Pros and cons of smn and blm

[Transient_Shadow]

I'd say branch out and do all the magics! Become a grandmaster of magic! But as for a main dps I enjoy blm because its sexy. both blm and summoner have their strengths and weakness. I'd say summoner has a stronger aoe game where the blm kills in single targets. summoner also has more to track but is also more mobile.

My advice is to try both and go with which one you enjoy more.

[Kasmiya]

I personally prefer SMN but that's mainly because I've always loved dot type classes in most MMOs. I love both but I always gravitate more to SMN. I feel like I can adjust a little easier for those moments where I get targeted with every single mechanic lol.

[ShaolinMike]

I've bounced back and forth between SMN and BLM ever since I started playing this game in 2.1. I thoroughly enjoy both jobs but find myself leaning more often towards SMN because it's easier to be effective while learning a fight and REQUIRES less melds on their gear to be decent. Once I have a good feel for all the mechanics, I go back to BLM because crit Fire IV's are absolutely glorious! ������������ ������

[Silverquick]

I've bounced back and forth between SMN and BLM ever since I started playing this game in 2.1. I thoroughly enjoy both jobs but find myself leaning more often towards SMN because it's easier to be effective while learning a fight and REQUIRES less melds on their gear to be decent. Once I have a good feel for all the mechanics, I go back to BLM because crit Fire IV's are absolutely glorious! ������������ ������

Well honestly that's not too far off from my perspective after playing both too you know.

SMN is Superior AoE damage with Strong Single target
BLM is Superior Single Target with Strong AoE damage

The two are mirrors of each other and compliment each other very well.

[Vallhallix]

I started as a BLM had it up until nexus, but I started to lean over to SMN after dungeons became more mechanic heavy. Not only that the turret style of gameplay started to get super dull. I was enjoying the mobility of the SMN but still thought it needed more. Then we got insta tri-dotting and DWT as I stomped every class 1v1 in pvp I was like SMN YEAH!! Now with the Bahamut summon it looks like my patience with the class is paying off again. I traded in my BLM's nexus to get the materials for the SMN Anima because I already knew I was sticking with SMN and wasn't planning on maining another dps unless a new one came along, but after the Bahamut reveal I was 100% sure I wasn't going back to BLM. Plus I just find the lore on summoning much more interesting than black magic.

[Silverquick]

Honestly now that I've had to maintain an Enochian Cycle... it is a major pain in the rear...

However, I did not realize prior to doing it myself just how good or bad some of the BLMs around me actually were. Enochian is actually a cycle that can be maintained indefinitely assuming you aren't disturbed. As I look back at some of the BLMs I've grouped with in the past as a High level SMN, I knew the damage they were doing. But I had no idea how many times they had been failing at keeping the cycle up. I had thought prior it was only a one shot deal every 60 seconds. But its not, you refresh it halfway through it and can keep doing it over and over.

There are a crapton of BLMs who cannot maintain this cycle very well.

Example: I was able to sit and run a good 6 Fire IVs in a row, before the Bliz 3, Bliz 4, and then another 5 Fire IVs then Enochian would be up again shortly after and I could start the whole thing again fairly quickly.... most BLMs I've grouped with as a SMN were only doing like 3-4 of them and then you wouldn't see any Fire IVs for another 60 seconds.

So there is a large possibility the skill level required for a high level BLM is too great for many people.

And this doesn't even get in to the heavy movement mechanics found in many dungeons, EX, and Raids.... that can completely wreck it even for a pro.