50 MRD, what to do?

[Belial]

So way back when this game originally launched I was all for going MRD and being a pirate. Then, I found out very quickly, MRD sucked. I wanted to rock two DD classes as my main, so with MRD out the window, I hopped into ARC & LNC. As you all know, ARC has been hit with "you're no longer a DD" stick, given a huge-ass mp pool, and will likely go the way of buffing when BRD is added.

Now, with 1.19, MRD has become one big, hairy, rum-swilling beast. And I've decided to take up the class again. Especially since my whole reason for picking MRD at launch was to be a beastly AoE machine/trash tank.

Now I find myself seeking endgame advice from main class MRDs. Currently at 44 & pushing rapidly towards 50. I've been playing the game actively since launch so I'm well-rounded in my knowledge for the most part, however I'm looking for a few specifics.

Firstly, skill rotation. I'd like to know what some of my options are. I know the basic AoE everything deal with Broad/Full Swing, Storm's Path, etc. But how does a MRD go about efficient single-target DD? (I say DD because I don't -always- expect MRD will be a tank, they seem like a trash tank and I think that's where they will end up. I'm not cutting out the tank option, however since they do seem to do well still.)

Second, what are some good gear setups currently? I assume for trash in strongholds unless I'm main-tanking that a lot of my LNC gear will be interchangeable. So I'm looking more on the side of tank gear sets. I've already acquired Ifrit's Battleaxe & Sentinel's Sabatons, and kinda need to know if I should keep tracking down Sentinel's gear or if I should just suck it up and purchase some Cobalt.

That's pretty much it, and of course any additional advice would be greatly appreciated (for skill suggestions, my current levels are: LNC/ARC 50, MRD 44, GLA 36, PGL 33, THM 21 & CNJ 20. Though I think I have my skillset fairly under wraps.)

[Belial]

134 views and no one knows how to play MRD, for shame... Someone must have some info and suggestions? Or maybe my assumptions in the OP are fairly accurate?

[REDace0]

I think you have it pretty much correct, but I don't know the details of playing MRD since mine is only L25. I suppose you would spam the 1000TP skills instead of using Storm's Path if you wanted to do single-target damage, although many of those can also be conal AoE if you're Steadfast when you use them. As far as gear goes I've seen many successful MRDs playing with the cobalt hauby set, and many running around in red plate mail. Based on the differences between them, I would think the plate mail or sentinel's set would be better for tanking and you might want to go with the hauby or even maybe the rainmaker's set to boost damage if you want to DD, but I spend most of my time fighting in robes, so I may not really know what I'm talking about.

[Sigmakan]

For single target DPS, having Maim+Keen Flurry is very helpful

[Belial]

I think you have it pretty much correct, but I don't know the details of playing MRD since mine is only L25. I suppose you would spam the 1000TP skills instead of using Storm's Path if you wanted to do single-target damage, although many of those can also be conal AoE if you're Steadfast when you use them. As far as gear goes I've seen many successful MRDs playing with the cobalt hauby set, and many running around in red plate mail. Based on the differences between them, I would think the plate mail or sentinel's set would be better for tanking and you might want to go with the hauby or even maybe the rainmaker's set to boost damage if you want to DD, but I spend most of my time fighting in robes, so I may not really know what I'm talking about.

Yea, I know the hauby and chain set would be best for DD, my Lancer currently sports that, so it'll be interchangeable. The real question I have with the tanking set is whether Cobalt Plate (Red) > Sentinel's, or Sentinel's > Cobalt Plate (Red). The reason this is such an issue for me is that the Sentinel's set pieces can be infused with Materia, which makes them a bit more unique than say, Sipahi, Mercenary, or Sorcerer's sets.

For single target DPS, having Maim+Keen Flurry is very helpful

Already got on this band-wagon. ^^

[VydarrTyr]

134 views and no one knows how to play MRD, for shame... Someone must have some info and suggestions? Or maybe my assumptions in the OP are fairly accurate?

I think the problem may be that with all the changes, we're still working on figuring it out ourselves. Right now Marauders can do several different things in several different roles. (Which is one of the things I love about Marauder.) As you've said, your tactics are going to be different when you're tanking single targets, tanking multiple targets, DPSing single targets, and DPSing multiple targets. And each of those tactics will be different depending on what you're fighting. Brutal Swing will be useful for incapping some mobs, but not for others. And with fights like Ifrit, you've also got to worry about animation lock for longer Weaponskills (like Storm's Path).

Since you've got Lnc and Arc to 50, I doubt I need to suggest Ferocity --> Raging Strike--> Hawk's Eye--> Keen Flurry--> Bloodbath--> Maim. And I doubt I need to suggest you can follow that up with Invigorate, to get to Skull Sunder 2 before the debuff wears off.

I've heard people say that Murderous Intent actually works well now, although I still haven't tried it.

Of course consider Foresight 2/Steadfast so you can parry (which also works against AoE attacks, like the Great Buff's), followed by Fracture 2.

Blindside from Pugilist gives a pretty good crit rate for Weaponskills if you can get behind the mob.

I have a friend who keeps Twisting Vice on her bar for every DoW class, although I haven't unlocked it yet.

If you haven't seen it yet, Warby's Marauder Guide is a bit dated, but has some pretty good ideas for cross class skills.

I will say that before the patch, I kept Absorb Acc and Absorb Attack on my bar. But since the patch, I've taken them off.

[Belial]

See, the reason I posted now is because after this long, I'm thinking the majority of endgame players would have this information hammered out. Maybe I should just start actively parsing again to gather information. But some of it has been useful.

Murderous Intent works, but it's on a small scale. It's worthless on short fights, useful for Storm's Pathing the hell out of trash & may be useful over the course of longer fights (Ifrit if you don't have a billion Lancers to throw at it for speed runs.)

The info for Fracture II sounds like it could be useful, thanks for that. This kinda stuff helps as I'm not aware of all the situational occurances with MRD yet.

Blindside I'm all over already, gonna be levelling PGL next for Second Wind II/Blindside II.

As far as the guide, I've pretty much got that information under wraps. And of course, we all know this information will be changing with the removal of guild marks, ability juggling & job introductions. So I guess it's time for some trial and error on my part.

[Zarvlad]

50 MRD? What to do?

Crush your ennemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of their women.

[KumaAkuma]

Now, with 1.19, MRD has become one big, hairy, rum-swilling beast. And I've decided to take up the class again. Especially since my whole reason for picking MRD at launch was to be a beastly AoE machine/trash tank.

It's funny that you say that. Marauder hasn't really changed at all. It was everything else that changed.

But how does a MRD go about efficient single-target DD? (I say DD because I don't -always- expect MRD will be a tank, they seem like a trash tank and I think that's where they will end up. I'm not cutting out the tank option, however since they do seem to do well still.)

Some would say to switch to Maim, guess to help others on their weaponskills. Put a blindside / att buff on it, but personally I would still just stick to Storm's Path.

Second, what are some good gear setups currently? I assume for trash in strongholds unless I'm main-tanking that a lot of my LNC gear will be interchangeable. So I'm looking more on the side of tank gear sets. I've already acquired Ifrit's Battleaxe & Sentinel's Sabatons, and kinda need to know if I should keep tracking down Sentinel's gear or if I should just suck it up and purchase some Cobalt.

Sell your Sentinel and yourself a whole red cobalt set with it.

That's pretty much it, and of course any additional advice would be greatly appreciated (for skill suggestions, my current levels are: LNC/ARC 50, MRD 44, GLA 36, PGL 33, THM 21 & CNJ 20. Though I think I have my skillset fairly under wraps.)

Second Wind 2 is always nice to have.

[Roaran]

For Ifrit, MRD can get comparable numbers to a LNC, although you may take slightly more damage. As has already been stated, Maim and Keen Flurry are nice, there will still be periods where maim is on cooldown, and, during that time, Brutal Swing II is just as effective. Brutal Swing on Ifrit avgs 200-300, Maim usually hits ~1k with buffs, so they are comparable, but Maim will on avg do more with the same amount of TP.

Once you know the WS's to use, it's simply a matter of building the TP. Broad Swing/FullSwing/Heavy Swing, are great for building TP, don't hesitate to use them as the damage is good. Invigorate is good as well.

For the most part, there have not been glaring balance issues with the classes. While there are definite and clear winners, they are not so far removed from the other classes. LNC atm is the best class for Ifrit, as you can avoid Sear, and the Damage is superior. But... the difference is not so incredible, and Sear is hardly an issue for any group that can clear Ifrit.