Quote Originally Posted by WalksIntoMordor View Post
The idea that you don't have to think about which Summon you're using is LUDICROUS, because they ALL need to be used to optimize damage and the use case for each can change in different situations. Perfectly executed, I'm using all three and all charges of Gemshine and my Ruin IV before the next Phoenix Bahamut comes up, and keep repeating. I run the new Alliance raid on Summoner and believe me when I say that I give a lot (relatively speaking) of thought to which summon I used based on where we are in the fights of the first half, and even in the later fights it still matters a lot when you choose to use Garuda and Ifrit (because of the Slipstream and Ruby Rite cast times - even with Swiftcast, you have two others to figure out). The first boss' arena changes and the gaps in the design of the second can very much make using Ifrit's dash in dangerous at times, so you need to be ready to negotiate those obstacles. And long cast times on Ruby and Slipstream also mean I could have to interrupt my own casts to move if I started before a directional AOE was shown.
It's not ludicrous, here's why:

1) Optimizing Damage - Look at your party's raidbuffs. Are there enough 15s raidbuffs to make Slipstream snapshotting worth it over Titan first? Congrats 1/6 gem summons decided.

2) Being Able to Move - You will need to cast for 3s in Garuda (if you're not Slipstream snapshotting in buffs), and 3s*2 in Ifrit. For Garuda you have 4*1.5s of swiftcasting to buffer, for Ifrit you have 2*2.5s of swiftcasting to buffer, and for both you have a Ruin 4 and a slide-cast Ruin 3. This is enough movement for 99.9% of mechanics in the game.

3) Boss Movement - If you know the boss will move in the next 15s don't cast Slipstream.

1 is a binary and simple decision, not worth considering.
2 is extremely easily reacted to, and effortless if you know what the boss will do ahead of time.
3 is a binary and simple decision.

"Perfectly executing" a SMN rotation is a joke, the whole job is a joke. Sprinkling in some oGCDs won't fix how thoughtless and garbage the core rotation is. It basically needs another rework to not be the job-for-lobotomy-patients.