Should Casters Prioritize Auto Attacks?

[Forever_Learning]

Whenever it is safe to do so, should a caster run into melee range to execute an auto attack?

If it's safe to be in melee range, aren't you maximizing your damage as a caster by doing both your spells and auto attacks?

[T0rin]

Yes, you should. Don't stop casting to auto-attack, get in melee range, right click, go about your business. Every ~5-6 actions you will sneak an auto-attack in.

[Forever_Learning]

Seriously? Running up and hitting it with my book will add so much damage that it's worth doing?

Seems kinda pointless to me when strength isn't high in points either.

Then there's the downtime from needing to run in.

I don't see how auto-attacks should be the top priority when they are the weakest form of damage potential.

[T0rin]

Free damage is free damage. If it's safe, why wouldn't you? Yeah, hitting something with your book 3-4 times a minute will give you an extra ~200+ damage, so why not?

I'm not saying they are 'top priority', obviously your typical spells are more important, but you're essentially getting free damage for the simple action of positioning yourself closer. In most fights, with sprint, you're going to take less than 2 seconds at absolute most, positioning in melee range, much less depending on the fight.

And some classes (SMN) have higher base strength than other classes, so how worthwhile it is depends on your class. But, in the end, it is free damage for the minor issues of running into melee range once.

[SirGazuntai]

Free damage is free damage. If it's safe, why wouldn't you? Yeah, hitting something with your book 3-4 times a minute will give you an extra ~200+ damage, so why not?

I'm not saying they are 'top priority', obviously your typical spells are more important, but you're essentially getting free damage for the simple action of positioning yourself closer. In most fights, with sprint, you're going to take less than 2 seconds at absolute most, positioning in melee range, much less depending on the fight.

And some classes (SMN) have higher base strength than other classes, so how worthwhile it is depends on your class. But, in the end, it is free damage for the minor issues of running into melee range once.

Depends how much damage you can do in the 2 seconds it takes to reach your opponent. If you lose 1000 damage from 1 GCD and only do an extra 200 damage from auto-attacks, you'll lose DPS. Not to mention you may have to move more at melee range, which is a DPS loss for someone like a BLM or anyone using cast-time spells.

I wouldn't think too much of it. The only time you should care about auto attack is if you're in Titan HM and feel like building LB on his first phase. The damage loss from moving will most likely never be made up by auto attack damage, unless you lose no damage from moving, in which case do it if you really want.

At the end of the day, however, 200 damage in a 1 minute time frame is negligible at best. You won't notice the damage, nor will it help any situation. The only time it would make a difference is if every single person in the group did the same thing, account for maybe 800 extra damage per minute but even then, still negligible.

[T0rin]

It is more of a benefit on longer fights (like Twintania) where you stay in melee range for multiple minutes at a time, and you more or less are in melee range a lot of the time regardless. Other examples are Ex Titan and Ex Ifrit.

Obviously you need to keep it in perspective, but if you are going to be in/near melee range anyways, there is no reason not to.

[Zoomie]

It is more of a benefit on longer fights (like Twintania) where you stay in melee range for multiple minutes at a time, and you more or less are in melee range a lot of the time regardless. Other examples are Ex Titan and Ex Ifrit.

Obviously you need to keep it in perspective, but if you are going to be in/near melee range anyways, there is no reason not to.

Morale of the story: Its situational in the extreme and shouldn't be given as general advise.

A fight like Twin makes sense. But basically any other fight that doesn't require melee range its probably a waste unless you can stand there hitting it long enough to make up for 1-2 lost GCD's.

[T0rin]

Why would it take you 1-2 GCDs to get into melee range of something? I mean, obviously this isn't going to be something you do in every single fight, but there is damage to be had when someone judges a situation where it is an extremely minimal sacrifice of time to get into and be able to stay in melee range.

Damage is damage, and if it is free for the taking, why wouldn't you take it? Like everything else in the game, you need to be able to judge when it is wise to do or not do any given thing, in terms of maintaining DPS. If you can do it, and it is not a sacrifice to do it, you should do it. I'm not advocating anything else. But, that was the OP's question.. if you can, should you? And the answer is yes.

[Seobit]

Depends how much damage you can do in the 2 seconds it takes to reach your opponent. If you lose 1000 damage from 1 GCD and only do an extra 200 damage from auto-attacks, you'll lose DPS. Not to mention you may have to move more at melee range, which is a DPS loss for someone like a BLM or anyone using cast-time spells.

You don't lose any damage because you use ruin 2 or bio to move in as a summoner, or procs as a BLM.

For extreme primals, people tend to stack behind titan and ifrit anyway so you'll get your auto attacks there easily. On garuda there's no reason not to simply position yourself right behind her on the non add phases to get your auto attacks.

On caduceus you can stand on his flank at no cost.

ADS repelling cannon and other mechanics will force you to move in and out too much so you'll probably lose dps for trying to melee, plus if you're doing rot then you shouldn't be near melee anyway. If doing enrage then... yeah lol.

Turn 4 can stand behind dreadnaughts np. Anything else not worth running around.

Twintania you get to sit on her for a good part of the early fight so you get your free attacks in. Once twister starts though you have no business being melee.

[Allyrion]

You don't lose any damage because you use ruin 2 or bio to move in as a summoner, or procs as a BLM.

For extreme primals, people tend to stack behind titan and ifrit anyway so you'll get your auto attacks there easily. On garuda there's no reason not to simply position yourself right behind her on the non add phases to get your auto attacks.

On caduceus you can stand on his flank at no cost.

ADS repelling cannon and other mechanics will force you to move in and out too much so you'll probably lose dps for trying to melee, plus if you're doing rot then you shouldn't be near melee anyway. If doing enrage then... yeah lol.

Turn 4 can stand behind dreadnaughts np. Anything else not worth running around.

Twintania you get to sit on her for a good part of the early fight so you get your free attacks in. Once twister starts though you have no business being melee.

As a SMN it makes sense. They have good mobility and enough instant attacks to allow for more auto attacks.

A BLM should only do it if they're already in melee because of a fight mechanic. Any movement is a dps loss and you cannot control your procs unless you hold it which is even more of a dps loss.
BLM str is also very low. My SMN is slightly lesser gear has 179 strength compared to my BLM's 88.
Free damage is free and all but if you filled in with scathe when you didn't have to, you probably lost more damage than your auto's would do in that whole fight.

For example, cad might be fairly safe to stand in melee as a BLM but you would have to be very lucky to be one sidestep away from a glowing platform (like you could be at range). Instead, you would have to fill in with scathe.

Plus, this would would only be viable on farm content or ones you stand in melee regardless. For fights where you do stand there, sure - right click the boss and get your damage. Otherwise, don't bother.
For anything you're progressing in, then you probably can't expect complete stability. And that's what's required for a BLM to justify being in melee and gaining dps.