Summoner Demystified: A Guide for Beginners

[FizT]

This is great! You see people gripe all the time about all the bads not knowing how even do the basics of their class/job, but very few write up a guide to get them started on the road to learning how to do it correctly. Maximizing is great and certainly should be the ultimate aim, but first you have to walk before you can run. Thanks for doing this! Maybe other jobs will get something like it, too. I hope many take advantage of the help offered!

[Alisa180]

Two things:

1. Blue Carbuncle should also be on Obey. Garuda-egi is just an upgraded version of it mechanically, so they share the same moves (just renamed). That means Carby also has Contagion (named Shining Emerald), so for those lvling SMN from scratch it's good practice to get used to keeping Summon I on Obey, period.

Huh...I didn’t know about Shining Emerald. Probably because every guide I read referenced ‘Contagion’ and not ‘Shining Emerald.’ Which means I went five more levels then I should have without that utility back when I was leveling SMN myself. In hindsight, I should have realized given Contagion is a level 40 ability, and you don’t get Garuda until level 45. And THAT is why I am writing this guide.

Another reason not to leave Carbuncle on sic is so he doesn't spam his knockback skill

I actually considered that, but...the knockback isn’t as big a deal at lower levels as it is at higher levels. I think. At least, I went 40 levels without anyone complaining...And between level 30 and 40 a SMN should be using Ifrit in dungeons by default anyway...And maybe even after until Garuda is picked up, despite Shining Emerald. Hm...

I’m re-writing that part of the guide, but my main concern is not overwhelm new players. A key part of this guide is learning to ‘build up’ the playstyle.

Remember, when you log in, a newly summoned pet is on Sic, and a common mistake even at my level is to not remember to put the Summon I pet on Obey before entering the dungeon. Another occasion is Topaz Carbuncle/Titan is typically on Sic when soloing, and when DF pops while I naturally remember to re-Summon Garuda, more often than not I don’t remember that I didn’t switch her back to ‘Obey’ until the first pull starts.

I don’t want players just learning to stress about whether Carby is on ‘Obey’ or not. For the early levels, I want them to prioritize applying and keeping up DoTs. And between 30-40, learning Aetherflow management. You both bring up good points, though. I need to think about this.

2. No reason to replace Ruin when you get Ruin II because that's not its purpose. If you have no reason to move, or to weave in an oGCD like Fester, then you simply spam Ruin I until DoTs need to be reapplied.

Replacing Ruin with Ruin II is included for two reasons:

1. To maximize mobility. Keep in mind, this is based a lot on my own playstyle and experience. My dodging, simply put, sucks ass. I’ve had WAY too many occasions where I was caught in the middle of casting Ruin and an AoE went off, followed by simply not being able to get out in time. Using Ruin II minimizes this for me, and would hopefully minimize it for others with similar problems.

2. While I acknowledge not all players will do so, getting used to using Ruin II instead of Ruin will prep the player for learning how to ‘weave’ oGCDs later. I’ll get more into detail on this when I write the section, but the short version is there was a mental ‘barrier’ of sorts I needed to overcome before I started to weave oGCDs myself. I have the sneaking suspicion I’m not/wasn’t the only one with the problem either. Using Ruin II from the start will help negate that barrier a little.

This is great! You see people gripe all the time about all the bads not knowing how even do the basics of their class/job, but very few write up a guide to get them started on the road to learning how to do it correctly. Maximizing is great and certainly should be the ultimate aim, but first you have to walk before you can run. Thanks for doing this! Maybe other jobs will get something like it, too. I hope many take advantage of the help offered!

Thank you! Yes, that was my entire intention.

Back when I was first learning SMN, one of the first guides I read was that ‘Connecting the DoTs’ guide. Later, I found Hai-Hai’s Summoner guide, and while it was helpful in the long run it was still overwhelming for someone who was just trying to figure out what skills I should use when in general, not necessarily when it was optimal. ‘Optimal’ was, and (while I’m getting better it) remains, out of my current skill range.

In the end, I hacked it out from experience, and various scattered comments on both the forums and the FFXIV subreddit. But after reading complaints about how people ‘don’t take criticism well’ in regards to their class, it got me thinking about the times I had offered constructive criticism to others not playing their class at a basic level.

Once was in the Thousand Maws, healing as AST, I noticed the mobs were dying REALLY slowly. I thought ‘we need some AoE’ before realizing we DID have AoE in the form of Blizzard II from the THM. Which he hadn’t been using. I told him that ‘On mobs with more than 2 enemies, you’ll want to use Blizz 2 instead of I.’ And while he wasn’t perfect, he did follow my advice speeding up the run.

Another time, there was an ACN who was *gasp* using Topaz Carbuncle in Copperbell Mines. We alerted her that she should switch to Emerald, but she didn’t respond nor did she switch. Now, THIS would be the kind of player beyond help...Except after the second boss, she suddenly popped up on ‘Say’. I once again asked her to switch out Carby, and this time she happily did, as well as accepting my other pointers on playing ACN. I still don’t know HOW she missed us the first time, since she said she could see the party chat...

The point is, most players will take criticism of their playstyle, provided it's constructive criticism. And as you just said, it's very hard to find information on learning the ‘basics’ of one’s job. Some might say that ‘Well, that’s just common sense!’ but some people (including myself) lack common sense and are rightly mortified when we learn we were doing something ‘obviously wrong’ with our class. Chewing someone out for not knowing basics gets nobody anywhere.

TL;DR This is the guide I wish was around when I was learning SMN.

[CyberGoblin]

Couple of things I feel I should mention: pet abilities (read: Contagion) doesn't go off as soon as you order your pet to do them so putting your bane immediately after Contagion can sometimes cause it to apply after you've used bane.

Also, Bane doesn't hit 8 targets (I wish), it hits three.

[Alesa]

Since 3.0, Bane hit all target, but less powerfull after 3 target.

[FeliAiko]

Okay, after reviewing this again more fully (was skimming through with my phone), I can see that while your intentions are good, it probably would've been better for you to become a bit more 'seasoned' on playing SMN before deciding to make such a guide.

Stuff like "it's okay if you let your DoTs fall off" shouldn't be encouraged in what's meant to be a basic guide, as keeping DoTs up is a basic requirement of the class. The player should be informed from the onset the importance of keeping DoTs up, as that then sets a foundation for them to build on for when they want to go to the next level in maximising damage (which you state you aim to do with this guide). Or if they don't stick with SMN, other classes that use DoTs (e.g. BRD, DRG), or have timer-based buffs (e.g. Heavy Thrust, Huton) that always have to kept up.

As for your rotation, while you do acknowledge it's not optimal, it still shouldn't be promoted as something others should do either. The 'optimal' SMN rotation is not something you should view as something only for raiders or min-maxers to worry about, but rather something that all SMNs regardless of level should be striving to do. Of course, learning/doing the rotation in itself won't make you the best SMN, but it sets you up better towards being a decent enough one.

SMN at its basic level amounts to:

(Pre DWT)
1. Controlling pet (i.e. Obey for Garu, Sic for the others)
2. Knowing the opener (ST and AOE)
3. Reapplying your DoTs, including Shadowflare
4. Aetherflow management and oGCD usage
5. Ruin/Ruin II spam when #3 and #4 aren't needed

(Post DWT)
6. See #1-5
7. Tri-D and Ruin III only while DWT is active (followed by Contagion if up, or at least before those buffed DoTs fall off)
8. Deathflare when DWT has 3 secs remaining (bonus points if you go Ruin II -> Fester/Painflare -> Deathflare as the finisher)

That should cover the fundamentals really. After all, there's plenty of more advanced guides out there for others to refer to if they want the full spectrum.

[Sleigh]

I love the purpose of this guide but to be frank I'm not really sure what's easier about doing these "good enough" rotations rather than the proper rotations which just do more damage. I mean, it's just a skill order difference for the most part, might as well just do the right order.

[Karatecatgrl]

As a ps4 SCH/SMN we have the ability to have our pet bar on a shift.

Also if you are killing multiple mobs use garuda egi. If its a boss or single target use Ifrit Egi. Also note with your pet on sic they will only use skills after their basic attack hits

Another thing, if your in melee range use your auto attack. Your character will hit targets with the book it adds a tiny bit of dps. Also when doing AOE, don't use miasma 2 unless there is more than 3 mobs.

With DWT, once you activate it use RS, TriD, R+S, Enk, R3, DF. This garuntees that your buff refresh will snapshot with the buff up doing more dps.

One last note, if your going to reference pets or spells and abilities please use the game terms, not the skills the bosses are using as it will confuse a beginner.

Otherwise keep up the good work!

[Alisa180]

Okay, after reviewing this again more fully (was skimming through with my phone), I can see that while your intentions are good, it probably would've been better for you to become a bit more 'seasoned' on playing SMN before deciding to make such a guide.

Stuff like "it's okay if you let your DoTs fall off" shouldn't be encouraged in what's meant to be a basic guide, as keeping DoTs up is a basic requirement of the class. The player should be informed from the onset the importance of keeping DoTs up, as that then sets a foundation for them to build on for when they want to go to the next level in maximising damage (which you state you aim to do with this guide). Or if they don't stick with SMN, other classes that use DoTs (e.g. BRD, DRG), or have timer-based buffs (e.g. Heavy Thrust, Huton) that always have to kept up.

The *only* time I say to let one's DoTs fall off is when one is in DWT. This is because I myself let this happen (thanks to Ruin III hyperfocus), and I add to *immediately* refresh DoTs when DWT ends. I'm partly justified by theorycraft, since last I heard saying casting anything besides Ruin III or Bio II in DWT is an overall potency loss. And I still pull good-enough numbers despite this (yes, they are not *ideal* numbers, but ideal *is not the intention.*)

Otherwise, I put plenty of emphasis on keeping up DoTs. If you feel there's not enough I such emphasis, I will re-write to include such.

As for your rotation, while you do acknowledge it's not optimal, it still shouldn't be promoted as something others should do either. The 'optimal' SMN rotation is not something you should view as something only for raiders or min-maxers to worry about, but rather something that all SMNs regardless of level should be striving to do.

I disagree. The 'optimal' rotation requires split-second timing that several, including myself, will simply lack the reflexes to pull off. While there are things we can gain from the rotation (such as Painflare use in single-target to build up DWT), that's the sort of thing to be worked in once the basics are down. The key is to *build-up* to that point. You can't start working towards the 'optimal' rotation without a basic foundation to work from first.

In many ways, the guide reflects how I learned to SMN and my own progression. I fully admit I am not the best SMN, and it is going to be a while yet before I can pull off 'optimal' rotations thanks to less-then-ideal reflexes. But I pull *good enough* numbers, enough to burn through mobs quickly in Expert dungeons like a SMN should, and meet the DPS checks on Alex NM. As I've said, this is the guide I wished I had when first learning SMN, and its ultimately aimed at more 'casual' players.

I consider myself hardcore, and rest assured I'm constantly working on my rotation. But for the *vast majority* of the player base not looking to make Alex Savage's strict DPS checks, the information in this guide will get them by just fine.

I love the purpose of this guide but to be frank I'm not really sure what's easier about doing these "good enough" rotations rather than the proper rotations which just do more damage. I mean, it's just a skill order difference for the most part, might as well just do the right order.

Oh, hi Sleigh! I actually address my (piss-poor) attempt at your opener in the Advanced section I just put up. It describes why doing 'proper' rotations is harder then it sounds not only for me, but for likely for others as well.

But to reiterate here 1) 'Proper' rotations have more to remember, especially for the ability-heavy SMN. I have ADHD, so remembering which skills to use when thanks to poor working memory was 'Yikes!' Early attempts resulted in screw-ups, and significant DPS loss. The 'good enough' rotations are simpler, based on what I ended up using for a while, and the 'Advanced' section addresses adding a couple skills to memorize a bit at a time to improve DPS numbers.

2) Proper rotations often involve weaving oGCDs. An entire part of the Advanced section is dedicated to why this can be harder then it sounds for beginners. The 'good enough' rotations are under the assumption one doesn't know how to (or can't) weave oGCDs.

I plan on trying your opener again once my oGCD skills get better. Whenever that is. -_-;

[Rongway]

In general, a good primer. I do have a problem with the following statement though.

As ACN, you'll also do just fine leaving Carbuncle on Sic. Literally the only pet you'll have on Obey is Garuda-Egi, and that's to manage her Contagion ability.

The personal trainer in me really wants to urge players to start with Carbuncle on Obey and get used to it. The biggest reason? Backdraft/Shockwave. This move should never be seen in a party setting, ever, and putting a newbie ACN in a position to see it in action and think "huh, I can knockback, that's cool," is doing him and anyone he plays with a great disservice.

Edit: Sorry, wrote this while reading the original post, posted it when I was done reading but before continuing to read the replies.

But really, I just wish people would learn early on not to use their knockbacks as a rule, and then later adding the exceptions "except on unmovable mobs or when nobody else can interrupt a wipe-level attack". Rules first, exceptions later.

[Sleigh]

In general, a good primer. I do have a problem with the following statement though.



The personal trainer in me really wants to urge players to start with Carbuncle on Sic and get used to it. The biggest reason? Backdraft/Shockwave. This move should never be seen in a party setting, ever, and putting a newbie ACN in a position to see it in action and think "huh, I can knockback, that's cool," is doing him and anyone he plays with a great disservice.

Edit: Sorry, wrote this while reading the original post, posted it when I was done reading but before continuing to read the replies.

But really, I just wish people would learn early on not to use their knockbacks as a rule, and then later adding the exceptions "except on unmovable mobs or when nobody else can interrupt a wipe-level attack". Rules first, exceptions later.

You mean Obey, and yes, Sic Carbuncle/Garuda is more harmful than Obey Carbuncle/Garuda.