Black Mage

[Lina_Slayer]

Black Mage is the textbook definition of bad, it takes a lot of effort to master (see the difference between low percentile BLMs and high percentile BLMs) but once you do you don't have any meaningful reward, it brings nothing any other class can't and is alongside SAM a meme job, Soul of the Black Mage and Soul of Samurai are the undisputed WiS (worst in slot) of the soulstone slot.

[Shiroe]

eventhough the blm changes were not enough (especially after buffing mnk so much, some PFs dont even bother with a caster spot.. or its still smn for farm PFs ... and smn / rdm for prog PFs)

BUT blm has imo never been more fun to play, .. you can actually now "time" thos procs for more dps or for mechanics..., especially the thunder procs .. and are not constantly getting angry at clipping the procs .. or haveing to worry it will drop of so soon (can have your eyes on other things and not like "oh a proc!?, eyes glued to the remaing timer", . since we have more wayroom now)

even if it still bugs the fvck out if me, that blm are still the least desirable dps of all, ... making it still hard to get in PFs..

[Sylvain]

I'm à bit surprised that people keep talking about BLM ban from pf. Since sb I coudl count on 1h the number of time BLM was actively banned from a group, and those were usually Learning in group month after the boss release (like BLM on shin when most people are 335+ilv), which was laughable.

Is it that omnipresent in the US or I've just been lucky for 2 patches

[Kabooa]

I'm à bit surprised that people keep talking about BLM ban from pf. Since sb I coudl count on 1h the number of time BLM was actively banned from a group, and those were usually Learning in group month after the boss release (like BLM on shin when most people are 335+ilv), which was laughable.

Is it that omnipresent in the US or I've just been lucky for 2 patches

It's not omnipresent, but it's present enough to be noticeable. It isn't that people are saying "NO black mages", it's more that when they want a caster, they'll usually slot for Summoner or Red mage instead.

[Makrar]

From my experience I'd say the majority of groups are fine to join as a BLM but you do come across somewhat frequently groups where you cant join because the dps slots available are literally any dps job but BLM or they want one caster only (which is usually filled by a RDM/SMN). Or its the "meta" jobs only for speed / farm runs etc. For the most part the effects of said exclusion is that it just adds time to whatever activity you want to do. If you wait around for a while you can usually find a group.

On top of that you can get a few snide remarks from joining some groups where people are disappointed that its a blm who joined but those are fairly rare.

I dont come across many PF BLM's so I cant say the reputation is deserved or not but it is what it is.

[Maero]

All one had to do is look at the pf groups sb launch (even now as well) and you still see no slots for blm in groups.
This is not all mind you but i would say a fair amount.
The smn "nerf" and blm "buff" has not seemed to changed things at all

[HaroldSaxon]

All one had to do is look at the pf groups sb launch (even now as well) and you still see no slots for blm in groups.
This is not all mind you but i would say a fair amount.
The smn "nerf" and blm "buff" has not seemed to changed things at all

Just take a look at recruitment discords too.

[IllyriaKnotfred]

anyone compile a BiS list yet?

[Shiroe]

not bis, but at one point had 2085 spellspeed without food (Byakko weapon) ...and it felt great! (even with that amount could do a full rota with foul)..., felt like, like what blm are suposed to feel like..

but as usal, SE will castrate us and make sure our SS drops to the ca. mid 1.8k max 1.95k with food again (instead of giving us the best or near best SS feeling we can get..)

[HaroldSaxon]

anyone compile a BiS list yet?

Without an actual sim, the BiS won't be known for sure. Its also composition and fight dependent.

Besides, its WAY too early to think about BiS. Work on learning fights and upgrading your ilevel where you can - prioritising melds on either Vit > Crit > SS or Vit > SS > Crit. I'm going to be doing the latter.