Shuffle 3.2

[Vlady]

Potency wise, Noc AST > WHM > Diurnal AST, so it depends on which sect you're saying AST is stronger than WHM. In sheer potency from abilities (aka. Divine Seal) I still firmly place WHM as the stronger raw healer, even over Noc AST.

Cooldown strength wise astrologian is stronger in pure healing strength. But white mage may regain it's standing if the new raids require multiple healing cooldown usage over synastry.

[tjw]

Cooldown strength wise astrologian is stronger in pure healing strength. But white mage may regain it's standing if the new raids require multiple healing cooldown usage over synastry.

Going to have to disagree there. There are more cooldowns beyond just Synastry that each job can use. If we compare cooldowns that are in the same vein of each other, the only cooldown AST has which is superior to WHM is Disable VS Virus.

Asylum and Collective Unconscious are pretty much equal; CU has a stronger base heal, but it doesn't have the same freedom as Asylum due to how it forces AST to essentially be out of commission for at least 1 GCD, and the movement required.

Tetragramatton VS Essential Dignity; these two are also quite equal in usage. Tetra is more reliable whereas ED is more flexible.

Divine Seal and Synastry; Synastry has an added perk of double the single heal, however, the 30% healing buff from Divine Seal makes it a lot more flexible AND more potent in the long run. CU and Synastry also suffer from overhealling, which is definitely not ideal.

Presence of Mind and Lightspeed; PoM is already superior to Lightspeed by virtue of it actually decreasing cast AND recast time. Lightspeed is only superior in that it can be used while dodging, but in terms of healing throughput, PoM wins.

However, WHM has two cooldowns AST do not have, and essentially two of their strongest cooldowns. Benediction and Assize. There's no equivalent in the AST arsenal for those two abilities. If we're talking pure and raw healing, those two abilities are THE rawest heals that shine in the WHM arsenal.

On the flip hand, AST can extend any of its buffs with Celestial Opposition, however, CO is so inflexible that it may as well not be considered in the spectrum of comparisons. It's effect on healing throughput is negligible.