physick (If you use physick much at all at 60.)

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1. I know this. But it hasn't stopped some SCH I've encountered from blaming their fairies.

2. If you know dmg is coming within the next 30 seconds, why wouldn't you cast it? If you cast succor after the dmg happens, you are preparing for the next wave of dmg. Yes, it does heal for some HP, but it is far more MP efficient AND faster to get everyone back up between fairy's embrace and your Physick. Abilities like Lustrate and Indom are even more reason to not to use succor to bring back everyone back up after heavy dmg.

3. Adlo, like succor, is not a heal. It is galvanize, meant to shield. I agree it isn't something you spam. Fishing does not mean spam it. It means 'cast' it. In most instances I've been in, tanks pull too fast for you to cast it pre fight, so you have to use it in a fight. Gathering is actually what taught me to appreciate adlo more, and take risks. It crits more often than people give it credit for, and when it does, you have one hell of a tank buff. There is no reason not to fish for it, especially in drawn out fights. Currently my Physick heals for avg 878 non crit opposed to 616 non crit adlo. If tank is below 70%, they're getting Physick, not Adlo.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

1. I know this. But it hasn't stopped some SCH I've encountered from blaming their fairies.

2. If you know dmg is coming within the next 30 seconds, why wouldn't you cast it? If you cast succor after the dmg happens, you are preparing for the next wave of dmg. Yes, it does heal for some HP, but it is far more MP efficient AND faster to get everyone back up between fairy's embrace and your Physick. Abilities like Lustrate and Indom are even more reason to not to use succor to bring back everyone back up after heavy dmg.

3. Adlo, like succor, is not a heal. It is galvanize, meant to shield. I agree it isn't something you spam. Fishing does not mean spam it. It means 'cast' it. In most instances I've been in, tanks pull too fast for you to cast it pre fight, so you have to use it in a fight. Gathering is actually what taught me to appreciate adlo more, and take risks. It crits more often than people give it credit for, and when it does, you have one hell of a tank buff. There is no reason not to fish for it, especially in drawn out fights. Currently my Physick heals for avg 878 non crit opposed to 616 non crit adlo. If tank is below 70%, they're getting Physick, not Adlo.

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Shields are heals. They are just heals that cannot be stacked. Every time you cast Adlo or Succor you are healing for 600 and 300 respectively, so long as damage is incoming within 30 seconds. If you shield before the damage is incoming, you are losing 150 potency or half of the heal. Players also have natural health regain. You can shield before the attack if it makes you feel safer, but its a 50% overheal. You are costing yourself 2 GCDs, when 1 would be sufficient. An exception would be when massive raid wide damage is about to go out, and you need the extra healing, like in Sephirot during the third phase with adds. Shielding with succor during the knockback. Virus. Emergency Tactics. Precasting Succor. Succor. Indom. But even that is overheal if you have a good healing partner. (Thats 150+300+300+400 x 8 potency in 6 seconds.) In MOST content, precasting a shield, when you could be DPSing is an overheal.

Typically though on a single target, if you Adlo for that 600 potency heal (your 616 heal, 616 shield,) your fairy will be given more time to assist you, having 1.5x as much time to help heal.

Go into a pull. Tank has adlo (maybe even SS).Spamming Embrace at even 100% health. Popping rouse as bio or aero enters your rotation. Fairy can't keep up. CS off. Lustrate. Adlo. CS on. Thats 1200 potency in heals, while the fairy helps to keep up. Its even easier at 50 and below content, because the fairy nerf drops embrace from 300 at level 50 to 200 at level 60.

Adlo and succor are effecient healing spells that focus on retaining the heal if it would be overheal, but are inefficient if you try to stack them on themselves.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Obey/Sic: Don't fall into "always keep fairies on Obey". This is mostly (not always) true for Eos, but not Selene. Remember, flexibility. Selene's AI is actually pretty good, and she is really fast. Plus, due the conditions that need to be met for her to cast, none one of them really go to waste unlike Eos. Learning the AI of your fairies is key to knowing when to have them on Sic and when to have them on Obey, and the situations that will serve you best with each. For example, learn the conditions that Selene will cast Fey Wind, Fey Caress, and Silent Dusk. Don't be afraid to alternate these commands even during a single battle."

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Also, I missed this one. Selene actually has a terrible AI for Fey Caress. The only time it would be effective is if you know you'll be put to sleep, so that Selene could fey caress you out of it, since you can't micromanage incapacitated. If someone even has weakness, she'll try to Fey Caress it, when they raise. You could make the case for her silence, but an interrupt macro is about as reliable.

You also want to aim Fey wind's duration for a time when you can maximize your 30 seconds of uptime. She'll use it whenever it goes off of cool down, even if the boss is invulnerable or if you're at the end of a pull.

I guess one piece of advice I can give is always try to pay attention to whether or not you're in Cleric Stance when you're trying to heal. Voice of experience. :o

Alright, I have a better question this time. Is there any way to function as a Scholar with only 32 abilities as opposed to 42?

Why do you want less when you can have more and slay the battlefield ?

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Originally Posted by Nekotee

Why do you want less when you can have more and slay the battlefield ?

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Because it would take 3 bars to handle 42 skills; switching between all of them would take valuable time and focus that would likely be better spent healing and laying down DOTs, wouldn't it? 2 bars totalling 32 skills, I would be able to handle, but juggling 3? Looking at the wiki, I count about 32 skills between Scholar, Conjurer and Arcanist that would be used in normal play.

Maybe it would make it easier if I explained that I don't have Heavensward, So that's at least 5 standard skills I don't get.

That might be that...

Because heavensward skill are so strong (minus dissipation...)
That in the end you don't need to juggle with everything.

Well as a Crafter and all in hand player i play with 4 bar XD
(Virus and virus macroed take place...)

...

Edit : i can find 34 skill for the scholar and arcanist... HW included
Did you include the fairy skil ?

There are 19 super-important skills between SCH and Arcanist, 6 cross-class skills with Conjurer, and 3 with Thaumaturge. That leaves 4 for Fairies. For me, it'd be more like 7 for fairies because I won't go for Thaumaturge until later. So, without Heavensward and only having Conjurer and Arcanist skills, I think it's perfectly possible to play with 32.

Unless, of course, those Thaumaturge skills are absolutely essential for proper SCH play. In that case, I'm not sure 4 slots would cut it for commanding the Fairies...

Ok, if you're playing on ps4 be sure to unlock your extended hotbar. Also its not feasible to say you have more than 5 cross class skills. You should be using:
Protect, Aero, Swiftcast, Cleric Stance, Stoneskin (or in its place Blizzard II)

Make 2 hotbars for both of your fairies, one for healing and one for dps. (Meaning eos has a dps and healing hotbar, as does selene.) On your dps hotbar I would still keep your lustrate, succor, physick and adlo for healing. Finally, make a back hotbar with lesser used skills, like protect, pull macros, and summons. I also have a party wide Stoneskin macro back there for the luls.

Little stuff that helps you break it all down. :3

Ah, I see. Break it down by category so that each bar isn't totally different, but still allows flexibility and remains independently functional. That way, having 3+ bars wouldn't be all that confusing. That's very good advice! Now, most of that doesn't apply to me since I play on a PS3, but I'll definitely remember the tip about building hotbars around function, adding more but keeping them in clearly defined groups. Thank you, that actually helps alot!

From the conjurer protect, stoneskin and cleric are absolute
From the thaumaturge swiftcast is absolute

Last aero or blizzard II as you prefer (i'm a fan of B2)

And I do not put fairy skill in my bars she have her own that's enough :D

... is it really viable to play SCH with the fairies on auto-pilot? Because that would be AWESOME. But like 50% of the posts in this thread mention how that's a terrible idea...

No you have to manage your fairy to unleash their full potential
Otherwise they will be so dumb... that it will be like playing with a whm
Spamming medica II for nothing
Or using divine seal with no heal

Only Selenes could
But it's crucial to control her in order to have her boost during the right moment
Being able to silence and dispell correctly

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Originally Posted by Zadocfish

... is it really viable to play SCH with the fairies on auto-pilot? Because that would be AWESOME. But like 50% of the posts in this thread mention how that's a terrible idea...

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It really depends. Selene in auto can be kinda ok if there's a fight with 0 downtime, however if the boss has invulnerability phase or similar things, this is a terrible idea because she will spam fey wind as soon as it's available.
For Eos, never ever let her in auto, it only serves to show the rest of the party that you are a terrible scholar, because she will fire every single ability she has as soon as you pull which is probably the moment you need it the less.

Ah, okay. So, then, Selene on auto-pilot and switch to controlled Eos for bosses with invulnerable phases. Until I get comfortable with the class, at which point only do auto in low-stakes situations.

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Originally Posted by Zadocfish

Ah, okay. So, then, Selene on auto-pilot and switch to controlled Eos for bosses with invulnerable phases. Until I get comfortable with the class, at which point only do auto in low-stakes situations.

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Just stick with Eos. Selene is much less forgiving and below, 40 has limited return, aside from fey caress since you cant leeches.

Oh, cool. That makes it even easier!