Nerf AST

This is even worse than BLM was in its HYPER state from Season 1. Balance across several jobs needs tweaking, but HOLY, this is the worst offender by far. Cut its legs off.

Would you like to describe what you feel is unbalanced so your feedback will actually be worth something?

I mean, just play the game mode and you'll see to be honest. It's very overtuned.

Using caps doesn't make vague feedback any more valid OP. Also, "cut its legs off" smack more of hysteria than anything else, I've never been in favour of extreme nerfs on any job, any time I've seen a game do that it's never been fair - and normally whomever asks for it just ends up targeting the next job.

It seems really strong but I don't think anything will come close to what early BLM was during like Season 2?

BLM was so strong that I got Crystal with like 2 total losses over the course of all the games and I'm not even one of the better players.

AST feels largely unaffected by the changes to animation delays so gaining Oracle to stun people before it bursts coupled with Lord to apply a vuln debuff + even more AoE damage seems overkill.

AST have stronger AOE combo that BLM lol

AST/RDM are completely overturned in PvP. It’s gotten so bad that literally you need to bully these jobs all match just to have a chance at winning. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

First impressions:

AST and feels strong in Crystalline Conflict, but not overly broken since their damage and healing is somewhat RNG with cards. Your damage can go high but playing around Lord means you're going to have to pray to RNG for max burst, which isn't something you can really do when fights happen very frequently and skills need to be used proactively. AST can't really delay Macrocosmos too much either since it's one of their main source of healing and damage. It feels good to play atm balance-wise. I find AST more easily hard countered with BRD/SCH at the moment. SCH especially, feels very strong at disabling AST's strengths due to the changes in shields/ mummification / mit this time around. BRD LB and overall toolkit does really well to counter AST individually as AST relies on their party members to actually use recuperation to maximize Macrocosmos healing. I've had my fair share of getting yeeted by good BRDs after dashing in too. 10/10 deserved punishment tbh.

RDM is especially strong this patch, really good at dueling and surviving with the shields, buffs, and healing. PLD is an extremely strong contender this patch as well. The shields and stuns/guard reduction is very strong when paired with their defensive support Guardian (cover). Those two are probably in the contender for number 1 spot for strongest job.


BLM feels like... really bad this patch? Like super bad? The loss of CC doesn't feel like it can be made up with instant casts and higher damage but I'll have to play more to see.

Speaking exclusively about CC matches as a Gnb and pld lover, I’ll push a novel groundbreaking concept about Ast. It’s called: the 1. The 1 is a 100% legendary symbol that magically appears over the ast’s head every 1,000 centuries. It calls for all players on the opposing team to drop their current objectives, agendas, pursuits in the grand scheme of things. . .and rise to the collective call of *gasp* actually getting on the same target. Yus! That provocatively novel, nay, SENSUAL concept of coming together in mutually stimulating bliss to attack said ast . . .t o g e t h e r. I KNOW, RIGHT? O_o Zomg! Its. . .it’s like this concept of pure limitless imagination and possibility! Eeeeek! AST, pld, rdm, EVERY job. . .breaks under a hard focus. Just melts. But the 1 cries, nay, inconsolably laments, when people decide it’s practical to ignore the 1 and just let healers free cast. For then. . .then the terrible ast gains these. . .overpowered abilities you guys seem to be fretting over.

/le sigh. . .

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Originally Posted by StriKE_SC2

AST have stronger AOE combo that BLM lol

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A lot easier to pull off too.

I mean i just killed an astro as a dancer....cc that astro to death O w o

Full kit unload ast does 40k dps in an aoe right now. That's far more than any other job can do without meeting certain conditions. And that's while applying a 75% heavy before and after a stun.
damage mitigation and amp, healing, high damage, high aoe damage, crowd control, mobility with personal shield. has everything going for it with no downsides.

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Originally Posted by Vandi

/le sigh. . .

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So in a perfectly balanced scenario, every job would have their own unique strengths and weaknesses that equate each job to each other. It has to with no role queue. AST has SIGNIFICANTLY more strengths than weaknesses compared to the rest. It's not a "just kill the AST" issues, it's a "why did SE design it to be so busted, and why haven't they hotfixed it yet". Anyone suggesting that it's not an issues and all you have to do is "focus" is missing the point of a 30k AoE you cannot even line of sight on an extremely survivable job.

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Originally Posted by Vandi

Speaking exclusively about CC matches as a Gnb and pld lover, I’ll push a novel groundbreaking concept about Ast. It’s called: the 1. The 1 is a 100% legendary symbol that magically appears over the ast’s head every 1,000 centuries. It calls for all players on the opposing team to drop their current objectives, agendas, pursuits in the grand scheme of things. . .and rise to the collective call of *gasp* actually getting on the same target. Yus! That provocatively novel, nay, SENSUAL concept of coming together in mutually stimulating bliss to attack said ast . . .t o g e t h e r. I KNOW, RIGHT? O_o Zomg! Its. . .it’s like this concept of pure limitless imagination and possibility! Eeeeek! AST, pld, rdm, EVERY job. . .breaks under a hard focus. Just melts. But the 1 cries, nay, inconsolably laments, when people decide it’s practical to ignore the 1 and just let healers free cast. For then. . .then the terrible ast gains these. . .overpowered abilities you guys seem to be fretting over.

/le sigh. . .

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Are you ok bro

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Originally Posted by Ixon

So in a perfectly balanced scenario, every job would have their own unique strengths and weaknesses that equate each job to each other. It has to with no role queue. AST has SIGNIFICANTLY more strengths than weaknesses compared to the rest. It's not a "just kill the AST" issues, it's a "why did SE design it to be so busted, and why haven't they hotfixed it yet". Anyone suggesting that it's not an issues and all you have to do is "focus" is missing the point of a 30k AoE you cannot even line of sight on an extremely survivable job.

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In FL the K/D/A/Dmg paint a clear picture. Although honestly just playing a handful of matches, it's apparent AST is completely overtuned. Maybe this would be an idea for the devs: play the mode.

The one thing I would like to keep is the dash (minus the teleport since it seems to be too op?). I have to admit this gives the job a feeling I really like. But other than that I'll gladly take back the old kit or at least see the current one tuned down.

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Originally Posted by Mawlzy

In FL the K/D/A/Dmg paint a clear picture. Although honestly just playing a handful of matches, it's apparent AST is completely overtuned. Maybe this would be an idea for the devs: play the mode.

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Idk if it's an issue trying to design for FL as well as CC, but I feel they kicked up the damage from AoEs across the board and it's kind of obnoxious. AST is the main offender, but the amount of times I get chunked by 4 or 5 AoEs that weren't even targeted at me is crazy. I'll gap close in at full HP and lose all my HP on attacks that I was never the target for. Catching stray 30k AoE damage through two walls from an AST not even knowing I existed is just the best.

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Originally Posted by Atreus

Are you ok bro

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…yeeeep. You good bruh?

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Originally Posted by Ixon

So in a perfectly balanced scenario, every job would have their own unique strengths and weaknesses that equate each job to each other. It has to with no role queue. AST has SIGNIFICANTLY more strengths than weaknesses compared to the rest. It's not a "just kill the AST" issues, it's a "why did SE design it to be so busted, and why haven't they hotfixed it yet". Anyone suggesting that it's not an issues and all you have to do is "focus" is missing the point of a 30k AoE you cannot even line of sight on an extremely survivable job.

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So by that logic, I’m just guessing you were going BONKERS during 3-4.0 during the golden age of healers when Ast could tank 10 people, let alone 5. I’m not judging. If you got problems with the current ast (once again, referring exclusively to Crystal matches) hey, I feel for you. As Gnb myself, shadowing an ast I can easily get ‘em down to 50% myself. Even 1 assist, let alone 2 or 3 can burn em, so if you’re saying it’s such an issue, learn to focus. I understand the point you’re trying to make of individual job balance, but Ast just isn’t a problem. With the right tactic, likecANY other job currently, it can be effectively delt with. I have yet to see this ‘extreme survivability’ over anything that hasn’t been MUCH worse in times prior lololol.

Side note: I’m assuming your 30k damage is in reference to Macrocosmos? That’s. . .nothing blm, drg, smn, etc doesn’t have. Rule 101, don’t cluster in pvp. Again, not a problem.

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Originally Posted by Vandi

Side note: I’m assuming your 30k damage is in reference to Macrocosmos? That’s. . .nothing blm, drg, smn, etc doesn’t have. Rule 101, don’t cluster in pvp. Again, not a problem.

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Apologies, didn't recognize this was a troll account because Macrocosmos and the Lord card are a 20y radius around the AST that ignores line of sight which has absolutely nothing to do with "clustering".

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Originally Posted by Ixon

Apologies, didn't recognize this was a troll account because Macrocosmos and the Lord card are a 20y radius around the AST that ignores line of sight which has absolutely nothing to do with "clustering".

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*pulls out violin*

In technical terms, that’s. . .called an aoe. You’re also complaining about 2 ‘separate’ abilities simply stacked. That’s kinda how skills are supposed to be used lol.

Not to mention, technically, one is RNG- based, which the AST used their brains and saved to use at the right time.

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Originally Posted by Vandi

/le sigh. . .

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So... Are you arguing it's not overtuned because they can die?

because that's a very enlightening conclusion forum person

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Originally Posted by doomballoon

This is even worse than BLM was in its HYPER state from Season 1. Balance across several jobs needs tweaking, but HOLY, this is the worst offender by far. Cut its legs off.

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Plat to Crystal in one day on AST kekw

Running into this job on the other team when your team doesn't have one is a miserable experience. They should really look at taking some of its heals away. Remove one charge off of each skill like they removed BLM aether manipulation stack. It's only fair.

I've only ever seen this kind of egregiousness when Brigitte first came into overwatch.

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Originally Posted by Volfe

So... Are you arguing it's not overtuned because they can die?

because that's a very enlightening conclusion forum person

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This person is an AST main fighting for their life to keep their job overpowered. Gotta respect the hustle.

New CC meta. AST/WHM/PLD/RDM/SAM.

One of the things that currently makes or break games even more than before the changes, is whether your team has a regen healer or not. Outside of baiting bursts, Guarding is usually used when you take damage and often get bursted, which means you usually end up at half HP or less once Guarded, and having a regen healer being able to top you off usually means that your chances to survive once the Guard drops go up through the roof, especially if it's an AST that can make you go from very low health back to full in an instant. Hell, even if your Guard is still on cooldown, a pocket healer will save your ass from a burst and will be the difference between a death or no death.

With that in mind, AST was already borderline OP on this before due to its double insta cast, which is legit insane and with those healing numbers idk why this is still even a thing, but they doubled down on the power at that. And then you also have macrocosmos which does similar things to the whole party.

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Originally Posted by ShinyChariot

This person is an AST main fighting for their life to keep their job overpowered. Gotta respect the hustle.

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. . .get your facts straight. Don’t even have ast unlocked.

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Originally Posted by Volfe

So... Are you arguing it's not overtuned because they can die?

because that's a very enlightening conclusion forum person

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Your (and very apparently a lot of the posters here) version of the word ‘overturned’ and mine are exceedingly different. Like I said, if you feel it’s broken, feel intimidated, feel threatened by this current version, you have that right. I’ve been fighting them since 3.0 when they were LITERALLY tanking entire teams, not just 5 people, 2 of which can effectively coordinate a burst and kill them. Are they challenging to kill? Yes indeed. But a problem, overturned? Naaaaa.

Then again, maaaaybe that’s at the core of the matter lol. Something solid comes along (mch- bte 1-shot, war 1 man army, smn fieldwiper days) and people expect to just hit the delete button on it or start crying. A little coordination goes a looooong way. Haha, you already know the phrase. Begins with G.

Just saying, not everyone has a difficulty with it.

50k aoe damage is broken. Idk however it got through QA and Testing. It is insane and SE should put a personal apology on lodestone from Yoshida and Japanese Prime Minister the next 6hrs for releasing it like that. That is the how much they got it wrong. Recuperate doing 10k to counter a 50k aoe damage, lololol. Perfect trolling from the devs. Just die and lose.

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Originally Posted by Commander_Justitia

50k aoe damage is broken. Idk however it got through QA and Testing. It is insane and SE should put a personal apology on lodestone from Yoshida and Japanese Prime Minister the next 6hrs for releasing it like that. That is the how much they got it wrong. Recuperate doing 10k to counter a 50k aoe damage, lololol. Perfect trolling from the devs. Just die and lose.

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I think we should also get the UN and ICJ involved.

Seriously though, the main problem I have is the 5s duration of heavy when AST doublecasts it. That is a really long time in a mode that moves as fast as FL and in which there are so many enemies ready to smack you in the teeth.

I don't think wasting time and resources chasing a good AST around is gonna go smoothly most of the time. And again, the problem is that they offer way too much support, healing and kill potential to their party compared to anyone else.

Stamina 54000 Mana 10000 Even 30k AOE Burst Healer ������ Unstoppable ������, Shield ������️, better reaper ������, teleport ������, There is an airborne ������️ wall crossing ������ AOE ������, and even the cooldown is only 2️⃣ 0️⃣ seconds, mana ������*♂️ is free, and LB even transforms ������ to cool AOE stun and fixed damage ������️, and then even the macrocosmos ✨ the more damage you take ������ the more you raise it ������ 12,000 potency baseline AOE ������, this happens! Aspected benefic has dual cast ⏰, shielding ������️, 2 charges ������, gives regen ������, instant cast ⏩, then there is gravity ������ , and dual cast gravity 3s+5s slow - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ������ ������

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Originally Posted by SeaJae

Stamina 54000 Mana 10000 Even 30k AOE Burst Healer ������ Unstoppable ������, Shield ������️, better reaper ������, teleport ������, There is an airborne ������️ wall crossing ������ AOE ������, and even the cooldown is only 2️⃣ 0️⃣ seconds, mana ������*♂️ is free, and LB even transforms ������ to cool AOE stun and fixed damage ������️, and then even the macrocosmos ✨ the more damage you take ������ the more you raise it ������ 12,000 potency baseline AOE ������, this happens! Aspected benefic has dual cast ⏰, shielding ������️, 2 charges ������, gives regen ������, instant cast ⏩, then there is gravity ������ , and dual cast gravity 3s+5s slow - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ������ ������

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its almost like it wasn't tested at all. they just said sure why not.

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Originally Posted by SeaJae

Stamina 54000 Mana 10000 Even 30k AOE Burst Healer ������ Unstoppable ������, Shield ������️, better reaper ������, teleport ������, There is an airborne ������️ wall crossing ������ AOE ������, and even the cooldown is only 2️⃣ 0️⃣ seconds, mana ������*♂️ is free, and LB even transforms ������ to cool AOE stun and fixed damage ������️, and then even the macrocosmos ✨ the more damage you take ������ the more you raise it ������ 12,000 potency baseline AOE ������, this happens! Aspected benefic has dual cast ⏰, shielding ������️, 2 charges ������, gives regen ������, instant cast ⏩, then there is gravity ������ , and dual cast gravity 3s+5s slow - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ������ ������

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Are you OK? no job is "unstoppable". I mean, it isn't as though Red Mages don't have instant- cast CC or shields, or heals- o, wait- they do.

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Originally Posted by Mawlzy

Seriously though, the main problem I have is the 5s duration of heavy when AST doublecasts it.

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AST can currently retain their Double Casted spell for 30 seconds, brace yourself for the Gravilogion and their mighty Triple Gravity combo.

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Originally Posted by Sunhwapark

AST can currently retain their Double Casted spell for 30 seconds, brace yourself for the Gravilogion and their mighty Triple Gravity combo.

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Also bracing for the return of the Aether premades and their AST+ solution to the 7.1 meta.

Honestly all of this is already borderline broken, but what truly baffles me is how the heck did they decide to give a RPR teleport to a ranged healer that doesn't even care about walls much. This skill isn't even there in pve. I get that sometimes pvp gets unique skills like that new PLD fancy shield smite, and its effect is cool and makes sense for that one, but retrogradation? What is even the justification behind this I don't even...

And what I find really scary is that they're probably not going to remove it. They don't remove things they worked to add to the game. At best we'll get balance changes, but how do you even balance this?