Easiest dps right now

[BilboTerminator]

It is funny hearing dragoons saying they are complicated cause they got a couple positional abilities. Meanwhile, monk has had many for quite some time. :P

U are also funny, oh no w8 you just do not know how the class works xD

[Shori]

As an ex-MNK for most of 2.X I still shake my head at myth of MNK difficulty. They have two extremely flexible combo's, and if you set your bars up correctly the rotation flows so smoothly that it's pretty brain dead honestly.. Flank-Flank-Back, Back-Back-Flank, Flank-Flank-Flank.. etc etc..You always know which positional you're going to land way ahead of time and can plan accordingly.

The rotations are fine if you're attacking a doll or a stand-still boss - but raids particularly are never like this, and WAR tanks (nothing against them) through dungeons are not like this because they need to move the mobs about to use overpower on as many as possible. Other DPS do not need to worry about this so mcuh. While I agree with you that it can be brain-dead easy in some circumstances (typically the same circumstances it would be easy for all DPS) what I mean is that when it is difficult its more-so than other DPS which is what OP wanted to avoid.

[FreyrPrime]

My static cleared Bis EX last night for the first time. We cleared the final phase in 3 "mounts". The caveat is we ran with a BRD and a MCH.

We met the DPS checks easily, honestly. All the adds died in the 3rd phase with seconds to spare for Dragonkillers. The chitin died before he began to shudder, and it was still plenty light out when the snakes died in phase 2.

For reference we ran PLD/WAR/AST/SCH/DRG/NIN/BRD/MCH.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that the perception of subpar dps is overblown, especially if people are denying them spots in PFs. Yes, there damage could use a real bump, but plenty of people are clearing content with them without issue. More than anything it's "Bring the Player, not the Class".

We're working on Rav EX right now, and we're definitely having no issue with the shield or the adds (curse you double preys!)

[Krissey]

Oh but come on now! We MUST establish who's got it worst because... well... because... just because! =D

Because people need validation and to prove that what they're doing is meaningful. Having the "hardest job" means you have the "most skill" and therefore are "better" than other people giving you a false sense of superiority, accomplishment, and self worth.

Hilarious, honestly, however that is the "because". Everyone is fighting for their spot to show how l33t pr0 they are and how much adversity they have to overcome in playing their class.

[Ayuhra]

How does Ninja play? Are there a ton of skills and keybinds? I have tiny hands.

I've been curious about NIN because I am not sure how I feel about BLM and maybe NIN will be easier for me.

For the record, raw rotation isn't all of it. I can handle a complex or long rotation as long as the rotation is quick and fluid. That's my biggest issue with BLM. The immobility and longcasts always made BLM a little clunky for my brain but the changes have made it even clunkier. It's too slow and unpredictable (unpredictable in actual battle. I can maintain it on a dummy but actual fights have target drops, invulnerabilities, AoEs, etc that punish the rotation considerably).

[Allyrion]

How does Ninja play? Are there a ton of skills and keybinds? I have tiny hands.

I've been curious about NIN because I am not sure how I feel about BLM and maybe NIN will be easier for me.

For the record, raw rotation isn't all of it. I can handle a complex or long rotation as long as the rotation is quick and fluid. That's my biggest issue with BLM. The immobility and longcasts always made BLM a little clunky for my brain but the changes have made it even clunkier. It's too slow and unpredictable (unpredictable in actual battle. I can maintain it on a dummy but actual fights have target drops, invulnerabilities, AoEs, etc that punish the rotation considerably).

Including off-GCDs and cooldowns -
Ninja has 21 active rotational skills.
(Not counting Throwing Dagger cause it's not that rotational.)

This includes the hand symbols (Mudra) which can be used in different combinations for different skills.
For the four ninjutsu related buttons, you gain 7 abilities extra.

The utility (personal and group) abilities should be keybinded too, of course.
This includes Shukuchi, Second Wind, Shadewalker, Goad, Smoke Screen, Mantra/Keen Flurry, Limit Break and Throwing Dagger.
That's another 8.

That's 29 fairly active keybinds, if that helps. Ninjutsu reduces button bloat a fair bit.


NIN rotation is very quick. Together with MNK, we have the fastest GCDs.
However, in addition we weave more skills between GCDs than any other Job.
That doesn't make it hard or anything, just more active.
And you have to track your timers instead of relying of preset combo timers.

That is a challenge to it, making it more of a priority system than a rotation (even more so than the other melee).
But it's also part of what makes it the most flexible rotation of the melee and the one that's the less punishing.
It has more consistent damage in combat situations due to this as well.

So I think it sounds like what you're looking for.
But if you do lag, it can get into the way of the rotation due to the Mudra lag.

[Anonydort]

How does Ninja play? Are there a ton of skills and keybinds? I have tiny hands.

holy jebus, does it ever. I have to use three rows of 1-7, and that's only at 55. ninja is pretty bloated when it comes to buttons

[Neyka]

Since very few people have more than one level 60 char of a class, and have done actual end game content with said class, any response you get is going to be very subjective.

That said, based on my limited understanding, here is the order I would rank classes in terms of the ease of putting out good consistent damage in a raid:

1: Summoner
2: Ninja
3: Bard/Machinist
4: Monk/Dragoon/Black Mage (raid mechanics make it difficult to keep up stacks, botd, ley lines, etc.)

Note that this list does not represent who can do the most dps in a raid, nor does it represent highly skilled players that have learned to compensate for mechanics in a specific raid.

Also, this is very subjective, based on hearsay knowledge of most of the dps classes.

If we could include warriors as a dps, they would probably be #2/3 on that list.

[Skypirate]

I was going to ask how Summoner was difficult(My summ is only 50) But I could see how Managing Aetherflow + Some new stack could be difficult. But it sounds Like you just Open With Tri-Disaster wait till Dreadworm Trance is up Pop all your buffs. Burst like a Mofo and extend the duration of your dots with Garuda-Egi. Finish with enkindle and Deathflare and Fester for a good amount of burst.

Edit : And when that rotation isn't up go back to refreshing dots and spamming Ruin II.
Do I have the gist of it?

[QCrimson]

But don't even try to pretend DRG is complicated.

It kinda is though... Especially when you have fights like Ravana Ex.