Between SMN and BRD

Trying to pick up a 2nd class, although I've done some research, I'd appreciate to gather some more opinions from experienced players on these two classes.

I know SMN is going to have a "rework" in the next expansion, not sure if I should play it now or wait till EW comes out. The rng in BRD makes me hesitant to try it out, I might be wrong in though.

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Originally Posted by LitheSuxman

Trying to pick up a 2nd class, although I've done some research, I'd appreciate to gather some more opinions from experienced players on these two classes.

I know SMN is going to have a "rework" in the next expansion, not sure if I should play it now or wait till EW comes out. The rng in BRD makes me hesitant to try it out, I might be wrong in though.

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You got roughly 2 months left, level em both lol.

https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/jobguide/bard/

Bard has a lot of random procs on Bloodletter/Rain of Death, Refulgent Arrow and Pitch Perfect. There isn't really a rotation, just procs and keeping dots and a song up, otherwise you are pressing 1 button. It can be a lot to keep track of by level 80, because you can refresh the dots too late if you are doing a mechanic and your aim is to resist pressing Pitch Perfect until 3 notes light up but also press it before the song runs out. You want to always have a song up and also want to resist pressing Apex Arrow until the meter reaches full so it can become pretty distracting.

There isn't a lot of point learning summoner until the changes now, but it looks like it will be a lot simpler than it is now and so far I can't see evidence of any RNG in the changes.

Bard is a job where you can still attack while moving. You can just basically ignore mechanics and always be attacking stuff. Very flexible to play. Although that usually means you will be the one doing movement mechanics if it requires just one player to move. Keep your DoTs up and rotate your songs and use your strong moves during Raging Strikes at around every 90 seconds.

Summoner is a pet job where you try to optimize your Bahamut and Phoenix burst damage phases. Get as many uses of these as you can. You have to stand still to cast at times when you do not have instant attacks available.

Bard is a higher APM job although it is mostly spent pressing Burst Shot versus Summoner that keeps pressing Ruin III for filler. Bard will likely stay the same in Endwalker whereas there are major changes with Summoner.

Everything, level it all! :p

More to the question, and immediately to just my "imo", I'd say Summoner. That's not taking any consideration besides my own feels, I just like the summoner vibe and use more.

Say like with bard the movement is nice and it is a fairly reactive job which can be enjoyable when you're not looking for the Formuloi, but to be honest summoner is quite mobile too (not as much mobility as bard certainly, but still pretty good). You get an esuna as bard which is kind of neat, but with summoner you get a raise which is always epic useful. Also, unless I recall incorrectly, the summoner cure might become a bit more useful after EW (currently SMN cure is trash tier lol, though they do have phoenix which has a nice HoT when you total the potency impact together).

One major issue which was kind of already mentioned though is that Summoner is going to get changes in EW, so what you learn now is going to not represent the job very well soon. It could be nice to have the job ready for EW content if that's what you wanted for this second job, but if you were looking to 'learn' it.. then well.. you can't really learn it perfectly until EW.

While I have no love for Bard, I would suggest going with that if you're trying to choose between the two. As you say, Summoner is going to be getting a complete rework with EndWalker so you'd just be spending the time and effort to learn a job only to have to relearn it again anyway.

I'd say Bard. Sure you can level SMN now and get a taste for how it is now and how it'll be post-EW.. but that also means first learning current SMN.. then just when you got the hang of it.. it all changes. Better to wait.

Sometimes it's better not knowing how it used to be.. whether 'used to be' is considered the better or the worse state of something.. I'm thinking MCH for this example.

The best way to find what you want to play is to try them both, yourself.

Think of the most popular food you cannot stand. Three-star Michelin chefs could declare it the best food on Earth and it won't change the fact that you don't like it. For me, this is coffee. Bitter bean-water doesn't really tickle my fancy. Same difference with playing a game, listening to music, watching a movie, liking a jacket, etc.

Anyway, someone up there said to try them both. That's the best advice you'll get, for sure.

Good luck!

After level 60 or 70+ bard gets a ton of fun unlike summoner, but if you level summoner. If you do level summoner you get to have it ready to use in expansion with gear and stuff to go with its new skills.

Summoner is quite mobile, has the Aetherpact buff, which is pretty strong, can raise KOd party members and comes with a free healer attached to it.

Gameplay wise SMN is definitely the complicated one, although I don't think it will feel complicated forever if you keep at it.

Highly recommend you wait on summoner given how much its likely to change in Endwalker.