Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

[Sleigh]

I'd say it depends on kill speed, and comp. If you're running with a DPSing WHM, Radiant Shield can actually be pretty garbage in trash pulls since it won't work for roughly 10s out of its duration. On the other hand, if you can kill stuff before you have to re-Bane with Ifrit, might as well take Ifrit.

Garuda is by far the safer trash pull pet though. Quicker Shadow Flare and Bane, and as long as you kill before a re-Bane then the extra Painflare you'd get can really pay off.

[Minorinz]

I'm leveling SMN currently and wanted to ask for general leveling purposes and farming law in dungeons with all the groups of trash mobs in there, which pet is better??

honestly i'm recommending garuda for trash because you will have more crowd control and you'll notice the damage being spread out almost equally from the mob you are targeting then everything around your target will be taking a wave of damage accordingly. with ifrit it's a little less balanced since he is the center of his own aoes. although i would say radiant shield with a warrior aoe'ing on trash mobs is something i haven't tested yet. might be absolutely powerful.

[Judge_Xero]

Going to add to this with another general rule.

Lvl 50 dungeons > = Ifrit
Lvl 50 dungeons < = Garuda

Any new dungeons you are super over geared for will probably be Ifrit later on due to how fast things die.

[Minorinz]

Going to add to this with another general rule.

Lvl 50 dungeons > = Ifrit
Lvl 50 dungeons < = Garuda

Any new dungeons you are super over geared for will probably be Ifrit later on due to how fast things die.

lvl 60* dungeons? :P

Also guys what are your thoughts on mch vs brd in the party for smn magical resistance debuffs damage boost? is it almost the same? feels like bard gives a better boost s:

[Koyuki38]

well, feel free to trade a good DPS versus a little buff

[Sleigh]

lvl 60* dungeons? :P

Also guys what are your thoughts on mch vs brd in the party for smn magical resistance debuffs damage boost? is it almost the same? feels like bard gives a better boost s:

MCH will basically never give the boost on a regular basis because it stems from the AoE turret getting Hypercharged, far inferior to the ST turret in most encounters. MCH is gonna by and large be using their physical resistance down Hypercharge, so don't count on it happening often if you play with a MCH.

Also yes it's much weaker. BRD's default is 10%, BV is 20%, and they can play for a minute at a time. MCH is 5% and that's it, only usable if they would want to every 2 minutes for 10s.

[Minorinz]

Ouch that sucks

[Shayuki]

I guess Ifrit is only useful during trash that dies fast, then, and only due to radiant shield. It's pretty disappointing how a Sic Ifrit deals less damage than a Garuda on Obey, and Garuda's AoE attack is like 50% stronger as well. I'm seeing Ifrit Summoners all over the place and I just can't understand.

[Saggo]

I'm seeing Ifrit Summoners all over the place and I just can't understand.

That's because they see "Ifrit does better DPS" and don't stop to see how or why or what context. Or just don't care.

[Minorinz]

I guess Ifrit is only useful during trash that dies fast, then, and only due to radiant shield. It's pretty disappointing how a Sic Ifrit deals less damage than a Garuda on Obey, and Garuda's AoE attack is like 50% stronger as well. I'm seeing Ifrit Summoners all over the place and I just can't understand.

People getting mainstreamed pretty much.
Which pet you wanna use in a dungeon also depends on who's with you in the party and what comp it is, also, what's their dps output in general. Well, I care about this stuff to make it easier on myself and the party. s:

Edit: radiant shield scales with dex and str only i think, since nin and bard do get higher on physical damage than casters for physical aoes and cleaves.