How do you remember mechanics?

[Miya_Carbuncle]

Returning player here! I never finished HW content before taking an incredibly long break from the game (so many regrets ahhh), so I'm catching up as quickly as possible while enjoying the cutscenes.

For new dungeons, I've been watching videos & I can never really remember all the boss mechanics. Or if I do, I still feel pretty unprepared with my healing. I'll even be able to repeat the mechanics in my head as I que, but as soon as I walk in after waiting maybe a minute or two, I'm like, "Wait, what were the mechanics?" haha. The Vault was rather hectic for me as a healer.

How are you guys able to watch videos and remember everything? Any tips? D:

Also how do returning players remember the mechanics for boss fights in dailies ques? I feel like I've forgotten everything. x___x

[MrsFluffyButt]

Lol, I would say it takes years of practice but it doesn't. It's FF14, almost everything is telegraphed and easy to pick up and learn outside of EX/savage.

[Miya_Carbuncle]

Lol, I would say it takes years of practice but it doesn't. It's FF14, almost everything is telegraphed and easy to pick up and learn outside of EX/savage.

I'd say I do learn quickly actually. I just hate making any mistakes or being sloppy w/ my healing on my first run with people who have done it a million times. n___n;

[Avatre]

Practice, muscle memory, and a willingness to break your cast to get out of an AoE. There really is no other way to memorize mechanics(it's the same as with memorizing any form of password).

[Shurrikhan]

If you can get hold of a timeline and then craft your rotations around it, the muscle memory solidifies waaaay more quickly. Otherwise, it's just a sense of how many GCDs or how long relative to particular CDs each phase or interim lasts, and thinking about phases as preparing for events, rather than events alone as the time to react to them.

As far as remembering, generally, what telegraph means what, or what types of mechanics are likely to follow another, it mostly comes from an expectation of a certain level of difficulty. Normal content won't force you into anything you have to prep for, but both pair mechanics is way that causes movement, etc. If something forces you out, the next will probably force you in.

Other than that... EYE above the boss means LOOK away. INWARD arrows means stack inside. OUTWARD arrows means spread out. Etc., etc.

[Miya_Carbuncle]

Practice, muscle memory, and a willingness to break your cast to get out of an AoE. There really is no other way to memorize mechanics(it's the same as with memorizing any form of password).

Ya, that makes sense actually. I forgot the name, but there was a new dungeon I had a few issues with yesterday, & today I got it again and I had a far easier time with it. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself the first run lol.

[KeyboardFacerollname]

For me, it's more remembering cues.

See a player targeted with big arrows pointing to them? Stack up.
See a circle with a pillar in it? Stand in the circle.
Different icons appear on the ground and the same icons appear over players heads? Stand on the icon that matches the icon over your head.
Targeted with a pulsing circular graphic? Run as far away from everyone as possible until the attack "drops" then run back to where the rest of the group is before the AoE goes off.

Other than that, it's mostly "Don't stand in orange on the ground.".

If you remember stuff like that, then remembering the more unique mechanics becomes easier(ie:2nd boss in Castrum Abania, who spawns three circles on the ground corresponding with ice/lightning/fire. Look at what buff the boss has and stand in the corresponding circle to get the appropriate buff, otherwise your damage is reflected back to you. So if he has a lightning icon on his buffs/debuffs bar you run into the lightning circle)

[Miya_Carbuncle]

If you can get hold of a timeline and then craft your rotations around it, the muscle memory solidifies waaaay more quickly. Otherwise, it's just a sense of how many GCDs or how long relative to particular CDs each phase or interim lasts, and thinking about phases as preparing for events, rather than events alone as the time to react to them.

Oh I'll keep that in mind! I never pay attention to phases except for certain fights that are really obvious, particularly because I'm not watching the boss' HP. That can help me a lot.

[CupDeNoodles]

I would first ask what videos you're watching. A youtuber by the name of MTQcapture makes great dungeon and raid guides. I watch her channel for learning mechanics.

https://www.youtube.com/user/MTQcapture

As for remembering, I play this game baked and even after watching her videos I still forget. It's honestly the constant spamming of dailies that I eventually do it by muscle memory. Plus you have tons of repeating mechanics too. The whole stacking symbol let's you know it's time to run for your teammates so remembering what they look like helps too.

[Avatre]

Ya, that makes sense actually. I forgot the name, but there was a new dungeon I had a few issues with yesterday, & today I got it again and I had a far easier time with it. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself the first run lol.

We all make mistakes our first run of something, even those who claim they don't do as they are liars and I'm waiting to see the smoke from their pants catching fire. Definitely give yourself time to acclimatize to the dungeons. The more you get them in roulettes, the easier they will become(and the more mechanics you will remember from older fights - the current final fight of SB has very few - if any - new mechanics you haven't seen through story).