New Player, Requesting Help

[Taika]

Disclaimer: I haven't played BLM since Heavensward and level 60.

When you consider if a DoT is worth using, you need to take its total potency into consideration. Thunder has initial potency of 30, but it also hits the target with a 40 potency hit on every tick for its whole duration. All DoTs in the game hit once every 3 seconds. As Thunder lasts 18 seconds (6 ticks) and it has 40 potency per tick, its DoT potency is 240 (40x6) + the initial hit of 30 potency. So the total potency of Thunder is 270. Fire has potency of 180, so if Thunder is given enough time to tick, it will beat Fire in DPS (although Fire potency is increased under Astral Fire, I don't know by how much). Furthermore, Thunder damage increases with Thundercloud trait procs.

I'm pretty sure Thunder is always useful to use on a single target, at least, but I have no experience of current AoE Thunders. Hopefully someone who plays BLM in its current form can give you some practical advice on its use.

[Rongway]

So the total potency of Thunder is 270. Fire has potency of 180, so if Thunder is given enough time to tick, it will beat Fire in DPS (although Fire potency is increased under Astral Fire, I don't know by how much). Furthermore, Thunder damage increases with Thundercloud trait procs.

We're primarily concerned with the potency changes that come from with Astral Fire III, which is a 1.8x multiplier, so let's call Fire
a 324 potency spell. Fire IV is 504. Thunder III slowcast is 70+240 = 310, but has a 47%* chance to give you an instant cast 70+240+240 = 550; further, you can force the proc with Sharpcast. I don't have the Thunder II/IV maths off the top of my head but the idea is the same, just with a smaller chance but on more targets.



* 10% chance to proc on first tick
plus 90% chance it didn't proc on first tick × 10% chance to proc on second tick
plus 90% chance it didn't proc on first tick × 90% chance it didn't proc on second tick × 10% chance to proc on third tick
plus ... etc