Humble advice on how to PuG through Titan

[Moomin]

This post is for both experienced and new Lvl 50s, and I sincerely hope it helps you with PuGing (pick up group) Titan. I'll break this post down into two versions, one for experienced players, and one for new players--->

Experienced players:

1. Use macros. My god, I cannot emphasize how much this helps with pugging Titan. Not your rotation macros, but simple macros that spell out Titan's skill through each phase. Here's a copy and paste version of my macros:

/p <se.1> Turn 1---> Landslide, stomp
/p <se.1> Turn 2---> Plumes, landslide, stomp
/p <se.1> Turn 3---> Landslide, plumes, bombs, landslide, plumes, rock, stomp
/p <se.1> Turn 4---> Rock, landslide, plumes, stomp, rock, landslide, plumes
/p <se.1> Turn 5---> Table, stomp, plumes, bombs, landslide, table, plumes, rock
/p <se.2> Plumes!! Care!
/p <se.5> Determination de-buff on <target>

[Moomin]

When I first did Titan, one of my FC mates did this to help me out, especially for plumes (shoutout to Zero Solidus), and my GOD did it make it so much easier to get through the fight.

2. Be a cheer leader for your team. Dye your gear pink, and do it. Who cares if people think you're that overwhelming positive force that has too much happiness in life for one person. If you down Titan in a single run, then it's worth it.

4. Try dragging a FC mate to help out with Titan. The more experienced players there are, the less of a burden there is on the newbies.

3. Drink coffee before you run Titan. Or whiskey, whichever puts you in a better mood.

[Moomin]

For new players:

This advice is only if you want to clear Titan fast. Casual players go at your own pace

1. Read up on what YOUR class should do to SURVIVE the fight. If your entire team survives all phases, you'll beat it...yeah common sense, but this is more for DPS--->instead of worrying about 9000 crit dmg, it's more important to survive.

2. Anticipate anticipate anticipate. Use ANYTHING to know what's coming next--> stickynotes on your computer screen, the macros posted above, train a poodle to bark before plumes...anything. This is probably the most important point. Reading up, watching videos, etc. will give you an idea of what to do, but if it's your first time, trust me you'll be overwhelmed on the things you need to keep track of. Having something written down, it helps a LOT.

3. Ask for help. Chances are, some good soul will give you advice on how to better position yourself, what rotation is best, etc. If you're a healer forgetting to debuff determination, ask someone to help remind you.

4. Try to learn EACH time you wipe. Revise the fight in your head--> When do I need to balled? When do I need to pop medica vs medica II? When can I use interrupt?etc. etc.

5. Expect wipes, but don't let your concentration drop after the first couple.

6. Never blame someone.

7. Drink coffee before you do Titan. Perhaps some booze to take off the sting of wiping so much.

Hope this helps, it certainly helped me when I was new to Titan and if you're an experienced guy popping into some Titan pugs for funsies, give me a PM. Already writing some names down of experienced players who love the sadistic grind of Titan

-R.Y.

some more reading--->http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/commen...hard_mode_for/

[Feyn]

This is all great advice Moomin! I've been in a lot of PUGs for Titan and always try to help whenever I'm available (Add Majestic Sloth if you want a SCH for those runs). You nailed pretty much everything on what you need for Titan. Here's some more advice that helped me personally:


1. Here's a very easy visual guide to Titan's rotation (All credit to Reddit, not sure who the user was who made this): http://i.imgur.com/IVRmCoM.jpg
Have that up on your other monitor, print it out, or like Moomin said copy the information to a post-it and put that on your screen.

2. For Casters, try to have your sprint up at all times. This will help immensely in dodging aoes. I created a macro alerting for plumes and tied my sprint ability into that.

/p (Run Away)! Plumes Incoming <se.2>
/ac "Sprint" <me>

3. Another tip for casters: if you start casting a spell outside of an aoe, it will force a positional update from the server. I don't know all the technical specifics, just that it seems to work very well. You don't have to finish a spell, but simply get out of the aoe, start a spell, cancel it and continue fighting. With this advice and the previous advice with sprint, there is really no reason for casters to get hit, barring some positional issues.


Titan HM is not Impossible. He's a very fun fight whose issues are exacerbated by the positional delay problem. Feel free to add me in-game if you want some help. I will try to help your group whenever I'm available. Thanks!

[RileyLarson]

The biggest problems that I tend to see on people attempting to PuG Titan are in three categories:

1. Failing to DPS the heart.
2. Getting hit by Plumes
3. Panicking during the Phase 5 bombs.

While '1' isn't something you can do something about in many situations - just reroll the party make-up and try again with more gear - 2 and 3 are preventable, and your responsibility.

2. While there is a definite problem for many players with high latencies inside of Titan, you can significantly reduce your own chance of death with situational awareness. Plumes will always spawn on top of the selected 4-6 players, depending on phase. What you need to be aware of is when they're coming. Titan follows a very strict rotation, as has been mentioned in earlier posts. But what's important for those experiencing lag is to pay attention to where the players around you are standing. The key to surviving plumes is simple:

[RileyLarson]

Don't get trapped. One plume will almost never kill even the most undergeared player. It's only when they overlap that it becomes truly problematic - multiple Venn Diagrams of sadness, if you will. If you lag, always be thinking a step ahead. Be aware of where people are standing, and consider where you'll run in the worst-case scenario of all of the plumes spawning on the people closest to you. In Phase 5, this worst-case is all but assured. If you don't let yourself get trapped by other players, your chance of dying is going to be much improved, regardless of your latency situation.

3. Bombs in Phase 5 - these are the most annoying aspect about the fight, and the part where many players lose their shit - in particular, the "Row" bombs. Anyone that gets to Phase 5 has already seen the circle bombs, the cross bombs. In Phase 5, what's going to kill the most people are the "Row" bombs.

[RileyLarson]

All you need to do for the row bombs is pay attention to the last row that falls. Run to that last row, wait for the landslide that will inevitably target the cluster of you on that row, and move further down the safe row until the middle row detonates. The middle row always detonates first on row bombs. Once they blow, you run into the center and you're good to go.

Another thing worth mentioning is on circle bombs - rather than drifting immediately to the safe spot, it's helpful to "delay" in the center and wait for his landslide to fire before heading to the safe spot. This prevents some ugliness with the safe-spot also being the target of a landslide.

Usually, if you can get those things managed, the rest of the pieces fall into place. If your tank is squishy, don't forget about virus, eye for an eye, flash, and rain of arrows. All of these reduce the damage on Titan. A well-placed Mantra from a monk during one of the big Tumults can be game-changing.

Good luck!

[Belandrus]

If all the advice above does not help and you are still finding it impossible. You can always whisper me and buy a run. Some people kill internet dragons others earn internet bucks. lol jk.

Good to see altruistic posts like these..

However, nothing beats a good static group full of resourceful and self critical friends. So, put together a good group and keep at it. Use the duty finder to practice.

[Boog]

I love Titan PUGs (and I'm collecting weapons), so feel free to shoot me an invite if you need a WHM that knows the rotations like the back of his ... hand. I even use Divine Seal when it's up!

[Daas]

I must say I am looking forward to this fight. Little more gearing to do though first. Thanks for the very helpful thread and positive attitude.