Just an FYI for New Black mages and the tips and tricks to your job.

[O-Deka-K]

First off, after your fire phase, dont transpose!
you can go right from fire 3 to ice 3 for a full stack of ice.
while your mp is coming back, you can thunder and then back to fire 3 again for another full stack of astral fire. (Most BLM know this, but some still don't)
Second, you can move and cast.. if you have a proc up (fire or lightning), you do not have to stand in 1 position to cast it, it's instacast. You can be moving while pressing the button.

Good tips, but there are a few things that should be mentioned:

• You get Fire III at level 34. This allows you to instantly go to Astral Fire 3 without Transpose (it will only go to AF2 until level 40, see below).
• You get Blizzard III at level 38. This allows you to instantly go to Umbral Ice 3 without Transpose (it will only go to UI2 until level 40, see below).
• You get Increased Aetherial Damage II at level 40. This allows you to get 3 stacks of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice.
• Transpose is still useful after a battle. If you are in Astral Fire at the end of battle, use Transpose and you should be at full mana for the next fight.

Also, a special tip: UI3 shortens the cast time of Fire spells and AF3 shortens the cast time of Ice spells. If you are in UI3 and cast Fire III, it will cast faster. ALSO, AF3 will be applied after the Fire III hits, so if you are quick enough, you can fast cast a SECOND Fire III. i.e.

Blizzard III -> Thunder II -> Fire III -> Fire III -> Fire

I find that I get the second fast cast most of the time, but sometimes it comes out normal (normal cast time is 3.5s).

As for Thundercloud/Firestarter procs, they allow you to cast a Fire/Thunder spell instantly and without mana cost, but you still have to wait for the 2.5s GCD afterwards. Since Fire III and Thunder III both have a cast time of 3.5s, this saves the casting time, allows you to move while casting it, and shaves off a total of 1s.

For dungeons, if you're being a good DD, then you should also be watching your enmity. Of course this depends on the difference between your gear and the tank's. However, as a general rule of thumb, watch the enmity especially close if you happen to get a lot of procs in a row. Since Thunder has low hate and is also a DoT, it can help to throw it on a target other than the main, especially when you get Thundercloud procs.

[Arale]

Blizzard III -> Thunder II -> Fire III -> Fire III -> Firei

I stick to Fire for this rather then Fire III, but agreed otherwise. Fire III > Fire I spam has always worked for me.