Learning how to properly play AST

[Marianno]

Hi, I just wanted to know if someone could give me some quick pointers and/or tips to leveling AST and playing in dungeons effectivelywith the job. I want to start using the job in dungeons but the healing potencies and random card elements seem really bad to some capacity. I'm worried if AST can keep up with healing capabilities of WHM/SCH. Help and advice is very much appreciated, thanks.

[FoxyAreku]

AST is the worst healer still, but it is more than playable now even in savage. You won't be able to do the dps or healing numbers capable of the other two healers but it's still a fun class. Both stances are good, use what you prefer in 4 mans and use what you don't have in 8 mans (if paired with a whm, use noct, if paired with a scholar, use diurnal).

Healers aren't very difficult in this game so there's not that much to it honestly. Just don't spam too much, DPS when you can afford to, use Draw on cooldown, and learn to love aspected benefic.

[Marianno]

I was afraid of that. I hope SE has noticed this and try to show this job a little bit more appreciation and love. It would be great if more work was put into the job. Just my opinion.

[KeluBehemoth]

I would also recommend keyboard and mouse for mouse over heals.

I haven't played healer a lot but I have seen a lot of healers swear by this and I can understand with the crazy amount of target switching you have to do.

[Adylala]

I can understand with the crazy amount of target switching you have to do.

And I dont tell you using gamepad plus having 15- fps.

[Rawrz]

Diurnal AST is very Competitive. Nocturnal not so much. They have a disadvantage DPSing from the non-subsidized attack Magic costs. MP is much more of an issue unless you can consistently draw an Ewer. They do however have a 5% speed boost for attacking and access to Lightspeed if they do need to front load damage and move. Spreading or Extending a Balance really is where an AST's DPS boost to the party shines. No they won't deal the damage themselves, but without them the massive dps spike couldn't happen. Healing wise, they do not lack throughput. They do not have the immense reactive potential of a Scholar's Lustrate, but they have something similar to a WHM's brute force/preparation healing. Synanstry is the most powerful single target heal buff in game and it is a rescue button in itself. Time Dilation can make you feel very in control extending the time of 3 HoTs and a Bole on a tank by 15 seconds, each HoT ticking for almost 3k... (Thats like spamming Benific at 400 potency @.@)

Diurnal AST is a very nice spot right now. Nocturnal is very very situational and even playable but not nearly as good as Diurnal. AST is on equal footing on most content as of now. (Fixing Nocturnal wouldn't unbalance this equal footing, it would just give AST a second option.)

[Sleigh]

Basic tips so you don't suck:

- Use Diurnal in dungeons, play it mostly like a WHM but with cards (C1/C2 when needed, keep HoTs up, don't put up HoTs pre-pull unless it's a boss, DPS if you don't need to heal anyone, keep your MP alive and well). Pre-pull you can use Noct's Enhanced Benefic to buy yourself some breathing room but otherwise Diurnal 100% when in combat.
- Don't just give cards to who "should" get them; IE if you have a NIN and a BLM you "should" give the BLM Balance/Arrow but some BLMs don't even do 1/5 the damage they can do because they're incompetent. If you have ACT or whatnot it's worth checking it every once in a while to see if you have a hero or a zero, or just eye it via aggro bars or if you know how the classes are played.
- Keep Enhanced Benefic up, DPS as much as you can, don't just stand there if EB is making it so the tank is only losing 10% their HP every few seconds. Learn how to multi-DoT and stance dance.
- Once you get to 52, try to really set your tank up before Gravity spamming on 3+ opponents, just EB usually isn't enough since there's no stun going out like Holy. Once you get Synastry/Collective it gets easier to Gravity spam.

AST's actually really good compared to WHM in the 30-44 area. It gets destroyed by SCH but hey almost every class, healer or otherwise, gets destroyed by SCH at that level range.

[Mimilu]

All cards are bonuses but are NOT created equal! There is a time and place for each:
~ Balance is generally the holy grail card and every DPS will love you for it. You should always try to hold it with Spread whenever you draw it, so you can use Royal Road's effect to amp it up. For 8 man-parties, you'll want to RR Ewer and Spire to spread it out, although giving your best DPS a strengthened or lengthened Balance isn't bad either. If you are doing a single-target Balance, just be selective of who you give it to and when, for example, SMNs. You'll generally want to give Balance to a SMN when they are first placing their DoTs and/or going into Dreadwyrm, otherwise, you're just increasing their Ruin/Ruin II, which isn't as helpful.

~ Arrow is the next best but it can be a little tricky. With the increased attack speed, people can burn through MP/TP quicker, so be sure to look before using this. The same Royal Road rules that were for Balance apply here. BLM's love this card because it helps with their cast time. This card does NOT effect DoTs or HoTs.

~ Some ASTs like Bole because less damage means they'll have to heal less, while others think it's not strong enough and doesn't make a difference. Regardless of which party you're in, if you draw it during a tankbuster or a group-wide AoE, it could be helpful.

~ Use Ewer or Spire are generally used more for Royal Road then their refresh effects. Ewer is nice if you or your fellow healer need the MP or you want to help a MCH/BRD get some MP back. Never use Ewer on DRK when Darkness is up and BLM's shouldn't need this card. These cards are better with RR's time lengthening effect then being empowered.

~ Spear is the most criticized card. It can be really hard to use as it only effects cooldowns that were used while under its effect. NIN and BRDs might not mind getting this card. Out of anyone in the party, you'll probably like its effect the most, with Lumineferous Aether, Synastry, Light Speed, Essential Dignity, and your card abilities.

Some more tips:
~ Generally, I use Luminiferous Aether when my MP hit the 70-75% range and Ewer (if I can draw it)when I'm at 50% or lower. ASTs don't have the best MP regeneration, so use what you can before it's too late. D:
~ Light Speed's MP cost reduction is nice but it is first-and-foremost a mobility tool, making it so you can cast your healing spells while on the move. LIGHT SPEED IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR SWIFTCAST WHEN REVIVING SOMEONE, please get that as soon as possible.
~ Never use Time Dilation on an AoE Card. You're only lengthening a weak card.
~ Only use Time Dilation and Celestial Opposition when you have a card ready. Add an HoT after you use your card.
~ Easy way to remember RR's effects: Balance and Bole both strengthen their targets, Spear and Arrow both deal with time, and with Ewer and Spire, you're spreading the wealth.
~ When you draw a card, you can click on its icon on your status bar to get rid of it quicker. This is helpful if you get an RR effect before you get Balance or Arrow.

[Takara528]

I find running WHM in 4men dungeons to be far more efficient then AST. WHM has far more Oh S**** skills while pushing out good amount of damage to both trash groups and even mini bosses. the fights are so scripted that there's not much heals involved (with the proper usage of all of your WHM abilities...assize...tetra, divine seal... Asylum. Divine Seal Regen + Asylum is godsend on increasing your time to DPS the mobs while maintaining the tank's HP (when tanks are properly using their cooldowns, far too many times I've healed warriors/DK that doesn't use cooldowns, self heals etc)

[Vlady]

AST is the worst healer still, but it is more than playable now even in savage. You won't be able to do the dps or healing numbers capable of the other two healers but it's still a fun class. Both stances are good, use what you prefer in 4 mans and use what you don't have in 8 mans (if paired with a whm, use noct, if paired with a scholar, use diurnal).

Healers aren't very difficult in this game so there's not that much to it honestly. Just don't spam too much, DPS when you can afford to, use Draw on cooldown, and learn to love aspected benefic.

Worst healer in the game? We are on par with white mages the supposed supreme pure healer of the trio right now. That is hardly putting us as the worst healer?