AST: Tips & Tricks!

[JazzofEtro]

Hello guys.

I decided to make this just because I want to hear other people tricks to improve my AST gameplay. If all goes well, then we'll have a bunch of cool AST things to try out.

Small WHM CC counter.

(Now this is obviously situational.)

1. Target or FT the WHM to see if they hard cast "Repose". Get close enough for "Celestial Opposition" to hit.

2. Insta "Purify" > "Celestial Opposition". If successful the stun will give you enough time to run an LoS.

This will cause some WHM's to stop healing and chase you around. Hopefully burning their "Swiftcast" too.

I'm so excited I'll share more if you share too! ^^

(Posted from my crappy phone D; )

[Renault]

Might not be the best idea, as that will put them on stun DR and it's only a 2s stun. Usually you can be liberal CO in solo Q but it's not the best habit. A better idea, IMO, is to just be aware of where the WHM is at all times while holding a FT on him for those repose casts. I always LoS them, and then watch them move to try and SC+R me. I often try and run myself right into the action in hopes that the unaware enemy team hits me with some sort of AOE and I wake up. You usually have enough time to do this.

[JazzofEtro]

Ahh Ren! I loved your post about feast feedback! Thanks if you stream I'd love to watch you play sometime! Anyway's I have been LoS them as much as possible too.

[Excalipoor]

I know most ASTs tend to use Noc for shields, but I get more help from regens than I do shields.

I find it keeps my party alive longer than a shield in the long game.

Its decent on bursts I feel---enough that I feel comfortable. I match bursts with having quick reflexes and well placed timing of Light Speed.

Shields feel more like what noobie ASTs might use til they get reaction speed up high.

[Renault]

Ahh Ren! I loved your post about feast feedback! Thanks if you stream I'd love to watch you play sometime! Anyway's I have been LoS them as much as possible too.

Thanks! I stream sometimes, though my computer has trouble handling it so it is very rarely: www.twitch.tv/Stefan_Delumiere

I know most ASTs tend to use Noc for shields, but I get more help from regens than I do shields.

I find it keeps my party alive longer than a shield in the long game.

Its decent on bursts I feel---enough that I feel comfortable. I match bursts with having quick reflexes and well placed timing of Light Speed.

Shields feel more like what noobie ASTs might use til they get reaction speed up high.

The Regens provide more TOTAL healing, but I feel the shields provide more effective healing in most cases. Also, due to the spammable nature of AB, the regen effect from diurnal is pretty much useless if your healing target is being focused, as you continue refreshing it. This creates a playstyle where it is more beneficial to throw up double regens and spam Benefic 2, but at that point you're just playing a worse version of WHM. Noct also enhances your healing potency, making your heals bigger. The spell speed benefit of Diurnal is not that great IMO as the greatest strength of AST is it's ability to instantly cast those AB's.

[zuzu-bq]

Cool tips overall! I'd like to add some:

Don't kite too hard or you'll make your ranged useless. Is is for everyone actually, but i've seen healers specially ASTs with some higher tendency of kiting too much. There is a limit on how much you can do efficiently.
Use your pvp skills, synastry is great to heal multiple targets specially when you're being attacked. Disable is great! And more importantly: Don't spam only aspected benefic.

Please.

[JazzofEtro]

This is pretty neat. When the enemy healer dies hit "lightspeed" + "Sprint" if you know you can out run the dps and tank. Then spam "blizzard II" in the path that are running back to their base. Sometimes you can really help finish a game if the conditions are met and/or you get lucky.

Another handy tip. Probably for us PS4 users

Easy access to "Stella". this macro helps me a bunch because my "synastry" is mapped close to my "Benefics".

/micon "Synastry"
/ac "Synastry"
/ac "Stella"

You will get either one depending on if your target is an ally or enemy. Works like a charm for me! ^^

[Jubez187]

Personally I would rather just have a WHM. I can't see a scenario where I wouldn't want Repose and the other oGCD heals, also AST is very poor late game and has a very hard time keeping up with 6+ stacks of vulnerability. I think good Balances and Boles make or break a good AST.

[JazzofEtro]

@ jubez Let's not turn this into "what healer would you prefer to play thread" I just want to share and others to share some AST stuff. If there is nothing to share so be it let this thread die.

Side note: AST can keep a tank up with 6+ stacks is you use "synasty" + the 3 Regens + Time dialation. But for all heals it's hard if you don't have to buffs to do it. It's possible and impossible under certain conditions. The spear and arrow are just as good as bole and balance.

I'm not saying AST is as good as or better than whm. That will throw this thread way off track. Thanks for your input though.

[FunkYeahDragons]

As a new WHM I am perhaps using this thread in ways unintended. :>