SMN or BLM?

[Jeckyl_Tesla]

Hey guys, I asked this on Reddit and I thought I'd throw it on here.

I'm stuck between BLM and SMR. After talking to some people, and looking at the rotations, I seem to like the sound of both.

Though what I want to know are your opinions on both of them and what you prefer and why?

I'm aware that in the end it's down to if I like the class, but I find that I learn a lot about the classes when I listen to what people like and dislike about them.

What do you prefer? What performs better? Does SMN's "DoT" system feel unrewarding to the big numbers of BLM?

[velric42]

If you go with SMN get ready to micro manage your pet at end game content, while trying to keep up your dots and keep track of all the shit going on around you. Im sorry but on a ps 4,its a little to much at times.

[Samano]

with the gears the way it is now, playing both SMN and BLM is very possible, if you can play both, why not. I play both SMN and BLM myself and although in 2nd coil my SMN has consistently outdps my BLM because of less movement penalty, I like to switch it up from time to time and play BLM too.

Playing SMN, there is not really a set rotation other than your opener, all you do is keeping dots up and manage GCDs/CDs/Pet abilities efficiently meanwhile watching your MP so you don't run out. Even though it is more complicated to play, having high dps as a SMN is relatively easy since it's really forgiving.

Playing BLM, i feel is more structured and you gotta adhere to a certain rotation, but to a certain extent, it is easier to play than SMN, but if you're not a guy who's always starving for more DPS and look for that extra opportunities to increase your DPS, you probably wont be a very good BLM.

[Orophin]

Two completely different styles of play.

- Both are good at AOE damage on mobs, BLM is better since they don't have the limits of Bane.

- BLM is simpler to play as you have a very set rotation. They have tools to help self-mitigate damage (Manaward for magic damage, Manawall for physical damage) and Apocatastatis was recently tweaked to grant 30% magic damage reduction to other party members. They also have the drawback of any fight that's movement heavy they will do less damage than their other DPS counterparts, but Aetherial Manipulation can help with this some.

- SMN is a more complex class due to having to manage Aetherflow stacks, and to get the most use out of your pets you have to micromanage them. They have a higher damage ceiling than BLM in single target encounters, especially in ones where movement is required frequently. SMN's main disadvantage to BLM, apart from AOE damage, is they do not have an unlimited mana pool. If you're doing everything possible to maximize your damage, including keeping Shadowflare and Miasma II up as much as possible, you will inevitably run out of mana on longer fights. There is ballad to fall back on, but that'll reduce your Bard's damage for that period.