Strongest class/job lore wise?

[AspectOfWinter]

Let's see:

Holy - 200 potency AoE that diminishes with each target hit
Flare - 260 potency AoE that didn't originally diminish, but now does
DEATH Flare - 400 potency AoE that does not diminish at all

I think that answers your question.

That, and it's implied in the level 30-50 SMN quests that the Egis are actually MUCH more powerful lore-wise than they are gameplay-wise.

As for WHMs and BLMs bringing about an Umbral Era, wasn't it the end result of hundreds of mages recklessly using it for warfare over many years?

[Waliel]

Holy - 200 potency AoE that diminishes with each target hit
Flare - 260 potency AoE that didn't originally diminish, but now does
DEATH Flare - 400 potency AoE that does not diminish at all

If you really wanna go that route, Flare is 468 potency and Fire 4 is 504 potency when you ever use them.

[zuzu-bq]

As for WHMs and BLMs bringing about an Umbral Era, wasn't it the end result of hundreds of mages recklessly using it for warfare over many years?

If I remember correctly, that was just the war of the magi, wich Scholars were also included. The calamity was a flood bought by the abuse of WHM powers.

[WyrahFhurrst]

If I remember correctly, that was just the war of the magi, wich Scholars were also included. The calamity was a flood bought by the abuse of WHM powers.

The Calamity you're talking about was brought about by the Elementals after the War of the Magi threatened the consumption of their aether and their very existence. They brought forth the Elemental of Nihility who in turn ended the Amdapori outright and flooded Eorzea.

[Waliel]

I haven't done the new BLM quests so I don't have a good gauge for them.
The quests up to 50 didn't really show them as pure destruction though. That's what they represent in the FF series usually, but the actual quests didn't show that to me.

The new BLM quests are about

a book of Nald(was it Nald? I always forget), an individual leading a group of renegade mages, who are trying to learn the secrets of black magic without having soul crystals themselves, and convincing a Conjurer, who is after the renegades, that black magic isn't inherently bad and can be controlled. The random mages, though, can't control it and end up combusting and burning themselves from the inside out. It ends with the antagonist losing control of a summoned voidsent almost immediately and requiring the combined power of the WoL, the Conjurer, and the three beastman Black Mages to take down.

Remember, kids. Don't try black magic at home.

[zuzu-bq]

The Calamity you're talking about was brought about by the Elementals after the War of the Magi threatened the consumption of their aether and their very existence. They brought forth the Elemental of Nihility who in turn ended the Amdapori outright and flooded Eorzea.

Oh Thanks for the clarification. I really think the War of the Magi could be explored better in the game.

[Shippuu]

Let's see:
Holy - 200 potency AoE that diminishes with each target hit
Flare - 260 potency AoE that didn't originally diminish, but now does
DEATH Flare - 400 potency AoE that does not diminish at all

I think that answers your question.

Holy used to be 300 potency and the diminishing returns are a recent nerf. Even then, that Death Flare has a 30s cooldown. So 10 Holy's can be put out in the same time (if not more if you want to throw in something like Presence of Mind). So that's 2,000 potency against 400 in the same amount of time. Even with diminishing returns I'd still put my money on WHM~

Even then, if we're counting on potencies, then Warrior takes the cake with the highest potency attack in the game with 500 potency Fell Cleave. Plus 50% more while under berserk. That's one powerful hit.

[TheCount]

Holy used to be 300 potency and the diminishing returns are a recent nerf. Even then, that Death Flare has a 30s cooldown. So 10 Holy's can be put out in the same time (if not more if you want to throw in something like Presence of Mind). So that's 2,000 potency against 400 in the same amount of time. Even with diminishing returns I'd still put my money on WHM~

Even then, if we're counting on potencies, then Warrior takes the cake with the highest potency attack in the game with 500 potency Fell Cleave. Plus 50% more while under berserk. That's one powerful hit.

Well if we're just going to talk pure potency (which is mixing gameplay with lore, which doesn't really connect usually in that way) then Dark Knights would be up there as well with some 400 potency attacks (or more) that can even heal themselves by doing them

[Shippuu]

Well if we're just going to talk pure potency (which is mixing gameplay with lore, which doesn't really connect usually in that way) then Dark Knights would be up there as well with some 400 potency attacks (or more) that can even heal themselves by doing them

WAR still has them beat. They have Dark Arts Souleater at 400 potency 100% heal. Then Dark Arts Carve and Spit at 450 potency. Warriors Inner Beast is only 300 potency, but with Berserk, 50% more would be 450 potency with 100% heal. Still doesn't come close to the Berserk Fell Cleave with berserk. 500 + 50% = 750.

[Waliel]

Holy used to be 300 potency and the diminishing returns are a recent nerf.

I'd just like to point out that Holy was 240 pot when ARR launched, and was nerfed to the 200 it is now in 2.1.