Can someone give me an in-depth explanation why Summoner is arguably the worst DPS?

[ViviAnimus]

As said before, the raise is very exceptional to use as a SMN and it isn't unique, at all. Traited virus is pretty useless as well. You only truly use it on T13 and the SCH does it. BLM apoc, manaward and manawall which are better than all the things SMN has because they are unique and actually useful because of it.

[Dyvid]

As said before, the raise is very exceptional to use as a SMN and it isn't unique, at all. Traited virus is pretty useless as well. You only truly use it on T13 and the SCH does it. BLM apoc, manaward and manawall which are better than all the things SMN has because they are unique and actually useful because of it.

Remember when the purpose of have a DPS in the group was for them to, i don't know, DPS? Out of the three abilities you list, only one is actually good for the group while the others help the BLM survive. SMN has 3 abilities that actually help the group, Virus, Eye for Eye, and Raise. Sorry, Shadow Flare adds slow so that's 4. Can SCH do these two? Sure if you have one in the group. But SCH can also gives a 20% Magic Defense Buff for 20s so.... yea.

If you want to win the argument that BLM > SMN then just stick to DPS because all jobs have a little something extra they can bring to the table. WAR bring 10% slash resist debuff.

[scarebearz]

As said before, the raise is very exceptional to use as a SMN and it isn't unique, at all. Traited virus is pretty useless as well. You only truly use it on T13 and the SCH does it. BLM apoc, manaward and manawall which are better than all the things SMN has because they are unique and actually useful because of it.

As someone else said, Manaward and Manawall are not exactly "party utility", they mostly just let the BLM survive/eat certain attacks to allow them to move less. (i.e. allows the BLM to keep up their DPS)

Apoc does have party utility, but it's not used/needed very frequently, I'd much rather have super virus or an in combat raise!

Why does a skill need to be "Unique" to 1 class to make it very useful?

[ViviAnimus]

As someone else said, Manaward and Manawall are not exactly "party utility", they mostly just let the BLM survive/eat certain attacks to allow them to move less. (i.e. allows the BLM to keep up their DPS)

Apoc does have party utility, but it's not used/needed very frequently, I'd much rather have super virus or an in combat raise!

Why does a skill need to be "Unique" to 1 class to make it very useful?

If as a class you never need to use your utility because another class will do it for you, then the utility you possess becomes a rarity and in most cases useless. It's that simple. Manaward and Manawall are both excellent tools to reduce damage completely and help out healers.
I use manaward during Charges in T10, Nerve Cloud in 11, Switching of flames in T13, Giga or Mega on T13. It's also a very handy tool to reduce damage when you have raise weakness. Manawall is fantastic during earth shakers, can save you when you pull agro. These are in some sense party utility because the relieve stress from the healers. And why does utility have to be dedicated to the party?

Super virus is not needed frequently and so is combat Raise. You only use super virus when the SCH is dead, otherwise you just don't and virus like a death sentence from the Storm in T13 or something. A Black Mage can do this as well. Summoner utility literally is Raise which is as exceptional as enhanced virus. Better utility, don't make me laugh. Utility that is extremely rare in its usage is not good utility.

Dyid, what are you even saying? BLM have a virus which is equally as useful and let's face it, so is Eye for en Eye. Battle raise, already discusses about how useless it is and BLM can also slow targets with blizzard I and Lethargy.