DPS class choice in PVP

[TheWaywardWind]

I don't play SCH in favor of SMN, but don't SCH's Aura Blast knock-back everything around them? That's been really dangerous @ the heliodrome in Secure and Slaughter, and there are a few tomeliths in Seize that are elevated and can potentially push enemies off. And an extra instant AoE ability can help hold a tomelith you're defending for a few extra precious seconds.

It does, but my point was more in relation to Seize than Secure or Slaughter, as nobody plays either of those two modes anymore. It did have some use as you stated, but even then, most of the time you had to time it right for it to be useful. In Seize, it's pretty much useless. Knocking people back for two seconds doesn't do anything enough to prevent them from stopping you from taking a point, for example.

[Cidel]

In Seize, it's pretty much useless. Knocking people back for two seconds doesn't do anything enough to prevent them from stopping you from taking a point, for example.

Well, offensively, not usually, no. But defensively it not only interrupts enemies from stealing your tomelith but if you're on a elevated area with a tomelith (there are quite a few), it can potentially push enemies off the platform. Just today I seen a BRD Blast Shot multiple people off the elevated tomelith on the arch just outside of the northern camp; I'm sure Aura Blast would've achieved the same results. Also such abilities can be helpful for any teammates who already have a second or two interacting with a tomelith for the neutral/steal, not necessarily used just to prevent enemies from stopping yourself from stealing. Pretty sure it can interrupt casting and LBs as well.

So I respectfully disagree. I think Aura Blast still has strategic uses and as a AST/WHM/SMN I would have personally preferred that ability many times over Aetheric Burst.

[TheWaywardWind]

So I respectfully disagree. I think Aura Blast still has strategic uses and as a AST/WHM/SMN I would have personally preferred that ability many times over Aetheric Burst.

Chances are the people who are trying to take your monolith are bound to be interrupted anyway, so Aura Blast isn't some miraculous game changer that's going to somehow stop someone from taking a monolith where other moves have failed. I mean, you literally just have to tap the person on the shoulder to stop them. The blasting away affect just sends them off for a bit before they comeback anyway.

Knocking people off would be different if it actually provided some manner of truly deterring an opponent; in secure and slaughter you killed someone using it, meaning it was dangerous to be around a scholar. In seize all it does is knock you off a small cliff and deal a little damage before they storm right back up and attack you again anyway. Sure, it can deal a 1k damage or so, but chances are if they're attacking in force they're bound to get healed again anyway, and if you're 1v1 you're never going to kill them to begin with.

It's use is not nearly as great as it once was. Retrogradation and Sacred Prism are both far, far, far better PvP abilities than aura blast is.

[Gooner_iBluAirJGR]

I played monk alot in 2.xx and switched to NIN for 3.0 so I'll talk about that. I feel a lot more squishy on ninja. Monk with fists of earth, second wind (enhanced), recuperate and bloodbath can be a pretty frighting target to face in any situation. The biggest drawback I find with ninja is the stealth can be limited in mass battles. If you engage an enemy and don't kill them outright you won't be able to get out of combat to restealth for some time but its still a fun mechanic and has its moments of glory.

[Buff_Archer]

Went to a node next to a choke point as SMN as new ones were about to spawn along with a ninja who cloaked. So great, smart ninja I'm thinking, if a solo melee comes along to gank me, the NIN can help with that. The next to us pops and I interact with it to claim it as a lone dragoon is headed our way. Perfect opportunity. Except the Ninja un looks and ALSO interacts with podium because they wanted to try for the achievement I guess. I get stun locked and killed by the dragoon, almost had them but their jumps and stuns got me and the stupid useless ninja was no help at all. Ninja's stealth can be great in some situations, but not if an idiot player wastes it on opportunity like that. They mislead me by cloaking next to me and had me thinking they would actually stealth attack a lone player if they came our way.

[Xenosan]

OP, NIN may be right for you. Though really once you're experienced with any melee class in PvP, you can do them all - it's just a matter of learning the different burst rotations for each. NIN doesn't have Fetter Ward - which if you go MNK route - you will get spoiled by.

BLM has never been a godgift at PVP, just in 72Slaughter they got their day in the sun.

[gamewyler]

high mobility classes like BRD,SMN,SCH will do better in seal rock i reckon. I mainly do SCH or SMN and find that they are most easy to play.

SMN: with its arsenal of instant cast: Painflare, Deathflare, BioII, RuinII, Energy Surge offers much damage and mobility.
SCH: lustrate - OP

[kisada]

if you have to pick between only the 3 listed classes i would say that BLM has the highest impact because of CC/range/ability to survive while NIN probably has the most fun toys.

[Buff_Archer]

Re aura blast- how useful it is depends on which tome you're at. I use it to help capture vs to defend a few seconds longer, when it can be used to throw a small cluster of people off a node they control that's on a small high point that takes a bit to get back up onto, and I can claim it before they have a chance to reach it again. Side benefit, I did that a couple of days ago, and surprisingly it was high enough a Paladin died from the fall. Even better, it was a lalafell kill and those are the most fun kind to kill of all.

[Potatoes]

aura blast is great, I love aoe pushback with bind