Dev Team, you screwed up.

[Rongway]

Fire, for example, is 180 potency.

Fire is actually 324, as it's expected that you will be in Astral Fire III when you cast it.

Assuming BLU damage formulas have been tweaked so that its potencies correspond to the other casters' potencies (i.e., 100 potency BLU spell = 100 potency BLM spell for two casters in equivalent gear, without M&Mend traits) [I haven't verified that this is the case], Water Cannon would be 270 potency (Off-guard + M&M V) and Fire would be 421 (AF III + M&M II). Stone II (the highest available at 50) is 260 (if accounting for M&M II).

So Water Cannon is probably actually much worse off than you initially suggested.

[wereotter]

Fire is actually 324, as it's expected that you will be in Astral Fire III when you cast it.

Assuming BLU damage formulas have been tweaked so that its potencies correspond to the other casters' potencies (i.e., 100 potency BLU spell = 100 potency BLM spell for two casters in equivalent gear, without M&Mend traits) [I haven't verified that this is the case], Water Cannon would be 270 potency (Off-guard + M&M V) and Fire would be 421 (AF III + M&M II). Stone II (the highest available at 50) is 260 (if accounting for M&M II).

So Water Cannon is probably actually much worse off than you initially suggested.

Right, I'm aware that it only gets worse as you get higher level, but I was just taking level 1 thaumaturge verses level 1 blue mage. But if we want a more fair level 50 comparison Jolt, the base red mage spell, is also 180 potency and doesn't become Jolt 2 until level 62.

I get that you're not supposed to just spam Water Cannon, and that you're supposed to chain monster abilities together to make other big attacks, I've done this. But I do think most of us can agree that base spell could use a tweak.

[Kabooa]

Right, I'm aware that it only gets worse as you get higher level, but I was just taking level 1 thaumaturge verses level 1 blue mage. But if we want a more fair level 50 comparison Jolt, the base red mage spell, is also 180 potency and doesn't become Jolt 2 until level 62.

I get that you're not supposed to just spam Water Cannon, and that you're supposed to chain monster abilities together to make other big attacks, I've done this. But I do think most of us can agree that base spell could use a tweak.

I ignore half the spell synergies because they aren't worth using.

[wereotter]

I ignore half the spell synergies because they aren't worth using.

Ram's Voice > Snort > Dragon's Voice

This is a chain I've found generally to be effective, but only really works once, and only if snort can knock the enemies back. Though you'd think a level 50 in 130 gear doing a 400+ potency attack should kill a level 40 monster. It does not :/

[Palladiamors]

Ram's Voice > Snort > Dragon's Voice

This is a chain I've found generally to be effective, but only really works once, and only if snort can knock the enemies back. Though you'd think a level 50 in 130 gear doing a 400+ potency attack should kill a level 40 monster. It does not :/

Rams voice, bristle, Dragons Voice. You can get it off twice before the diminishing returns gets you. And honestly, thats a ton of damage...on trash mobs.

[wereotter]

Rams voice, bristle, Dragons Voice. You can get it off twice before the diminishing returns gets you. And honestly, thats a ton of damage...on trash mobs.

I'll have to try adding in Bristle! I always forget to use it.

I like using Snort between so I don't have to move.

[Palladiamors]

I'll have to try adding in Bristle! I always forget to use it.

I like using Snort between so I don't have to move.

Bristle normally isn't worth it, but the high damage from the Ram's Dragon Voice comb and its inability to be spammed make it worth while. The primal skills with their cooldowns are another example. And I tend to use bristle before going into battle as an early skill buffer.