Are AST+WHM Viable?

[Beyondgrave]

I know that Ast+Sch are pretty strong right now since both class can buff and you still get to keep the Sch dps. But what about Whm+Ast? Are they as viable? Or should I just stick to Whm+Sch? My static is working on AS3 if that matters.

[Mercurias]

From a healing standpoint, I would say that pairing AST with WHM will allow AST to have a little more freedom in tactics, since it can do the crazy overheal thing in Diurnal as well as throw around shields in Noct. AST shields are honestly fairly decent, albeit the ST shield not as amazing since it won't double the shield on crit.

I also really like what happens when an AST goes bananas on groups of trash with Gravity and you have foes up. It's pretty nice for a ranged AoE on a healer.

[Beyondgrave]

Yea but Sch dps is still superior to Ast dps by a pretty decent margin. Sch have a reliable group dps buff compare to Ast which is rng. So if you pair Ast with WHM, don't you miss out on the consistent buff compare to having a whm+Sch. But if you go sch+Ast, you have the consistent dps buff of the Sch + the bonus of the nieces albeit rng buff of the Ast.

[HyperiusUltima]

Yea but Sch dps is still superior to Ast dps by a pretty decent margin. Sch have a reliable group dps buff compare to Ast which is rng. So if you pair Ast with WHM, don't you miss out on the consistent buff compare to having a whm+Sch. But if you go sch+Ast, you have the consistent dps buff of the Sch + the bonus of the nieces albeit rng buff of the Ast.

AST+WHM is decent enough. AST in Diurnal seems to be more useful still than Nocturnal due to the HoT you dish out with Aspected Benefic/Helios that can compare to WHM along with added buffs(Ewer, Balance, Bole, etc.) that can keep the party going. AST also helps deal with WHM's MP problem through Ewer(if it's drawn). Aside from that, they also bring Disable, which is basically all-around 10% mitigation on Anything. Add that with CU's Regen and 10% Mitigation, and you have 20%. WHM can cover for AST with its powerful heals while they're unable to move or cast while CU is up.

[Rewind]

I know that Ast+Sch are pretty strong right now since both class can buff and you still get to keep the Sch dps. But what about Whm+Ast? Are they as viable? Or should I just stick to Whm+Sch? My static is working on AS3 if that matters.

It's most likely that AST+SCH or WHM+SCH would be a stronger combination for the majority of fights as SCH DPS is quite superior in A1 & A2.

That being said, A3s is particularly unique where there are a couple of DPS checks that are associated with burst damage that a WHM could handle just as easily as a SCH (if not better). I also think the double regen effect of AST+WHM would be exceptionally overpowered for A3s.

I guess in the end (buying gear wise, if that's important to you) it would depend on A4s - I'm a "go in blind" type of person so I haven't watched any streams or videos

[jgg1988]

WHM and AST are viable in savage. In my static we are whm and ast ( i'm the ast ). I play in nocturnal stance, our single target shield right now is more than enough and is instant, you can add an stoneskin for more mitigation after the instant shield. Aoe shield is good enough too. So u can shield your party and still having a cure 2 ( benefic 2 ) and medica ( helios ) in your toolkit. Yeah sch do more dps, but your role is heal, HEAL! Anyway astrologian have a decent dps and in trash pulls like A2S i spam gravity sometimes using my mana cd at 90% of my mp. Dont forget you give dps to your party members so if u do less dps they are doing more. I have no problems atm in my static being ast + whm. I hope that i helped you

[Fevelle]

From a healing standpoint, I would say that pairing AST with WHM will allow AST to have a little more freedom in tactics, since it can do the crazy overheal thing in Diurnal as well as throw around shields in Noct. AST shields are honestly fairly decent, albeit the ST shield not as amazing since it won't double the shield on crit.

I also really like what happens when an AST goes bananas on groups of trash with Gravity and you have foes up. It's pretty nice for a ranged AoE on a healer.

I had an AST heal with me at Garuda EX synched today, she was always at Diurnal. It wasn't good. The hots always got her aggro from Chirada AND Suparna, and since AST enmity-control skill functions differently from Shroud, I think she couldn't have done anything to lessen the aggro (3 Provokes and 1 en-combo wasn't being enough to pull the adds away from her).

IDK about the new content, but when paired with a WHM, I'd go with Nocturnal Sect...

[jgg1988]

I had an AST heal with me at Garuda EX synched today, she was always at Diurnal. It wasn't good. The hots always got her aggro from Chirada AND Suparna, and since AST enmity-control skill functions differently from Shroud, I think she couldn't have done anything to lessen the aggro (3 Provokes and 1 en-combo wasn't being enough to pull the adds away from her).

IDK about the new content, but when paired with a WHM, I'd go with Nocturnal Sect...

Sounds like the tank sucks...

[HyperiusUltima]

I had an AST heal with me at Garuda EX synched today, she was always at Diurnal. It wasn't good. The hots always got her aggro from Chirada AND Suparna, and since AST enmity-control skill functions differently from Shroud, I think she couldn't have done anything to lessen the aggro (3 Provokes and 1 en-combo wasn't being enough to pull the adds away from her).

IDK about the new content, but when paired with a WHM, I'd go with Nocturnal Sect...

That depends. I don't really know the effectiveness of Nocturnal Sect compared to SCH, but for the most part Luminiferous Aether is like Quelling Strikes, so if they use Luminiferous Aether before burst healing they have the possibility of being safe(provided Aggro is being held).

[jgg1988]

That depends. I don't really know the effectiveness of Nocturnal Sect compared to SCH, but for the most part Luminiferous Aether is like Quelling Strikes, so if they use Luminiferous Aether before burst healing they have the possibility of being safe(provided Aggro is being held).

Yeah

Btw nocturnal stance is fine now. Aspected benefic is is right now better than adloquium ( if crit adloquim wins ).

Aspected benefic in nocturnal stance grants a shield of the amount healed + 30%

If you heal 1000 then u shield 1300