I guess I'm not surprised by all the negativity in this thread. 5.0 AST is definitely no longer 4.0 AST that is for certain. Duration extentions from CO and TD, +potency, +AoE, +duration, def%^, speed%^, crit%^, MP regeneration, TP regeneration, Royal Road/Empty Road, Spread/Undraw Spread, ogcd ST damage (Lord), ogcd ST heal (Lady) are all gone. Wow!

Now look at that list. It's not only staggering that it was all taken away; it is equally staggering AST had it all in the first place. That is an insane amount of utility, and I didn't even mention it all. AST also has Lightspeed, Essential Dignity (unique ogcd heal), Sects, Synastry, and Sleeve Draw. You'll notice that I did not include Collective Unconscious, and that is because everything I just listed in this clause is what AST brought to the table that no other healer does. Even from the first list, there is a lot that is exclusive to AST.

I'm also shocked that the majority of the negativity is because of the change to the cards. The def%^, speed%^, crit%^, MP regeneration, TP regeneration doesn't even make up half of what AST lost, and of those five bonuses, two of them are undesirable and burned the majority of the time, while the other three are all just variations of what they ultimately do; Increase DMG. Yet, AST got to keep what was desired most. If I was a dev, I would feel like I just bought my daughter who loves ponies six of them, and then she got mad at me for it. Color me confused as eff.

I actually would agree about the cards if you weren't still essentially fishing for 1 of 3 desirables. AST is still basically looking for either 1 of 3 variations of cards when they draw. Before it was Balance, Spear, or Arrow. Now AST will be looking for 1 of 3 seals, but providing dmg up buffs while they do it. Even if you enjoyed having six different choices of buffs, your party didn't. Your tanks don't care about the Bole; they have defensive CDs and invul skills. Mages didn't care about the Ewer; they have MP regeneration skills and BRD. Nobody cared about the Spire. All they want is for you to increase their DMG output. They will be sad AST can no longer increase durations though. AST is still going to be meta though, and you all already know why.

Now the skill Divination is what I somewhat have an issue with, because there should be a difference in increase from 1 seal to 2. I believe this will get changed in the near future. In the WHM thread I said they suffered the least from loss of DPS skills, but that still entails suffering. AST didn't suffer at all, and the other two healers have been reduced to the same: one DoT, at least one AoE, and a filler. It is a bit of a disappointment that AST did not get any new offensive skill, especially after how well they did with Earthly Star in SB. But the updates to Malefic and Combust look absolutely wonderful.

As weird as this is to say, the biggest disappointment with AST for me, is out of all that utility they lost, next to none of it was given to WHM. Could've gave them speed, crit, mp refresh... They did get a damage reduction buff, so I guess that's something. But yeah, real head scratcher. Same with giving them Plenary Indulgence. Like what the actual eff?

Next to all of that I liked everything enough to give it another go. I'm not going to lie that they have simplified this job a bit. I know full well how good and engaging this job is to play right now. I truly do sympathize with the AST mains out there who must feel gutted from the losses. But I honestly believe the core concept of this job is still intact. I think this is the job that will surprisingly play to satisfaction, and some might even feel a bit relieved that they are no longer burdened with so much utility. We're still going to be able to buff the group while playing a RNG game with the card deck, and still keep others healed and contribute damage. Lowering Gravity to 45 is also godsend. I'm sure at least that is a welcome change we can all agree on.

AST grade: C+