hello i am new to dos i usually play as a tank i was just wondering are dots a must?

[papichulo123]

when i play as a monk which dots are a must for maximum dps?
when i play as a bard which are a must?
when i play as a ninja which are a must ?
when i play as a dragoon which are a must?

[Viridiana]

For any given class or job, the ones native to that class/job will be essential for maximum dps. So BRD needs Windbiter and Venomous Bite, DRG needs Chaos Thrust and Phlebotemize, etc. There are some weird levels as you're leveling up where individual dots might not be worth it, but as a rule you want to maintain dots at all times (unless the enemy will die really fast).

[Allyrion]

For any given class or job, the ones native to that class/job will be essential for maximum dps. So BRD needs Windbiter and Venomous Bite, DRG needs Chaos Thrust and Phlebotemize, etc. There are some weird levels as you're leveling up where individual dots might not be worth it, but as a rule you want to maintain dots at all times (unless the enemy will die really fast).

^ This for the most part.
But I'd say 30 second dots have a very niche spot thoughtout the leveling process. It will usually need to last maybe 21 seconds (varies individually) for it to be effective.
They find some use in Dungeons on off targets, but mostly good for Bosses.

Shorter Dots are really good, especially BRD dots - Venombite is really short and Windbite procs Bloodletter.
For potency comparisons, you can divide the time by 3 (the server tick interval) and multiply it by the potency.

For example, Mutilate starts at 18 seconds. It does 30 potency per tick.
You could say it gains 30 potency every 3 seconds then, and at 18 seconds it's 240 potency.
It also delivers 60 potency on-hit, so it's good for 300 potency in total.

You can compare this to your other moves and their potency and see how many ticks it needs to surpass them.
In general, they have a very high potency and that's why all the innate dots of a Job are worth it. They just take some time to do that damage, so if the mob dies early it's a waste.

[Tsilyi]

Shorter Dots are really good, especially BRD dots - Venombite is really short and Windbite procs Bloodletter.

note: both bard/archer dots interact with river of blood at 48 to finish the cd on bloodletter. also by the time you get windbite, venomous bite duration is extended 18 seconds (the same as windbite) by the trait "enhanced venomous bite.

[Arkenne]

For example, Mutilate starts at 18 seconds. It does 30 potency per tick.
You could say it gains 30 potency every 3 seconds then, and at 18 seconds it's 180 potency.
It also delivers 60 potency on-hit, so it's good for 240 potency in total.

Had to step in for this one :/

[Allyrion]

Had to step in for this one :/

Yea, added 60 twice, my bad.

[Kitano123]

You should always use Demolish as a Monk, Touch of Death is TP dependant. Let them drop of before reapplying them though.

[SeraviEdalborez]

DoTs are typically always better than a raw GCD, provided the enemy will live for at least 2-4 ticks of the DoT (which is not a tall order).

You can calculate for yourself. A DoT inflicts its potency every 3 seconds. So divide duration by 3, and multiply that number by the DoT potency to get DoT's total potency.

Arbitrary example, Chaos Thrust is a 250pot initial hit and a 35pot DoT that last for 30 seconds (or 10 ticks). So total potency is 250+350=600. Where a combo'd Full Thrust is 360pot.

Optimal DPS rotations in a sustained fight involve upkeeping selfbuffs, debuffs, and DoTs and filling in the empty time with your "vanilla" moves. There are a few exceptions that are highly debatable to keep up (Fracture on MNK for example), but for all class and job-native skills this is generally a truth.

[Zamii]

There are a few exceptions that are highly debatable to keep up (Fracture on MNK for example), but for all class and job-native skills this is generally a truth.

TP issues asside, using fracture on monk has to be done carefully, you need to alternate fracture with ToD essentially in order to make sure you never lose dragon kick or twin snakes buffs, otherwise its actually a net lose in DPS

[Sleigh]

when i play as a monk which dots are a must for maximum dps?
when i play as a bard which are a must?
when i play as a ninja which are a must ?
when i play as a dragoon which are a must?

For every class, you'll be using almost every DoT in their arsenal as often as possible without refreshing it too soon, with only a few exceptions (BLM Thunder spells being more specific in nature, and SMN/SCH Miasma II being quite niche and only useful in long AoE encounters or with Contagion). The only DoT I'll say steer clear of until you understand its use, if at all for the class, is Fracture ... that one, on classes other than WAR, is TP inefficient and will screw with rotations typically unless you know what you're doing.