Limit Break Caster or DPS First or Last Boss

[Nabril]

Okay, so there the limit break button. Got it. Does big boom... whatever. I've been yelled at for not using it because I'm still not used to it.

"How'd you get to such a high level without using limit break?!"

Dude, relax. It took me a week to reach this level. It's not like I spent a few months working at it. It took a week. I still have that newbie symbol next to my name because I don't have enough playtime.

Anyway, I decided to google this ability and find out what all the fuss was about. This didn't help, however, because I found even more confusion. Post after post after post of varying opinions on when it should be used and by whom. Casters get yelled at when it should have been the Melee or Melee getting yelled at because the caster should have done it; or first boss vs the last boss, etc...

I found several posts by DPS stating that they just stopped using it until they're told because they got tired of tanks yelling at them for wasting it. It's the whole damned if you do and damned if you don't type thing.

[Tint]

just use it on the last boss when he drops below 15% HP.

it's not perfect, but you can't do anything wrong with it (and don't wait until it hit 3%, that's too late).

when not other stated (for specific mechanics) the priority for using LB is Melee > Mage > Physical Ranged on single target. for AoE it's Mage > Physical Ranged.

with time you will get more experience and can use the LB more efficient - but for the beginnig that's the rule of a thumb.


a more efficient way is to use aoe LB (mage or physical ranged) between the first and second boss in a dungeon and preferably a melee LB on the last boss.

[Squintina]

Who?
Single target? -> Melee LB
Multiple targets? -> Ranged or Caster LB (most likely Caster).
Melee LB is more potent than ranged/caster LB because the other ones are aoe (line aoe for ranged, normal aoe for caster).

Shit reaaaallly about to hit the fan because over half of your party's dead? -> Healer LB3
People in party don't seem to know how to do mechs or dodge and are overrunning the healers and something big's coming up -> Tank LB3 (dat shield)

First/Last boss
The most typical one is Last boss.
But sometimes groups will want to use LB1 for first boss, because the rest of the instance will have enough time to gather up the rest of the LB bar for the last boss as well.

Other things of note
More LB is generated if you have unique jobs/classes

Healers get more LB generation for healing people with critical health

You don't have to think "well...melee LB is better but our melee has bad stats so maybe the ranged would be better". No. None of that.
The base potency is based on the role, while the potency multiplier is based on the entire party's ilvl. There are no damage buffs, no damage debuffs, etc..

[MoroMurasaki]

If you're a caster watch out for large pulls when the bar is full and use it then. Melee LB is a strong single target attack, caster is the weakest on a single target. I don't use it single target really, it's hardly a dps gain with as long as the animation is.

If you make it to the last boss of a dungeon and no one has used it you can also pull the boss with it, like cast the lb on the boss as the tank runs in. Sometimes this is enough time to generate another bar.

Basically don't worry about it. It almost never matters. Once you get into endgame things there are some fights and strategies that require specific lbs at specific times but for the most part if you use it cool if not no biggie. Can be great on a large trash pull or add phase in a dungeon though.

[Bahd_Monkey]

Black Mage LB is an AoE that can be very effective on big trash pulls (besides bosses). Why don't you just tell the parties you run with that you are new, and ask if there is anything they want you to use the LB on, or should one of the other jobs use it.

[Jijifli]

If you're a caster watch out for large pulls when the bar is full and use it then. Melee LB is a strong single target attack, caster is the weakest on a single target. I don't use it single target really, it's hardly a dps gain with as long as the animation is.

Correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought I read that, just by pure numbers, casters is the middle, while bard and machinest are actually the lowest damaging LB. They get the benefit however, of pulling it off the fastest of the three.

[MoroMurasaki]

Correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought I read that, just by pure numbers, casters is the middle, while bard and machinest are actually the lowest damaging LB. They get the benefit however, of pulling it off the fastest of the three.

I've never noticed a big difference in damage between them, hoenstly. Did some googlging since you asked and apparently ranged LB potencies have yet to be determined officially. I saw someone quote 5.8k potency for ranged LB3 which is hardly less than caster but without solid proof I think it's fair to count them equally with Caster still being advantageous on large trash pulls because of the circle AoE instead of the linear one?

Good question, maybe someday we'll know.

[Canadane]

Saving it for the boss to be at a low % might be the biggest waste of damage from it.

[Liam_Harper]

If you're doing a regular pug Primal or 8 man raid, do you guys hold the limit break or use it immediately?

I notice on something like Kefka or Byakko normal, occasionally lb3 is up fairly early and using it on the spot would give you an additional lb1 or lb2 near the end. But the few times I do pop it off the bat thinking "Going smooth so far, should be grand on Normal" the group suddenly falls apart out of nowhere, stand in something and nearly all die and a healer lb3 probably would have saved a wipe. Better to play safe?

[Rongway]

But sometimes groups will want to use LB1 for first boss, because the rest of the instance will have enough time to gather up the rest of the LB bar for the last boss as well.

Many people think they should do this, but this is only the "best" option if both DDs are melee. If the other DD is a caster or ranger, let them use it on trash. Even if you pull small, you'll save more time LBing a group of 3~4 than you will by using it on a boss.

If there is a caster or ranger, a melee DD should only LB on the last boss.