Science of Surecast

[Ghishlain]

I imagine there's something on the DPS forum somewhere already but figured I'd put this up over here too since Surecast is essentially a healer's Tempered Will.

With the 4.0 launch Surecast now provides the ability to nullify knock back and draw-in effects while the buff is active. This includes but not necessarily limited to Titan's Landslide and Aerial Blast and Tidal Wave inside The Royal Menagerie. I imagine anything GLD/PLD can and cannot mitigate with Tempered Will, healer's can and cannot with Surecast as they have very similar text.

As long as the buff is up, you retain this knock back immunity. The Surecast buff is consumed either when the timer expires or when you cast a spell that has a cast time associated with it. This also means if you make a spell instant cast with Swiftcast, the Surecast buff will still be retained.

Just some knowledge I wanted to pass on to other healers to think about when selecting their cross roles as Surecast definitely has some applications now depending on the fights.

[Metsonm]

Wait, it negates knock back? I just assumed it let you keep your cast going during the knock back.

That's an actual game changer. I'll give it a shot on Suzie tonight.

[AutumnsHollow]

I tried cheeseing the push back mechanic with surecast in susano extreme. Doesn't work. =(

[tikiwiki]

it negates knockbacks in lakshmi idk if it works in susano BUT it means you have to stop casting so why even bother sure cast gets consumed when you start a cast so its better to eat the knockback usually

[Metsonm]

I tried cheeseing the push back mechanic with surecast in susano extreme. Doesn't work. =(

That's a shame. The only time I can think of it being useful would be if you're targeted for the knock back and Churning. But if that doesn't work I guess it's back to the bin for Surecast.

[Ghishlain]

Yeah, it depends on what you're looking for in the situation.

Surecast is two components

(1) Activating the buff. While this buff is activated, you're immune to knock back effects and draw-ins.
(2) Upon casting a spell with a cast bar, the buff is consumed (you are no longer immune to knock backs and draw-ins) and the spell you're casting cannot be interrupted via damage

I personally use it the most right now just to be in position for Tidal Wave to Cure III in the Royal Menagerie. It does have some applications with Aerial Blast in the same fight too since you can avoid the knock back and get Medica II precasted before the final knockback. Some mechanics aren't worth mitigating and some are and that should be up to each individual healer's discretion.

[Erakir]

Rather than Surecast to be in position to cure 3 for Tidal Wave, I find precasting Medica 2/Cure 3 to be just as effective as it is anywhere else you can precast for AoE knockback effects, especially since everyone is (in theory) stacked for it and it's a very long cast.

It's definitely a bigger failsafe since precasts can be screwed up, though. I'd probably get more mileage out of it in Menagerie for Aerial Blast if people are low, but I'm not sure I could justify taking it when I'm grabbing esuna for paralysis cures in a movement heavy fight as it is, and I actually get -lot- of mileage out of Rescue in that fight since so many people are confused with the fight right now - Can save people from spacing out on Tidal Wave, Giant-Line-Of-Knockback, pulling a stackup-marker to the party, double-earth-AoEs, I guess Aerial Blast too if someone happens to be too far away for some reason, and once I've yanked someone far away to break the fire chains as well.

For the most part, though, it's getting use pulling latecomers out of the giant line knockback that aren't putting themselves close enough to not get knocked off if they get hit. It's laggy as heck but I've saved plenty of lives with it so far there.

I like that Surecast has knockback immunity now (Though apparently not in Susano Ex? Shame if that's true~). They can certainly design around us wanting to take it, but I think in most situations I'm able to drop a skill, Rescue will be a bit more attractive. Not necessarily all, but most. In places I can drop both protect and esuna, though, certainly a chance. Realistically I never see myself dropping Lucid, Largesse, and Swiftcast, so I've got two slots to work with.

Basically, it's worth considering on a per-fight basis, but I feel it's going to come up short most of the time. If the knockback resistance continued for the whole duration regardless of you completing a cast, it'd be a lot more attractive for multi-pushback effects.

[snuggans]

if it doesn't work with Susano's orange marker, this ability sucks

[Rongway]

There is a bit of inconsistency in what it negates.

Surecast defeats Landslide (Titan), Bodyslam (Leviathan), Divebomb (Twintania), Tidal Wave (spoiler) and Aerial Blast (spoiler).

It does not defeat Thordan's pulsing attack before Ultimate End or Susano's knockback.