Summoner questions!

[UlricCraft]

Hi,

I recently started playing SCH in an attempt to reach 50, but along the way I was asked to run low-level DPS and opted to switch over to SMN.

As I'm used to having Eos set into Obey > Heal whilst micromanaging her 3 primary spells, but when I summoned Ifrit, I had no idea what the best way is to control it's DPS was. I opted to leave him in free 'kill whatever you want' mode, but is this the best option?

I've seen people successfully using Ifrit in T4, but there's always arguments for Garuda as well. In which situation is Ifrit optimal, and in which situation is Garuda preferred?

tl;dr:
What stance should I keep Ifrit/Garuda/Titan in?
What type of damage do they deal?
In what situation is Ifrit/Garuda optimal?

Thank you in advance,
Ulric.

[T0rin]

There is no situation where Ifrit is good. Garuda is always better.

Ifrit deals physical damage, Garuda deals magic damage. Ifrit works 'best' in Sic, Garuda works best in Obey. (mainly so you can control Contagion casts)

[DBthaONE]

Ifrit is viable if there are DRGs and MNKs since they have debus that help ifrit, but otherwise Garuda is the better choice. SMNs may use ifrit if they are short melee since he'll help kill soldiers.

[T0rin]

Ifrit is viable if there are DRGs and MNKs since they have debus that help ifrit, but otherwise Garuda is the better choice. SMNs may use ifrit if they are short melee since he'll help kill soldiers.

Ifrit is only buffed by MNKs, and no MNK is not going to Bootshine. Bane should be enough for a SMN to spread DoTs to Knights to break their stoneskin without needing extra physical DPS. There is no good reason to use Ifrit.

[Senliten]

There is no situation where Ifrit is good. Garuda is always better.

While I am one to say Garuda always, I can't help be feel Ifrit is more worthwhile to use if doing t2 enrage. Simply because the shield it has when you just let it sic during the fight. Have had Garuda go down countless times there but manage to only need one Ifrit up through the whole fight. This is also while weaving a pet HoT instead of one ruin during rotation. But again, only place I really have found Ifrit being viable. Everywhere else... Gardua and Obey

[Ricdeau]

Ifrit is only buffed by MNKs, and no MNK is not going to Bootshine. Bane should be enough for a SMN to spread DoTs to Knights to break their stoneskin without needing extra physical DPS. There is no good reason to use Ifrit.

Not really on topic here, I just wanted to say that a MNK will always keep up the Dragon Kick debuff at all times. You alternate Bootshine and Dragon Kick rotations. If you are only using Bootshine then you are doing it very, very wrong.

Now back to your Egi talk which I have nothing productive to add since I don't know much about SMN.

[givemeraptors]

There is no situation where Ifrit is good. Garuda is always better.

I find Ifrit better during Copperbell Mine HM since he will follow the target out of the flames whereas Garuda (as a ranged) will sit in the flames and take damage. In fact, for fights where you have to move your pet out of harms way frequently, Ifrit is better. Contagion is nice but I can also manually maintain those buffs. The MP you save from contagion is negligible mostly. Ifrit also does slightly more damage?

[T0rin]

Well, you can tell who in this thread doesn't play a summoner.

[Darkstride]

Contagion is nice but I can also manually maintain those buffs. The MP you save from contagion is negligible mostly.

I don't think you understand Contagion. Contagion isn't about MP management. It's about extending the duration so that you can do other damage while the DoT's run. Time saved on re-applying is time spent on dealing more damage. It's especially useful with Raging Strikes, because you are extending the duration of BUFFED DoTs.

I would also agree that Ifrit is never better than Garuda. Unless, of course, you don't yet have Garuda and are left with no choice.

[AldoVonAlexandros]

summon ifrit, use rouse, spur enkindle, smn garuda again thats it