SMN rotation

[Teeratong]

guys. what rotation do u think it can be the highest DPS!!! . in case T8 and T9

[SolarMisae]

I'm curious too. Haven't heard much about maximizing smn dps since we lost Thunder as a cross-class lol.

[Kyroc]

My opening rotation for T8:

Hard cast Shadowflare as Tank is running to boss
Auto attack, Raging Strikes, Bio II, Miasma, Bio, Miasma II, Ruin II, Fester, Contagion. Rouse, Spur, Enkindle, Ruin, Fester, Ruin II.

That last Ruin II gets in half a second before Raging Strikes wears off. Swiftcast Shadowflare, then reapply dots as they are about to fall off. I only use Miasma II when I have contagion available for more mp for Festers.

My T9 opener is the same except no auto attack and no Miasma II.

Not saying this is the best opener but it works for me and I am usually highest DPS at start of every fight unless our BLM gets some good crits or rng procs.

[Dwill]

Optimal opener is:

Raging Strikes -> X-Potion of Intelligence -> Bio II (Start precasting it when you see your tank about to engage) -> Miasma (Start moving toward the boss at 0.5 left on the cast) -> Bio -> Fester (when Bio applies) -> Miasma II -> Potent Poison Potion -> Contagion + Swiftcast -> Shadow Flare -> Rouse -> Ruin II -> Spur -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Enkindle -> Ruin -> Ruin -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Aetherflow.

After this, it's mostly a priority system depending on how the fight goes. You want to refresh Dots when they have < 3 seonds remaining, same deal for Shadow Flare if the boss won't move for 12 seconds minimum. Make sure to use Ruin II in before using off-gcd abilities. Whenever possible, be in melee range to be able to auto-attack the boss.

My opening rotation for T8:

Hard cast Shadowflare as Tank is running to boss
Auto attack, Raging Strikes, Bio II, Miasma, Bio, Miasma II, Ruin II, Fester, Contagion. Rouse, Spur, Enkindle, Ruin, Fester, Ruin II.

That last Ruin II gets in half a second before Raging Strikes wears off. Swiftcast Shadowflare, then reapply dots as they are about to fall off. I only use Miasma II when I have contagion available for more mp for Festers.

My T9 opener is the same except no auto attack and no Miasma II.

Not saying this is the best opener but it works for me and I am usually highest DPS at start of every fight unless our BLM gets some good crits or rng procs.

Too many holes in there that can easily be filled. Hardcasting Shadow Flare in the opener is a big no-no. Try the one I posted above you. Consumables are not required but if you're looking the maximum damage output possible, they are. By the way for T9, you can get a Miasma II in for the opener. Just pop Sprint 5 seconds before the pull and you'll be back in place with the range.

[Havenchild]

Optimal opener is:

Raging Strikes -> X-Potion of Intelligence -> Bio II (Start precasting it when you see your tank about to engage) -> Miasma (Start moving toward the boss at 0.5 left on the cast) -> Bio -> Fester (when Bio applies) -> Miasma II -> Potent Poison Potion -> Contagion + Swiftcast -> Shadow Flare -> Rouse -> Ruin II -> Spur -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Enkindle -> Ruin -> Ruin -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Aetherflow.

After this, it's mostly a priority system depending on how the fight goes. You want to refresh Dots when they have < 3 seonds remaining, same deal for Shadow Flare if the boss won't move for 12 seconds minimum. Make sure to use Ruin II in before using off-gcd abilities. Whenever possible, be in melee range to be able to auto-attack the boss.

This covers most of it. Personally I modified my T9 slightly in the first phase documented below:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...age-Discussion

PS: I also don't save Enkindle in T8 for that first Dread anymore, often enough I've pulled lower numbers saving Rouse, Spur , Enkindle for that moment instead of just going full throttle on the boss.

[Dwill]

snip

Obviously the rotation can be altered depending on the encounter. Sticking to one thing and one thing only is unwise.

[Havenchild]

Obviously the rotation can be altered depending on the encounter. Sticking to one thing and one thing only is unwise.

Well considering he asked mainly about T8 and T9, it was merely a point that in specific beginning phases of T9 (to max DPS like the title stated), there imo, is a non-conventional way of doing things especially since you ideally want to clip earlier then normal (mainly because of the jumps).

You can swift cast every other shadow flare, dont SC anything else;

There are several moments when using SC to apply your Bio II or Miasma, is highly beneficial especially in dodging / high movement scenarios.

[Dwill]

Well considering he asked mainly about T8 and T9, it was merely a point that in specific beginning phases of T9 (to max DPS like the title stated), there imo, is a non-conventional way of doing things especially since you ideally want to clip earlier then normal (mainly because of the jumps).

Oh I agree. Chances are though if he asks for T8 and T9, he'd need the standard one as well to begin with so might as well give more info than too few.

There are several moments when using SC to apply your Bio II or Miasma, is highly beneficial especially in dodging / high movement scenarios.

Agreed. Swiftcast + Miasma saved me once or twice during T7 kiting when the Renaud spawned at a not so desirable location.

[ShaolinMike]

Optimal opener is:

Raging Strikes -> X-Potion of Intelligence -> Bio II (Start precasting it when you see your tank about to engage) -> Miasma (Start moving toward the boss at 0.5 left on the cast) -> Bio -> Fester (when Bio applies) -> Miasma II -> Potent Poison Potion -> Contagion + Swiftcast -> Shadow Flare -> Rouse -> Ruin II -> Spur -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Enkindle -> Ruin -> Ruin -> Ruin II -> Fester -> Ruin II -> Aetherflow.

After this, it's mostly a priority system depending on how the fight goes. You want to refresh Dots when they have < 3 seonds remaining, same deal for Shadow Flare if the boss won't move for 12 seconds minimum. Make sure to use Ruin II in before using off-gcd abilities. Whenever possible, be in melee range to be able to auto-attack the boss.

Thanks for this. I was a SMN main for a long time, but got discouraged when I found out how bad my DPS was compared to what I actually thought. Using this has increased my DPS dramatically and allowed me to go back to a class I thoroughly enjoy playing. Unfortunately, I'm halfway through to my BLM novus weapon, and have decided to go back and do SMN novus :-/ Plus, I'll be trying out Ninja next week (I can't resist.)

[Dwill]

I mentioned it in my RS string. It's better to not worry about it until you have your foundations down though and work on including it as you get better. I see people who are way too overzealous on it and run out of MP halfway into a fight while I'm sitting at 1500-2000 mp and still doing more dps than they were.

Exactly. It's better to know how long the encounter you're in will be and gauged from there how crazy with Ruin II you can be.

Thanks for this. I was a SMN main for a long time, but got discouraged when I found out how bad my DPS was compared to what I actually thought. Using this has increased my DPS dramatically and allowed me to go back to a class I thoroughly enjoy playing. Unfortunately, I'm halfway through to my BLM novus weapon, and have decided to go back and do SMN novus :-/ Plus, I'll be trying out Ninja next week (I can't resist.)

Well, with the Atma drop rate increased, you'll be able to finish both now. Glad to have been of help.