Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

[daman4567]

snip

I main BLM and play SMN a good bit, so I have some comparisons. For example, in Sephirot, on BLM, I pull around 1150-1250 in the context of my static (DRG, NIN, BRD, and an AST, meaning optimized party buffs). It's a bit low, but I fall off in second phase due to mechanics. I end the add phase at 1500-1600, which I'm pretty happy with, and I try to optimize my uptime in third phase but I still fall off. I then played SMN in a farm party and easily, with several rotation mistakes and plenty of Shadowflare downtime, pulled 1200 dps consistently over the course of the fight. Also note, that this is comparing BLM sephirot weapon with SMN 200 eso weapon. Any movement, even if handled well, will reduce your BLM dps, but likely not impact your SMN dps at all. Of course, BLM's going for world best parses will beat SMN's, but as someone who plays SMN on main you'll definitely do better on a movement heavy fight with SMN than BLM.

[ShaolinMike]

Any movement, even if handled well, will reduce your BLM dps, but likely not impact your SMN dps at all. Of course, BLM's going for world best parses will beat SMN's, but as someone who plays SMN on main you'll definitely do better on a movement heavy fight with SMN than BLM.

And THIS is why I main SMN. Fire IV's are so sexy, but there's too much of a demand on the job for my liking ever since 3.0 was released. That being said, I'm still considering giving it another shot since they share Lore tome gear.

[CBellz]

as someone who plays SMN on main you'll definitely do better on a movement heavy fight with SMN than BLM.

Not strictly true tbh. A SMN might have an easier/quicker time learning and optimizing a fight than a similarly skilled BLM, but when played at the highest level BLM will contribute superior damage, even in fights that are movement heavy. There's always a way to maintain DPS even in the midst of mechanics.

Sephirot is a great example of a supposedly movement heavy and difficult fight for BLM. See the following link: http://www.fflogs.com/statistics/4#boss=1031&dataset=90

SMN is ahead until you reach the 90th percentile of players. BLM catches up here; and slowly but surely pulls away from SMN in the 95th, 99th, and max percentiles, approaching even monk levels of DPS. The only fights I see SMNs consistently beating BLMs are fights full of aoe opportunities (A2S), because BLM single target DPS is monstrous even when slightly gimped by movement or mechanics.

[HaroldSaxon]

SMN is ahead until you reach the 90th percentile of players. BLM catches up here; and slowly but surely pulls away from SMN in the 95th, 99th, and max percentiles, approaching even monk levels of DPS. The only fights I see SMNs consistently beating BLMs are fights full of aoe opportunities (A2S), because BLM single target DPS is monstrous even when slightly gimped by movement or mechanics.

According to FFlogs, the only boss in Midas Savage that BLM is above SMN on is A7S. The difference is small on A5S and A6S, but in A8S SMN do a lot more DPS.

http://www.fflogs.com/statistics/10#boss=29&dataset=90

[OneWingedSora]

According to FFlogs, the only boss in Midas Savage that BLM is above SMN on is A7S. The difference is small on A5S and A6S, but in A8S SMN do a lot more DPS.

http://www.fflogs.com/statistics/10#boss=29&dataset=90

The only reason why SMN would be able to catch up with BLMs on A5-A6S is due to add padding on the pigs on A5S and Blaster/Swindler on A6S. I would agree that Summoner is really good on A8S however, but again, probably mostly due to the multi-dotting nature of phase 2.

[HaroldSaxon]

The only reason why SMN would be able to catch up with BLMs on A5-A6S is due to add padding on the pigs on A5S and Blaster/Swindler on A6S. I would agree that Summoner is really good on A8S however, but again, probably mostly due to the multi-dotting nature of phase 2.

I don't play SMN so I wouldn't know the ins and outs and thus can't say for sure what is better - That is why I said according to FFlogs, in response to what the other poster had done.

Regarding A5S - Would the DoT's on the boss while he's small snapshot for part of the duration of when he's large (it won't be a huge difference, but just found the possibility interesting).

Is it possible to skip the pig phase on A5S and just kill the boss beforehand with enough DPS? For Blaster/Swindler - its more of a burst phase so I don't think SMN's sustained AOE would lead to quicker kill times which at the end of the day is the best measure of what's optimal for a fight, as not all DPS on a parse is equal. And above all that is getting progression earlier.

[OneWingedSora]

snip.

DoTs snapshotting was definitely a good merit for Summoners during progression and even now for less geared groups. But with groups that are already decently geared, you will pretty much only see one boost and two phases where he's large(counting the very first one), making it not as big of a deal as it was during progression, and making better burst during the part where he's small more valuable.

You can skip the pigs yes, but the three Summoner A5S parses above 1600 all had pigs to AOE on. But once everyone is geared enough and groups start skipping that part, I can assure you BLM will come out on top.

[HaroldSaxon]

DoTs snapshotting was definitely a good merit for Summoners during progression and even now for less geared groups. But with groups that are already decently geared, you will pretty much only see one boost and two phases where he's large(counting the very first one), making it not as big of a deal as it was during progression, and making better burst during the part where he's small more valuable.

You can skip the pigs yes, but the three Summoner A5S parses above 1600 all had pigs to AOE on. But once everyone is geared enough and groups start skipping that part, I can assure you BLM will come out on top.

Tbh I figure at that point if you are killing it before pigs just running a Melee could be better, especially if you have a MCH.