DPS at End Game

[Honz]

SMN is the strongest most consistent dps class in the game. I've ran with multiple static groups that all have turn 5 on farm, with everyone full i90 with allagan weapons. I don't make assumptions based on bad players I run into on party finder.

I have to agree SMN is the most consistent dps atm. Monk and Smn are easily the highest single target dps, Drgs fall short even with the new buffs and regardless of the encounter.

Smn's have great burst, high sustained dps, good AoE potential, and utility.

[synaesthetic]

lol I find it hilarious that this guy thinks SMN is poor damage. I've been playing SMN for a day now, in patchwork gear (some allagan/myth jewelry from BLM, but still wearing AF1 robe and i55 book) and I'm stunned at how much damage it can put out on a single target. And this is with 15/15 int/mnd, a junk weapon and I'm not even very good at SMN. o_o

SMN is very strong even after the nerfs. Pre-2.1 they were pretty much on the same gamebreaking level as bards.

[Ashira]

I'll give my opinions on the DPS classes I have level 50 experience with first:

MNK seems to kick out more DPS than most other classes, if done correctly. It's rather simple once you get the hang of it and very flexible; you have great survivability, mobility and utility. The only downside, which they share with DRG, is there are many melee unfriendly mechanics in this game, which ranged can completely ignore.

SMN do great damage over time and for single targets and groups they're one of the best; outstanding for high mobility encounters. Their burst damage is their only weakness however, which is extremely lack-luster in comparison with other DPS classes. As a whole, I find SMN to be rather boring, but that's just my opinion.

BLM is huge fun. I've been playing this one a lot lately and the numbers you can pull with a BLM are unmatched. If I had to sum them up in one word though, it would definately be inconsistent; their damage is inconsistent, their burst damage is inconsistent and their effectiveness on any given encounter is inconsistent. Depending on how often you pray to the RNG gods is really all that matters here; you can go from seeing multiple procs of Thundercloud and Firestarter, where you destroy all the other DPS and send your tank into panic mode - to not seeing a single proc in multiple rotations and being the most average DPS ever.

Don't get me wrong about BLM; I love it to bits and find it to be one of the most fun classes about, but you may get frustrated when confronted by high mobility encounters or unlucky RNG.

As for the other DPS, I don't have them at 50, though I run a Free Company and all of our raiding runs, so understanding the other classes is important. I'll give my outside perspective on the other two:

DRG don't seem too far removed from MNK. They both have to dodge the same mechanics and both have rear and flank combo rotations. As a party leader, I sometimes ask members to switch to DRG, so our BRD can take advantage of their 10% piercing debuff.

BRD are what I would call a safe bet. You could have an entire party of BRD and be fine. Though their potential damage is lower than all the other DPS classes, more often than not they will push higher numbers, due to their 100% uptime, which no other DPS class can boast. On top of their consistent and high mobility DPS; they also have two things that are extremely useful at end-game; silence and Mage's Ballad.

Conclusion; since Darklight and a Relic weapon will make you viable for Turns 1-3 and EX Primals, there really isn't any reason why you cannot gear them all and play them all. If you want to focus, given your aim was to find a consistent DPS; I'd suggest BRD. There really isn't any reason why you can't gear one of them in Mythology and Allagan gear, and the other in Crystal Tower gear however. Like a lot of people have been saying here; just play what feels fun to you.

[Dhex]

The return of lolDRG.

[Gamemako]

The return of lolDRG.

It never left.

[File2ish]

Whatever you enjoy playing most, all are needed so yeah =p

I have bard w/relic at ilvl 65ish on my main and DRG ilvl 69ish (some onion gear and dl, no relic. Super easy to raise ilvl now) on my alt. Bard is great to have in any party, can deal good damage with good luck on DoT crits (with bloodletter) while refreshing MP or regaining TP for the party. DRG has good single target damage and can apply 3 DoTs and a debuff that increases piercing damage. Monk probably has the best single target damage, but heavily relies on positioning for damage.

As for not seeing a lot of monks, I think it's because people would rather be stabbing something rather than punching. They also have to move around the most of the three, which can be a nuisance to some.

[Shikoba]

Look at it this way:
Dragoons get bad ass gear. Get bad ass jump attacks. And do great damage.

Bards get the ugliest gear in game. You get pink AF+1 gear and candy cane flavored Crystal Tower gear. And when you are forced to play a song, your damage drops like a rock. weak!

Monks get the honor of dressing up as bananas. Imagine bananas in pajamas flinging their fists and feet at monsters. While cool, it's also very odd. Still, better then Bards. Apparently they are fun to play, but lets be honest, fist weapons are boring and not very exciting to begin with.

Go Dragoon and thank me later.

[Rochetm]

Look at it this way:
Dragoons get bad ass gear. Get bad ass jump attacks. And do great damage.

Bards get the ugliest gear in game. You get pink AF+1 gear and candy cane flavored Crystal Tower gear. And when you are forced to play a song, your damage drops like a rock. weak!

Monks get the honor of dressing up as bananas. Imagine bananas in pajamas flinging their fists and feet at monsters. While cool, it's also very odd. Still, better then Bards. Apparently they are fun to play, but lets be honest, fist weapons are boring and not very exciting to begin with.

Go Dragoon and thank me later.

I get to strap moogles to my fists and hit things with them. When you get to be that awesome back back and talk.

[Shikoba]

I get to strap moogles to my fists and hit things with them. When you get to be that awesome back back and talk.

[Tobalito]

Seeing all these posts about lolDRG really sucks. DRGs have amazing dps but i have yet to find another DRG who can pull really good numbers. in my FC i can out dps everyone including MNK with Allagan wep and i cant speak for SMN with allagan as his dps is estimated. Everytime i see a DRG more geared than i, I always destroy them in DPS which leads me to believe people arent optimizing their dps and DRG and using everything to their disposal. DRGs are a force to be reckoned with, unfortunatley i havent seen one tap into that force.