spamming flash?

[MithrasInvictus]

For 3 mobs at a time, yes. For 12-15 mobs at a time, no - Flash produces MUCH more enmity per GCD if its hitting probably something like 5+ targets (just a stab).

I haven't been challenged by that many at once yet, but I certainly see your point! That is way too many to cycle through and hold normally.

[zakalw3]

The only time that I ever spam flash is in WP when those large groups of beetles pop and need to be AOEd down. Spamming it in most combat situations just would not be practical compared to the amount of enmity that can be generated with other skils.

Not true.

Pull a groups of 5+ mobs (the point where rotating Harlone combo becomes too slow) and flash spam is the only way to hold them.

Flash spam till you run out of MP.
CoS in between.
Riot Blade to recharge MP
Flash again

Repeat while your group AOEs them down.

[Resolute]

Typically, I will pull the number 1 target with shield lob - flash and circle of scorn as soon as they all get to me - full halone combo on number 1 target (with spirits within used during combo) - flash again. Then, if there are only two mobs, I either use savage blade on the first mob and halone on the second. If there are 3 mobs, I will savage one non-number 1 target and halone the other. After this I MAY flash at some point, but usually I don't need to. I just watch all three threat bars and use savage blades and halones as necessary while using circle of scorn and spirits whenever they are up (typically, I will savage the extra mobs and halone the first one unless the first one has plenty of threat, in which case I will halone an extra mob as well).

So, generally I would say NO to flash spamming (I only need two in the situation above). The only time I spam flash is when multiple targets somehow get off me, or if there are small mobs to aoe (such as the beetles in WP).

I will use it on bosses for the blind, but obviously am not spamming it.

EDIT: I think new tanks rely on flash too much. I did Aurum Vale the other day as a MNK. On the second boss (the cyclops), when it did its aggro drop, the tank was running around trying to flash it (and missing due to range) instead of just using shield lob.

[Zazakura]

yup, some new tanks go rely too much, some rely too little, flash never been and never will be single target holder, nor its effective past initial aggro of multimob pull, well expect when you start have 5+ monsters in aoe field...by then flash spamm is what you have left. too much= you lack aggro on those few you could hold more easily with combo rotating, too little= you just lost initial aggro against healer and all mobs are running nuts around arena.

[saber_alter]

yes, but you should be doing your standard rotation on as many enemies as possible. it helps to have a bard in the party as well because you will run out of mana...probably.

provoke/shield lob any mobs that you lose hate on, riot blade causes trouble with building hate, but it lets you spam flash a little more (i don't recommend using riot unless you know your going to hold hate for the few seconds it takes to do the combo to the next flash).

whether or not you can hold hate on enemies with solely flash depends on party composition, a strategy like this really doesn't work against a trigger-happy df black mage, nor is it going to work against an OCD healer or a AOE spam healer.

[zakalw3]

You can hold groups of 9+ mobs in wp using just flash spam with SoS and SW as they come around and Riot blade combo to keep flash going.

You don't even need to use Harlone combos.

This is with full DF and relic gear on the PLD. You can hold more if your group is geared with you.

Before that, when you're only geared to take each group as they come (2-3 mobs at a time, perhaps 3-5), the exact same tactic can be applied.

Flash spam will hold aggro perfectly.

[Zazakura]

You can hold groups of 9+ mobs in wp using just flash spam with SoS and SW as they come around and Riot blade combo to keep flash going.

You don't even need to use Harlone combos.

This is with full DF and relic gear on the PLD. You can hold more if your group is geared with you.

Before that, when you're only geared to take each group as they come (2-3 mobs at a time, perhaps 3-5), the exact same tactic can be applied.

Flash spam will hold aggro perfectly.

its those pulls where flash is all you have left for aggro hold...simply cause flash hits em all but halone combo hits only one per GC and only 3rd GC is halone itself, put on pulls of typical 2,3,4 mob flash "pure spam" is inefficient, flash for initial is efficient and initial aggro with halone combo is super effective.
...

[Rochetm]

You can hold groups of 9+ mobs in wp using just flash spam with SoS and SW as they come around and Riot blade combo to keep flash going.

You don't even need to use Harlone combos.

This is with full DF and relic gear on the PLD. You can hold more if your group is geared with you.

Before that, when you're only geared to take each group as they come (2-3 mobs at a time, perhaps 3-5), the exact same tactic can be applied.

Flash spam will hold aggro perfectly.

Find better dps.

[Grembo]

Find better dps.

...and then they all die before the DPS pull agrro.

Really don't need much more than flash spam in WP SR's.

[Viridiana]

...and then they all die before the DPS pull agrro.

Really don't need much more than flash spam in WP SR's.

That's cool for speed runs. zakalw3 has been talking about Flash being able to hold even against "zealous" single-target damage. Clearly, he's not playing with very good DPS. Or they're coddling him and watching aggro.