Deployment Tactics is Pretty Useless

In its current state, Deployment Tactics doesn’t serve much of a purpose in the game. The skill is either underwhelmingly weak for a 120s cooldown, or overwhelmingly finicky that using it is just not an option in most scenarios.

Let me give some examples:
You need a partywide shield, so you decide to cast Adloquium on the Main Tank and deploy the shield instead of casting Succor.
You have saved 100mp and gained shield strength of up to 150p, at the cost of a weave slot and 180p worth of health healing.
So an overall loss of 30p healing and 80p of damage from the weave, with a chance of losing further shielding if the target takes damage before you can spread the shield.

So spreading an Adlo outside of prepull isn’t really a viable tactic. Let’s check the other galvanise that you could spread.

There are multiple AoEs coming out in quick succession. You cast a Succor beforehand for the first one, and want to spread your shield to cover the second one. Since everybody will be taking damage, you will either need a PLD/GNB to use their invulnerability skill, or precisely time your Deployment Tactics so that the old effect is broken before the new one applies, but the effect is still there for you to spread it from.
Not an easy thing to do whatsoever, so it can hardly be relied upon for standard mitigation.
Best case scenario, you gain 225p shielding for 80p from the weave. Worst case; you gain nothing.

TL;DR Deployment is a 30p or unreliable 225p gain for a 120s cooldown.
Hardly worth having, let alone being classified as a signature skill comparable to Holy and Fell Cleave. So what should we do about it?

First - decrease the cooldown.
Other GCD-affecting oGCDs (Horoscope, Plenary) have a 60s cooldown for a 200-400+ healing gain. Homogenisation is bad, but we’re standardising, not homogenising.

Second - Give it a more accessible effect.
Have it restore broken shields in the area of effect to full health, and spreading the full health shield. This means that galvanise effects would persist when broken (probably have a cracked and greyed out icon)

Finally Third - Give it an effect outside of Galvanise.
Plenary can be used with Afflatus Rapture, Horoscope heals uncharged. We shouldn’t have to give up a damage GCD to use Deployment. This is easy enough - have it affect Seraphic Veil.


So now we have a 60s oGCD that can shield for 225 potency if you need to cast a Succor, 210 potency for a 3rd mini-consolation effect, or 435 in the rare case that both are required. The original usage still remains, of course, and is now not prone to being damaged before spreading.

Thank you for reading.

I leveled SCH (My first healer) without looking at guides recently because I wanted to learn it and figure out what each ability does and where it should be used, and Deployment Tactics was always one that I thought that I didn't fully understand. The large cooldown combined with the actual ability, I sat there and racked my brain trying to figure out what the best use of it would be. I had found an "ok" use of it; Putting galvanize on me and the tank prepull and then using Deployment Tactics right as the tank's Galvanize runs out to refresh it, but it always seemed like a long walk for a short drink of water.

I always had just assumed that I was missing something that wasn't obvious. It seems, especially with the MP cost reduction to Succor, to just be a "meh" ability though. It would be nice if it at least in addition to spreading Galvanize would add Catalyze to the people it hits as well.

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Originally Posted by LeonKeyh

It would be nice if it at least in addition to spreading Galvanize would add Catalyze to the people it hits as well.

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It used to spread the added effect, in fact - catalyse was added so that you couldn’t spread critical adloquiums, as being able to spread a ~1000+ potency (including the Crit multiplier) shield could randomly negate entire mechanics in their entirety. That was quite rightfully removed.

The more standard usage prior to ShB was spreading a Succor effect from an invulnerable target (the fairy was immune to most damage) to get double the shield value. You can’t do that anymore though, since the fairy is untargetable.

It's not useless at all, it's a very nice raid skill.

Granted, damage this expac has been so light that perhaps it hasn't had a chance to shine as it once did.

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Originally Posted by YusiKha

It used to spread the added effect, in fact - catalyse was added so that you couldn’t spread critical adloquiums, as being able to spread a ~1000+ potency (including the Crit multiplier) shield could randomly negate entire mechanics in their entirety. That was quite rightfully removed.

The more standard usage prior to ShB was spreading a Succor effect from an invulnerable target (the fairy was immune to most damage) to get double the shield value. You can’t do that anymore though, since the fairy is untargetable.

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Indeed. They changed Galvanize and Fairy mechanics and left Deployment tactics as it is. DT no longer synergises well with the rest of the kit, especially for a 120s CD.

Recitation+Critlo+Deployment is still a decent full party mitigation tho, even if you only get to use it reliably at the beginning of a fight and during heavy damaging phase transitions.

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Originally Posted by YusiKha

You need a partywide shield, so you decide to cast Adloquium on the Main Tank and deploy the shield instead of casting Succor.
You have saved 100mp and gained shield strength of up to 150p, at the cost of a weave slot and 180p worth of health healing.
So an overall loss of 30p healing and 80p of damage from the weave, with a chance of losing further shielding if the target takes damage before you can spread the shield.

So spreading an Adlo outside of prepull isn’t really a viable tactic.

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A couple of things. I personally wouldn't deploy off the tank unless it was a coordinated moment like popping a Divine veil or benefiting from a WAR's thrill of battle. I would deploy off myself so that i can control the position the deploy goes off of. This also solves the issue of the tank taking damage at the time and eating the shield.

Not to mention if you're planning to use deployment tactics you may already be factoring in the costs of the Succor healing (using it over Succor in a moment where the healing would be over healing) and the dps loss of weaving (by using an Energy Drain in the same weave slot).

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There are multiple AoEs coming out in quick succession. You cast a Succor beforehand for the first one, and want to spread your shield to cover the second one. Since everybody will be taking damage, you will either need a PLD/GNB to use their invulnerability skill, or precisely time your Deployment Tactics so that the old effect is broken before the new one applies, but the effect is still there for you to spread it from.
Not an easy thing to do whatsoever, so it can hardly be relied upon for standard mitigation.
Best case scenario, you gain 225p shielding for 80p from the weave. Worst case; you gain nothing.

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This stopped being a thing the moment your faerie became unforgettable. What is stopping you from Deploying a stronger Adlo shield to cover the first couple of hits and then using a faerie or aetherflow heal to cover the rest? if you can pull it off great but otherwise it would just be easier to deploy off yourself prior to the damage going out.

Maybe they could change it to affect your next Adloquium cast, similar to how Emergency Tactics work? Activate Deployment Tactics, your next Adloquium within X or Y seconds causes it to gain an AoE effect of 10 yalms around the target. Would make it a bit less clunky to use, if anything.

If the SCH could spread another effect like Eye for an Eye used to, then perhaps it would feel like it has more use. Spreading Excog would be super nice though probably a bit OP, so maybe allow it to have a dual use; allowing Chain Stratagem to be spread to nearby targets. Least it's a useful utility for fighting mobs when group shielding isn't required.

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Originally Posted by Brandedblade

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I was providing best case scenarios to show how Deployment Tactics, even in the best circumstances, is an underwhelming ability.

Spread Adlo? Stronger shield than Succor’s, but weaker overall. If Succor would overheal, then 9 times out of 10 you won’t need the shield.
Spread Succor? It’s insanely difficult to do, but then you get a whopping 225potency shield for a 120s cooldown.

Yeah, you can find usages if you’re playing safely and not caring about your DPS, but Scholar already has a vastly superior safety tool that requires no setup - Sacred Soil.

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Originally Posted by Risvertasashi

It's not useless at all, it's a very nice raid skill.

Granted, damage this expac has been so light that perhaps it hasn't had a chance to shine as it once did.

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Still in the middle of a battle if the damage of a hit is high you want to prioritize succor over spreadlo since the hp+shield of succor (405 value) is higher than the shield you would spread to your party (375 value) meaning that unless you need that difference of exactly 150 potency of shield (375-180*1,25) to survive which outside of ultimate is something that does not happen (and even in ultimate that can be worked around with proper cd planning) DT is not an optimal tool ,and in the case that the high damage comes from several attacks that happen in rapid succession there succor is the way to go since it will give you the healing quicker than a spreadlo and giving you more value for each gcd you use.

Imo SE should change this skill either by making eos recive shields once again becoming an ogcd succor or by making it a skill that remembers the last shield used by the user (consolation too) and spreads it because at it is rn is mostly a downtime tool and a very niche skill

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Originally Posted by YusiKha

I was providing best case scenarios to show how Deployment Tactics, even in the best circumstances, is an underwhelming ability.

Spread Adlo? Stronger shield than Succor’s, but weaker overall. If Succor would overheal, then 9 times out of 10 you won’t need the shield.
Spread Succor? It’s insanely difficult to do, but then you get a whopping 225potency shield for a 120s cooldown.

Yeah, you can find usages if you’re playing safely and not caring about your DPS, but Scholar already has a vastly superior safety tool that requires no setup - Sacred Soil.

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The point of shields are to reduce the damage the party takes, the raw healing aspect of it is a moot point in this scenario. It seems logical to me that one would deploy an adlo if they're more focused on mitigation over healing. I am aware of the value of Succor deploy from stormblood but with faerie deploys no longer possible it seems too niche to pull off effectively when you could just adlo deploy and be done with it.

And this discussion is not about sacred soil, I am aware of how powerful it is. I just fundamentally disagree that deployment tactics is a weak skill when it serves a slightly different functionality As far as the argument of dps goes. its going to be a given that unless you spare some aetherflow and swiftcast to slot a couple of energy drains into the Adlo -> Deploy. That the mere fact you're gcd healing is a dps loss. Yes we've established that.

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Originally Posted by Brandedblade

The point of shields are to reduce the damage the party takes, the raw healing aspect of it is a moot point in this scenario.

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If people aren't on 100% hp, then the raw healing equally as important as the shield HP. That's what shields are - a HP buffer.

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Originally Posted by YusiKha

If people aren't on 100% hp, then the raw healing equally as important as the shield HP. That's what shields are - a HP buffer.

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if that healing is either not needed or being provided by other sources, I would rather make the HP buffer stronger

EDIT: Didn't see your previous post there. Kinda funny that we were thinking along the same lines hehe

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Originally Posted by Kurando

If the SCH could spread another effect like Eye for an Eye used to, then perhaps it would feel like it has more use. Spreading Excog would be super nice though probably a bit OP, so maybe allow it to have a dual use; allowing Chain Stratagem to be spread to nearby targets. Least it's a useful utility for fighting mobs when group shielding isn't required.

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totally agree with you.

Deployment should be able to spread party member buffs such as galvanize as it does atm, but also should be able to spread enemy debuff skills like chain stratagem. this would be a really cool niche way to give SCH more utility and damage while not bloating its hotbar, and would also allow any other party buffs or strategems in the future to be applied to both single and multi targets, thus allowing for more planning and decision making within SCHs kit.

Yeah... I really only use Deployment Tactics in my opener and then just forget about it for the rest of the fight...
Which is a shame.

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Originally Posted by Brandedblade

if that healing is either not needed or being provided by other sources, I would rather make the HP buffer stronger

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If that healing is not needed or provided by other sources, why use a shield to begin with? Shields have special value when without them the party would die, otherwise shields are only extra hp that can go above the max hp so not that different from burst heals but being way more dps expensive (with the exception of seraph and consolation) than any other heal in the kit due to being tied to the gcd

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Originally Posted by WaxSw

If that healing is not needed or provided by other sources, why use a shield to begin with? Shields have special value when without them the party would die, otherwise shields are only extra hp that can go above the max hp so not that different from burst heals but being way more dps expensive (with the exception of seraph and consolation) than any other heal in the kit due to being tied to the gcd

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Because if I'm using deployment tactics, the idea is that I'm setting up shields to mitigate an upcoming mechanic. Not every group is so perfectly coordinated that the mitigation is guaranteed to come from other sources. I get that GCD-heal bad but again, not every scenario has perfectly coordinated players who'll cover for you.

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Originally Posted by Brandedblade

Because if I'm using deployment tactics, the idea is that I'm setting up shields to mitigate an upcoming mechanic. Not every group is so perfectly coordinated that the mitigation is guaranteed to come from other sources. I get that GCD-heal bad but again, not every scenario has perfectly coordinated players who'll cover for you.

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The the question would be, why DT isntead of succor? the difference in shields is only 150 potency and outside ultimate that is such a negligible difference (and if you're playing ultimate without a coordinated team...sorry for you) that won't kill anyone, you will lose 80 less potency in damage and on top of that if people is damaged so the heal of succor is not overheal then it has higher healing per second than a spreadlo and since you have mentioned a non coordinated scenario the chances of the party not being topped I'd say are quite high.

In the end no matter which scenario you think, outside of downtime and mechanics where that 150 potency difference in shields is relevant (and this one can is strange and can be solved with coordination) DT is just a worse succor due to the lower hps and higher dps cost.

I've used deployment tactics a fair bit in fights, and while it's highly situational I wouldn't call it useless. For starters, the scenario of "Oh, people don't need healing now but I may want shields" comes up a lot actually. It's not like bosses are spamming AoEs back to back over the entire fight, there's often a long gap of time between AoEs where regens and such will likely get them to 100% before the next one. So, when I can see the boss is about to fire off another big AoE, I can adlo and deployment instead of using succor if all I want is the shield.

Yes, the shield may not be 100% required to keep people from dying, but it gives a little bit of a buffer to make healing them back up a little less scary. There's also cases like phase transitions in a lot of trial fights where the boss is untargetable for a period of time before massive damage. That's a period of time where I cannot attack the boss, where essentially putting an adlo shield on everyone is like getting a head start on healing the damage afterwards, when I want to get it taken care of ASAP because now I *can* attack the boss.

Also, a lot of the comments I'm seeing are like "Well, if people coordinate, if people do this, if they plan for that..." and like... have none of you done a learning party where people need a bit more babying? That's like saying Resurrection is a useless spell because people can just avoid dying.

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Originally Posted by WaxSw

The the question would be, why DT isntead of succor? the difference in shields is only 150 potency and outside ultimate that is such a negligible difference (and if you're playing ultimate without a coordinated team...sorry for you) that won't kill anyone, you will lose 80 less potency in damage and on top of that if people is damaged so the heal of succor is not overheal then it has higher healing per second than a spreadlo and since you have mentioned a non coordinated scenario the chances of the party not being topped I'd say are quite high.

In the end no matter which scenario you think, outside of downtime and mechanics where that 150 potency difference in shields is relevant (and this one can is strange and can be solved with coordination) DT is just a worse succor due to the lower hps and higher dps cost.

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I have already explained why. deploying an adlo is still a stronger shield then Succor unless you can coordinate a proper Succor deploy with the group.

if I do not need Succors additional healing I will choose the stronger base shielding then the slightly weaker shield +healing. and if I'm using deploy then I'm factoring in the idea that I want the mitigation over healing in that moment.

as far as the damage goes.
1. I would already be losing the damage casting Succor that I would be casting adlo. oh boo hoo, I lost a gcd cast for a heal, I'm so bad at healing.

2. I can always ED on the Ruin II +Deploy weave I would be doing afterwards to make up for the lost damage that Ruin II would have incurred. Heck if I set up a swiftcast on the adlo I could use ED+Deploy on that weave to not only off set the damage loss but to give the server that moment it needs to register the shield on me and not whiff the deploy.

I miss when I was able to spread eye for an eye with it, made it more fun. They should let us spread Excog :P

I said this somewhere else before but shields, and especially spread adlo, are in a weird spot simply because it is often fine to not even use them and just heal the incoming damage. The amount of damage you mitigate with them is so minor that you will have to spend resources on healing the party anyway.



This is one of the reasons why I thought the old spreadlo was fine the way it worked. You invested additional time and potency lost into gambling for that crit spread so you wouldn't have to spend time healing after the aoe. Now your spreadlo shield is marginally better than a succor which means you not only spend more time deploying the shield but you have to heal the group afterwards anyway.

It's useful, it just requires forethought. If you know a big raid AOE is coming you can just nope it with recitation->adlo->deployment.

I'll concede on this though, it's a clunky mechanic.

I miss the old Deployment. I wish they had taken the route of giving other healers abilities that were powerful like it, rather than neutering it completely. Even if it was as powerful as it was before, healing has been nerfed wholesale (shields especially) so badly that it'd still be a shadow of its former self just due to the systemic changes under the hood.


People like to talk crap about it for being so powerful that it "invalidates mechanics", but so do cooldowns like Hallowed Ground. It's nothing new to FF14 at all, and if encounters are throwing out so little / infrequent damage that Deployment gives people free wins (which it doesn't), then it's an encounter design problem and not a job design one.

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Originally Posted by Averax

It's useful, it just requires forethought. If you know a big raid AOE is coming you can just nope it with recitation->adlo->deployment.

I'll concede on this though, it's a clunky mechanic.

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And why would I ever do that? It's going to be a marginally better shield than just doing a succor and not only do you spend more time to deploy it but if you use recitation on it you also just completely wasted a free aetherflow. Recitation adlo is more of a noob trap than anything else because a guaranteed crit and no cost on excogitation or indomitability is superior in 99% of all cases.

I do actively use it, as I find the spreading of a critical Adlo to the rest of the party whenever they're all grouped together to be a cheap and effortless method of shielding to mitigate the next incoming party-wide attack. Additionally, it allows me to sit on my butt and click Broil for a longer amount of time (as exciting as that is...). As others have noted, however, I wish the strength of our shields amounted to a little more than they currently do. But oh well. I'm not expecting much at this point.

There is a lot of unused potential with DT, though. If the devs expanded on it, I would very much welcome it.