DPS Rankings

[RhazeCain]

Have been in very similar situation (tank picking DPS secondary) and I chose BLM. Haven't regretted it. The comments so far in the thread seem mostly accurate to me.

BRD is the one likely to be nerfed upcoming, while DRG/MNK most likely to be buffed. Not that you can or should count on that, but just it is likely.

[Youmu]

Haven't played BLM much, can you tell me which move can negate these attacks?

Manawall blocks 2 physical attacks fully, including stopping movement effects (like landslide). Divebombs are also physical. High Voltage is magical, but since it only applies the debuff if you take at least partial damage from it, you can use manaward to eat the damage and not get paralyzed. Your group shouldnt really be letting HVs get through anyways though.

[Shadowzanon]

you may wanna change that /glass cannon/ off blm since we have alot of survivability skills which Youmu went over. There is nothing glass cannonish about us. Also a well played blm has no issue with movement. Bards may look easy on paper but trust me it is more complex than you paint it to be.

[neoreturn]

If I am you, I will pick Blm.
Blm is also high demand with top burst Dmg+aoe Dmg

[Hudskie]

depends on the equips and skill rotations you are using.

sense of fulfillment wise, a DPS role doing dps side and rear while dodging attacks of the boss is better than a DPS standing throwing skills then suddenly died without any notice.

at the end of the dungeon, the boss will be killed and everyone will hear the good old final fantasy post fight song.

[pandabearcat]

Heyo, some quick points.

BRDs are the lowest max damage job given a nigh standstill fight. High burst though, and mobility and silence. And songs!

DRGs are the class most hindered by being unable to backstab (iirc every fight can be flanked, so that should not be an issue). They are also the least forgiving if you mess up the rotation, or miss an attack. Requires probably the most planning of any class. However, essentially 0 RNG.

MNK are easier than DRG for optimal dps. They are, however, more hurt by boss disconnects. Also have terrible, terrible ramp up times (30-40 seconds w/o PB), but should have the highest single target dps. Again, 0 RNG here, its all planning.

BLM have ridiculous AoE, are unconstrained by resource, and have some nice survivability cooldowns. Rooted in place for 90% of casts though. Proc dependent. How you deal with them I suppose is the measure of BLM skill.

SMN have high sustained dps that is only minorly impacted by movement and target switching. Takes a bit to ramp up (though lower than you would think). Pet management is important though.

[EasymodeX]

My comments:

BLM is exceedingly easy to play in terms of 1-2-3-4 execution, but have moderate demands on positioning. Single target DPS is "decent" at the top-end but seems to be lacking. Highest AOE output.

BRD is exceedingly easy to execute in terms of 1-2-3-4 execution, no demands on positioning. Instead, has some utility demands (silence, songs) that require horizontal / parallel management. Decent ST and AOE, not great in either.

DRG is the hardest to play in terms of raw 1-2-3-4 execution. Has moderate demands on positioning due to jump animation lock. Low utility aside from buffing BRD damage by ~6.5%. Decent ST and high AOE (second best behind BLM).

MNK has average execution difficulty for 1-2-3-4 button pressing. Moderate positioning demands due to mechanics continuing to function at all positions. Moderate utility. High ST output, moderate AOE. Miscellaneous comment: Monk "difficulty" is vastly overrated.

SMN is difficult to play due to the wide array of timing combined with pet management. Below average positioning demands. Moderate "general" utility, high clutch utility (swiftcast rez for example). High ST output, moderate AOE.

Note: Summoners have excellent multi-target DPS, not AOE . Multi-target DPS involves tab-dotting and other methods (in the SMN case, Bane). Monks have pretty good multi-target DPS as well (Demolish and TOD). Bards also have very good multi-target DPS. BLMs have poor multi-target, and DRGs have "decent".

Edit: Tweaked MNK, DRG, BLM descriptions to reflect "moderate" positioning demands.

[ZodiacSoldier]

Sorry for all these newbie questions, Fate Grinded all my DPS classes, so haven't had much experience actually utilizing all their abilities.

Your group shouldnt really be letting HVs get through anyways though.

My group has me, PLD and only 1 BRD for interrupts. Sadly we let HV go off occassionally, usually when I have to dodge an AoE and can't run back in time or if the BRD is passing Rot / dodging lasers (she plays on PS3)

DRG is the hardest to play in terms of raw 1-2-3-4 execution. Has moderate demands on positioning due to jump animation lock. Low utility aside from buffing BRD damage by ~6.5%. Decent ST and high AOE (second best behind BLM).

May you please elaborate on DRG, I was expecting them to me High in ST and at most Decent / Moderate in the AOE department. For AOE do you just spam "Doom Spike" and "Rings of Thorns". I was expecting the AOE / Multi-target DPS ranks to be BLM > SMN >= BRD > DRG >= MNK

[EasymodeX]

Doomspike is, overall, a very good AOE ability. Dragonfire Dive is a rather good AOE burst cooldown. The general pattern for a large AOE scenario is HT->ROT once, then Doomspike spam, while throwing in a DFD. Then continue to use Leg Sweep during Doomspike spam. Refresh HT as necessary (and follow it up with ROT).

On last week's Turn 4, I was able to nearly match the Summoner's total fight damage because I was significantly ahead of him on AOE (even though he destroyed everyone else on multi-target).

DRG single target DPS is pretty good, but weaker than MNK/SMN, on par with Bard and BLM. Bard's get +/- depending on whether they have a DRG supplying the pierce debuff.

DRG's actual utility comes in the form of burst damage during various mechanics. For example, even though a Monk is generally going to exceed a DRG's sustained DPS, a Dragoon is more effective to kill conflags on Twintania because they can time more oGCDs and burst damage for it.

[Youmu]

SMN > DRG AOE. With proper positioning on bosses/add spawns, bane works very well for AOE damage.