Apparently I'm distracting (and not the good kind)

[LegoTechnic]

How is Blizz2 viable as a SMN? Does a SMN somehow buff it? It's not even viable on BLM.

It's because Ruin and Ruin II are complete and utter trash despite being SMN's primary filler ability. Blizzard is a 50 potency AoE move with 2.5 second cast, and Ruin is an 80 potency single-target spell with a 2.5 second cast (2.5 recast in case of Ruin II). If there are two or more mobs then anytime you would be casting ruin (and are not moving or focusing a target), then Blizzard II will be more damage.

Amusingly it tends to be a bottom barrel option for BLMs, but it can be quite handy for SMNs in large pulls as filler while waiting for cooldowns.

[FunkyBunch]

It's because Ruin and Ruin II are complete and utter trash despite being SMN's primary filler ability. Blizzard is a 50 potency AoE move with 2.5 second cast, and Ruin is an 80 potency single-target spell with a 2.5 second cast (2.5 recast in case of Ruin II). If there are two or more mobs then anytime you would be casting ruin (and are not moving or focusing a target), then Blizzard II will be more damage.

Amusingly it tends to be a bottom barrel option for BLMs, but it can be quite handy for SMNs in large pulls as filler while waiting for cooldowns.

It's not even a bottom barrel option, lol. I don't even have it on my cast bar as Freeze is superior in every way, and it's completely useless. In only play with sometimes to compare DPS to make sure it's still useless.

It's funny that it's viable on Summoner.

[ChaozK]

It's not even a bottom barrel option, lol. I don't even have it on my cast bar as Freeze is superior in every way, and it's completely useless. In only play with sometimes to compare DPS to make sure it's still useless.

It's funny that it's viable on Summoner.

Its because BLM has a spamable AOE with higher potency via fire II. SMN on the other hand only has AOE via dots (through bane or miasma II) or via spending ather for painflare. So if you have all your dots already ticking and lack aether then you can pretty much do no further AOE. In that case doing ice II for 50 pot AOE is better than doing no AOE.