Can someone give me an in-depth explanation why Summoner is arguably the worst DPS?

[point09micron]

Couple that with the fact that resummoning ifrit means it has to run to the boss from your standing point, and the fact that they share CDs. (Contagion shares CD with Ifrits 4 slot ability)

I thought high-level play advocates standing in melee range anyways, for the very slight dps gain of hitting with your book.

[Akiza]

Saboteur, SMN is not. DoTs =/= Debuff.

Saboteurs weaken enemies and drain health with poison with enfeebling spells the same way the Summoner use Bio and Miasma to Damage enemies over time. The only difference between Saboteur and Summoner is SE lazily designed Summoner for instance Bio and Miasma are the same spell except they split up the effects and changed their names.

[Lavieh]

Saboteurs weaken enemies and drain health with poison with enfeebling spells the same way the Summoner use Bio and Miasma to Damage enemies over time. The only difference between Saboteur and Summoner is SE lazily designed Summoner for instance Bio and Miasma are the same spell except they split up the effects and changed their names.

You know who is a Saboteur.

Vanille

You know who else is.

Red Mage.

You know who isn't

Summoner

[Judge_Xero]

You know who isn't

Summoner

That's right. Because I know who Summoner really is, and it's not a Saboteur.



It's Robo from Chrono Trigger

[Akiza]

You know who is a Saboteur.

Vanille

You know who else is.

Red Mage.

You know who isn't

Summoner

The only difference between the Red Mage and Summoner is the Summoner has a pet for auto turret and Red Mage doesn't mechanically and design wise they play exactly the same.

[Sen_Terrechant]

I thought high-level play advocates standing in melee range anyways, for the very slight dps gain of hitting with your book.

Depends.

T10, you cant come phase 3 if you run dual melee (most groups) because of heat lightning. T11 its fine. T12 its okay in certain parts, but you will have to peel off. T13 you need to peel off for megaflare.

[Dyne_Fellpool]

Red Mages are primarily a melee class with limited black/white magic. Not known for DoTs or enfeeblements(except that one game).

This argument is silly.

[Akiza]

Summoners are know for having access to Black Mage and White Mage spells with the ability to summon. The only time Summoner was DoT was in this game. Most Final Fantasy titles Summoner was known for having very high aoe burst, crowd control and poor mp management. It seems SE only got poor mp management for Summoner right.

[Lilyarel]

Everyone says Summoner is top DPS but they should stand in melee range and book whack. Im not going to lie, that sounds incredibly degrading. But heres the thing; I never hear "BLM should whack things with its staff." Only SMN is subjected to this... Hmmmm.... Real talk though. Even if book whack does give slightly more damage its still incredibly embarrassing. I feel like a homeless person scrounging for food.

[Sen_Terrechant]

Everyone says Summoner is top DPS but they should stand in melee range and book whack. Im not going to lie, that sounds incredibly degrading. But heres the thing; I never hear "BLM should whack things with its staff." Only SMN is subjected to this... Hmmmm.... Real talk though. Even if book whack does give slightly more damage its still incredibly embarrassing. I feel like a homeless person scrounging for food.

SMN has not been top DPS for awhile. I would say they were only top DPS in the First Coil, SCoB Melee pulled ahead but SMN still kicked ass. Then more melee buffs, and BLM buffs and now in FCoB they are they weakest class because of class mechanics combined with fight mechanics.