Are only elite players allowed to have garuda weapon and raven earrings?

[PSxpert2011]

I still haven't defeated Garuda yet in HARD mode. Maybe it's because I've been leveling up other jobs and classes... never came around to it. Also don't know anyone on my server who knows how to do battle with her, I just don't wanna die

(i died enough times already getting my Dalamud Horn) seriously...

:P

[Suirieko]

Well since we are on same server feel free to help me increase my piety an additional 10 points.

The best place to start is Raptorskin Harness. Try to meld Two Piety IV to it, or at least a III and IV. That should give you a lot of piety to begin with. (You want to aim for 30+ Piety from body alone) Piety is what boosts the bard's WS greatly.

The next place to start is by getting Rings/Bracelets +1. And if you have it, Paragon's crown is a must for bard. 10 piety/dex is great off that. If you don't have it, AF hat is good enough.
If you are involved with Hamlet, go for Militia Subligar. That's +20 Piety there. If not, grab melded legs with piety.

Finally, Darklight Boots. Best feet for bard. Otherwise, moccasion boots will do fine. There's no piety, but it does have dex and crit.

Bare in mind that these pieces above will get you beyond 320 Piety. (Up to 350+). Which means that you don't need Darklight Boots nor Militia Subligars to do Garuda. (Both of these pieces are generally rare).

[TheFatHousecat]

Honestly it's much less about how you're geared and moreso about how you play. Are BRDs making sure to have 3k TP saved for every plume phase? Are they fitting in WS's in between then? Are they keeping songs/buffs up? Are they using a decent rotation for Suprana kills? These are the things that matter. BLM on the other hand, while gear still isn't going to make/break you, it helps much much much more to have a good set going.

But yeah, as others have said, this fight really isn't 'elite' at all, it's fun and challenging, but it's not Rivenroad (hard), and even that instance could be made much much more difficult ;3

[Rau]

Honestly it's much less about how you're geared and moreso about how you play. Are BRDs making sure to have 3k TP saved for every plume phase? Are they fitting in WS's in between then? Are they keeping songs/buffs up? Are they using a decent rotation for Suprana kills? These are the things that matter. BLM on the other hand, while gear still isn't going to make/break you, it helps much much much more to have a good set going.
But yeah, as others have said, this fight really isn't 'elite' at all, it's fun and challenging, but it's not Rivenroad (hard), and even that instance could be made much much more difficult ;3

[Cidel]

I have no problem dealing damage to him it's just 2 brd and they're pretty much the best bards i know. They're not enough to keep 2 FREAKING PILLARS IN FULL HEALTH. So we automatically wipe. Yes we're doing 3blm, 2brd,2,whm 1pld setup. We always can never defend the freaking pillars. Is it because the brds are too slow? they're to weak? Like i said this are probably the best ppl i know. We're only a small shell.

Sorry to say, if those 2 BRDs can't keep at least 2 pillars at it's top level, then I think that's what holds you guys back. Additionally, if the tank can't pull Garuda back away from the pillars after every Mistral phase, there's a good chance she'll knock a pillar down herself with Wicked Wheel or something. It is not terribly difficult to gain 3000 TP between Plummage phases and then pick which pillars need the Rain of Death let off on. It takes quick thinking and good judgement if you're not doing the whole "let 2 pillars go down and only save 2" thing.

Thing is though, if they can't 1-shot plumes 98% of the time with RoD with Raging Strike on, then your BRDs' are not where they need to be, stat-wise. Whether or not only 2 BRDs are enough to save 2 pillars at max height is debatable. Our linkshell has the BRDs doing everything in their power to not let any plumes go off pre-Aerial Blast Plummage, and in that case the DRG will peel off Garuda to help AoE plumes on pillars BRDs can not save.

Sometimes the plumes disperse so equally that it is virtually impossible for just 2 BRDs to take them all down. Sometimes the plumes disperse so unevenly that one BRD's RoD takes out majority of them. We've had runs where not a single pillar fell down a level due to favorable plume positioning.

IMO you likely do not need that 1 WHM and you should think about getting a DRG (preferable), MNK, or WAR to assist the BRDs with her pre-Aerial Blast plumes. This fight is very doable with 1 WHM, but if you absolutely must have 2, then you need to have those BRDs hold 1 pillar each without fail.

But yeah, if their Rain of Deaths don't 1-shot plumes they need a gear check.

EDIT: I don't think 2 BRDs will have that great of a chance of taking out the Suparna clone in under a minute if they are your only DoWs. I highly recommend re-examining your set-up of 2 WHMs.

[tymora]

Ideal pug setup is PLD 2DRG 2BRD 2BLM 1WHM.
You can ask the DRGs to help with plumes if towers are an issue. Phase 2 is not as horrible as people make it out to be as long as your group knows what to do.

[tymora]

Btw Mica, were you from Pandy/Asura in 11?

[Alkimi]

I have no problem dealing damage to him it's just 2 brd and they're pretty much the best bards i know. They're not enough to keep 2 FREAKING PILLARS IN FULL HEALTH. So we automatically wipe. Yes we're doing 3blm, 2brd,2,whm 1pld setup. We always can never defend the freaking pillars. Is it because the brds are too slow? they're to weak? Like i said this are probably the best ppl i know. We're only a small shell.

As others have said, you don't need 2 WHMs for this fight. Replace the WHM for another BRD or a DRG and you should do better.

[Suirieko]

The DRGs are also there to help with the plumes. Generally the bards take the back two plumes while the DRGs take the front two plumes, each using Rain of Death and Ring of Talon respectively.

[Orophin]

Not sucking kinda helps, yeah.