The Black Mage Rotations

[Synovius]

I use Swiftcast for Fire I casts after I've used a Firestarter or Thundercloud proc since I'm stuck in a GCD. I may also use it for double Flare.

I use Convert for derp moments just as others have mentioned.

[TomTom1968]

Swiftcast has many uses since it's cooldown is not that long. I mainly use it for a quick Flare (Garuda HM feathers for example) or for a double Flare (one normal flare followed by one quick flare). But I also use it for Thunder sometimes because this dot spell takes AGES lol. Or to gain a Fire 3 stack real quick when there is no free spell thanks to proc available.

Convert is 10% for derps, 10 % for game problems (you use Transform, waste the GCD and ZERO mana comes back) and 80% to enable me to use Fire 3 for a longer time.

[Carnage]

So I've seen this pop up more and more and after some research I still can't find a definite answer. Some people have been saying that if you ignore topping off your mana from Umbral Ice during your rotation, that it's an actual DPS increase. So if you are doing the standard Fire I ---> Blizzard III ---> Thunder II ---> Fire III and get burned on RNG so that you have to use a filler to top of your mana, that it would be better to ignore getting full mana and just continue your rotation regardless.

So, to sum it up. If you get burned on RNG and have to wait an extra 2 seconds to have get your mana topped which rotation should you use...

A. Fire III ---> Fire I ---> Blizzard III ---> Thunder II ---> Blizzard I ---> Fire III

B. Fire III ---> Fire I ---> Blizzard III ---> Thunder II ---> Fire III

Rotation A will guarantee you getting full mana while Rotation B will allow you non-stop casting and less time spent out of Astral Fire III with only 2.5K Mana.

[TaroBBT]

If you guys want an easy way to time the double flare, use this macro.

/wait 1
/ac "Flare"
/wait 4.5
/ac "Flare"

I did some testing, and it works 100% if I press it as fast as I can naturally react to a mana tick all the way up to what feels like halfway to the next mana tick. I keep a healthy stock of mega ethers hotbar'd, and this has made me very confident for pulling off pentaflares.

Fire 3 > Raging Strikes > Flare > convert > Flare > Mega Int Pot > Swiftcast > Flare > Transpose during GCD > wait for mana tick > double Flare macro gets it done.

Edit: You're probably gonna want to add in some Quelling Strikes as well.

Also, this all fits within a transpose cool down almost perfectly, so it effectively syncs itself up to the server ticks after the first rotation just like Transpose > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Flare. So if you wanted an easy 2 button steady stream of flares, this will do it.

Thanks for the macro. it works great after the first tick of transpose. Question, where are you getting the mana for the third flare in your rotation? I see f3>RS>flare>convert>flare (out of mana when this flare goes off ) > MIP > swiftcast > Flare. I'm not seeing how you get that third flare...and I missing something ?

[Beliel]

Thanks for the macro. it works great after the first tick of transpose. Question, where are you getting the mana for the third flare in your rotation? I see f3>RS>flare>convert>flare (out of mana when this flare goes off ) > MIP > swiftcast > Flare. I'm not seeing how you get that third flare...and I missing something ?

~

Your not missing something, he is.

[NeoAmon]

I can't be the only one who loath using combo macro as a BLM and think it is a very bad practice. Targeting and mouse over are cool but combos....no just no .

[Synovius]

I can't be the only one who loath using combo macro as a BLM and think it is a very bad practice. Targeting and mouse over are cool but combos....no just no .

I use no macros at all on my BLM aside from occasionally using an Apocatastasis macro if we are running someone through Twin with somewhat low health. I find the use of macros in PvE to be terrible practice and I don't just feel this way about FFXIV macros - I felt the same way in WoW, Rift and the other MMOs I've played.

[Hitome]

I can't be the only one who loath using combo macro as a BLM and think it is a very bad practice. Targeting and mouse over are cool but combos....no just no .

I use no macros at all on my BLM aside from occasionally using an Apocatastasis macro if we are running someone through Twin with somewhat low health. I find the use of macros in PvE to be terrible practice and I don't just feel this way about FFXIV macros - I felt the same way in WoW, Rift and the other MMOs I've played.

+1

Should never rely on macros in this game as a DPS.

[Kalvin1783]

Yeah I said mega intelligence potion and I meant mega ether. My bad. As for using macros, wasn't aware of the negativity surrounding them. I just barely learned how they work and was having fun.

[Hitome]

It's not really negativity. You can do just fine with them. But as a DPS, you should seek to maximize said DPS. Macros will not allow you to do so unfortunately.