Limit Break Question.

[IveraIvalice]

There are a few instances where caster lb is preferred like in Garuda HM against both sisters and Garuda. I can't think of any times where it's absolutely required but there are fights where the caster lb is the one expected to be used because of the fight mechanics. For example, Titan extreme, the lb is generally saved for the caster to use on the adds. Again not absolutely necessary but it makes the fight a lot easier.
The fights are designed to utilize certain types of limit breaks in some fights more then others. Another example is the only time a tank lb is the favored one is in ultima where the bombs will wipe everyone unless the tank uses lb to have the party survive the explosions.
The times will come but it's all 50+ content. Pre-50 dungeons just use your best judgment, if there are adds in a boss fight and no one is lbing, go for it

[Garlyle]

Generally speaking, yes, melee DPS has limit break priority, followed by caster DPS if there's no melee DPS, simply to deal damage and get bosses done faster.

Otherwise, limit breaks are chosen for situational value - Healer's limit break in 8-mans is used to save the party if things have gone horribly wrong (100% HP/MP recovery and revive on the entire party at rank 3). Tank's limit break is used in very specific fights for very specific reasons (Dealing with a mechanic during Ultima's Bane). Caster LB is a clearing ability. There are fights where it's useful, both before and after 50. As mentioned, Haukke Manor (L28 dungeon)'s final boss has a part where she summons three adds at once - it's the hardest point during that fight. most of the uses of it though are for hard or extreme 8-man primals, where multi-target burst damage is extremely valuable.

[ROFL-kopter89]

I didn't know the difference between caster and melee LB either. Thanks for that info guys.
Every time someone has said to use LB, I've always done it regardless of who was in the party. A lot of people usually say, "mage lb" so I've gotten into a habit of doing it myself when they ask for the LB to be used. I'll remember to check party roles next time

[ColorOfSakura]

Caster Limit break is also usually used in Aurum Vale against the second set of Morbol Pods during the Miser's Mistress boss. It deals damage to the boss, but also takes out all the adds, which basically have to be killed before they hatch.

They can be killed with standard AoEs, but some parties will just prefer to use the caster LB since it means the other DPS can still focus on the boss (especially if they're melee DPS.)

[Dgsoil]

Leviathan EX is a great example of a fight where the caster LB is preferred over melee, especially if you have level 3 because positioned right you can not only hit spumes, but you hit leviathan and his tail, so you do double damage to the boss which is usually more then the single target could have pulled off and the added benefit of killing those glowing balls of awfulnessness. Unfortunately this also can cause phase skipping, but then again so can over gearing for any of the primal fights :3

[Maero]

Also would say to pay attention to the timing. If you know the damage potential of limit break and when to use it and a melee for instance is not casting it, then i would say go on ahead and use it
Ifrit Hm for sure is more of a must to have blm lb the nail phase, as 3 bars can wipe all of them or close to it and melee lb would be well, pointless.
I do hope in future updates that we get better use for caster lb, perhaps even with the "buff" we are to be getting

[Kerberon]

Is there anything in game that explains limit breaks? If not it really needs to be added. Having to explain them inside sunken temple to pugs is frustrating.

[sheepysheepy]

totorak boss is graffias the spider?

totally fine for a caster to lb if the adds are spawned or the tail is active

[Alice_89th]

Thanks for the response!
A question though, are there many times when a AOE LB is useful? Any last boss fights? I really only started using it because if its not communicated, it doesn't seem to get used in lower level dungeons. Then you do use it, and hear something like what I posted. Plus using it makes me smile a little each time...

- Haukke Manor: to get rid of the Handmaidens asap (this can save you quite some chaos)
- Aurum Vale: in the final bossfight to kill the morbol pods before they spawn.
- Wanderers Palace: to kill the adds on the slime fight. Not really needed anymore due to people being overpowered though.
- Ifrit HM: LB3 to kill all the nails
- Garuda HM: using the LB on the 2nd or 3rd set of adds is a valid choice, although these days people seem to prefer melee LB on Garuda.
- Titan EX: to kill the adds asap
- Leviathan EX: LB3 on the second set of bubbles (aimed dead center to hit them all)
- Binding Coil Turn 5: to kill the snakes before cracking down on Asclepius
- And anytime there are no melee dps in the group and you need a damage LB

Ifrit Hm for sure is more of a must to have blm lb the nail phase, as 3 bars can wipe all of them or close to it and melee lb would be well, pointless.

This is, and always has been, very possible without a caster.
All dps (and healers if possible) must focus down one nail at a time, then LB the last.
Depending on how far your gauge was charged at the start of the phase you can LB the first, focus the second and third, and LB the last one, as the nails charge the gauge quite a bit.

But caster LB is definitely easier
Also, why no SMN love? I can AoE LB too!

[vanityobscene]

Since the topic is LBs, I thought I'd also mention something that's generally a none-the-wiser mistake, and that's waiting to use an LB till the very end, when the maximum damage of the LB is wasted on a smidgen of health, and when there's no more DPS to mooch from a mini-boss or boss to get as much bar back as possible.

Others here have pointed to particular situations where LBs are crucial to use, but outside of those moments the general rule of thumb should be sooner rather than later. Especially on the first and second mini-bosses of a dungeon.

The bottom line is that the sooner someone uses an LB, the sooner the bar fills back up and it can be used again. With this as your starting point, you should then look at crucial moments, or the most useful moments. A party with mage only DPS and therein AOE only LBs would be best to use the LB sooner, but also when adds are spawned once the tank has collected them, or when a boss has a secondary part that needs dealing with, like the scorpion's tail in Toto-rak (to give a low-level example).

Over and over again you'll see people waiting until a boss is at next to no health before using the LB. This is a total and utter waste of DPS, especially when used by melee DPS.