Contagion is way too overrated!

[Sanguisio]

SMNs are already MP starved so using garuda helps.


I've parsed this a few times and where the buffed DOTs can run their full duration(which means near perfect clipping) Garuda does better but only when you use pots +ppp. As soon as those dots are off, ifrit catches up dps wise until you can get a full buffed set of DOTs back up. Not to mention ifrit has 2 chances each attack to crit.

TBH dps wise there is little between them, now when you factor in ifrit + melee buffs etc he will do more, however in fights like t12 t13 garuda can switch and dps instantly ifrit has to spend time going from target to target.

I agree contagion is over hyped.

[ShinryuReishiki]

There's no reason to make Ifrit run around. Stick it on the biggest, baddest enemy and leave it there. You don't need it to go chasing birds.

now when you factor in ifrit + melee buffs etc he will do more.

Even without slashing and blunt debuffs, Ifrit still comes out well ahead.

As for Contagion, people really don't seem to think about how strong it is with buffs.

No, it's definitely been considered. Without buffs, Contagion's DPS would be completely insignificant. The problem is, buffs are only up so often. In a 10 minute fight, Contagion would give you 60s of 20% buffed DoTs that you would not have had without it, but Ifrit would give you 10 minutes of 20% stronger pet DPS.

[mvenom]

There's no reason to make Ifrit run around. Stick it on the biggest, baddest enemy and leave it there. You don't need it to go chasing birds.

Suppose I could try it next time, we got plenty more gear since I last tried, but without pet bennus stayed alive too long. Good thing our brd just got bow so should be np

[Sanguisio]

I've done the numbers etc, Ifrit does more raw damage, but every 5minsroughly (assuming you perfectly clip dots) garuda allows a little more DPS. But this is ignoring outside buffs, crit rates etc.

At the end of the day garuda is best seen as the mp saving egi, and considering the current state SMN is in for FCOB that is what is needed. Unless the healers need MB, it will very rarely go up. Thankfully in t13 they need it otherwise I would run dry.

[ShinryuReishiki]

I've done the numbers etc, Ifrit does more raw damage, but every 5minsroughly (assuming you perfectly clip dots) garuda allows a little more DPS. But this is ignoring outside buffs, crit rates etc.

At the end of the day garuda is best seen as the mp saving egi, and considering the current state SMN is in for FCOB that is what is needed. Unless the healers need MB, it will very rarely go up. Thankfully in t13 they need it otherwise I would run dry.

Your personal DPS will be higher with Garuda, but over an extended fight, that amounts to less than what Ifrit brings, even without any slashing/blunt debuffs. I compared the two a few weeks ago over 5 minutes, doing everything I could to give an edge to Contagion such as Miasma II and Potent Poisoning Potions.

SMN: 358
Garuda: 135
Total: 493

SMN: 344
Ifrit: 171
Total: 515

I've ended up with a similar gap in actual encounters as well, and my group doesn't even have a MNK. Been using Ifrit on every fight since December without issue, only getting Ballad in T13. I only use two Energy Drains in each turn, and one of them is generally a "The boss is almost dead but I can't Fester" situation.

Both pets AOE, aerial slash has slightly more range but that is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

Usability aside, Aerial Slash has a small edge over Flaming Crush because of damage types as well; Ifrit's physical attacks do something like 70% the damage per potency that Garuda's magical attacks deal. Garuda's Aerial Blast is also quite a bit easier to aim than Ifrit's Inferno, although the latter is the stronger attack in this case.

[Sanguisio]

Hey
Can I ask how long the fight was, the issue with the DPS with garuda is that its ranking fluctuates depending on the length of the fight.

Like I said around the 5minish intervals garuda does best, but the more you move away from that ifrit is best off.

Its annoying because I've done some parsing on dummys (I know not ideal) and when I parsed 4 mins ifrit and I did more, but 5 mins garuda did more.

Then I tried again at 8min ifrit + I did more, then again at 10mins garuda + did slightly more by that point.

If they took contagion off garuda and gave it to SMN garuda would be a lot less viable. I know ease of use is a factor when comparing utility etc I choose to ignore things which can be overcome by practice. I have no issue using all of the pets actions and making sure they hit.