Black Mage or Dragoon?

[Bklyn718]

I know they are both two different kinds of DPS (one ranged and one melee) but which one is most viable end game and has the most DPS potential? I currently have a lvl 60 i205 BLM as my main but the skill rotation gets boring at times. I have a level 52 dragoon and the skill rotation is more fun than my BLM even without all my class skills. Im thinking about making my dragoon my main now.

Also, whenever I run A4, it takes much longer to kill one leg when I have another BLM in my party, but when I end up with 2 dragoons, the legs BURN quick. Im not sure if the BLM's I end up with aren't doing the proper skill rotation or if the dragoons are just capable of doing more DPS. Or maybe because of dodging mechanics the BLM's aren't doing their optimal DPS?

[iVolke]

I currently have a lvl 60 i205 BLM as my main but the skill rotation gets boring at times. I have a level 52 dragoon and the skill rotation is more fun than my BLM even without all my class skills. Im thinking about making my dragoon my main now.

I think you answered your own question

[RojGardoth]

Definitely play out the DRG to level 60. You'll be getting new powers that could change the way you play the role, so that could influence your opinion. You're deciding between two very different play styles though so it's not surprising if one appeals to you more than the other. Sounds like DRG is better suited to you tho.

As for the DPS comparison, I don't know the answer but don't measure it based on one Raid. Both are good DPS when played well.

[whiskeybravo]

I think you'd find Drg more engaging than Blm, but I don't have Blm at 60 so it's hard to compare. As for dps, depending on the exact circumstances, Drg is probably going to be higher more frequently/consistently, but this depends a lot on your execution, same as with Blm. I think a big difference you'd see is (based off my exp with Blm at 50) is your dps can vary a lot depending on Firestarter and Thundercloud procs, Drg has no such procs that would cause variations in their dps. And you have to consider movement, movement heavy fights will really hurt blm dps, and melee can just keep attacking while dodging, they don't lose uptime unless you really have to back away to dodge an aoe or the boss disappears. I'd recommend at least finishing drg to 60, check out how it plays once you have all the abilities and then revisit your decision.

[RajaVamberaux]

In my experience good BLMs are hard to find, so if you like a challenge and can perform well your parties will appreciate you for it. The DRG rotation, even at 60, is long but straightforward.

movement heavy fights will really hurt blm dps

Movement-heavy fights will hurt your brain and your patience but BLMs can still succeed in this environment.

[whiskeybravo]

Movement-heavy fights will hurt your brain and your patience but BLMs can still succeed in this environment.

In all fairness, the last time I really black maged was second coil, which was not particularly favorable for blm due to heavy movement. (Didn't they get buffed because of second coil?) I don't have their perspective at lv60, just from what I've hear the tightness of the timers and such it's pretty tough. Regardless, it takes a lot more effort to maximize blm dps on a movement heavy fight than it does drg.

[Maero]

Yes timer tightness on blm is there but that is the change in 3.X that makes it more enjoyable at least to me. Not to mention no lie, mechanics always depend on when blm uses leylines, joking but it never fails, for real...
Drg has high dps and does not get punished like blm but is also very fun, so i would also say level up Drg

[UBERHAXED]

As someone who has played both at 60 since June (BLM was my first to 60, followed by SMN then DRG), I can say that if you are doing progression, you will appreciate using dragoon because while mechanics will hurt your dps when you have to disengage, taking a 3 second break from the boss is far less punishing for melee class than BLM specifically. And most mechanics don't require you to disengage, just move, which gives the advantage to the very mobile melee classes. That said, if you aren't raiding yet, then you have probably spent some time in the normal versions of Alex and have enough familiarity with those fights that neither of your classes will lose dps to mechanics since none of them are really punishing. At this points it's up to what ever you are looking for in a dps class. If you want an engaging class, then go for the melee. If you want a glass cannon, then go for the caster. That said, at equal skill levels and gear, the BLM hits harder, but does overall less dps, unless rng is in your favor with critting under buffs. Then you will see burst damage high enough for your overall dps to be much higher. Though I should say that in terms of all factors, such as mobility, burst, uptime, overall dps, utility, etc. Summoner kind of destroys them both, even in things like burst damage.

[SnugglesD]

Anyone have a link for that video of the 6 BLMs beating oppressor before the first jump?

[UBERHAXED]

Anyone have a link for that video of the 6 BLMs beating oppressor before the first jump?

Not exactly relevant since 4 dps (regular composition) can hit below 33% at split, so adding 50% more dps will logically kill him.

Edit: Kill him before the split.