Temple Cyclas.....

[Klive]

I have around 2100MP in a full party. Without AF, I can carry on fisting for 3 minutes and 45 seconds; with AF bonus, 4 minutes and 12 seconds. That's 27 additional seconds without any resting, Ballad or Sucker Punch--nothing spectacular.

225 seconds vs 252 seconds. That is 12% increase in time you can keep melee with fists up. To get that kind of return in time you would need a 252 mana increase. 252 mana increase is equal to 7.2 max stat IV mana materia binds. Nothing Spectacular indeed.

[Almalexia]

225 seconds vs 252 seconds. That is 12% increase in time you can keep melee with fists up. To get that kind of return in time you would need a 252 mana increase. 252 mana increase is equal to 7.2 max stat IV mana materia binds. Nothing Spectacular indeed.

The conserve MP effect is more like a very specific Refresh effect than a virtual increase to MP, as you suggest. It should be compared to other means of replenishing MP--down time, Ballad, Sucker Punch, ether even--all of which are generally more effective than 3MP/tic and don't rely on gearswapping.