AST draw and redraw clipping

[Lelouis]

Neither google nor the forum search could help me find such a specific information so sorry if double post.

Question is simple; 2 scenarios, which one is better? (Malefic can be a heal or combust or whatever it's just used as a reference for GCD use)

1. Draw ---> Malefic ---> Redraw ---> Malefic ---> Use card (Spread, RR, Crown, Cast)
0.75s + 2.5s (weave) + 2.5s (weave) = 5.75s

2 Draw ---> Redraw ---> Use card
0.75s + 0.75s + 0.75s = 2.25s

Keep in mind: Most of the time scenario 2 will be used after casting Combust to minimize the clipping down to its minimum so 2.25s of clipping can go down to like 0.5s or 1s I don't know.
More specifically while scenario 1 leaves no clipping, it wastes precious seconds on Draw CD while the card is being held while casting Malefics.

I'm doing scenario 2, but I have no idea which is better and I've been considering both and my maths or thoughts might be wrong so any advice is welcome as I hold no preference for either scenario except the best.

[ArianeEwah]

You should go with the first example for a few reasons.

Drawing/Redrawing etc. between GCDs actually provides time to think what to do with your cards.
If you try to get the best out of your cards in less than a second it'll probably lead to false usage/decisions.

Clipping in general is bad! Clipping with your cards doesn't compensate for your damage/heal loss (missing GCDs).
Remember your ABC: Always Be Casting (you might've heard that one.)

You can double weave card abilities with Aspected Benefic, Combust or Lightspeed.

[HyoMinPark]

The first scenario is what you should be doing during combat.

Example:
Malefic > Draw > Malefic > Redraw > Malefic > Spread/Royal Road/Minor Arcana


Combust and Aspected Benefic both allow you to weave 2 oGCDs instead of just 1 oGCD like Malefic does.

You will still clip when you use cards between any other AST GCD (e.g., Benefic, Helios, Aspected Helios, Gravity) unless you are under the effect of Lightspeed (which you should use for either heavy healing scenarios to conserve MP or for heavy movement scenarios to keep up your ABC).


If you are using card oGCDs between Malefics, you will not clip. Malefic has a 1.5s cast time now, leaving you with time to mess with your cards between Malefic casts. (As well as time to move around if you need to preposition for mechanics.)

So, scenario 1 is actually this:
Malefic (1.5s) > Draw > Malefic (1.5s) > Redraw OR Spread if Balance > Malefic (1.5s) > Spread if Balance OR Royal Road OR Minor Arcana

They changed Malefic's cast time a couple patches ago (4.3 I think? Or 4.2. One of those).

[Gemina]

You're going to clip the gcd if you're double weaving ogcds between malefic casts due to its 1.5 cast time. Even if malefic's cast time was never changed, I am hard pressed to believe you can consistently determine how to handle your cards in less than a second. As Ariane and Hyomin stated, you need that time to determine what to do with the card you draw, and the spell speed stat whether innately or melded is going to reduce this further even if very minimal. So I strongly encourage getting into the habit of single weaving between Malefic casts. The clipping adds up really fast in a filler situation.

In scenario two, you're using three ogcds consecutively. Serious clipping there and I would avoid this. On dungeon trash or add phases, lightspeed can be used in combination of gravity casts (you'll also want cleric stance up for this if available). In this scenario you can definitely double weave ogcds between casts and still get off four gravities. The same can be applied for clutch heals in a raiding scenario so long as you don't sacrifice your mobility. Outside of lightspeed, this method can be applied to combust as well if it applies.