Still unsure of the optimal single target rotation for BLM

[Kimura410]

Aoewise everyone seems to pretty much agree on blm rotations, but everyone seems to disagree regarding openers and single target. The blm rotation mega thread on here has some great info, but no end all be all, which maybe there isn't one and there are just different ways to do it.

So ill throw mine out there and have someone tear it apart and hopefully help me improve it in some way. Titan ex is where I blm a lot, just because its a little tough on casters an requires timing and such. Ive been doing maybe a weird thing since I got into playing summoner, where I buff my dots on most classes I play when possible.

So on titan, I usually pre cast fire III to have astral fire up. Then I swiftcast>raging strikes>thunder 3, then rattle off my fires. I figure this way, if I get a thunder proc, thats great because its another buffed dot as well as the spike damage from it. Other than that its pretty cut and dry. Ill cast b3 obviously, then thunder 2 if my dots about to wear off, if I got a thunder proc and have a fresh dot up, then ill cast blizzard or scathe if I'm moving, then back to fire 3>fire spam.

I guess my question is the opener. Why do people insist on opening with blizzard 3? Ive tried it before and didnt notice anything different mana tick wise. Also, is buffing my thunder like that a good idea? Or should I just save my SC for a flare?

[Alistaire]

You don't open with bliz 3, you use it after any fire cycle. http://imgur.com/a/iCV3L for full details.

[Kimura410]

Well what this suggests is to open with thunder 2, but an initial fire 3 is a longer cast, so wouldn't it be more efficient to open with fire 3, cast thunder 2, then spam fires? Im glad I saw that though I was wondering about the amount of piety i needed and that answered my question.

[Alistaire]

You want dots up as much as possible, and you should also get a tic of mana regen while casting fire 3. But mainly the "keep dots up" thing.

[xEscaflownex]

To each their own, but I Thunder II > Swiftcast Fire III > Raging strikes/Mega Int Pot > Fire spam for opener

After that Blizzard III > Blizzard I (Scaythe only if moving) > Thunder II (Thunder I if time is an issue) > Fire III > Fire spam, repeat.

I've also never tried the 251 PIE before...Went out to dummy and did a few runs of 30 INT, then respecced to 21 INT/9 PIE for the 251 PIE, and it lowered my DPS significantly, not to mention looking through the Lodestones of many of the High DPS BLM's, none of them have 251 PIE, so I'm going to disregard that idea as being a DPS increase =P.

[IBenjieI]

I always open with Swifcast>Raging Strikes>Thunder III then hard cast Fire III>Fire>Fire etc.

I get myself down to around 700 MP, then Blizzard III>Thunder II or Blizz I depending on the situation if my DoT is still on or not. I'll swiftcast Thunder III if I have to dodge AoE's and Scathe to keep up the DPS along with any procs.

I can maintain around 200 DPS with i80 at the moment which I'm quite happy with.

[NeoAmon]

To each their own, but I Thunder II > Swiftcast Fire III > Raging strikes/Mega Int Pot > Fire spam for opener

After that Blizzard III > Blizzard I (Scaythe only if moving) > Thunder II (Thunder I if time is an issue) > Fire III > Fire spam, repeat.

I've also never tried the 251 PIE before...Went out to dummy and did a few runs of 30 INT, then respecced to 21 INT/9 PIE for the 251 PIE, and it lowered my DPS significantly, not to mention looking through the Lodestones of many of the High DPS BLM's, none of them have 251 PIE, so I'm going to disregard that idea as being a DPS increase =P.

I'm curios to see your T1, T4 & T5 DPS ACT SS. Could you please take a fresh one tomorrow or when ever you run Coil. Pie chart breaking down your DPS by spells % would be great addition.

Thanks in advance.

[xEscaflownex]

I'm curios to see your T1, T4 & T5 DPS ACT SS. Could you please take a fresh one tomorrow or when ever you run Coil. Pie chart breaking down your DPS by spells % would be great addition.

Thanks in advance.

Sure lol, this was last week T4 (messing up a bit) http://i.imgur.com/3OLrCHq.png - Lemme try to find the archive in ACT of all the turns (just had T4 saved from another post).

i88, still need to replace CT Gloves/Boots and get allagan weap to drop.

[Wolf_Gang]

I thought it was the other way around.

Everyone has pretty much settled on the same single target rotations but are in debate on the optimal AOE rotation.
Some people use double Flare, others, F2 spam or Blizzard x2.

[xEscaflownex]

I thought it was the other way around.

Everyone has pretty much settled on the same single target rotations but are in debate on the optimal AOE rotation.
Some people use double Flare, others, F2 spam or Blizzard x2.

I like Fire III > Fire II x4 > Flare > convert Flare > pot Flare