Quote Originally Posted by PaulH View Post

Question as this is a level headed AST review. How viable is a NOCT stance as in stands a AST? does it get easier in SHB? (I get we have adjustments coming up)
It’s not like you can’t complete content if you’re using Nocturnal Sect, but it is going to be more taxing on MP because of the increased MP cost.
Once you learn Celestial Intersection and Neutral Sect, Nocturnal Sect loses quite a bit a value because you can still create serviceable shields while in Diurnal Sect.

I also find that in dungeons it’s easier to create comfortable downtime for DPS/card usage in Diurnal Sect just because of the ease of stacking regens from Collective Unconscious, Aspected Benefic/Helios, Celestial Opposition, and that’s before throwing in shields from Celestial Intersection and Neutral Sect. Plus, you’re using less MP in Diurnal on Aspected Benefic that can go towards another Malefic / Benefic / etc.

I feel like in an ideal world, Nocturnal Sect is for a less offensive approach than Diurnal. Because of the nature of shields needing applied more often than regens (Regen ticks the full duration regardless of incoming damage), if you want to make the most out of shielding you do need to use Aspected Benefic a bit more often, especially in dungeons. That said, you do still have access to regens from Celestial Intersection, Neutral Sect and Collective Unconscious, so it’s not like you can’t create downtime. As a quick aside as well, I feel like spell usage timing is a bit more important than in Diurnal Sect, so it’s less easy to YOLO spam Malefic IV:

Overall Diurnal Sect does seem to come ahead over Nocturnal Sect, but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t use Nocturnal Sect, as long as you’re aware of what the strengths and weaknesses are. It’s also worth mentioning that we may see adjustments to Nocturnal Sect in the 5.05 patch coming on Tuesday, and these may lessen the gap between the two Sects