Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

[Minorinz]

How is the burst damage on SMN this patch? Are they really better than BLM?

the burst is insane although it's not whenever you feel like it, it has to be timed with cds, lots of cds...
seems like good summoners can pull awesome dps with much effort, job is being rewarded for one's skill for once.
i'm settling with 1k dps on single target with crappy gear for 2-3 mins, it's basically when raging is available that the damage peaks like crazy. Feels great to compete with melee on some boss fights!!

[Bklyn718]

the burst is insane although it's not whenever you feel like it, it has to be timed with cds, lots of cds...
seems like good summoners can pull awesome dps with much effort, job is being rewarded for one's skill for once.
i'm settling with 1k dps on single target with crappy gear for 2-3 mins, it's basically when raging is available that the damage peaks like crazy. Feels great to compete with melee on some boss fights!!

Wow summoner used to be my main but I switched to BLM since SMN wasn't that great before patch. Now 3.0 is here SMN seems to be better than BLM. I already have my BLM to lvl 57 but i'm thinking about switching back to summoner now.

[GideonHighmourn]

I played with it some more after reading some suggested rotations. I'm kind of in love with SMN more than ever; it almost makes me want to DPS rather than heal!

I don't have exact parse numbers, but I definitely felt like I could keep up versus a BLM at least.

In a few DFs I've been healing, I noticed a big difference when a SMN who's doing it right is in the group; things melt so much faster.

[Wisper]

And why you not use enkindle when you use Xpotion ? Now your pet take too buff (food and potion).

[Bhuni]

I'm not too sure about saving raging strikes for when you enter Dreadwyrm Trance as you're missing out on three buffed festers while you build stacks, PS4 pls.

[Judge_Xero]

And why you not use enkindle when you use Xpotion ? Now your pet take too buff (food and potion).

Not sure if anyone has tested if pets get Pot buffs as well, since only food was mentioned (probably need to summon pet after using food though)

It would be something neat to try though. X-Pot-> Spur (resets pet stats, not sure if you could just use a vit pot in this regard for instant verification)

I'm not too sure about saving raging strikes for when you enter Dreadwyrm Trance as you're missing out on three buffed festers while you build stacks, PS4 pls.

In most cases it is ideal to save RS for DT. If you are holding Aetherflow in order to Fester (or Pain for AOE) during DT then you can fit in two during that time frame. You can never fit more than 2 X Fester into a RS.

Once someone finds the ideal opener, I'm sure we will see a bunch of variations of it as well. I do not see it being ideal to burn aetherflow stacks (on crap skills like Energy Drain, and single target Pain) without using a POT or having only certain buffs available for it.

Fester 300 Potency
Energy Drain - 150 Potency (requires 100% damage increase to equal an Unbuffed Fester)
Pain Flare - 200 Potency (Requires 50% damage increase to equal an Unbuffed Fester)

Raging Strkes - 20%
Foes - 10% or BV Foes 20%
Trick Attack - 10% (10s window)
best available HQ Pot - 15%? (15s)

Total best case 65% for a 10s window
EG -> 250
Pain -> 330
Less than 2 X Normal Festers.
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In most cases it may even be ideal to have a Post-Opener (30s into the fight).
Trick Attack, is not a huge loss in order to save the higher potency Festers for later, and there is no reason you can't delay the BV'd Foes for 30s into the fight. (since it could be ideal for the Bard to start in Minuet for an opener VS 10% mage damage)

[Bhuni]

Didn't even notice I put three festers instead of two I'm such a turd, thank you.

[Meleoffs]

In most cases it is ideal to save RS for DT. If you are holding Aetherflow in order to Fester (or Pain for AOE) during DT then you can fit in two during that time frame. You can never fit more than 2 X Fester into a RS.

If you precast it, RS comes up just after a DWT. It's almost not worth it to save RS for the next one, and I'd almost rather save it for the festers and the dots you put up before dwt.

[Vallhallix]

Wow summoner used to be my main but I switched to BLM since SMN wasn't that great before patch. Now 3.0 is here SMN seems to be better than BLM. I already have my BLM to lvl 57 but i'm thinking about switching back to summoner now.

A lvl 60 BLM does insane damage. Leylines + AST speed buff + Raging strikes is quite possibly the most legit combination in the game right now. BLMs problem is not damage as on paper they should still outperform a SMN with raw damage. BLMs problem is moving, that will be the thing BLMs will have to accommodate with. For those who can't handle the new rotation while moving switching to SMN would probably be your best bet.

About Flare, I wasn't really upset about the nerf it's about balance. Deathflare has more potency because it can't be spammed.

[Meleoffs]

A lvl 60 BLM does insane damage. Leylines + AST speed buff + Raging strikes is quite possibly the most legit combination in the game right now. BLMs problem is not damage as on paper they should still outperform a SMN with raw damage. BLMs problem is moving, that will be the thing BLMs will have to accommodate with. For those who can't handle the new rotation while moving switching to SMN would probably be your best bet.

About Flare, I wasn't really upset about the nerf it's about balance. Deathflare has more potency because it can't be spammed.

There is a ridiculous amount of moving in Ravana EX and Bismark EX. A ridiculous amount.