So following Kaeko's MATK testing, we started thinking about how BLM is potentially the strongest DD with the right gear setup. We wanted to test this theory by trying to kill The Miser's Mistress in a sub 2 minute kill. The tangible benefit from this is not only do you get Miser out of the poison state fast, you also kill the Miser before it moves making the fight much safer. Very few melee (MNK) setups are able to do this safely and effectively.

The Setup

WAR
WHM
BLM x5
BRD

The Plan

1) Before porting into the Miser room, have your WHM switch to BRD. Have the WHM/BRD cast Ballad of Magi (and already have Sacred Prism on his bar). Have the other BRD cast AoE Stoneskin. Have the WHM/BRD switch back to WHM

2) Enter the portal and have the WHM AoE Regen. Start the Miser fight.

3) Important! Have all 5 BLM prebuff Parsimony/Excrutiate/Quelling Strike/Resonance. Have your WAR tank Collusion a BLM without Quelling Strike. Preferably have this BLM use a Mega-potion of INT. Have all 5 BLM cast Firaga on Miser to open the fight.

4) During the Firaga cast, have the BRD cast Battlevoice Minuet of Rigor. This will help tremendously with resists and the +1000 HP is useful for Convert.

5) Continue killing Miser as normal. Using Fire/Fira/Firaga when up and Thunder/Thundara when up.

6) Depending on Miser's moves, the tank will have decent or great hate, so use Chameleon as necessary and Freeze if needed.

The Gear

Most of our BLMs had a mix of single/double socketed gear. There are no overly difficult pieces to get. One of our BLMs went in with entirely single socketed gear and still was within 1.1k of the top DD.

Weapon: Lightning Brand with INT
Shield: Aubrest's Allegory
Head: Felt Cavalier Hat with INT
Body: BLM AF
Hands: Mage's Halfgloves
Waist: HP Belt or Grid Belt
Legs: Sorcerer's Tights or Woolen Tights with INT
Feet: Mahogany Pattens with M.ATK

Rings: Zircon Ring +1, Zircon Ring +1
Neck: Rubelite Choker +1
Earring: Mage's Earring
Wrist: Zircon Bracelet +1
Food: Crowned Cake

The Results

1:49 Miser Kill before Miser moves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSo25Bm075Q


For those of you who care about DPS, the Max DPS was 164.47


I hope this info is useful to parties still struggling with Miser or for those BLM enthusiasts who want to try something new instead of MNK burning. The parse/video listed was after our 2nd attempt so there is definitely room for improvement. We made a lot of mistakes as well (missed combos, out of range, no regen to start, etc). But following this guide should get most groups a 2 minute kill. As a side note, my LS and I find it very hard to find any situation where BLM is not the best DD. Until SE brings back incaps or something else that makes melee useful, BLM is the DD of choice.