T13 adds

[whiskeybravo]

Thanks, Spooky. The reason I don't open with defiance is because popping all buffs, even after SE > SP > Fracture > Inner Beast > that first BB rips off my PLD. So I just don't open in Defiance anymore lol. I do pop in/out of defiance between adds, I'll play more aggressively as I get more comfortable (target locking and all that too). I keep SP up to help healers who are new as well, since the NIN is always overriding my SE >.<

I have a bad habit of hitting brutal swing every time I can, so that screwed me a couple times not having it for the add, and still getting used to exactly where they spawn, I know it spawns "over here somewhere" which isn't really good enough lol

[whiskeybravo]

I got a few clears finally, but on DRG lol. They had another war tank with a lot of experience join so we could clear. I thought it was kinda funny that he had some struggles too, and it was 100% due to the timing of heals. Keeping that in mind, I'm honestly not going to worry too much about it anymore. Maybe before echo and higher level gear it was more important for super fast snap aggro. Provoke/Skull Sunder just do not work in this situation, need the power of a fast BB to keep add. Thanks for the suggestions tho guys

[PetiteMalFleur]

I got a few clears finally, but on DRG lol. They had another war tank with a lot of experience join so we could clear. I thought it was kinda funny that he had some struggles too, and it was 100% due to the timing of heals. Keeping that in mind, I'm honestly not going to worry too much about it anymore. Maybe before echo and higher level gear it was more important for super fast snap aggro. Provoke/Skull Sunder just do not work in this situation, need the power of a fast BB to keep add. Thanks for the suggestions tho guys

Gratz on your clear. I think super fast snap aggro does still matter even with echo. I have pugged this fight countless times and the outgoing damage if that add tethers is just unhealable. I appreciate your questions and the feedback people gave. It has helped me understand the other perspectives of this fight.

[CGMidlander]

Unchained -> OP -> Brutal + Veng -> BB/SE combo is usually fine for me. 2nd one I do OP -> Brutal + Thrill -> IB -> Conv -> BB/SE combo. Then again the WHM I go with just has a Med 2 ticking, since there's no need for a Cure 3. SS -> BB is significantly better but a lot of people seem to have trouble with it, whereas OP is a lot easier to manage. Though animation cancelling has been disproved, using Brutal Swing after OP/SS/BB will get you quicker snap aggro due to the damage of BS registering quickly (especially for BB).

Those shadows are basically just a huge pain and you've gotta try your hardest to get the snappiest snap aggro you can manage.

I don't like blowing unchained on the add, since it dies so quickly and time for it is lost walking back to bahamut :/

[SirTaint]

I don't like blowing unchained on the add, since it dies so quickly and time for it is lost walking back to bahamut :/

Its safer and better then defiance only. The second it wears off you'll be dropping defiance anyways.

[SpookyGhost]

Yeah, Unchained on the add is really only to build the 5 stacks to use IB on the boss without having to suffer the Defiance penalty while tanking the add. IB + Veng/Thrill + Conv for every add is the safer option if you don't trust your healers to keep you up with just one of the two CDs.

[SirTaint]

Tomhawk > tomahawk > 1,2,3

That is almost 10 seconds worth of GCD. Way too slow and in the wrong order for repositioning.

SS or canceled BB like zaft said is the only way to go. Tomahawks are for while you are moving if you even need them at all.

[ExCalibre]

Personal experience, the combo with the highest success rate for me is run to spawn location as soon as rage of bahamut finished cast, then provoke add when you can target it and hit it with Skull Sunder. After that if you want to be safe, take a few steps back and use BB, or you can just pull adds away.

[Geaux]

I just go Steel Cyclone.... No targeting necessary.... soon as i see the name pop , it's mine.

Some say it's not worth it cause you burn your stacks but is your healer being dead a better option ?

[SpookyGhost]

I just go Steel Cyclone.... No targeting necessary.... soon as i see the name pop , it's mine.

Some say it's not worth it cause you burn your stacks but is your healer being dead a better option ?

Steel Cyclone is safe, but:

1.) It's less damage (no Unchained)
2.) It's less mitigation (no IB)

You're better off using Flash if you're going to go this route, imo.