Quote Originally Posted by EllieShadeflare View Post
While Black Mage's AOE effectiveness during HW was certainly only adjusted (Flare's dropoff saw to the end of its reign), Summoner gained a unique opportunity when Bane was buffed to apply to more than three targets, Shadow Flare being a powerful damage over time area, Miasma II was at least a fun tool, Enkindle's cooldown was shortened ever so slightly, and the addition of Painflare (a reliable 200 potency burst AoE) and Deathflare (a whopping 400 potency AoE without dropoff) all provided the tools for Summoner to become one of the most powerful AoE users in the whole game, with only Black Mage as a possible contender.
I know the history of it, but with SB, BLM has resumed it's rain of AOE king with T4, Foul, and quad flare. There is not a lot SMN can do to contend with that.