Aetherflow Stack Management

[Lyrinn]

I've been practicing SCH for a couple of weeks now and I think I have a good handle on everything except Aetherflow stacking. Basically, I'm finding myself in an odd situation frequently where I have one or two stacks on hand, Aetherflow is off cooldown, and I don't know if I should save the stacks or refresh them.

For example, on Titan, I have 1 stack. I know Mountain Buster is coming up in a bit. Should I hold onto that one charge for Sacred Soil and then Aetherflow, or should I go ahead and Aetherflow to refresh to 3 stacks so Aetherflow can go back on cooldown for a potential of 6 stacks later?

That's just one example, but is there a general rule of thumb for when to use Aetherflow, or too situational?

[Urthdigger]

If you still have stacks up when aetherflow's up again, I say use up your current stacks and refresh it.

[AldoVonAlexandros]

use them, do not refresh, use drain or SS, but dont overwrite them, its like wasting

[Lyrinn]

use them, do not refresh, use drain or SS, but dont overwrite them, its like wasting

Of course.
-------------

So I should burn all my stacks and refresh whenever Aetherflow is up? No need to hold onto them for 4~6 stacks?

[tOnni3]

IMO, if your MP is still in okay level, you can keep Aetherstacks. No need to refresh.

[Ryuko]

As you learn fights better, you will know exactly what you need your stacks for. For example, you might want to save one charge for sacred soil at a certain point in the fight, and you know this... but the others are yours to use however you like. For a reactive job like a healer, I would suggest that it is BETTER to save your stacks until your Aetherflow is ready to be used again, and then throw them off rather than overwriting/wasting them. That way, if you do need to use Lustrate in a pinch, you'll always have it ready to go (either because you saved them or because you are ready to use Aetherflow again).

[Kyomih]

I only save Aetherflow if I am not in trouble with MP. Otherwise I drain three times and then activate Aetherflow again.
As Ryuko said, it depends on how well you know the fight. Titan EX I really want to make sure I have a stack saved for SS and some lustrate if we have troubles topping off the tank before MB.
On Garude EX I find myself using it for Drain more than anything else (also since drain does some nice damage on spiny after Garuda Jumps).

In the end it comes down to how you play an encounter. You'll get the hang of it for sure

[Tinker]

So I should burn all my stacks and refresh whenever Aetherflow is up? No need to hold onto them for 4~6 stacks?

This is when experience comes into play. Lets take T5 Twintania, for instance.

Your main tank is at 85% health, you have two Aetherflows left, and know a death sentence is coming in ~5-10 seconds.
What I would do is an Embrace/Adlo on the tank, Virus on Twintania, and wait for the huge spike damage that's incoming.

Then you can lustrate once or twice, then aetherflow for more stacks.

[Hysterior]

i use on cooldown so I never run out of mp
if I still have stack when it refreshed, use lustrate if a member is low HP, energy drain if you need mp and if nothing just put sacred soil lol
always use all your stacks whenever you can

takes time to get used to it, same as using rouse whenever available

[Skapoc]

Also remember to try not to Energy Drain in Coil. You can easily miss since you don't have the accuracy needed for Coil or hit a knight with it in Turn 4 and just end up injuring yourself making it a total waste of an atherflow stack. It's much better to throw down a soil or get the free heal from lustrate even if you don't need the spike heal and save 300-400 mp then wast a stack.