Stoneskin

[Alkimi]

Don't bother pre-casting SS on Titan, except on the tank. Just not worth the carpal tunnel.

This would depend on your tank. I don't use it to prevent damage, it's more to reduce the amount of enmity I get at the start of the fight. All those stomps and Geocrushes mean a lot of AoE healing and if I can negate the first set of stomps it gives the tank more of a change to get a good lead on me.

Same applies to Garuda and her friction thing.

[Kaelah]

Why not cast it whenever you don't need to heal and your mana isn't low? It has the added benefit of not drawing much threat.

As they say, an ounce of prevention...

I do this.

Though mostly, keep it on everyone. Tank tends to lose theirs fast of course, so I just recast before the next group. Or for bosses like Tonberry King, throw one out during battle before a bit hit.

[Simaril]

I do this.

Though mostly, keep it on everyone. Tank tends to lose theirs fast of course, so I just recast before the next group. Or for bosses like Tonberry King, throw one out during battle before a bit hit.

If I had infinite mana I would recast stoneskin on the tank anytime everyone's HP are full. But as I'm learning battles I'm afraid to waste the MP.

For example, I'll be doing Titan (level 34) for the first time, and know it's valuable to cast a certain times, but afraid to waste mana going for maximum uptime :/

[YanDere]

If I had infinite mana I would recast stoneskin on the tank anytime everyone's HP are full. But as I'm learning battles I'm afraid to waste the MP.

For example, I'll be doing Titan (level 34) for the first time, and know it's valuable to cast a certain times, but afraid to waste mana going for maximum uptime :/

You don't need a particular strategy in Normal Mode, just avoid aoes and stand as far as you can from the middle during Geocrush.
Stoneskin or not, nothing changes.
I find really useful to cast Stoneskin on the tank before Mountain Buster in Titan Hard Mode, and I usually try to swiftcast Stoneskin on the tank each pull, but only when we are doing 10 min speedruns.
Until lv50 you don't need to worry that much about other than healing skills.

[Ruckus]

If I have WHM healer, I usually call out when I VIT pot and/or Thrill of Battle so he/she knows that SS effectiveness just went way up.

Those can be some serious stoneskins (2k+).

[OrganizationXIll]

• Before fights

• Before Tonberry's Grudge

• Before Garuda's adds

• After a WAR has popped Thrill of Battle

With a good group that wont be dying I like to swift cast it when I notice or hear a WAR has popped Thrill of Battle. Its a nice damage cushion. Essentially, it gives them 1700 - 2000 HP more which is always nice.

[Gurpsmeister]

There's a few times where stoneskin becomes a heal substitue. Hydra and Twintania are really the only two that come to mind. When the tank gets hit by the white breath which reduces healing done, use stoneskins instead. Same cost as a cure 2 and absorbs damage instead of heals it. Once white breath is gone, back to healing.

[Simaril]

You don't need a particular strategy in Normal Mode, just avoid aoes and stand as far as you can from the middle during Geocrush.
Stoneskin or not, nothing changes.
I find really useful to cast Stoneskin on the tank before Mountain Buster in Titan Hard Mode, and I usually try to swiftcast Stoneskin on the tank each pull, but only when we are doing 10 min speedruns.
Until lv50 you don't need to worry that much about other than healing skills.

I understand your intent, but the reality of Duty Finder groups is that I can almost always make the groups better by doing a lot more than using the healing skills that I should need to (I mean this in general - not just Titan).

[YanDere]

I understand your intent, but the reality of Duty Finder groups is that I can almost always make the groups better by doing a lot more than using the healing skills that I should need to (I mean this in general - not just Titan).

Well, I think all pre-endgame content can just become worse, than just healing in a plain way.
It's just my opinion, but in Titan NM you just need to heal. No more. If you use Stoneskin you either won't get any benefits, or will get distracted from healing and let the tank die.
During Titan HM we use Stoneskin only before Mountain Buster, which is a skill that Titan lv34 doesn't have.
What I suggest is: just heal, you'll be fine.
But it is only my personal opinion, you can practise and see what you feel like doing.
Stoneskin is perfect just before pulling, and totally unnecessary (not even helping) after, in any pre-endgame content.

[Itchyness]

Only time it is when I run ak and we're doing a sacrificial runs through some of the mobs there.