Thread: Some interesting numbers on 4.0 BLM

Originally Posted by Galvuu

B3(prepull)>Enochian>T3>B4>F3>Triple(weaved into quick F3)>F4>Sharpcast>F4>F4>LL(weaved)>F>F4x3>Firestarter>Convert(weaved)>F4x2.

That whole shebang is 10 PPS lower than Sharp opener when you get an extra FS, Foul and all included with my sheets. Even one TC proc without any clipping (impossible) is not enough to pull ahead. Is there also any reason to use Ley that late when you can fit it with the Sharp and not clip anything? All that changes is getting faster F4 during normal rotation instead of getting them faster during the opener.

I never was a BLM before SB, but on a whim I decided to give it a go and leveled it to 70 via dungeons and stuff. It's actually my 5th 70 now, the 3rd DPS (NIN and SAM being the other two), so immediately I began to notice my 5 or 6 Fire IVs, as pretty as they looked, seemed to be tickling bosses rather than hurting them...

Well, I continued on and went entirely blind into the BLM rotation anyway. Firstly, I ended up falling into a "B4 > F3 > 2x F4 > F1 > 3x F4 > B3" based rotation because the few times I'd tried 6x F4s, I was left with 0 mana and never realized it was thanks to bad mana ticks. Secondly, I had little room for mechanics. Unlike the 6x F4 rotation I apparently should've discovered, I DID have more room to maneuver than most, but it would still cost me one F4 a lot of the time, and in fights involving stack mechanics I'd have to sacrifice 2 or 3 F4s even.

Last night I discovered this thread after hitting level 70, finding myself still frustrated even with Foul to back up my rotation, and trying to look online for anything wrong I've done and whether or not BLM truly is fudged. This morning, I went to SSS and tried a true 6x F4 4.X rotation as shown here, the pseudo-3.X rotation, then the SAM SSS to compare all 3 (SAM has the same ilvl and by some strange luck the same gear, currently, neither have materia melded yet) and got to 20% for 4.X rotation, 10% for 3.X rotation, and a sliver of 1% for SAM rotation (would've beaten if if not for 2 misses on the hotbar).

I'm still sloppy as a BLM, especially since its mechanics are so complex, so I DID make mistakes whereas with SAM's relatively simple mechanics I only made 2 or 3 mistakes. However I'm certain that though I can beat the SSS dummy as a SAM at the same ilvl, I won't be beating it as BLM as the same ilvl while using the 4.0 rotation, and only while using the 3.X rotation if I get more than average T3 procs.

BLM is so high maintenance that it feels really bad to have all your hard work amounts to so little damage. I'm not a BLM main, I might not ever become a BLM main, but now that I've tried it and understand the pains they go through to max out their DPS, I REALLY think they should easily (well, when they're doing the 4.X rotation right, so not so easily) max out the DPS standings. And funnily enough, I'd end up enjoying RDM more since it would feel less like a cheap upgrade to BLM too (since you can't upgrade from DPS-kings/queens).

Originally Posted by Kiriken

The aoe rotation is basically B3 > B4 > T4 > F3 > Flare > Foul > Flare > Transpose > Repeat. If it's supposed to be an aoe-related trait, it provides us 2 more Umbral hearts than we need for the aoe rotation.

That's why everyone believes it's supposed to be key to the single target 4.X rotation, that and since the aoe-related trait unlocks at level 68 while Umbral Hearts unlock at level 58 alongside Blizzard IV.

But it still is the key, it's just on Convert's cooldown. You can't pull that high without using it at least with Convert.

I also find that it's nice to use if the fight and your rotation align enough to where there will be a small delay in the fight itself while you're still in umbral, you could cast it and do a little more damage (and mobility if you have sharpcast ready at the time as well) in the following astral phase. But it's not consistent, there's many variables that make it inefficient to use. If they really want us to use Blizzard IV, then yes, it does need to be reworked, because as of this moment it's use is incredibly niche on single targets with a 180s cooldown.

Also that aoe rotation should only be used on 4 or more targets. It is slightly inefficient on anything less. Instead, on 3 targets, do B3 > T4 > B4 > F3 > F4 > F4 > Flare > Foul > Flare > Transpose > Repeat. You can place those Fire IV's however you like. I keep trying to find a use for Fire II, such as on 4 targets, but it's literally a waste of time now since you do more overall damage from doing the "quick" astral phase with F3 > Flare with umbral hearts. BLM is in a strange place.

Originally Posted by Kiriken

The aoe rotation is basically B3 > B4 > T4 > F3 > Flare > Foul > Flare > Transpose > Repeat. If it's supposed to be an aoe-related trait, it provides us 2 more Umbral hearts than we need for the aoe rotation.

That's why everyone believes it's supposed to be key to the single target 4.X rotation, that and since the aoe-related trait unlocks at level 68 while Umbral Hearts unlock at level 58 alongside Blizzard IV.

You forgot two Fire IIs before that Flare. Since, like the Flare MP cost, you can actually use the Enhanced Umbral Heart effect with just one Umbral Heart.

Originally Posted by Alkimi

Make Blizzard IV reduce magic resistance by 5%. Forces you to use the "proper" rotation, slightly improves BLM dps and also provides raid utility.
or
Make Blizzard IV reduce fire resistance by 10%. Brings BLM closer to SAM dps but no raid utility (except I guess Katon and a couple of RDM spells)

I love this idea. It makes Umbral Hearts a second Enochian, though I could see it as simply buffing the player's magic potency and Fire potency respectively, as a proper selfish buff.

Originally Posted by EllieShadeflare

You forgot two Fire IIs before that Flare. Since, like the Flare MP cost, you can actually use the Enhanced Umbral Heart effect with just one Umbral Heart.

Isn't F2 waste of time (= loss of DPS)?

edit:
that "=" was a "0" before, sorry