Most samurais ive met never used AOE

[Mhaeric]

Didn't they make it so that most AOEs only deal the full amount to the first target and deals less enemy hit? doing the math its not that far off at 270. Though I don't think thats how AOEs works at all, unless I'm misunderstanding something. An AOE I don't think increases Potency per enemy, but Deals the base potency to each enemy (with reduction if the skill says of course).

Not most, just the heavier hitting ones usually. The AoEs that do 100 potency per mob are generally not the ones that have diminishing returns per mob. And even for the ones that do the drop off per mob is not so large to make a single target combo do more. The main reason for the drop off is more so you aren't pulling near single target damage on multiple targets. Summoner in particular was the poster child for this back in 3.0.

As for what they're saying about increased potency, they're just referring to fact that using AoE on multiple mobs results in greater total potency per GCD the more mobs there are, and not that the AoE itself has more actual potency per strike. An AoE increases in overall potency per GCD the more mobs there are. E.g. Scatter is a 300 potency spell vs 3 mobs, it's a 400 potency spell vs 4 mobs, a 500 potency spell vs. 5 mobs, etc.

[Shiroe]

beeing playing Tank again, noticed it too, that some player / dps (not just sam's) consequently dont use aoes...

think they're on purpose trolling, trying to pull aggro off the tank -_- (or feel good, when they can pull aggro -.-')

[Ryaz]

beeing playing Tank again, noticed it too, that some player / dps (not just sam's) consequently dont use aoes...

think they're on purpose trolling, trying to pull aggro off the tank -_- (or feel good, when they can pull aggro -.-')

I never feel good pulling aggro. It either means the tank is severely undergeared or isn't really trying. I use Diversion, but with a properly played tank I don't even really need to.

I still get surprised reactions from other DPS and tanks when I use Goad on them. I can't believe people are so lazy as to not use the tools available to them.

[Rayo]

I still get surprised reactions from other DPS and tanks when I use Goad on them. I can't believe people are so lazy as to not use the tools available to them.

I'll be honest, I've met people who hadn't figured what Role actions were

[RognarB]

Its simple, SAM has to build buffs with its single target rotations, most importantly the speed and damage ones.
Then those buffs only lasts for the duration of two extra Tenka Gokens built with fuga combos.
Three if you used Meikyo Shisui.
Then its back to buff building else you do very little damage, very slowly.

[Mhaeric]

Its simple, SAM has to build buffs with its single target rotations, most importantly the speed and damage ones.
Then those buffs only lasts for the duration of two extra Tenka Gokens built with fuga combos.
Three if you used Meikyo Shisui.
Then its back to buff building else you do very little damage, very slowly.

Using the single target buff rotations is usually a dps loss when there are multiple targets depending on how many mobs you have. Jinpu is a loss at 5+ mobs, and Shifu at 3+. Most of the time you just want to use the Jinpu rotation once and then AoE, and on large packs just skip it entirely. You only need to use it again if there's still lots of hp left on the mob pack when the buff drops, which there shouldn't be if everyone is using their AoE to their full potential.

[Kacho_Nacho]

What? I love to AoE when I'm being a samurai! It makes me feel like one of those badasses in a kung fu flick.

I think the reason you don't see a lot of players, not just samurai, using AoE is because it appears more efficient to single target each mob in turn. But, the reality is AoE wins out whenever there's three mobs or more.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Its simple, SAM has to build buffs with its single target rotations, most importantly the speed and damage ones.
Then those buffs only lasts for the duration of two extra Tenka Gokens built with fuga combos.
Three if you used Meikyo Shisui.
Then its back to buff building else you do very little damage, very slowly.

On large pulls, you only apply your buffs during the pull itself. Try to pick targets while running but shift your attacks around to avoid taking aggro. Once the tank stops, do as Mhaeric said.

Shifu only if under three targets
Jinpu only if under five targets

And don't bother reapplying them. Most pulls won't last long enough by then to warrant it.

[Jellybums]

Playing SAM is like chopping trees and it's more fun fighting mobs, like in old samurai movies. My go-to mob combo at the moment is:

Setsu Combo (Hakaze+Yukikaze) + Ka/Getsu Combo (Fu combos) + Hissatsu: Kaiten + Iaijutsu (Tenka Gokken). Insert Ageha/Hissatsu: Guren/Hissatsu: Shinten when applicable.

I'm on PS4 so no parse, but so far this appears to burn mobs down the fastest and not gas out on TP. Also be mindful of positionals for the best results.

[Darric]

Want to hear something funny (regarding the topic title)? I have been vote-dismissed multiple times for using any AoE as Samurai. On a serious note: Opening with Jinpu combo (for damage+), building Sens with Shifu/Fuga>Oka/Fuga>Mangetsu to convert them into H:Kaiten, build another 2 Sens for Tenka Gokken and repeat seems the only effective way to spam AoE more frequently. H:Guren's CD is too long, so you are more likely to use it after the Jinpu buff or as a finisher.