Contagion isn't as good as it seems

[Veis]

Garuda pet is fine except for that knock back which can't be turned off.

Garuda is providing an at range ability providing constant damage and contagion when used correctly is amazing during transitional period when you arent necesarily targeting the boss or have other issues to attend to.

I personally would like better control options for the pets, otherwise I really feel like the class is fine.

[Ardan]

Garuda pet is fine except for that knock back which can't be turned off.

Garuda is providing an at range ability providing constant damage and contagion when used correctly is amazing during transitional period when you arent necesarily targeting the boss or have other issues to attend to.

I personally would like better control options for the pets, otherwise I really feel like the class is fine.

Do you not use the obey pet command? It forces Garuda to use wind blade only unless you order it to do another move. Personally the only issue I have with the pet controls is the inability to use pet commands during spellcasting.

[Marcusow86]

A lot of Summoners seem to think Contagion is the end all be all of pet abilities, and it's quite easy to see why:

+15 seconds to dots = 5 extra ticks per dot
Tick of Bio II + Miasma + Thunder + Bio = 145 potency
145p x 5 = 725 potency per cast time

725ppct, that's a big number, far bigger than any other Summoner ability, but the math isn't quite that simple. Essentially, there's an opportunity cost for using Contagion: it delays when you would normally be able to recast your higher ppct spells (dots) and replaces that time with a period of casting lower ppct spells, 6 globals to be exact. So the ppct of Contagion isn't 725, but rather how much damage the Summoner can do in those 6 extra globals.

[continued]

Contagion is good due to the below:-

1. Combine it with raging strike.
2. Timing with your Fester GCD.
3. When a boss is going through transition phase where you need the dots to be there first thing next phase. (eg: Garuda)

[Marcusow86]

Do you not use the obey pet command? It forces Garuda to use wind blade only unless you order it to do another move. Personally the only issue I have with the pet controls is the inability to use pet commands during spellcasting.

Yes, although Obey is vital for Garuda egi as it will spam contagion at situation that does not call for it. But Obey also stop Garuda egi from using her AOE wind atk unless you manually click it. As SMN, i have tons of button to click and i always neglect the AOE wind atk.

[Inosaska]

Do you not use the obey pet command? It forces Garuda to use wind blade only unless you order it to do another move. Personally the only issue I have with the pet controls is the inability to use pet commands during spellcasting.

Right now though it seems after combat I always find my pet back on guard and its rather annoying and I seem to miss it at times. So its resetting for me and its annoying to always make sure its on obey.

[Marcusow86]

Right now though it seems after combat I always find my pet back on guard and its rather annoying and I seem to miss it at times. So its resetting for me and its annoying to always make sure its on obey.

Once a pet is on Obey, it will stay in Obey mode unless you re-summon.

[dontcare]

Obey is not a stance like Guard (it should be,) it is an attack command, and to my knowledge, resets when the pet changes targets e.g. when current target dies unless reissued.