Connecting the DoTs: A Summoner Guide

[Minorinz]

I make sure to wait a second to hit fester after Bio since it has that slower application.
I was under the impression that a contagioned Miasma2 comes out to the same potency as a Ruin3? Either way, I intend to swap Miasma2+contagion for Ruin3 once I swap in Ifrit. I'm aware of the loss of DPS when using SF instead of Ruin3, the idea I had was to use SwiftCast before going into DWT as to have the buffed ShadowFlare replace the Ruin2 that I've usually seen in some openers used as a weave. Its the R2 I'd be replacing, and not a R3.
If its not optimal, then its not optimal. I just don't have the means to test this out.

Then I think it should go like this:
SwiftCast> DWT> Shadow Flare>Tri-Disaster+Fester>Contagion> Ruin3>Ruin3>Ruin3>Ruin 3> (squeeze a ruin 2 here somewhere if not that's ok) Fester> Death Flare.

OR:

SwiftCast> DWT> Shadow Flare>Tri-Disaster+Fester> Ruin3>Ruin3>Ruin3>Miasma 2>Contagion>Fester> Death Flare.

This way u'll be on gcd during fester+deathflare and contagion will be on spell/ability queue for garuda.
If you are sure the target will be stationary for that shadowflare over the usage of ruin2 then it's up to you. Just try not to stack too many ogcds together and mesh them like you did here then stack gcds with no ogcds to weave when you need it here:

Bio2>Painflare> Miasma> Bio> Fester> Ruin2>Rouse+Spur>Ruin2>RS/XPot>Ruin2>Fester> Enkindle + AetherFlow
Swift Cast> DWT> Shadow Flare>Tri-Disaster>Fester> Miasma 2> Contagion> Ruin3>Ruin3>Ruin3> Fester> Death Flare.



These are my thoughts, hope this helps!

[pandabearcat]

Yea contagion miasma II is a dps increase over ruin/II and equivalent to ruin III, also while you're in melee range go give it a book smack.

[pandabearcat]

Never cast shadowflare (even swiftcasted) during DWT.

Sflare gains only 25 potency during DWT, while Ruin III gains 52 potency over Ruin/II.

The only spell you should cast during DWT is Ruin III, ending with a Ruin II > Fester > Deathflare.

For nonopener, nontri-d DWT, I would go

[Bio|DWT|Fester] > [Ruin III]x5 > [Ruin II|Fester|Deathflare]

If you are using tri-d, I would open with Ruin II > DWT > Tri-D > Fester (yes this may clip slightly, will still be fine).

[Rover1983]

I currently have a level 52 Summoner and level 52 Black Mage with the exact same gear minus the weapons being a staff for BLM and book for SMN. I can't decide which one I want to focus on Kill speeds are rather similar which is surprising seeing as how the SMN is more DoT oriented and my BLM is nuking for 1k+ minimum and my DoTs on my SMN collectively are ticking for 500ish. Trying to focus on one for my FC to raid with

[NovaLevossida]

I currently have a level 52 Summoner and level 52 Black Mage with the exact same gear minus the weapons being a staff for BLM and book for SMN. I can't decide which one I want to focus on Kill speeds are rather similar which is surprising seeing as how the SMN is more DoT oriented and my BLM is nuking for 1k+ minimum and my DoTs on my SMN collectively are ticking for 500ish. Trying to focus on one for my FC to raid with

You can't go wrong with either one of them, but honestly I chose SMN over BLM because the changes to SMN felt more fun and gave them something to do when aetherflow was spent...

...while the changes to BLM wanted me to juggle a timer just to cast the next tier of elemental spells which is about as far the opposite of fun that I could think of: complexity for the sake of complexity.

[AzucenaC]

So I have come back to play 3.0 after being away for over a year. Back then it was Garuda or bust. I am now getting close to 60 for SMN and want to be able to challenge the end-game content when I am able, but was wondering if I need to change my game play to focus more on Ifrit now or if Garuda would still be okay to use.

My reasoning behind wishing to stick with Garuda is comfort in knowing her kit and how it fits in with everything I'm doing (longer DoTs, less need for her to follow around mobile targets). Obviously I want to be the best at my job and be an asset to whichever group I join, which is why I am asking the group at large if I need to switch my thinking. I also would like pointers on how to make the transition, and how others go about switching between the two Egis (i.e. in dungeons, do you make the tank wait to slow-cast ifrit?).

Pointers are always helpful and I look forward to taking my game play to the next level.

Thanks in advance.

[Kona_Nightwind]

Snip

I'm still pretty new to the class, but I'd say get use to using both. In dungeons I use garuda for trash and infrit on bosses. Biz Ex I start the fight with ifrit than swap to garuda after the dragons are dead. Ravana ex, A4, A3, and A1 I use ifrit, but garuda seems very viable in A1. And A2 I use garuda. When Alexander ex comes out I don't see me changing unless the mechanics change a great deal.

[KroLeXz]

Hai hai rotation. Not cherry picked, ilvl 183

http://youtu.be/-6GRE18L2BI

[curunir]

Are there any helpful pet macros you all use?

[Sleigh]

Are there any helpful pet macros you all use?

I don't use them myself, but macroing each pet's AoE to Painflare and Bane isn't a bad idea.