Maximize SMN rotation and dps during phase 4

[paradigmfellow]

Hi everyone, would fellow smns be so kind to share their experiences with turn 4? I was in a group yesterday and they said that according to their parser I had the least dps. However, that doesn't make sense. Soldiers would always come down first then the knight.


I do not know if it is my rotation, handling of cool downs, or the party itself sucked (it was a pug). I would love some discussions on this.

[neoreturn]

Does your physic Dmg DPS help kill solder too?
In default setting, parser doesn't combine pet Dmg. Could be one reason your parser rank low.
But in my experience,smn DPS is lower than Blm, much lower somehow. Don't know why.

[paradigmfellow]

Does your physic Dmg DPS help kill solder too?
In default setting, parser doesn't combine pet Dmg. Could be one reason your parser rank low.
But in my experience,smn DPS is lower than Blm, much lower somehow. Don't know why.

The melee focused on the knight. (based on what I saw). I don't use a parser, it was one of the guys that did in the group and said that.

[neoreturn]

The melee focused on the knight. (based on what I saw). I don't use a parser, it was one of the guys that did in the group and said that.

If you have two physic DPS (not melee) two magic DPS and physic DPS only focus on their knight, solder always die first then some physic DPS do a bad job, normally it is bard. Bard is too easy pass t2 and their skills are very different.

[T0rin]

People say SMN deal less damage, for two main reasons: (as far as I can tell)

1) They don't factor in your pet
2) Parsers don't handle third person DoTs very well

I've done a lot of parsing of my DoTs. I've done a lot of comparing numbers with people in the same raid. I've found that however DoT damage is calculated, someone else calculating your DoT damage and you calculating your DoT damage, is never the same. They always see less than you do.

But, given the tools we have, it is the only way to judge someone. Even when anecdotal evidence (like Soldiers dying first) is not sufficient, and servers as a counter point. But one thing to consider, is on Soldiers, you are only usually half of the equation. I've carried poor DPS BLMs before, and may have even parsed to other people as being worse, but I know better.

How well are you geared?

This is usually how my Turn 4 goes:

Phase 1) Shadow Flare as the tank is gathering the spiders, Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Miasma2->Contagion->Bane->Tri-Disaster->(new un-DoT'd target)Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Bane->Spam Tri-Disaster until < 3 targets left, Ruin1 and re-position for Phase 2
Phase 2) (target first Soldier to die)Swiftcast->Shadowflare->Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Bane->Thunder->(target second Soldier to die)->Aetherflow->Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Bane->Thunder->(switch back to first Soldier)Spam Ruin1/Fester until Contagion comes off CD->(target second Soldier)Contagion->(target first Soldier)Spam Ruin1/Fester until dead->(target second Soldier)Spam Ruin1/Fester until dead
Phase 3) Shadow Flare where Juggernaut will be positioned->Aetherflow->Spur/Rouse/Quelling/Raging->Bio2->Miasma->Thunder->Bio1->Miasma2->Contagion->Spam Ruin1/Fester until dead (save 1 Aetherflow charge for Bane at the start of phase 4 if CD is not almost done)
Phase 4) Shadow Flare where MT will tank (middle for us)->(target a Rook)Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Miasma2->Contagion->Bane->Tri-Disaster->(new un-DoT'd target)Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Bane->Spam Tri-Disaster until < 3 targets left, Ruin1 until all spiders are dead (save 1 Aetherflow charge for Bane in Phase 5)
Phase 5) (target Soldier)Bio2->Miasma->Bio->Bane->Thunder->Spam Ruin1/Fester until dead->(target Juggernaut, save Swiftcast for Ress if things get hairy in turn 6)Spur/Rouse/Quelling/Raging as CDs allow->Bio2->Miasma->Thunder->Bio->Miasma2->Contagion->Spam Ruin1/Fester/Re-DoT'ing until dead (transition into phase 6 as Juggernaut is being DD'd, save 1 Aetherflow charge for Ruin in phase 6)
Phase 6) Finish first Juggernaut->(target Soldier)Bio2->Miasma->Thunder->Bio->Contagion->Bane->Spam Ruin1/Fester until dead->(target a bug)Spam Ruin1/Fester (save a charge for Bane)->Re-DoT as necessary, Bane if 2 bugs are up when you re-DoT, otherwise spam Ruin1/Fester until bugs are dead->(reposition and target final Juggernaut)Spur/Rouse/Quelling/Raging as CDs allow->Bio2->Miasma->Thunder->Bio->Miasma2->Contagion->Ruin1/Fester until dead

Edit: One thing I've noticed when re-reading through this, is that I say that I Thunder before Contagion->Bane sometimes, and to note, it is mainly because I expect the target to survive long enough to benefit from the Contagion'd Thunder. If that is not the case, you are better off doing Thunder after the Bane, as the extra DoT time on Bane'd targets will result in more damage. Usually though, I'm focused on getting my target out of the picture mostly quickly, and consider Bane damage a secondary benefit of playing an awesome class.

Edit2: Oh, and I usually save Enkindle for Phase 2/4 as necessary to clear the adds before the next phase spawns, and if that is not necessary, just blow it on the final Juggernaut.

Edit3: I also always Ruin2 before Fester unless I'm really close to running out of mana and am trying to avoid having to Energy Drain.

[paradigmfellow]

People say SMN deal less damage, for two main reasons: (as far as I can tell)...

I have relic +1, AF2 (1+ depending the term people are using) body, allagan ring, vanya hat with acc materia, and the rest DL.

Thank you so much for telling me your rotation. It will take some time to get used to it. I have mostly stayed with the raging>bio2>Miasma>bio>contagion>fester>thunder or bane>Swiftcast>shadowflare>rune and repeat type of rotation.

Edit1: I focus on my target as well. I have always thought of bane as a benefit to everyone while focusing on downing my target.

[T0rin]

I generally try to avoid having to Swiftcast Shadow Flare, and try to use the time that the tank is positioning stuff to set it up, since before then, things may get hairy with aggro if you start to DoT too soon. I mainly only do it when it would otherwise get in the way of DPS time.

I also find myself not Festering during 'AoE Time', as I usually want those charges for more Bane. (phase 1/4) I do find myself doing both on Soldiers, because it is the only good way to get some damage onto Knights, but Soldier is also my primary target. Sometimes I opt to Fester instead of Bane if I am not (or cannot) going to Contagion.

Tri-Disaster is mainly the filler between DoT sets during 'AoE Time' because of Bane's cooldown. I usually always Miasma2 before Bane, but only if I am going to Contagion it first.

Also, I find that at the start of an AoE rotation, that telling Garuda to Aerial Blast, then Steady to get ready for the imminent Contagion can vastly speed up the process of getting to Bane, not to mention I find it tragically annoying when I am spamming Contagion and she is in some wacky cooldown loop doing more Wind Blasts than I want.

[paradigmfellow]

snip

I see. Phase 4 is where I would have the most issue with aggro. I would focus on a rook and I still get spiders all over me.


During Phase one my rotation was swiftcast>shadowflare>bio2>maisma>bio>contagion>bane>maisma2>tri-disaster>non dot bio2>miasma>bio>bane>maisma2>shadowflare>tri-disaster and then just rune1 or 2. By that time they would be dead.

[T0rin]

I find that a second Shadow Flare during the AoE rotation shouldn't need to come until after the second tri-disaster that comes after the second Bane, assuming you didn't waste any time at all in the meantime.

And I always spam Tri-Disaster if there will be 3 or more targets left alive by the time it resolves.

I also never have AoE aggro issues, that is most likely a fault of your tanks. Even the BLM going balls out with multiple Flares doesn't seem to pull aggro.

[Zholi]

I've found my DPS can be highly variable in this fight depending on how far the group can get. I've also found that most people are too dumb to realize your pet counts for your damage as well. People end up thinking I am not putting out a good amount of DPS when in reality I've easily beaten them. Another consideration is the fact that Shadow Flare is completely and totally ignored by the parser. Not only does this mean that the damage from Shadow Flare fails to get credited to you, but your displayed DPS on the parser will be lower than if you never used Shadow Flare, since you are taking time out of your rotation to cast a spell that the parser can't see. While it can track actual DoT numbers now instead of providing rough estimates, its tracking ability is not complete yet.