BLM - Spell Speed Vs Crit Rate

[Adamantium]

so should we go wth SS, or Crit
crit rng can be a bitch yes , who play full SS is tht work on ur dps ?

The better question is: What were you doing looking at page 42 of the DPS forums?

[Behb]

Its really a matter of preference ... I took the CRIT road because I love big number and RNG.
Because RNG can work in both way : never get a crit when you need it or have 4 crit in a row which can really help.
But if you do a simulation with a long battle time, sspd will probably win.
It also give a smoother dps than the crit dps.

I think that the DPS difference between crit or sspd gear is really low.

[Clarkamite]

Here's my take on the situation. I would love to build for SS. I really would. It's late enough in the game for me though that taking these pieces now would only hurt my fellow static members looking to lot on those pieces for their alts.

Whenever someone posts their DPS numbers I take it with a grain of salt so when I tell you mine, go ahead and do the same. I play on PS4 so I cannot parse myself but I am told that on T8 (a good turn to find out your DPS numbers in near perfect scenarios) I hit ~410. Give or take from randomness.

I just went over my attributes the other day and even though I planned on going for SS I found out I'm actually sitting at like 390 something. Higher now that I have my HA staff. I'm sitting at 520 ish crit. I've seen people saying they do 480 DPS as a BLM on T8. Maybe it's because I have several tower duties and even a quadrant of mines that makes mine 70 DPS lower than theirs. Maybe it's my "lack" of spell speed. What I know is if I'm hitting 410 DPS, I'm gonna call that a day. This game hasn't required us to min/max to that extreme and I'd say my 410 is pretty damn good considering all my duties. Go for whatever pieces you can get your hands on. Build after that.

An extra 70 DPS higher than me is a little hard to believe but I'm not saying it's impossible. My times in T8 feel near perfect so an extra 70 DPS seems crazy high but again, all these numbers could be way off anyways. Moral of the story, if a piece drops and you can get it, take it. Upgrade = More DPS.

[Zencurse]

My only contribution that nobody has mentioned yet as to why SS is better on BLM than crit in general,

everything most others have said +
More SS == More Fire Is == More Firestarter Procs == More Fire IIIs = More Damage

[Kletian]

The number of Fires you cast is cost of fire/mana pool (+ Procs). Then, you have to wait for mana regen which is unaffected by speed (casting blizzard and thunder while you wait). Depending on when your cycle ends on the 3 second mana clock, you might not any benefit taking 2 seconds off the time it takes you use all your fires.

[Synestr]

My only contribution that nobody has mentioned yet as to why SS is better on BLM than crit in general,

everything most others have said +
MOAR SS == MOAR Fire Is == MOAR Firestarter Procs == MOAR Fire IIIs = MAOR Damage

There, I fixeded it.

MOAR FIRES!!1!!!11!!!! >:-}{ RaWr

[Alkimi]

I've seen people saying they do 480 DPS as a BLM on T8.

480 is doable but it's reliant on RNG being in your favour. No BLM is going to do that much every single time. Mine is usually anywhere between 400 and 430 (I hit 3 towers during the run) but I haven't done it with i115 weapon yet. Things like triple flare on dreadnoughts and plenty of Requiem also helps inflate it a bit.

To chime in on the SS debate, you also need to take into account that Fey Glow increases SS by 30%, so the more you have of it in the first place the more benefit you get from that.

[Sanguisio]

Stack one or the other, both equate to more DPS but where as SS you need to casting alot and making use of the reduced cast time to benefit.

[Umero]

spell speed is good. Even when you have to dodge a move, you can scathe and move; then as soon as you are ready to be stationed, you're already ready to cast again.

[Zencurse]

The number of Fires you cast is cost of fire/mana pool (+ Procs). Then, you have to wait for mana regen which is unaffected by speed (casting blizzard and thunder while you wait). Depending on when your cycle ends on the 3 second mana clock, you might not any benefit taking 2 seconds off the time it takes you use all your fires.

I don't mean more fires as in, you cast more fires per rotation. I mean quite literally, more spell speed means you're casting more fires, over the course of an entire fight. Which again, means more procs and more damage.