observation of Phoenix from the job preview trailer for 5.0 smn

[Milea]

Many seem to think Phoenix will work just like bahamut. Some even think maybe we might have to pick and choose which to use.

However, I rewatched the trailer and something stuck out to me.

When using Phoenix, the smn casted Akh Morn and Ruin and ...
nothing happened.

That is, akh morn didn't hit the target, nor did a ruin shoot out of the smn.

INSTEAD, Phoenix made a fire pillar (akh morn) and did a blast of flame when the ruin should have come out.

Methinks this means Phoenix replaces certain or even all skills used by the summoner for the duration.

So this means Phoenix is quite different than bahamut.
In a sense, phoenix is like a trance, but instead of just making your abilities buffed, Phoenix itself is the source of them.

Bahamut on the other hand does his own thing. He does certain thing when you cast a spell and you tell him to cast his special move. But he does not replace your cast.

What do you think?

edit:

I watch it again. Now I am not so sure.
Tbh I didn't see ruin bolts when Bahamut was out either.
There was some abilites that had animations shown and others that did not.

[Len]

Good observations.

Gameplay wise, our summons enhancing our abilities is pretty cool, but also thematically for Summoner I think it makes a lot of sense.

[Selova]

It looked like, at least to me that there was a spell that was letting the summoner directly control phoenix.

[Seraphor]

Also, it looks like you only transition into Phoenix after Bahamut. As or just before Bahamut was dismissed, a Phoenix tail appeared on the job gauge, then he summoned Phoenix and the whole gauge transitioned.
I'm thinking the whole rotation has been streamlined as well, because that certainly didn't take 5 minutes.

[ShariusTC]

Also, it looks like you only transition into Phoenix after Bahamut. As or just before Bahamut was dismissed, a Phoenix tail appeared on the job gauge, then he summoned Phoenix and the whole gauge transitioned.
I'm thinking the whole rotation has been streamlined as well, because that certainly didn't take 5 minutes.

Hard to tell if phoenix phase is after or before bahamut, phoenix appear late in the trailer more likely because it's a new summon, when SMN appear they already has their bahamut gauge fill and they don't let pheonix gauge run out also we don't see DWT in that rotation, 2 aetherflow won't change colour when use

So it'll be either bahamut phase to trigger pheonix phase or phoenix phase will be replace DWT and we need to sumkon phoenix 2 times to trigger bahamut phase

[Anvaire]

I actually think that flame pillar is from the smn not from phoenix. If you look, phoenix moves forward in the exact same manner as it does when the SMN was using other attacks previous, kinda like Bahamut's wrym Wave.

In the Benchmark trailer the Summoner uses trance but a phoenix head appears above the summoners head.

Given that Bahamut came from Garuda and then the SMN used Ifrit which spawned Phoenix, Seems to me that the trances and Demis are based on the egi that was summoned - Ie - Garuda > Bahamut Ifrit > Phoenix.

Where then does that leave Titan and topaz carbuncle. We know that they are being reworked as Tanking pets are impossible if the Egi cannot die. Perhaps then there is a third Demi (unlikely i think, but something to consider) Else it may be that Titan is getting removed, but that doesn't make sense when they said there was a rework.

[ShariusTC]

I think that egi switch just to show us that now we can instant cast them

[Seraphor]

I actually think that flame pillar is from the smn not from phoenix. If you look, phoenix moves forward in the exact same manner as it does when the SMN was using other attacks previous, kinda like Bahamut's wrym Wave.

In the Benchmark trailer the Summoner uses trance but a phoenix head appears above the summoners head.

Given that Bahamut came from Garuda and then the SMN used Ifrit which spawned Phoenix, Seems to me that the trances and Demis are based on the egi that was summoned - Ie - Garuda > Bahamut Ifrit > Phoenix.

Where then does that leave Titan and topaz carbuncle. We know that they are being reworked as Tanking pets are impossible if the Egi cannot die. Perhaps then there is a third Demi (unlikely i think, but something to consider) Else it may be that Titan is getting removed, but that doesn't make sense when they said there was a rework.

Interesting take.
It could simply be that Titan/Topaz acts as a support/buffing/mitigating pet, and so a 'trance' form of it wouldn't really serve much of a purpose, and would be used infrequently or just in solo for utility.
Meanwhile Garuda>Bahamut and Ifrit>Phoenix would make up your main DPS rotation.

[Kalise]

Looking over the trailer:

10:34 What appears to be the new Aetherflow skill that deals damage and fills your Aetherflow.

At 10:36, the Summoner casts something, but nothing flies to the target, instead Garuda-Egi just blasts it with a wind blast... Could this be how Egi skills are used? With the Summoner doing a cast animation for them?

10:38 Cast animation to Summon Bahamut. Hopefully no animation locking 'cause that'd suck >.> Also appears to lose 2 seconds of duration before he spawns...

10:44 looks like a 1s cast Enkindle? With the Bahamut wing graphic normally seen with Ruin IV?

10:47 looks like the new Ruin spell by the power of TRIANGLES I smite you! (Interestingly, the corners of the Triangle are Red, Green and Blue. If this is supposed to represent the Egi we are able to use... Shiva-Egi replacing Titan-Egi?)

10:51 seems to be a new Tri-Disaster animation. More Triangles! Also, green swirls.

10:54 Ruin IV. Unchanged by the looks. Followed by another Akh Morn.

10:58 After Bahamut goes away, Summoner is left with a Gauge that has 2 Phoenix Feathers on it. (Prior to Bahamut it was just a gauge with the standard "Bahamut Ready" thing) - Suggests Phoenix is a direct replacement for DWT? With 2x Phoenix = 1x Bahamut?

11:03 Summoning Ifrit seemed to make him slash the target when he was spawning.

11:04 Painflare still exists and is still an oGCD that consumes Aetherflow.

11:05 Another casted spell that makes Ifrit swipe at the target, followed by Fester which again, still oGCD, still consumes Aetherflow.

11:10 A spell that refills Aetherflow? But shoots out 3 bolts and has a large explosion suggesting it's more powerful than the one used at the start of the clip? Will Summoners finally have more than 1 way to gain Aetherflow?

11:11 Cast time for Summon Phoenix (Including losing 2 seconds of duration before the thing even spawns -.-)

11:16 Casts a spell, Phoenix slings an explosion at the target.

11:18 Rise up into the air and fling a Fireball at the target, Phoenix also tosses a basic attack at the target in this time (I.e. Wyrmwave equivalent)

11:21 Enkindle with cast time again, with Phoenix wings graphic instead.

So... Initial thoughts are that there seems to be a lot more casting time now? With Bahamut/Phoenix having cast times for their summoning, with pet abilities seemingly needed to be actually cast by the Summoner (I wonder if they're oGCD or not?)

Potentially with a hint to getting Shiva-Egi instead of Titan-Egi!?

Outside of that, seems like some neat things. Such as Bahamut/Phoenix phases not being "Just mash Ruin II/IV". Also with possibly a bit more focus on you making your Summon cast stuff.

[Dyvid]

Bahamut and Phoenix seem to act the same. When an spell is cast they do a basic attack and have an enkindle. I'm ignoring what the summoner is casting, because it could just be a new spell, and focus on what Demi's are doing when it is cast.