how long did it take you to learn your dps job to a comfortable level?

[Tiramu]

I think it was about 4 or 5 months before I entered and cleared a savage on BLM. This was while playing the MSQ and other content so would be less actual time I guess. I also think I could have done it sooner than when I started doing high end content.

If you want to build good habits, use your raid buff after your third gcd. There is wiggle room for it (Reapers and summoners use their raid buff earlier than the 3 gcd typically), but for every other job its pretty much standard. The only reason for this is that it takes on average 3 gcds for all jobs to really get the momentum going with their rotation so you even if you yourself aren't "amazing", your alignment makes the people in the party who are well practiced, better. I recommend the balance's website. They have a little info chart of how your rotation should go and multiple openers depending on your job, try them out and see which one works best for you!

^ This

BLM for example uses 2 low damage ice spells when entering astral fire, and dots somewhere in there too. So for example: Bliz III > Bliz IV > Fire III > then the main Fire IV / Paradox rotation. I tend to save my first Thunder until buffs are up then refresh during phase changes (whether thats optimal I dont know, Im a casual high end player).

If the raid buffs were applied immediately then its wasted on the first 3 GCD's.

[Local_Custard]

Generally, if your buff or debuff lasts 20 seconds, use it immediately after your first GCD during the fight (not whatever you pull the boss with). If it's 15 seconds, weave in after 2 more GCDs (the third). DNC is a special case because Technical Finish'll take time to deploy, so start it immediately after the fight starts and it'll buff everyone at the right time (after those 4 dance steps, and you weave Devilment in right after the buff so both it and Tech are on your partner for 20 sec simultaneously); remember to pull the boss with a readied Standard Finish so you and your partner are stronger immediately and because it's a big hit you want on cooldown asap. They kinda design most jobs around fitting everything in every 2 min within that period of 15 to 20 seconds.

If you're playing something more out of the loop like AST, try and keep an eye on any job in your party that has a more defined rotation, like DNC, as Technical Finish'll buff everyone in your party every 2 min. Knowledge of other job buffs can help.

As you get deeper, sometimes it helps to hold buffs, like during an add phase where the boss isn't attackable (if the boss will return before your buffs come back again) because extra damage on the add phase doesn't usually help your group beat the boss faster unless it's struggling with the adds themselves. Another case is when you have multiple of the same job. Since jobs get cooldowns usually every 60,90 or 120 seconds, if you're the second DNC in a party try to use your 2 min every odd minute while the other DNC hits every even minute of a fight. This goes for debuffs on a target too, like SCH's Chain Strategem or NIN's Mug, as these effects cannot stack but everyone in the alliance raid benefits while they're active.

Also, this isn't as much of a thing anymore, but be mindful to watch to see if your buff actually hits everyone. For example, sometimes boss hitboxes are huge and the tank insists on standing waaaay at the far end of it for no reason so you might not reach them, or your buff might return right after the group spread out for an attack.

oh I did not know the buff doesn't help with the add phase! I tended to use it because I though killing the adds faster may help- tho maybe the buff doesn't speed things along feasibly enough?

Ah, it is very much a thing, I think! Sometimes I use divination and it doesn't hit everyone in alliance raids. Getting to know other people's buffs hmm... So when using divination, what kinda buffs should I want out for with each class to know when to press it?

If you want to build good habits, use your raid buff after your third gcd. There is wiggle room for it (Reapers and summoners use their raid buff earlier than the 3 gcd typically), but for every other job its pretty much standard. The only reason for this is that it takes on average 3 gcds for all jobs to really get the momentum going with their rotation so you even if you yourself aren't "amazing", your alignment makes the people in the party who are well practiced, better. I recommend the balance's website. They have a little info chart of how your rotation should go and multiple openers depending on your job, try them out and see which one works best for you!

Can you remind me what a third GCD is? I sometime forget words/acronyms. What would an astro's third GCD be for example? I shall give that website a good look!

OP: Look up your Job here https://www.thebalanceffxiv.com/

It tends to have a general overview that explains things. Note that it uses the level 90 abilities, so if some abilities upgrade, you might have to open your Actions and Traits and figure out which ones do. Sometimes it's kind of easy like WHM Stone becoming Glare and just having the spell ranks, but other times it's a bit more confusing, like BRD's Straight Shot becoming Refulgent Arrow (I think...), but if you can manage that, the guides there give you suggested openers, which tell you when to use your party buff (after the first time, you use it on CD unless the boss goes untargetable and you hold it for the "reopener" when they come back), and the guides also will give you some explanation of the nuances of the Jobs.

Oh, also, if you want a "preview" of Jobs, you can go into PotD and que for the floor 51-60 runs, and you can unlock PotD at level 30, I think? You need your Job stone to see the Job's abilities, but once you have that, going into PotD you can play with the level 60 kit. Which...is a lot less than it used to be, but is something. HoH and Bozja (sorta) and Orthos also all allow you to play around with more of the kit, but if you're low level and trying to see if a Job might be a fit for you, PotD is good for giving you at least a BASIC idea oof what it does and some of its rotation and abilities. Nothing is perfect, but it's not a terrible way to dip a toe in and test the waters of a Job to see if you might like it.[...]

oh yeah, another vote for looking at the website for me! I have some homework it seems ^^
Yeah, but sometimes when reading guides my brain doesn't soak everything in. I understand that for me, I may learn better in steps- like for example I am trying to better understand dragoon positionals. I think I have a general grasp on astro- tho I may need to read more and brush up over information. I think for me, it is the complicated layer of understanding other buffs so that I can better plan. Well- I do happen to favor jobs that take longer to master so no harm in brushing over basics just in case. I do have PoTD unlocked- if I remember correctly 51-60 shouldn't be too difficult to solo and better learn the class. Though, would you recommend later deep dungeons for later levels (like HoH?)

I think it was about 4 or 5 months before I entered and cleared a savage on BLM. This was while playing the MSQ and other content so would be less actual time I guess. I also think I could have done it sooner than when I started doing high end content.



^ This

BLM for example uses 2 low damage ice spells when entering astral fire, and dots somewhere in there too. So for example: Bliz III > Bliz IV > Fire III > then the main Fire IV / Paradox rotation. I tend to save my first Thunder until buffs are up then refresh during phase changes (whether thats optimal I dont know, Im a casual high end player).

If the raid buffs were applied immediately then its wasted on the first 3 GCD's.

I think my brain is getting overwhelmed but I will be sure to note this for later! (I play BLM)

[Rychu]

Can you remind me what a third GCD is? I sometime forget words/acronyms. What would an astro's third GCD be for example? I shall give that website a good look!

A GCD is a community made term which is short for (Global Cooldown). A GCD refers to any spell or skill that takes a recast before you can press another GCD. Spells like Fall Malefic, Combust III, and Gravity II are all GCDs for Astro. They require 2.5 seconds before you can press another GCD. There is also OGCDs which is an Off Global Cooldown or an ability that can be pressed while you wait for your recast to come off. This would be pressing Draw inbetween casting Fall Malefic. You get to keep pressing the ability that does damage while also using the rest of your kit. As a general rule of thumb you always want to keep your Global Cooldown rolling, if you are doing that then that means you are at worst, mediocre. which is a lot better than some people you meet tbh.

I don't play astro but it seems like you start with Fall Malefic, then combust III, then Fall Malefic spam until combust III needs to be refreshed. Ill add the balance opener visual guide below for help but tbh, astro is one of the hardest openers so I wouldn't pay too much attention to the nitty gritty of this. It is going to be revamped in Dawntrail and probably have an easier opener if I had to bet money on it.