Rage over Sophia

[HPDelron]

One thing that's easy for folks who have done this kind of stuff a ton to forget is that the jump between normal content and extreme and higher content is huge. Even the easiest of the easy extreme content is going to seem totally crazy coming from story content.

One way to frame might be to imagine that FF14 is instead a normal single-player game with multiple difficulty modes. You might expect that since the game sends you right from normal to extreme that it's kind of like jumping up 1 difficulty level. However, that doesn't hold in this analogy.
It is much more like the game has an "Easy" setting (story, duty finder content) the "Normal" and "Hard" are greyed out an unselectable (no analogy to them exists in ff14). Your only step up from "Easy" is "Very Hard" (the low-end extreme stuff) There is no natural bridge between the story content and the extreme+ content and that initial gulf is pretty big.

It's almost like playing an entirely different game that demands you look at your skills and other players in ways that just aren't factors in the story/normal content.

Folks calling things easy are of course using their own frame of reference. Since these are out-of-the-way-forums one must seek out most of the posters are people who have played the game a lot and are pretty dedicated. Forget "Very Hard" mode they've spent time dipping into "Nightmare" and "Nightmare++" difficulty modes that might represent something like the higher-end extreme fights and savage content.

What I might say to the OP specifically is that frustration at no progress is fairly normal.

That said, I think if you want to be able to enjoy this sort of content there is one important skill to learn that has nothing to do with your skills or the fight: Embracing failures. A very big part of this kind of content is just iterating on your failures and smashing your head against the brick wall for a long time. Learning how to enjoy that is a big part of getting any meaningful value out of the content.

It's about the journey not the destination and no virtual sword however shiny is going to turn a negative experience into a positive one. The loot is the cherry on top of the sundae that is learning to overcome the fight.

EDIT: That said to the OP if your interested in any specific tips, I'd be happy to give them. I can think of a few I haven't seen well-articulated in this thread, however I don't want to push unwanted advice on anyone.

[FinaSel]

It is very odd. Sometimes, the tank buster is entirely survivable with no debuffs and the use of 2 CDs. Other times, it instantly makes the targeted tank take a dirt nap. I'm gonna guess critical hit?
...
I'm starting to feel like this clear might just be out of my reach.

Don't worry, you'll get it!


I'd recommend checking when the other tank uses Provoke. They should use it as soon as they see Sophia began casting. Not after the attack hits.
Most of the time when I see a tank die, it is because the other tank used Provoke much too late.

You could also ask a healer to put a shield on you before the attack comes.
Her attacks not only follow a pattern, but also her the color of emotes let people know which is coming. It "should" be enough time for a responsive healer to put a shield on you.

You can also try asking someone to use Virus on Sophia before the attack hits.

When I did Sophia as a White Mage, I use Eye for an Eye and / or Swiftcast + Stoneskin on the tank before the attack came. I also prepared casting a Cure II.

If you are using a cooldown but dying it is likely something off-tank or healer can prevent.

I don't know your equipment, but it might not matter so much, because I know many people who cleared extreme sophia on the first day with IL around 240 or less.

[Ilan]

It is very odd. Sometimes, the tank buster is entirely survivable with no debuffs and the use of 2 CDs. Other times, it instantly makes the targeted tank take a dirt nap. I'm gonna guess critical hit?

Also, update on my quest. I've burned through 3 more groups trying to get the clear. Again, I'm usually the last one alive, provided I don't accidentally get the wrong side of the platform (happens sometimes). So... the people calling this easy? I'm gonna wager that at least 21 other people disagree. *sigh* I'm starting to feel like this clear might just be out of my reach.

The point is not only the tankbuster, but the hit right after. If your OT doesn't provoke in time you'll get the second hit and you'll die.

My tip for you is that you take 7 other people from your FC or friendlist and try to kill it that way.

[SpookyGhost]

As someone else said, Sophia's difficulty is somewhat similar to A9S.

Since OP is a DRK I'd say A9S is far easier than Sophia EX. :P

e: Also I'm not sure if this has been covered but are you using RF or PF? I used PF for my Sophia clear and it worked out a lot better - being able to ram your head against it even after the lockout ends is really useful. Even if the group falls apart you can try and keep the good players around for another go and just refill in PF until the clear happens. Just make sure you specify it's a clear party since, from the sounds of it, you've got the fight down by now.

[Ilan]

Since OP is a DRK I'd say A9S is far easier than Sophia EX. :P

e: Also I'm not sure if this has been covered but are you using RF or PF? I used PF for my Sophia clear and it worked out a lot better - being able to ram your head against it even after the lockout ends is really useful. Even if the group falls apart you can try and keep the good players around for another go and just refill in PF until the clear happens. Just make sure you specify it's a clear party since, from the sounds of it, you've got the fight down by now.

Ehm...why should a DRK have it easier in A9S if stuff like Scraplines is not magical dmg (it can be blocked and magic attacks can't be blocked)?

[Annah]

Sophia ex really isn't hard. You just have to know her dance. Once you know her dance you can take her to the ball

[Ghastly]

And still no one is giving her useful information....amazing.
Doesn't matter if it's easy

That's not helping the person

[Annah]

And still no one is giving her useful information....amazing.
Doesn't matter if it's easy

That's not helping the person

there is already a ton of useful into already out there in the interwebs

Visual and video guides, class specific guides and even an illustrated guide.

All one needs to do is visit the Google places

Oh..and actually ready the thread

there are pages of folks telling her what cool downs to use and how to time them.

Don't assume something when you only read the first few and the last few posts

[SpookyGhost]

Ehm...why should a DRK have it easier in A9S if stuff like Scraplines is not magical dmg (it can be blocked and magic attacks can't be blocked)?

MTing A9S is 99% AFK DPSing, 0.5% move the boss a bit, and 0.5% pop defensive CDs. Of the few mechanics in the whole fight, you only need to pay attention to a few of the few. It's one of the easiest fights to MT in the whole game.

Also since A9S is one giant rotation the tank buster will always occur at exactly the same point and DRK's CDs are fine for them. You also have Reprisal available, which is p useful. Obviously DRK isn't better than PLD in this fight defensively, but it's good enough that as long as you pop defensive CDs at the right points then you'll be fine.

[Ghastly]

there is already a ton of useful into already out there in the interwebs

Visual and video guides, class specific guides and even an illustrated guide.

All one needs to do is visit the Google places

Oh..and actually ready the thread

there are pages of folks telling her what cool downs to use and how to time them.

Don't assume something when you only read the first few and the last few posts

Who told you I didn't read the whole thread? 90% of it is people saying sophia ex is easy.