Thread: 4.3 Summoner Rotation Help

Hello!! I'm fairly new to the level 70 Summoner and I'm eager to learn the optimal rotation for it. I feel like I have a grasp on what I need to do, but I'm not quite sure I'm optimizing my damage output. I'll try to spell out my rotation and I'll appreciate if anyone can help me out.

In an average party, I use the Garuda-Egi summon (which I have glamoured as the Emerald Carbuncle, so my apologies if I start calling it that.) I'll start with Aetherflow and immediately start casting Miasma III, Bio III, and then use Bane to spread the DoTs, or Fester if it's just one enemy. I'll start casting Ruin III and Ruin II back to back to allow the button pressing for my Carbuncle in between attacks. When Atherflow hits 38 seconds left on it's cooldown, I'll use Painflare or Fester again. And once Miasma and Bio run off the enemies, I use Tri-Disaster, Bane or Fester, and jump immediately into Dreadwyrm Trance. I'll hit Contagion on my Carbuncle to enhance the damage, run Tri-Bind on groups, Ruin III on single enemies, and then Deathflare during the last 2 seconds of Dreadwyrm. I'll start recasting Miasma and Bio and use Fester/Bane once Aetherflow comes back up.

I feel like I'm having some damage fall off somewhere in there and I'd appreciate any help I can get regarding it!

https://imgur.com/gallery/x0REf

For the time being, this rotation is fairly standard (yes, it was updated during 4.2, but SMN didn't really change in 4.3). This focuses on having Ifrit set to Sic, which has been commonly seen as the better pet for the entirety of Stormblood due to its damage output. However, 4.4 will be removing the damage reflection effect of Ifrit's Radiant Shield, which was a decently significant tool in its arsenal. Because of this, Garuda will very possibly regain some viability, especially if your group has another caster DPS with you. I think the most likely potential change this could create would be how the opener works. There are far better people than myself though when it comes to calculating this, however. I didn't start learning SMN until right before 4.2 came out, so my familiarity with using Garuda has been a bit more limited.

As far as the basic Aetherflow rotations go leading into Trances and Bahamut, I don't think much will change on that front. When it comes to AoEs, Bane can be a bit situational on whether it's worth it or not. If you have a lot of mobs to deal with, you'll probably want it to speed things up. if you only have three mobs, you might be better off hardcasting DoTs while letting Painflare, Shadow Flare, and Enkindle deal good damage in the meantime. If the trash is melting quickly enough, you may not even need to worry about DoTs at all. It seems like you already know this, but Tri-bind is really only feasible during Trance when the potency is boosted. Be wary of how much MP it consumes though, because Tri-bind will drain you pretty quickly if you don't watch yourself. Deathflare, as well as Bahamut's Akh Morn, also work as AoE moves, so use them to your advantage! Overall, based on my understanding of your post I think you have a pretty decent idea of how things work. It's all a matter of timing, practice, and muscle memory when it comes down to it.