Learning how to properly play AST

[TatoRazzino]

Just a general tip for the low level, mid-30s ASTs, about a problem I keep encountering from ASTs while leveling BLM:

At level ~35, no, my BLM does not want Spear right after using Raging Strikes. Spear would probably be better given to anyone else but me at that point. Give it to yourself during bosses for the MP/faster Luminiferous Aether, or the tank for CDs.

Spear tends to be pretty difficult to use in general and to do so effectively you need to know what jobs have which abilities, and how long their timers are. A lot of the time, in DF, it's probably best to just burn it for RR.

Amplifying this problem, a class that may not need Spear at a certain level range may find it much more useful at a later one, which essentially changes your Card strategy.

The Spear is a card that people have a hard time to understand. It's not supposed to be used with cooldowns like Raging Strikes or Blood for Blood. In actual fights, players usually save long cooldowns for specific situations and taking 20% out of those skills will do nothing since no one is going to pop them just because they can. The Spear is more useful for those Off-GCD skills that DPS use or for those cooldowns that Tanks are constantly rotating. Two jobs that benefit a lot from it are NIN and MCH, because they both have off-GCD skills that are going to be activated for sure during the 20s window of the card. SMNs make good use of The Spear for their Aetherflow and following off-GCD burst, but the card can be wasted if their Aetherflow cooldown has more than 15s; communication is important for that. DRGs make good use of it, but their off-GCDs are long, and BRDs may waste the card completely if they get procs for Bloodletter.

The Spear is also good for an AoE card opener. My tip is: get an AoE spear and wait for your Draw to be available; hit ready, use the AoE Spear when you see 10s for the pull and when you see the pull macro close to the end, pull another card. That way, you can allow all the DPS players to burn their cooldowns with the Spear on, buff someone immediately after and get the benefit from The Spear for your pull Draw.

Other than that, just Royal Road it and double your next card duration, and that's always helpful.

[Lobotomite]

BRDs may waste the card completely if they get procs for Bloodletter.

While IIRC a Bloodletter proc takes priority, Empy is on a 15s cooldown, so I'd always throw it on a Bard. Chances of a BRD needing to blow 2 extra GCDs on Bloodletter procs is almost nonexistent (or I would think).

My thought process when Spear comes up goes like so:

1) Do I have a MCH, BRD [EDIT: Bard actually isn't a very good choice], or NIN in the party?
Y: Instantly goes to one of them; highest DPS if multiples
N: Continue to question 2.

2) Is my MP running low, and will Lumi be up during the 20s duration?
Y: Toss on self.
N: Continue to question 3

3) Am I using voice comms?
Y: Ask if any DPS have a lot of cooldowns to blow and toss on individual if they say yes, or on your healing partner if their MP is low and Shroud/AF/Lumi is up.
N (or if no one has cooldowns): Continue to question 4.

4) Is a Road effect already up?
N: Road it. Basically every card benefits from Extended Road.

Yes, Extended Road: Throw on MNK (guaranteed reduction on Shoulder Tackle, Elixir Field, and Tornado Kick), DRG (guaranteed reduction on Leg Sweep/Jump), or a tank

Yes, Enhanced Road: Shuffle. If Shuffle on c/d, cry inside, choose a random party member from the above list (MNK/DRG/tank), and pray their c/ds will be coming up.

Yes, Expanded Road: Spread if near the end of a dungeon or trash pull and preparing for a boss, Shuffle otherwise. Cry inside and Road if Shuffle on c/d. You could also just throw it out to get rid of it, but this would strike me as risky if you screw up someone's cooldown alignment.

[TatoRazzino]

While IIRC a Bloodletter proc takes priority, Empy is on a 15s cooldown, so I'd always throw it on a Bard. Chances of a BRD needing to blow 2 extra GCDs on Bloodletter procs is almost nonexistent (or I would think).

My thought process when Spear comes up goes like so:

1) Do I have a MCH, BRD, or NIN in the party?
Y: Instantly goes to one of them; highest DPS if multiples
N: Continue to question 2.

2) Is my MP running low, and will Lumi be up during the 20s duration?
Y: Toss on self.
N: Continue to question 3

3) Am I using voice comms?
Y: Ask if any DPS have a lot of cooldowns to blow and toss on individual if they say yes, or on your healing partner if their MP is low and Shroud/AF/Lumi is up.
N (or if no one has cooldowns): Continue to question 4.

4) Is a Road effect already up?
N: Road it. Basically every card benefits from Extended Road.

Yes, Extended Road: Throw on MNK (guaranteed reduction on Shoulder Tackle, Elixir Field, and Tornado Kick), DRG (guaranteed reduction on Leg Sweep/Jump), or a tank

Yes, Enhanced Road: Shuffle. If Shuffle on c/d, cry inside, choose a random party member from the above list (MNK/DRG/tank), and pray their c/ds will be coming up.

Yes, Expanded Road: Spread if near the end of a dungeon or trash pull and preparing for a boss, Shuffle otherwise. Cry inside and Road if Shuffle on c/d. You could also just throw it out to get rid of it, but this would strike me as risky if you screw up someone's cooldown alignment.

I don't think it works with Empyreal Arrow, sadly. It's a Weaponskill, not a Skill, and it's affected by Attack Speed. If I'm not mistaken, you reduce Empyreal Arrow's recast timer by using The Arrow, not The Spear. I may be wrong, though.