Why are there so many black mages around?

[Renjin]

Not really. Was running BLM-BRD combo and we were doing at 5mins 35s.

^ This.

Just started doing speed runs (learned how on Monday) and we get to the second boss around this time or lower.

[Renjin]

With the way people are speedrunning, it's just more efficient to use blm. Bard AoEs take too much TP. =P

Only if you don't know what you're doing.

[SummonerSenah]

Only if you don't know what you're doing.

Wide Volley uses 160 tp and unproc-ed Rain of Death is 200. With 1000 TP, you can use 6 before you are too low on TP. Invigorate restores 400 tp but has a 2 minute cooldown. You can use Army's Peon but only as long as you have mana.

In comparison, when a BLM gets low on mana, you can use Transpose or Blizzard 3 to trigger Umbral Ice and you have full mana again in seconds.

It's completely possible to do speedruns with bard. I have been doing bard for expert dungeons since the patch so that if any Shikaree gear dropped, I could "Need" on it instead of hoping to be lucky with Greed rolls. But IMO it's just more fun to use Black Mage. Your mileage may vary.

[Urthdigger]

Because every RPer strives to be the darkest and edgiest around, so of course they pick the job with "Black" in the name and cry out for Dark Knight :P

[Hysterior]

Probably the most played job indeed
Let me see: easy rotation, range and unlimited mp comes to mind

[NefarioCall]

Cuz it's awesome.

[Evil_Betox]

Dunno about my server since i barely keep an eye for people jobs in the open world but in dungeons i still see a lot of dragoons and bards while using the DF, on the other hand i hardly see any summoners and black mages are not rare but not so common either aside from Brayflox's speedruns (most are blm+blm or blm+brd).

[gamersince1976]

BLM was actually my 3rd DPS 50 class - after DRG and Bard. I started it because by FC was stuck on T4 and didn't have a good BLM (this was a while ago). Since then it's become my first choice - I'm a big crit junkie and nothing else comes close.

[Insidious]

Because BLM provides superior AOE and burst when compared to a SMN. Honestly, if you have a SMN just switch to BLM now and make your life easier. Groups will be looking for a BLM, they won't be looking or needing a SMN.

[SpookyGhost]

Honestly, if you have a SMN just switch to BLM now and make your life easier. Groups will be looking for a BLM, they won't be looking or needing a SMN.

Laughing uncontrollably.