Why is my damage so low?

[Shougun]

in this particular case yes it was a fate. but i went to the practice dummies and it was the exact same numbers. i even went to lvl 3 mobs and its the same numbers. so its universally hitting way low numbers.

Your cobalt sword is 32 damage:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...m/4a5f2c3b67f/

While this augmented magitek sword is 57 damage:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...m/695c329d011/

Alternatively you could buy the GC (grand company) weapon with seals, the level 50 weapon from the shop with gil, or do the next dungeon in the series and get a little lucky. But 20+ points of damage is a pretty hefty boost. If you've the tomestones the augmented items (50, 60, etc) will be nice because they'll last pretty much till the next tomestone set.

You'll -feel- the difference from that amount of damage difference. You might have enough tomestones already if you've not used them yet, or you might have the feathers if you used a friend code, if you haven't you can get a random recruit a friend code and use that for the benefits (if you haven't already passed the time to use the code- link: here).

[Amnmaat]

As others explained, potency doesn't translate to damage.

Not sure how far int he story you are but when you finish the "main" Main story you can start buying Ironworks gear at Mor dhona (merchants area). Ironworks is the best you can until you make it to Heavensward (unless you buy crafted gear at the market board). Also make sure you do your level 50 Paladin quest, they will give you really good level 50 gear (Ironworks is better though).

PS. Make sure to ask questions in Novice Network (ask in shout chat for someone to invite you if you're not in it yet).

[Enjuden]

It's your gear. Fix it. You're running around in gear that is at best sub 50, and at worst level 1.

[Amnmaat]

It's your gear. Fix it. You're running around in gear that is at best sub 50, and at worst level 1.

You cannot judge this alone without knowing how far in the MSQ they are.

[Shougun]

You cannot judge this alone without knowing how far in the MSQ they are.

Regardless of where they are in the MSQ they will gain a substantial boost in power if they updated it though .

Especially in context of fighting dummy targets or open world monsters, which was part of their example in their second post in the thread. So it seems it's not simply a misunderstanding of potency math they've issue with, they just don't do that much damage in general- having updated gear would give them a huge boost.

I know they've tried to update some gear since they've some level 49 stuff, but that's what I was trying to tell them in my first post- that at the turn of levels particularly at intervals of 10 (50, 60, 70) there is equipment that will boost significantly from where they were (difference from level 51 gear to 53 is nothing like the difference from 49 to 50 or 59 to 60 gear), and also to be careful of new content at the turn of those levels because if their gear isn't updated it could feel like a sudden wall smacked them. Like those who try to do Kugane's Castle while still in basic level 60 gear, getting ripped to shreds. Augmented (tomestone) gear will take them into the next levels very well, but if they had level 49 gear trying to do level 55 content, it might not feel as nearly as smooth as having nice 50 doing 55.

Also we do know they're past the magitek walker at least, since they've that as one of their mounts.

[Amnmaat]

Regardless of where they are in the MSQ they will gain a substantial boost in power if they updated it though .

Especially in context of fighting dummy targets or open world monsters, which was part of their example in their second post in the thread. So it seems it's not simply a misunderstanding of potency math they've issue with, they just don't do that much damage in general- having updated gear would give them a huge boost.

I know they've tried to update some gear since they've some level 49 stuff, but that's what I was trying to tell them in my first post- that at the turn of levels particularly at intervals of 10 (50, 60, 70) there is equipment that will boost significantly from where they were (difference from level 51 gear to 53 is nothing like the difference from 49 to 50 or 59 to 60 gear), and also to be careful of new content at the turn of those levels because if their gear isn't updated it could feel like a sudden wall smacked them. Like those who try to do Kugane's Castle while still in basic level 60 gear, getting ripped to shreds. Augmented (tomestone) gear will take them into the next levels very well, but if they had level 49 gear trying to do level 55 content, it might not feel as nearly as smooth as having nice 50 doing 55.

Also we do know they're past the magitek walker at least, since they've that as one of their mounts.

Yes, as I pointed out

As others explained, potency doesn't translate to damage.

Not sure how far int he story you are but when you finish the "main" Main story you can start buying Ironworks gear at Mor dhona (merchants area). Ironworks is the best you can until you make it to Heavensward (unless you buy crafted gear at the market board). Also make sure you do your level 50 Paladin quest, they will give you really good level 50 gear (Ironworks is better though).

PS. Make sure to ask questions in Novice Network (ask in shout chat for someone to invite you if you're not in it yet).

[Shougun]

Yes, as I pointed out

I know you pointed it out, you just said we can't say gear isn't having an effect when we can see they're level 51 and have level 49 gear, or lower, and are at minimum at level 50 MSQ. Their gear is absolutely going to have a huge effect on their low numbers. They might have misunderstood potency math as well, of course, but their gear once updated is going to be a huge difference for them.

[Amnmaat]

I know you pointed it out, you just said we can't say gear isn't having an effect when we can see they're level 51 and have level 49 gear, or lower, and are at minimum at level 50 MSQ.

I was level 80 (exaggerating just to show you how levels outpace the MSQ) before Praetorium. Furthermore, I pointed out that if they're past the point where they can buy Ironworks gear that they should do so.
Enjunden was talking about the person's gear without providing information about the OP being past Praetorium.

[Shougun]

I was level 80 (exaggerating just to show you how levels outpace the MSQ) before Praetorium. Furthermore, I pointed out that if they're past the point where they can buy Ironworks gear that they should do so.
Enjunden was talking about the person's gear without providing information about the OP being past Praetorium.

The exp curves on MSQ are crazy lol. I heard people overshooting stuff, but it just sounds so funny to be like 'yeh I'm level 60 and just finished prae'. U wot?

But yes I looked up their profile right away since they said they weren't doing enough damage, so I knew their gear needed updated which is why it was what I suggested in my first post (I know you said Enjunden but I when I saw them post a second time about it not being about FATEs, and they ignored the potency math comments, it seemed like further clarification that their gear is just letting them down, which makes sense as they're on the cusp of 49 gear).

[Chaletamale]

ended up just upgrading my gear and seeing a big dmg difference. its weird how gimped the dmg from 40-50 was. thank you everyone for the advice!