Stun Etiquette?

[Ninster]

The night of the last maintenance I rolled Stone Vigil for low-level DR as Monk. We had roughly 45 minutes from when the circle went down to clear, and I was trying to be optimistic.

I understand that tanks have a difficult time with this place considering the patrolling dragons, so when we wiped on a few bad pulls I wasn't surprised or upset. But I had suspected something that made me wonder: how should I, as DPS or tank, use stun abilities?

I ask because I was trying to save Steel Peak when fighting mobs with AoEs (dragons, drakes, etc.), as I am not usually concerned about optimizing DPS unless there's a check that calls for it or any other crucial moment. I can't remember the tank stunning at all. Of course, I don't have either tank leveled much so I'm not even aware if both tanks HAVE stun moves at this level.

What was problematic about this was by the very last pull of three dragons before Isgebind. We wiped twice on this pull before the tank dropped, with roughly 15 minutes before maintenance. Both times I THINK the tank ate all 3 stacks of AoEs from them, which explains how he went down so quick. I can't say for sure the reason for this, be it lag or him simply not thinking us having enough time to finish, but surely he wasn't expecting me to stun any of those, right? Even if I could stun one... well, that's still two AoEs that he'd have to dodge.

I just want to hear your take on this. And I'm considering trying out the tank classes a little more, so this would be helpful for me as well when I party with a monk and/or dragoon.

[TheodoreMcIntyre]

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Don't worry about saving your stuns on trash mobs, just weave them in between your real skills to keep your DPS up. Tank shouldn't be eating AOEs like that. There's no occasion in Stone Vigil where you have to stand and eat the AOEs, that's on them. The tank should be dodging/moving out the way. Only if there's a boss or add that specifically needs to be stunned by the tank will you need to worry about saving your stuns, and none of those are in SV.

[Vrahjin]

I don't know about others, but I do remember dancing around quite a lot in Stone Vigil to avoid AoEs - and I still do, since it's more fun than just standing in the same spot and eating damage.

As for stuns, I use them quite liberally (as a PLD, haven't leveled WAR yet) on the dragons but I really, really don't mind if a melee DPS does it as well, since too often I just won't be able to time it due to GCD (thus my dancing aorund a lot).

So in short, from my perspective, I don't expect DPS to stun but I don't mind it either. I do expect both them, and me, to avoid AoEs whenever possible though.

Basically what Theodore wrote, while I was writing this.

[Ignnis]

Sometimes it's hard to get stuns in as a PLD to stop aoes since its attached to your GCD, just used roh and monster just started his aoe, well bum. Always assume tanks arnt going to stun something to play it safe.

As a monk I stun aoes when I can, it's not on your GCD so it shouldn't mess with your dps much.

Just.dont.stun.ifrit.as.a.dps.i.beg.of.you.

[RickmanUK]

Stone Vigil Specifically... Don't Worry About Using Stun Most things Resist it in there.

[Ashkendor]

Just.dont.stun.ifrit.as.a.dps.i.beg.of.you.

So much this. It applies to adds in Leviathan EX as well. If there's something that absolutely NEEDS to be stunned, typically your tank (especially PLD) will be ready for it. Anything else is gravy. I don't mind at all if DPS stuns/silences annoying abilities on trash mobs. Actually, I like it when they take the initiative.

@OP - Your tank should not be eating aoe's. It is not your job to bail the tank out if they are.

[Fornix]

I never stun trash on my PLD. It never goes off due to either the GCD or animation lock. Rather I simply dodge. If DPS don't want to dodge, they're free to stun with me.

Of course if a tank does not stun AND eats AoE's, then he should at least make sure that either he's capable of doing that or that the healer is fine with insane healing .

[Rbstr]

Use 'em whenever. Unless it's critical that it gets stunned.
I Brutal Swing on cool-down except like the SV and AK mob-summoner and those things in the Hullbreaker cave section. BEEES
I guess it's nice to be able to stun the Copperbell HM boss.

Aside from the Levi EX caster I can't think of anything where a no-stun is usually a wipe right now. I guess dreadknights sometimes?

Just.dont.stun.ifrit.as.a.dps.i.beg.of.you.

Meh. Ifrit never needed the stun to begin with it's all easily dodgeable. Now you can eat pretty much the whole encounter anyway.

[Brill_]

As monk, I use stun normally in my rotation unless something needs to be stunned or to avoid building up stun resistance when someone else will be stunning.

[JarinArenos]

Meh. Ifrit never needed the stun to begin with it's all easily dodgeable. Now you can eat pretty much the whole encounter anyway.

The ability to overgear content is no excuse for being sloppy or rude. It costs almost nothing to drop that stun from a DRG or MNK's dps cycle, but it makes it that much less likely that the PUGs you're inevitably running with will fail to dodge and die. Or get someone else killed.

Not Pugging? Do what you like, it's your friends you're running with.