bard vs mechanist??? help

[Lyra8]

hello! i am bard player, i got brd to 60 and really enjoy the class but when i try to do content on brd or join groups many dont accept me because they would rather have a mechanist....because of this i ve only completed containment bay s1t7 extreme and had no chance to try out alexander midas savage...

is mechanist really that much better than bard??? i treid out mechanist at 30 but it felt very weak. someone told me at 60 they have more utility and do more damage. is this true? did i waste my time getting bard to 60 if mechanist is just better? i really like brd and dont want to get kicked from parties for playing it

[ashwich]

understand the frustration. I kindly invite you to read the discussion someone started 3 threads below:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ty...-thoughts

[Maero]

Up until at least 50 Machinist is weaker then Bard i would say, at level 60 though is where it changes, machinist do have a slight edge because of higher burst.
Play what you enjoy and do not let others dictate what you do, you just need to find a group that would be fine with a Bard. Best of luck

[StrejdaTom]

At this point MCH is better than BRD in DPS, CC it is offering and for the most parties in DPS support too (most of the parties have 2 melees, not 2 casters).

Yeah, apart from Foe + BV BRD has RoD and Wanderer's Paean, but they aren't such a big deal. I am filling for a MCH for 2 months in A7s progression static and having Wanderer's Paean is a positive change for their healers but it is anything they couldn't live without.

BRD might get boosted in the future, but I wouldn't expect it fast, lots of people still believe BRD is on par with MCH or even better, which delays any balancing (as most of the balancing is done as an answer to feedback). According to FFlogs (which offer actually really good statistics even when there is some padding happening) the amount of MCHs in endgame raiding teams is doubled compared to BRDs.

If you have the time to level up MCH and still aren't too much familiar with BRD (I have played BRD as my main since 2013 so I don't feel like switching only because they overpowered MCH) I would suggest switching to MCH. Most parties wouldn't mind taking BRD, but why risk it when you have the possibility to go for better?

[RiceisNice]

They're not significantly better than BRD to the point that it would justify benching them out in favor of a BRD, likewise in 3.0-3.1 days where a MCH didn't get benched out for a BRD despite being inferior. If a group is benching you for that, then they most likely aren't a good group to be in to begin with if they'd rather take a job over a player.

[Aeliott]

They're not significantly better than BRD to the point that it would justify benching them out in favor of a BRD, likewise in 3.0-3.1 days where a MCH didn't get benched out for a BRD despite being inferior. If a group is benching you for that, then they most likely aren't a good group to be in to begin with if they'd rather take a job over a player.

Not only that, but MCH is far easier to blunder with causing dps to sink :P a lot less forgiving than BRD

[LilLemay]

Granted I'm a bit biased here, since I main and absolutely adore Bard. However I think it depends on what you're looking for, if you simply want to do more DPS then I believe MCH is arguably better provided you can master the complexity of it.

If you're looking for utility and ease of use then in my opinion Bard is the best class for that

[jssanderson747]

is mechanist really that much better than bard??? i treid out mechanist at 30 but it felt very weak. someone told me at 60 they have more utility and do more damage. is this true?

Not really, no. Bard can do savage just as well as mch

[Slyqc]

Not really, no. Bard can do savage just as well as mch

Damage part is true, utility is also true for A6S second boss because of heavy and stun. Bard can indeed do Midan savage but the fact is that team with MCH will have a easier time clearing up the floors, just need to take a quick look at FFLogs, numebrs aren't lying.

[Velhart]

Damage part is true, utility is also true for A6S second boss because of heavy and stun. Bard can indeed do Midan savage but the fact is that team with MCH will have a easier time clearing up the floors, just need to take a quick look at FFLogs, numebrs aren't lying.

It entirely depends on your composition. If you have a more mage heavy group and healers contribute DPS, a BRD's Foe's Requiem really helps push the fights. On a more melee oriented group, Hypercharge serves much better.

Its what has always bugged me between BRD and MCH, which is a potential deciding factor depending on if you raid heavily or not. The fact that BRD and MCH damage support is different. Foe's giving 10-20% magical when Hypercharge gives 10% to physical or magical depending on the turret you use. I am not saying I have the best solution or idea to make it work, but in general, Foe's and Hypercharge should work exactly the same. Both should be 30 second buffs on 2 minute timers and should be a general buff for the party, not just physical or magical. Its hard to do however with abilities like Battle Voice and the fact that Hypercharge depends on what turret you have out. If SE found a way to make it work, then the decision to BRD or MCH would boil down to is play style preference.

That to me is the biggest struggle in balance between the two jobs. Their DPS difference is fine for the most part.