DPSing as AST

[SleepyNeko]

Hey all, just a quick question about AST dps.

I was leveling WHM and AST and I noticed at the lvl 30 range (really low, so that is why I am asking) as WHM I was definitely doing more damage. Fast-forward to now I had chosen to level AST to 70 and it still feels like I'm tickling the mobs (especially on the adds that actual DPS classes can two-shot).

So the question is, does WHM do a significant amount more damage compared to AST? Also is it worth spending much time DPSing as AST? Feels like dpsing as AST drains your MP too quickly while still offering tickledamge.

Thanks in advance!

[Jollyy5]

Yes, WHM is the most potent DPS out of the three healing classes, while AST I believe is the weakest.

AST's power is mostly tied to their cards, any DPS increase to party/raid members could technically be considered to be your damage.

An AST is definitely a good choice for dungeons and raids if played well, but soloing anything sucks, unfortunately. Par for the course for SE's tendency to only care about raid data when balancing classes.

[Lynesse]

Have you watched Tsuki's videos? He's Baka Games on Youtube. He makes really good content and is a player worth studying.

Search up his Kugane Castle gameplay.

He seems to focus on heals and cards, Combusting everything, and using Malefic as a last resort when he has nothing to spend a GCD on.

[SleepyNeko]

Have you watched Tsuki's videos? He's Baka Games on Youtube. He makes really good content and is a player worth studying.Snip.

Thanks, I'll go check those out, so it is better to use a combust over a malefic during single target? Also how about gravity vs combust multiple mobs? how many mobs do you need for gravity to be better than combust?

[Jollyy5]

Thanks, I'll go check those out, so it is better to use a combust over a malefic during single target? Also how about gravity vs combust multiple mobs? how many mobs do you need for gravity to be better than combust?

It's more or less a math problem, Combust II has 500 potency on it over 30 seconds, so you will always want to use it on single and double targets before spamming Malefic if it has time to tick.

Gravity has 200 potency, but it's damage that comes out instantly, so technically you could use it on two targets for more damage than either of the single target spells, but it's really expensive to use, I would only use it on 3 targets or more, personally.

You could Combust three, maybe four targets before you start spamming Gravity, but any more than 3-4 targets, and you should probably just spam Gravity.

Don't forget about you Minor Arcana cards and Stellar Explosion.

[Lynesse]

Thanks, I'll go check those out, so it is better to use a combust over a malefic during single target? Also how about gravity vs combust multiple mobs? how many mobs do you need for gravity to be better than combust?

I can't answer these questions. ^^ But Jolly5 and everyone else provided really great explanations.

Just adhere to the ABC philosophy. Make sure you're always using your GCDs on something. If Draw is on cooldown, no one needs heals, things have Combust on them, and everything else is taken care of, casting Malefic is better than waiting for something to happen.

I wouldn't stress too much over it otherwise.

[era1Ne]

Thanks, I'll go check those out, so it is better to use a combust over a malefic during single target? Also how about gravity vs combust multiple mobs? how many mobs do you need for gravity to be better than combust?

The calculation is more complicated with the stats in mind, but lets do the simple version. Basically you take the 3 seconds server tick and the dot dmg to calculate, how much an dot has to tick to be better than the hard cast (in this case malefic). The formular is this...

Dot dmg * duration = A
A/3= actual potency

For combust you got 500 potency if you get the full duration. malefic III has an potency of 220. gravity has an potency of 200. This means you need 14+ seconds for combust to be worth it. But keep in mind that combust is an instant cast and you can weave ofcd like cards in, which is awesome. gravity is worth it, if you got at least 3 enemys compared to combust. 2 enemys (400p) compared to malefic III (220p).

3x 200potency = 600
2x200p = 400

Besides instant vs cast, you have also to keep in mind the mana those skills need and shouldn't spam 100 gravitys for example, even if it would be a gain. That said, you can work on your mana management to get a lot of gravity out during big pulls and still be able to heal them. This just takes a good amount of experience and work. I can only advice every healer to re-read their tooltips and think about ways to utilize the skills in different ways. For instance you can use Collective Unconscious for the strong hot during big pulls aswell, then add another reggen with AB (+other buffs if available) on the tank and extend all of them with time dilation + celes. Of course not all of this is necessary in every situation, but this is just an example to show that skills, which are usually used for healing aoe dmg like CO can be used differently and create big windows to do dmg

By the way, celes is imo the best skill astro has, since it can literally extrend any buff you do on the group (including yourself!). This works with light speed, largesse, hots, cleric, lucid ... just everything, including Pots (!). In dungeons it can stun enemys and help you to heal the tank or do more dmg, because the tank doesn't get any dmg for a few seconds. Thinking about different combinations and using them makes ast really fun imo

[MoroMurasaki]

By the way, celes is imo the best skill astro has, since it can literally extrend any buff you do on the group (including yourself!). This works with light speed, largesse, hots, cleric, lucid ... just everything, including Pots (!). In dungeons it can stun enemys and help you to heal the tank or do more dmg, because the tank doesn't get any dmg for a few seconds. Thinking about different combinations and using them makes ast really fun imo

This is a great point. I've said several times if there was one thing I wish I knew as a new AST it would be how useful an ability this is. It adds a layer of timing to gameplay that I'm actually missing on WHM sometimes.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

Yes, WHM is about twice as strong than AST in single target, and even more in AOE.
AST however, has added dmg from their cards. It evens out that way, but don't expect their personal DPS to ever come close to a WHM or SCH

[era1Ne]

So the question is, does WHM do a significant amount more damage compared to AST? Also is it worth spending much time DPSing as AST? Feels like dpsing as AST drains your MP too quickly while still offering tickledamge. !

AST ist the weakest healer talking about his own dmg, but he can provide raid utility with balance for example and his dmg still is strong enough to be worth it. The mana should be fine aswell, if you use your mana reduction or reggen skills in a good way.

Yes, WHM is about twice as strong than AST in single target, and even more in AOE.
AST however, has added dmg from their cards. It evens out that way, but don't expect their personal DPS to ever come close to a WHM or SCH

You are exaggerate here a bit, since an whm isn't twice as strong in single target.